Strategic Business Analysis Course

Through this course, you will learn to:

• Understand what comprises strategy analysis and when and how it is performed
• Learn how to see the “big picture” and improve your strategic thinking skills
• Increase project success by better defining the business need
• Learn how to analyze the current state to provide an understanding of why a change is needed
• Determine the set of conditions necessary to meet the business need and to define future state
• Identify and recognize how risks influence the viability of solution options
• Develop and assess alternative approaches to the change and propose the “best” recommended change strategy
• Understand the purpose and importance of a business case, its key components and how to leverage a business case to communicate the viability for pursuing a change to your decision makers
• Determine how to evaluate a solution once it is implemented to ensure it meets its expected value

Who Should Attend a Strategic Business Analysis Course

This course is intended for individuals pursuing the following career paths:

• Business analysts
• Systems analysts
• Project managers
• Business and IT stakeholders working with business analysts

It is also suitable for anyone who needs to understand the activities involved in strategy analysis or make solution recommendations.

Prerequisites

It is recommended that participants complete the Business Analysis Foundation course prior to enrolling or have equivalent experience.

Course Format & Outline

To help assimilate the tools and techniques learned, there is a mixture of individual and team exercises throughout the course. Students will need to be prepared for a high level of participation. Each participant will receive a comprehensive student guide complete with examples, handouts a business case template that can be used back on the job.

Strategy Analysis Overview

• Strategy analysis defined
• Strategy analysis tasks
• Strategy analysis and the project life cycle
• Key competencies needed for strategy analysis

Strategic Thinking

• Thinking – an introduction
• Thinking types
• Strategic thinking skills
• How to become a strategic thinker
• Strategic thinking tips and traps
• Strategic thinking tools and techniques

Analyze the Current State

• Current state analysis overview
• Determine the business need
• Write a good business need statement
• Identify stakeholders
• Current state assessment considerations
• Conduct a current state analysis

Define the Future State

• Future state overview
• Define business goals and objectives
• Determine solution scope
• Identify constraints
• Additional assessment considerations
• Determine potential solution value
• Define the future state

Assess Risks

• Risk analysis overview
• Risk analysis and management process
• Organizational risk tolerance levels
• Risk tips and techniques
• Risk response options
• Identify risks and create a risk register

Define the Change Strategy

• Change strategy overview
• Components of a change strategy
• Finalize solution scope
• Conduct a gap analysis
• Assess enterprise readiness
• Define a change strategy
• Determine a transition approach

Develop a Business Case

• Business case overview
• Business case components
• Common mistakes in building a business case
• Present the business case
• Develop a mini business case

Evaluate Solution Performance

• Solution performance evaluation process
• Measure solution performance
• Define & analyze solution performance measures
• Assess solution and enterprise limitations
• Recommend actions to increase solution value