Babok Version 3 vs 2 Taming the New Guide

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

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

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.

The Entrepreneurial BA Practitioner Part 4

The Entrepreneurial BA Practitioner Part 4: How Business Analysis Helps Innovation

So, you don’t think you are an entrepreneur? How business analysis helps innovation. You might think you are not going to start a company or build a business from the ground up. Maybe you don’t want to risk your livelihood or work crazy hours or wear multiple hats like an entrepreneur does. We suggest you …

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.

What the 2015 Trends Mean for Business Analysis and Project Management

What the 2015 Trends Mean For Business Analysis and Project Management

In January we wrote an article like we do every year about the upcoming trends in business analysis and project management: Distributed leadership Design Schizophrenic approach to certification Innovation and entrepreneurship Changing culture through Agile team training Balance in project governance Making Agile work for organizations In our latest article, featured on Project Times, we …

Elizabeth Larson, PMP, CBAP, PMI-PBA, CSM

Elizabeth Larson, PMP, CBAP, CSM is a consultant and advisor for Watermark Learning/PMA. She has over 35 years of experience in project management and business analysis. Elizabeth has co-authored four books and chapters published in five additional books, as well as articles that appear regularly in BA Times, Project Times, and Modern Analyst. Elizabeth was a lead author/expert reviewer on all editions of the BABOK® Guide, as well as the several of the PMI standards. Elizabeth also enjoys giving presentations, and her speaking history includes repeat keynotes and presentations for national and international conferences on five continents. Elizabeth enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, theater, and spending time with her 7 grandkids.

The Entrepreneurial BA Practitioner Part 1

The Entrepreneurial BA Practitioner Part 1

What do Business Analysis and Entrepreneurship Have in Common? If you are a BA, you may be wondering about your career options. To be honest, we all do that, but I tend to hear about career concerns from business analysts more than anyone. Should we aspire to be project managers when we grow up? That …

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.

It's Conference Season 2014!

It’s Conference Season 2014!

Fall is coming up quickly, and that means it’s national conference season! We find national conferences to be a great way to improve your skills and to grow you network. These are valuable to both individual practitioners and organizations. Admittedly, getting approval and funding to attend can be a bit tricky. Hopefully we can help …

Vicki James, PMP, CBAP, PMI-PBA

Vicki develops and maintains Watermark's Business Analysis Training programs and is an instructor for in-person and online classes. James has 15 years’ experience in the public and private sectors as a project manager, business analyst, author, and independent industry consultant and trainer, where her clients included Microsoft Corporation. She also spent time in the public sector successfully delivering projects to support governmental operations. James is co-author of Strategies for Project Sponsorship and contributor to The Complete Project Manager. She is president of the IIBA Seattle Chapter, and past vice president of the PMI Olympia Chapter.

Business Analysis & Project Management in Collaboration in Slovenia

Business Analysis & Project Management in Collaboration in Slovenia

IIBA Slovenia Business Analysis Conference – June 2014 Elizabeth and I were fortunate to be in Slovenia on vacation this summer when the IIBA Slovenia chapter was holding a business analysis conference on Synergies – The Future of Business. We previously met and became friends with the IIBA Slovenia chapter president, Aleš Štempihar, at the 2013 BBC conference in …

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.

Scrum Aids Project Planning

Scrum Aids Project Planning

Key Components of Scrum What do product backlog, story points, and velocity have in common? They are all components of Scrum, an Agile framework, that allow us to estimate how much can be delivered in any given time frame. First, I will outline some basic definitions, and then I will share a real-life practical example …

Vicki James, PMP, CBAP, PMI-PBA

Vicki develops and maintains Watermark's Business Analysis Training programs and is an instructor for in-person and online classes. James has 15 years’ experience in the public and private sectors as a project manager, business analyst, author, and independent industry consultant and trainer, where her clients included Microsoft Corporation. She also spent time in the public sector successfully delivering projects to support governmental operations. James is co-author of Strategies for Project Sponsorship and contributor to The Complete Project Manager. She is president of the IIBA Seattle Chapter, and past vice president of the PMI Olympia Chapter.

Project R.E.A.L. Project Management and Business Analysis Training

Project R.E.A.L. Project Management and Business Analysis Training

Watermark Learning is proud to be a pioneer of live simulation in project management and business analysis training.  We have been offering our Project R.E.A.L Live Simulation and helping students apply their skills and build confidence since 2011. In fact, our Project R.E.A.L. course won the PMI Continuing Education Product of the Year award that year. Find out …

Watermark Learning

This is the corporate source for Watermark Learning posts. Watermark delivers engaging and practical training and coaching in Business Analysis, Project Management, Agile & Scrum, Business Process Management, and Influencing Skills since 1992.

Watermark Learning Industry Events Recap – Spring 2014

Watermark Learning Industry Events Recap – Spring 2014

Watermark Learning has been busy this spring! The last few months, Watermark Learning has made appearances at several industry events in the Midwest including IN-BADD, WI-BADD, and most recently I-BADD.  Below is a roundup of the highlights. IN-BADD – April 22, 2014 Elizabeth Larson presented “Is Your Organization Agile-Ready?” Richard Larson presented “BA Toolkit: Top …

Watermark Learning

This is the corporate source for Watermark Learning posts. Watermark delivers engaging and practical training and coaching in Business Analysis, Project Management, Agile & Scrum, Business Process Management, and Influencing Skills since 1992.

Online Study Exam Use Extends to 71 Countries

Online Study Exam Use Extends to 71 Countries

Watermark Learning’s CBAP/CCBA Online Study Exam is now used by more than 2500 people from 71 countries, with new CBAP and CCBA exam candidates from four additional countries. The latest additions include candidates from the Czech Republic, Senegal, Sweden, and Zambia. Click on the map to see subscriber locations. The increasing growth in exam usage …

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.