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.

You can join by phone and/or computer. We may show screen shots as needed or it could be just good verbal exchange. It’s up to you! Attend one or all of the sessions.

The first session is December 16 from 12-12:30pm ET. Then, we’ll meet the first Friday of the month at 12-12:30pm ET. Richard Larson, CBAP, PMP, will be your first expert. You’ll also hear from other notables including Elizabeth Larson, CBAP, PMP, CSM, and Bob Prentiss, CBAP. Other certification experts will be on tap throughout the year.
• To register for the webinar and to see screens, please visit:  https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/948147986
• To join just by phone, please pre-register and then call: 1 (914) 339-0032, enter access code: 555-919-312.

We hope to hear from you and we look forward to your questions!

P.S. Look for future announcements through the ProjectBrief or visit our CBAP Resources page.

Ask the CBAP/CCBA Experts was posted at ProjectBrief Blog. | http://www.watermarklearning.com/blog

Congratulations, Peter, and thanks again for allowing us to tell your story. Not everyone studies the same way, and I’m glad a class was helpful to you. You have some good tips here that I wanted others to be able to benefit from. (We can see the confidence your approach gave you.) We know your tips will be helpful to others.

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“I took your advice and I attended your virtual CBAP® prep class in August. This weekend (late Oct.) I wrote the CBAP and passed!

“I want to thank you again for your company’s product, the very useful mnemonic system, and the amount of thought and preparation all of your products reflect. The difference this time in writing the exam, which I failed in February, was the approach. I hope these three points help, although I am sure you have heard them before. 

1. I wrote my brain dump before I started, while reading the exam pre-instructions. Last time I chewed up 10 minutes of the 3.5 hour exam time.
2. I used the ‘mark’ facility. Last time I did not use the mark/review facility and reviewed every question again, which left less time to analyze each question.
3. This time I used the brain dump of Watermark Learning acronyms of each knowledge area (KA) to figure out what KA, and where in the KA the question was pointing to. I actually pointed my pen at my brain dump KA and a specific task to force myself to think out the sequence implied by the question.

 ”With 40 minutes left, I had 75 questions marked and the other unmarked questions I did not bother to look at again. I probably changed 20 – 25 of the marked questions to be different from my original choice (I had just guessed these ones the first time), again thinking out the sequence where appropriate and pointing to my brain dump with my pen. Prior to writing the exam, I had taken 7 full exam simulations which started at a 74% score try # 1 and finished at a 94% score for try #7. I was really prepared this time to see the trick questions and also analyze the questions using my brain dump. During my actual exam I took a 10 minute break and had 8 minutes to spare. I still found the exam challenging, but your products provided the tools to allow me to pass. Thank you!”

Peter Riddell, CBAP
Financial Services Company

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To learn more:
*  See our CBAP Study Resources
*  Check out our CBAP Certification Prep class
*  View our CBAP and CCBA Products

CBAP Success – The Second Time Around was posted at ProjectBrief Blog. | http://www.watermarklearning.com/blog

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.

We came away thinking that an international organization like the IIBA is adding tremendous value to the practice of business analysis. It is fostering a common BA language around the world, and bringing us together as a profession. (No, Kathleen Barrett did not pay me to write that!) I had assumed the presentation audience would be similar to US-based ones, and I had no idea just how similar they would be. Heck, they even laughed at all my lame jokes!

Before leaving, we of course posed for more pictures. We were glad to return home, and at the same time, had already missed our South African friends and colleagues. We’d love to go back!

South Africa Journal #5 – IIBA Cape Town – Aug 10, 2011 was posted at ProjectBrief Blog. | http://www.watermarklearning.com/blog

The BA Fundamentals class had more entry-level BAs in it, and they learned a lot. This class is not an intro class, and the name might be misleading to some. Our FTI partner had a senior lecturer (that’s South African for instructor), Colin Brown, present the class. That’s him in the photo helping his delegates solve a workshop problem. FTI and Watermark Learning both learned how our courses can be successfully adapted to a local audience.

 Now we get to spend some down time being tourists for the weekend.

South Africa Journal #4 – Classes End – Aug 5, 2011 was posted at ProjectBrief Blog. | http://www.watermarklearning.com/blog

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!

Our CBAP Prep class students posed with me outside the class. It was only the first day, so they were still smiling (just kidding – it was fun the whole time).

