Well it is tax time once again and for some folks it is time to think of remodeling your home. Exciting right? It can be… it can also be a maddening roller coaster ride that is difficult to stop. The next thing you know, you have not only spent your tax refund, but you have invested heavily into a credit card (or two). We all know that this can happen and we all know people that have had remodeling horror stories, yet we still forge ahead and remodel. Why? Repairs, reconstruction, and renovation are common themes (needs) that drive us to remodeling. When it comes to your home they completely make sense. Broken things are not fun to live with, we can get bored with the same ol’, same ol’ and the value needs to be kept up while we are waiting for the market to rebound. But what about our requirements – the models we put together that help our stakeholders clearly understand the problem or opportunity we are trying to solve or present? Does remodeling make sense?
Posts Tagged ‘Requirements Analysis’
The Big Remodel
Posted: February 7th, 2012 by Bob Prentiss. Comments »
7 Trends in Business Analysis and Project Management to Watch for in 2012
Posted: January 9th, 2012 by ElizabethLarson. Comments »By Elizabeth Larson, PMP, CBAP, CSM and Richard Larson PMP, CBAP
The close of one year tends to make one reflect on what has occurred in the past year and ponder the future. Here we ponder some trends in the Project Management and Business Analysis fields for 2012. Here are our top seven predictions for business analysts (BAs) and project managers (PMs) in 2012.
1. Divergence of the PM and BA Role. In 2009 we predicted that as the economy tightened, organizations would decrease their project budgets and combine the role of PM and BA. For 2012 we believe that organizations will see the need for both roles, particularly on strategic projects, and move away from a combined role. There are several factors for this trend:
Scrooged!
Posted: December 6th, 2011 by Bob Prentiss. Comments »
Scrooged!
“Bah humbug!” Well at least that is what it sounded like to me (BobtheBA) at the time, a few Christmases ago. And all I could think of was “What a Scrooge!” So what’s the story that brought out the worst in two people during the holiday season? Well before I tell you this true story just know that this person and I are close friends and I do have permission to tell the story (we laugh about it a lot now).
Turning Requirements Trash into Stakeholder Treasure – Part 2
Posted: August 23rd, 2011 by Bob Prentiss. Comments »
Hello all – BobtheBA here and when we last left off we were exploring how innovation can be key to turning requirements trash into stakeholder treasure. The scenario we were exploring was a difficult stakeholder that was not forthcoming with their requirements. Your job (should you choose to accept it) was to improve your 1:1 interview process through innovation by looking at it through different eyes like those of a hostage negotiator. It may yield a different result or help you to be more prepared than what you thought possible.
Assumptions are Project Killers!
Posted: February 8th, 2011 by Bob Prentiss. Comments »
Let me be candid and up front – I do not like assumptions. Never have, never will. I truly believe that they can be one of the most destructive forces in business analysis. I do not like them here or there. I would not like them anywhere. I do not like them I believe, so make them go away and leave! (Thank you Dr. Seuss, you always inspire me). So why is BobtheBA all jacked up about assumptions? Well… let’s just say he has first-hand experience with the pain they can bring. Now even though I do not like them I will also recognize up front that they are a necessary evil. Notice I said evil.
Notice Everything For Greater Success
Posted: January 7th, 2011 by Bob Prentiss. Comments »So we have all heard of the saying “the devil is in the details”, right? But what does it really mean? This idiom actually derives from an earlier phrase “God is in the detail” which expresses the idea that whatever you do should be done thoroughly; i.e. details are very important. When it comes to business analysis that could not be a more true statement. Missed details = miss requirements = missed functionality = less value to the business. It all makes sense on the surface, but how does one actually ensure that details are not missed?
Scenarios and Use Cases – Useful Techniques
Posted: July 9th, 2010 by RichLarson. Comments »In continuing to cover all 49 BABOK® techniques, this entry is about scenarios/use cases.
UC Diagram-Training Example
Since most people refer to these as use cases, that’s the name I’ll use. They are a great way to elicit, analyze, and model interaction requirements. Plus, they help generate related requirements for interfaces, data, process, and business rules.
I gave a use case training class last week, so it’s fresh in my mind. It also influenced me to put this explanation in question and answer form.
Q. What is a use case?
Data Modeling – Why is that Technique in the BABOK?
Posted: May 12th, 2010 by RichLarson. Comments »(In my continuing coverage of BABOK® techniques, I plan to comment on all of the general and task-specific techniques. This week’s entry is about data modeling, a technique you may or may not be familiar with, but a sure source of CBAP® exam questions.)
The impetus for this blog comes from having just taught a successful training class in Data Modeling to a mixed group
of BAs, BI specialists, technical architects, and business SMEs (subject matter experts). What made it successful was not only the learning that took place, but also the students’ willingness and eagerness to apply this technique back on their jobs.
The Parallax Effect on Requirements Analysis
Posted: December 3rd, 2009 by RichLarson. Comments »
Have you ever gazed at the stars and found it difficult to focus on a particular one? It’s initially a bit disconcerting. If you look away a small amount, the star seems to become visible. Look straight at it and the star begins to dim and even disappear. Scientists call this the “parallax effect.” I just call it frustrating (I’m an impatient star-gazer).
Many times a problem we’re trying to solve or something we are analyzing is like that.
- How often do you forget the name of something when you try to recall it, only to remember it later while walking outside, or when you are in the shower?
