Babok Version 3 vs Version 2

BABOK Version 3 vs. Version 2 – Taming the New Guide

BABOK Version 3 CoverMost people in the BA field know that the IIBA® has produced an important update to its definitive Business Analysis Body of Knowledge, the BABOK® Guide. Released in April 2015, the BABOK Version 3 Guide includes major upgrades, ranging from the BA Core Concept Model™ (BACCM), to changes in most Knowledge Areas, the addition of 16 new techniques, and the addition of an all-new section containing five perspectives on Business Analysis.

Most comparisons of the two versions cover the major changes and ours is no different. However, we begin with the familiar aspects of version 2 and how they change in BABOK version 3. Then we will present the two major additions: the BACCM and the Perspectives.

Check out the full articles on the BA Times and leave your thoughts.

Part 1: Knowledge Areas and Tasks
Part 2: Techniques
Part 3: BA Core Concept Model (BACCM) and Perspectives

How much of a change does this new Body of Knowledge bring? How do you like it? What don’t you like?

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Richard Larson, PMP, CBAP, PMI-PBA, was the founder of and is now a consultant for Watermark Learning. He is a successful entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience in product development, business analysis, project management, training, and consulting. As an internal entrepreneur, Rich led the development of several Watermark Learning online products as a business analyst and product owner.

Rich is a frequent speaker at Business Analysis and Project Management national conferences and IIBA® and PMI® chapters around the world. He has contributed as a lead author to the BA Body of Knowledge version 2.0 and 3.0 and was a lead author on PMI’s Business Analysis Practice Guide. He and his wife Elizabeth Larson have co-authored five books on business analysis.

Richard Larson, PMP, CBAP, PMI-PBA

Richard Larson, PMP, CBAP, PMI-PBA, was the founder of and is now a consultant for Watermark Learning. He is a successful entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience in product development, business analysis, project management, training, and consulting. As an internal entrepreneur, Rich led the development of several Watermark Learning online products as a business analyst and product owner. Rich is a frequent speaker at Business Analysis and Project Management national conferences and IIBA® and PMI® chapters around the world. He has contributed as a lead author to the BA Body of Knowledge version 2.0 and 3.0 and was a lead author on PMI’s Business Analysis Practice Guide. He and his wife Elizabeth Larson have co-authored five books on business analysis.

11 comments

  1. as you mentioned above “Your email address will not be published.”

    Question:
    Does the BABOK address a Data Warehouse environment where data is extracted, transformed and loaded (ETL)?

    Usually about application system environment (where build / update application systems).

    I’m looking for more information on BA roles and responsibilities in data warehouse environment from BABOK perspective. e.g., logical database design, etc.

    Thank you.

    1. Hi Pamela. BABOK 2.o does not address the Data Warehouse environment at all. Version 3 does do that, partly in including Data Mining as a new technique. It also has a BI perspective (section 11.2), which is a new acknowledgement about BA roles in the BI and data analytics space. However, it does not go into depth on things like ETL. It does touch on the BA role on BI projects, which you might find helpful. The topic of logical database design is called Data Modeling, and being one of the primary BA techniques, IIBA includes it squarely in the purview of business analysis. Hope this helps.

  2. Hi Richard: I hope you are doing well. For the last 2 quarters prepared using the resources your offer for CBAP v2, I am planning now for preparing v3, will be investing again in the products you offer.
    My question is, has my preparation gone waste, what are the new areas I should concentrate to compliment my preparation.
    Your advice and guidance is appreciated.
    Thanks
    PS Any substantial discounts for a repeat customer.

    1. Hi Kartik,

      I’m glad you are planning on getting CBAP v3 and want to use our products to help you. The new version has many changes and some things to concentrate on are:
      * Several Knowledge Areas have undergone substantial changes.
      –BA Planning and Monitoring has perhaps changed the least, with Requirements Analysis perhaps the second fewest changes.
      –Strategy Analysis has replaced Enterprise Analysis and has major changes, perhaps the most along with Solution Evaluation.
      * There are now 50 techniques compared to 34 in BABOK v2. For sure study the new ones.
      * BABOK v3 now includes the BA Core Concept Model and you need to know this framework since it runs throughout the BABOK.
      * There is a new Perspectives section, but you will not be tested on it.

      You should also read Appendix D, which lists significant changes from v2 to v3. Hope this helps.

      Rich

  3. Hi Richard
    I recently gave CBAP V2 and failed unfortunately by 11 marks. Not sure if it’s really a big difference or small one as my score was 489 and certification required 500 to pass. But, i realized that i would need more time to practice as last time i just had 15 days to master the content after work and 3 days to practice.
    The sad part is that i cant even give V2 exam again as its expiring in the next few days.
    I was so near to passing V2 but so far now with V3 🙁

    But Anyways, I’m really geared up to PASS CBAP V3 in early Nov 2016 and planning to give atleast 45-60 days for learning and practicing the content. I’ll be again using Watermark learning guide to tame CBAP and hopefully i’ll make it this time.
    Any guidance would be really appreaciated. Thankyou!

    – Ripon

    1. Hi Ripon,
      I’m very sorry to hear about your exam. The good news, though frustrating I’m sure, is that you were very close, so with some more study time you should have no problem at all! We always recommend to people retaking the exam to read our article, “12 Tips for Passing the CBAP or CCBA Exam the Second Time.” It’s a free resource for our members and can be found on https://www.watermarklearning.com/certification/business-analysis-training/cbap-ccba/cbap-resources.php.

      As for the v3 exam, the new version has many changes and some things to concentrate on are:
      * Several Knowledge Areas have undergone substantial changes.
      – BA Planning and Monitoring has perhaps changed the least, with Requirements Analysis perhaps the second fewest changes.
      – Strategy Analysis has replaced Enterprise Analysis and has major changes, perhaps the most along with Solution Evaluation.
      * There are now 50 techniques compared to 34 in BABOK v2. For sure study the new ones.
      * BABOK v3 now includes the BA Core Concept Model and you need to know this framework since it runs throughout the BABOK.
      * There is a new Perspectives section, but you will not be tested on it.

      You should also read Appendix D of the BABOK, which lists significant changes from v2 to v3.

      Hope this helps!

      Rich

  4. Hi

    I am planning to appear for CBAP during November 2016. I have below questions.

    1) As per IIBA, “The CBAP® exam is 3.5 hours long and consists of 120 multiple choice questions. The questions are case study-based (i.e. longer cases (1-1.5 pages) of information) with multiple questions about the case. It is competency-based and aligned with BABOK® Guide Version 3”.

    Question – is the online study exam (especially the practice tests) of Watermark Learning reflect this changed exam pattern (case study)?

    2) I had read somewhere that the IIBA is planning to change the way exam would be evaluated and the results of the exam would take a month or so. Is this correct? I could not verify it myself. Hence this question.

    1. Hi Sumesh,

      I’m glad you are planning to sit for the CBAP in November. To answer your questions:

      1) We have added several case studies to our Online Study Exam. They are available in our simulations, so be sure to take at least 3 of them to see all our case studies. Bear in mind the IIBA exam is not completely case-study based (and probably does not even contain a majority of them). There are other types of questions in the actual CBAP exam, including scenarios and knowledge-based ones. We have many of each type for you to practice.

      2) The delay in scoring is due to IIBA needing to establish cut scores for their new exams. It will take several weeks to notify candidates if they pass or not. We anticipate this will end once they have the cut scores and then candidates will be instantly notified if they pass or fail.

      Best wishes on passing your exam!

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