South Africa is a cultural melting pot, much like the US. There are 9 different national languages, with the Zulu and Xhosa being the dominant ones. Add to that the descendants of the British, Dutch (Afrikaans), and Indians, you have a varied mix that works. The government is currently run by a Zulu, but the tribe seems secondary to the political party, the ANC – African National Congress, which Nelson Mandela was the head of.

Back to training. Another difference we noticed is that the environment seemed a bit more formal than in the US.  Our host, FTI, routinely takes class photos on the first day and plans to post them in their training facility. Check out the formal shot of Elizabeth’s BA Fundamentals class. Not sure we’d ever do this for our classes, but it was a fun way to start.

South Africa Journal #2 – Classes Began – Aug 3, 2011 was posted at ProjectBrief Blog. | http://www.watermarklearning.com/blog

Training in South Africa is mostly the same as it is in the US. One difference is that FTI runs 6-month long programs in business analysis, with some of the training in the daytime and most of it evenings or weekends. They have some “short courses” like we do, but the longer program gives students more depth and more time to apply their new skills. I wish American organizations could be more patient like this! Steve and part of his Johannesburg team are shown in the photo.

We made sure our training rooms were set for the two classes we would teach/observe, and returned to our hotel. It’s a bit of a drive to and from the training center, and the traffic is hectic like in the US. Luckily, Steve drove us, especially since they drive on the left here. We felt right at home with most other things, and are anxious to meet our African students. Look for more posts to follow.

Arrived in South Africa – Aug 1-2, 2011 was posted at ProjectBrief Blog. | http://www.watermarklearning.com/blog

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.”

People, this is powerful stuff. AXA is on the forefront of the industry by using the CBAP as a measure of progress towards BA excellence. If they see the CBAP as a requirement for getting a promotion, will your company be far behind?

CBAP Can Lead to Job Promotions was posted at ProjectBrief Blog. | http://www.watermarklearning.com/blog

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.

Acceptance and Evaluation Criteria Definition

This technique covers the specifics we employ as BAs to facilitate decision-making about requirements. Its purpose is to think through and define the criteria that will be used to approve and accept a deliverable. The difference between acceptance criteria and evaluation criteria are as follows:

•     Acceptance criteria – the basic measurements that must be achieved in order to judge whether a given project or solution is worth implementing. Typically used when evaluating one solution, and is frequently associated with acceptance testing.

•     Evaluation criteria – the key requirements that will be used to decide between alternative solutions, assuming there are alternatives. They would be used to score the possible alternatives to recommend the best one.

In the case of acceptance criteria, the decision is about whether to “accept” a deliverable and then the criteria represent the minimum level a solution must meet. For instance, a new order entry system must be capable of adding a new order, and adding items to the order.

Evaluation criteria support broader decisions, such as which COTS package to purchase for a sales commission application. The criteria, such as security, ease of use, cost, etc. form the basis for making the decision, and could be employed with a technique like a weighted ranking matrix. (Decision Analysis is a whole other topic and another blog entry!)

The two BABOK elements to know for this technique are:

1.       Testability. To know if a solution has been met, it needs to be expressed in testable form. The solution will be measured against the criteria.

2.       Determine Ranking and Scoring.

• Ranking: determining the order of importance of requirements, to be used in prioritization. The BABOK technique of Prioritize Requirements would be one way to create rankings.
• Scoring: a process to determine how well a solution meets a requirement. It needs a scale and agreed-on levels for scoring.

Summary

Acceptance and Evaluation Criteria Definition is a widely referenced technique in the BABOK. Out of the 34 general techniques, only 3 others are referenced more often. Because of the wide use of this technique, expect one or more questions on the CBAP or CCBA exam.

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To learn more…

1)       Get a copy of the BABOK by downloading it from the IIBA.

2)      Read about all general techniques in our CBAP Certification Study Guide.

3)      Take our CBAP Certification Preparation training course.

4)      Practice taking questions using our CBAP online study exam or CCBA online study exam.

BABOK Techniques to Know for the CBAP/CCBA Exam: Part 7 was posted at ProjectBrief Blog. | http://www.watermarklearning.com/blog

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.

4. Obtain Greater Earning Potential. The IIBA has released a survey that shows CBAPs earn 10% higher salaries on average than non-CBAPs. See the article on the IIBA website. The same differential has been true in project management for years, with PMPs earning higher salaries on average than non-PMPs. It doesn’t surprise me that CBAPs can earn higher salaries than non-CBAPs.

