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Ask the CBAP/CCBA Experts

Posted: December 13th, 2011 by RichLarson. 2 Comments »

Are you thinking about getting your CBAP® or CCBA™? Struggling with the application? Currently preparing for the exam? Almost ready to take it?

We can help! Join us monthly for a free, live CBAP®/CCBA™ Q&A session. Each month a CBAP®-certified expert from Watermark Learning will be available online to answer your questions. We have seven CBAP instructors on our staff to give you the most complete information possible on the CBAP®/CCBA™ process, application tricks, and preparation tips. In our jobs and relationship to the IIBA®, we encounter a great deal of information. Let us share that with you live and direct! We are dedicated to helping you apply for and pass the CBAP® or CCBA™ exam.

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CBAP Success – The Second Time Around

Posted: November 10th, 2011 by RichLarson. Comments »

CBAP Certification logoNot every road to certification is the same, and some don’t go the way we plan. It’s gratifying to hear from people who have passed, and we get spontaneous notes frequently from successful CBAPs and PMPs. We love hearing from you! We also get emails from unsuccessful candidates, and do our best to offer advice or when appropriate, coaching or other tutoring. Here’s a success story that started off with hours of study, but a failed CBAP® exam, and ended with a successful 2nd attempt and obtaining the CBAP®.

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South Africa Journal #5 – IIBA Cape Town – Aug 10, 2011

Posted: August 22nd, 2011 by RichLarson. Comments »

After a few days of enjoying the scenery of the southern coast, and the fun of whale watching every day, we ventured back to Cape Town. The Southern Right Whales had begun their migration up from Antarctica – what a sight!

The local branch of IIBA hosted a presentation on “CBAP/CCBA Application Tips and Tricks.” There were 30 interested, motivated BAs present and asking great questions about their applications and qualifications for the CBAP or in some cases a few CCBAs.

Continue Reading: South Africa Journal #5 – IIBA Cape Town – Aug 10, 2011

South Africa Journal #4 – Classes End – Aug 5, 2011

Posted: August 19th, 2011 by RichLarson. Comments »

The time has flown by, and class ended today. Both Elizabeth and I noticed we had very little jet lag – that will probably hit us when we return home. Our delegates (notice I adopted some local terms) worked hard and made good progress. The CBAP candidates said they were more motivated to complete their applications and dig into their studying so they can take and pass their exams. Several of them had been in study groups in Cape Town and were very ready for a class to give them their final launch towards their exam.

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South Africa Journal #2 – Classes Began – Aug 3, 2011

Posted: August 16th, 2011 by RichLarson. Comments »

I’m posting this late, mainly due to challenges in Internet access, and being super busy on our trip to South Africa. I wrote some entries on the plane ride back home.

Our first classes in South Africa got underway Aug. 3. The students – delegates as they are called here – were very similar to those in the US. It’s refreshing to work with like-minded people from such a distance away. It reminds me that business in general and business analysis in particular around the world are quite similar. The biggest difference I noticed was our various accents. I’m sure mine made me hard to understand at times like I found some of theirs. The more Afrikaans-influenced inflections were harder for me to understand than the British-oriented ones. My hearing isn’t what it used to be, so that didn’t help!

Continue Reading: South Africa Journal #2 – Classes Began – Aug 3, 2011

Arrived in South Africa – Aug 1-2, 2011

Posted: August 4th, 2011 by RichLarson. Comments »

Elizabeth and I arrived in Cape Town on Monday, and basically crashed due to the long, 18-hour flight. The trip over the Atlantic seems short compared to the Amsterdam to Cape Town flight. We were literally at the bottom of Africa, at the point where two oceans meet: Atlantic, meet Indian. We started our trip by flying straight to Johannesburg on Tuesday. After getting settled, we visited the Joburg office of our South African partner, Faculty Training Institute. The head of FTI, Steve Erlank, showed us around and we got to see their preparation. Very impressive with three training rooms, offices, a kitchen, and huge cafeteria for students.

Continue Reading: Arrived in South Africa – Aug 1-2, 2011

CBAP Can Lead to Job Promotions

Posted: July 21st, 2011 by RichLarson. Comments »

Rich here again. In working with CBAP (and now CCBA) candidates, I run across people with a variety of motivations for getting their credential. Some people get certified for recognition, others want it for the personal satisfaction or increased stature it brings. And, we all would not mind if the CBAP lead to extra income, and the IIBA has released a study showing that CBAPs earn higher salaries.

In a conversation with a CBAP candidate last week I found out AXA Equitable Insurance recognizes the CBAP as an element in deciding on promotions. She said “For me, it is a critical factor to being promoted in my company. It is a critical step needed for me to move from Senior to Lead BA in a mature BA practicing company.”

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BABOK Techniques to Know for the CBAP/CCBA Exam: Part 7

Posted: July 18th, 2011 by RichLarson. Comments »

Rich here. It’s been a while since I’ve written about BABOK techniques you need to know to pass the CBAP or CCBA exam. If I’m going to try and finish covering all 34 general and 15 task-specific ones by the end of the year, I have to get back to it.

In past blog posts I featured all the task-specific techniques and four of the general techniques: Data Modeling, Observation, Scenarios and Use Cases, and State Diagrams. Next I want to explore Acceptance and Evaluation Criteria Definition with an excerpt from our book CBAP Certification Study Guide.

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Top Five Reasons to Get your CBAP (or CCBA)

Posted: May 19th, 2011 by RichLarson. Comments »

CBAP_CCBA_ExamsThere are many reasons to obtain your CBAP or CCBA credential. I’ve given this considerable thought and talked to numerous people about it over the years. There is considerable work in the preparation for it and more than a bit of stress in achieving it. Here are the top five reasons in my opinion for getting your certification, in reverse order.

5. Obtain Better Assignments. I hear more and more stories from CBAPs who tell me about getting more satisfying and higher-profile assignments once they have obtained their CBAP. The numbers this has happened to are split fairly evenly between internal employees and external consultants. For an interesting perspective of one consultant, Brian Hunt, and what the CBAP has meant to him, see his article How CBAP® Helps You Become a Better Consultant.

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Common Questions for the CBAP and CCBA Applications

Posted: March 11th, 2011 by RichLarson. Comments »

I just finished another application writing session for the IIBA Phoenix chapter. It was a good exchange, with many challenging questions.Question Mark

First of all, nearly everyone preparing for the CBAP questions the BABOK® and how it may or may not be “real life.” What I tell people is that everything in the BABOK is somebody’s real life! That may or may not be a comfort, but it does put it in perspective.

Most of the topics at my recent session pertained to the CBAP and CCBA application. Here are some notable questions that came up and my answers. Hope this helps you.

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