3. Learn New Things and Increase Your Confidence. Every CBAP candidate has learned valuable things when preparing and studying for the CBAP exam. Depending on your background, the amount you learn can range from moderate to substantial. The BABOK® Guide contains knowledge and techniques used throughout that industry, and I guarantee you that no BA knows it all or has used everything in the BABOK®. There were several things I learned when I studied for my own CBAP, and I feel more confident as a result.

2. Show a Professional Level of Competence. Getting certified shows you have the knowledge necessary to be an effective business analyst. The CBAP exam has several questions that require you to apply your knowledge to solving situational or scenario-based questions.

1. Demonstrate Commitment. According to a panel of CIOs, the thing they value most about the CBAP is that is demonstrates a commitment to the BA profession. When they hire or promote BAs, the CBAP credential tells them that the person who attained it is dedicated to business analysis and demonstrates initiative. Those intangibles, particularly when combined with good communication and analytical skills, shows a person who is an outstanding BA. That combination can make a big difference in your career, whether it’s a promotion or new job you are seeking.

No doubt, you will have your own unique motivations for getting your CBAP or CCBA credential. But, one thing is for certain: you will discover some or all of the above benefits for doing so.

For more CBAP resources, visit our web site at www.watermarklearning.com/cbap.

Top Five Reasons to Get your CBAP (or CCBA) was posted at ProjectBrief Blog. | http://www.watermarklearning.com/blog

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.

A. This is a very common concern. If you have contacts from your project still working at the company, that is obviously the best contact to list. If not, what I tell people is to list a contact who you worked with at the company in question, even if they have moved on to another company. In extreme cases in which there is no one you worked with still around, you should list someone in Human Resources who can attest that you worked at the company in a BA capacity during the time you listed for your project.

One of the attendees at the application session mentioned one of her past companies went out of business and no one works there anymore. You should document that for the IIBA, and still try to find colleagues who worked with you during the same timeframe who could be listed as contacts. Try using LinkedIn to locate possible contacts who worked with you in your past jobs.

Q. How can we avoid having hours deducted from our application? I’ve read that IIBA can do that if you are not careful.

A. Yes, IIBA can and does deduct hours from applications. I have heard stories of applicants who had that happen and ended up just a few hours short of the requirements because of it.  Our advice: only report BA hours and only indicate BA tasks. Look carefully at the tasks in the CBAP or CCBA application. By understanding the BABOK^® and its tasks, you can spot the non-BA tasks in the application. Avoid the non-BA tasks and don’t report hours on projects spent doing non-BA work.

For example, the task “Communicated requirements” is a BA task, but “Conducted design walkthroughs” is not. If those were the only two tasks you checked for Requirements Management and Communication, then IIBA would deduct 50% of your reported hours for that Knowledge Area, because the latter task is not considered a BA task.

Q. I worked on many small projects, as many as 100 in a year. How should we handle that?

 A. IIBA says to consolidate them for a given year and organize them around a software application, business initiative, etc.

Q. I interfaced with testing and training teams and did some testing myself. I understand the hours spent testing don’t account. How do I account for the time spent in setting up testing and training strategies and objectives?

A. First, for testing. What I recommend is to think about the time you spent defining acceptance criteria. Technique 9.1 in the BABOK^® is called “Acceptance and Evaluation Criteria Definition” and would apply here. The most applicable task would be “Validate Solution,” and the application calls this “Defined acceptance criteria for the solution.” For training, actually doing any training doesn’t count for hours. But, if you spent time defining requirements for the training to meet to assist in implementing the solution, than the application task “Defined transition requirements” would count and that is what you would indicate.

Q. Can we get the tips on which tasks in the BABOK areas apply only to BA work?

A. We have a worksheet that captures your work experience by knowledge area and general task.  The tasks we list are the safe ones to check for BA work. You should still review the BABOK^® to make sure that you understand what the tasks mean. For a copy, please visit our CBAP Resources page, or write to us at info@WatermarkLearning.com  and ask for a copy of our CBAP or CCBA Application Project Hours worksheet.

1)       Get a copy of the BABOK^® by downloading it from the IIBA.

2)      Read our book, CBAP Certification Study Guide.

Common Questions for the CBAP and CCBA Applications was posted at ProjectBrief Blog. | http://www.watermarklearning.com/blog