Business Analysis Career Management

Guiding the PM and BA to a Successful Partnership

Presented by Barbara Carkenord, CBAP^®, B2T Training

Historically the same person has been responsible for both project management and business analysis work on a project. However, as understanding of the importance of both roles increases and the roles separate, how can the two disciplines best work together? It is important for project managers (PMs) and business analysts (BAs) to build strong working relationships based on mutual respect and understanding of each other’s work. A strong partnership between these two roles can significantly increase the likelihood of project success. To facilitate a shared understanding of the roles, the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the IIBA^® formed a joint committee to review the content of each body of knowledge and analyze their touch points. This presentation will discuss the differences, in skills and tasks, which separate the PM/BA roles and discuss specific strategies for building a strong partnership between the project manager and business analyst.

Learning Objectives:

Review business analysis work vs. project management work to clarify the PM/BA role distinctions
Discuss effective work strategies for BAs to build strong partnerships with their Project Managers
Describe the key areas of work which are described in both the PMBOK^®Guide and the BABOK^®Guide and highlight differences between the guides.

Speaker Biography: Barbara Carkenord, CBAP^®, has over 25 years experience in business analysis and project management. Barbara is the author of Seven Steps to Mastering Business Analysis and was a core team contributor to the IIBA^® BABOK^®. Barbara possesses an MBA from University of Michigan and began her career in the Information Technology area as a programmer, systems analyst, business analyst, and project manager. She is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has authored many articles on business analysis. Actively involved in the IIBA^®, Barbara is currently writing a chapter for a new IIBA^® book, Managing Business Analysis.

It's your career - Take charge!

Presented by Bruce Opsal, CBAP^®, Requirements Quest

Bruce will guide you to understand the value of developing a Business Analyst (BA) career plan that increases your job performance, satisfaction, and value. A professional BA brings tremendous value to their job when they understand industry standards and applies those standards in ways that work for both the BA and employer. Increase your skills, confidence, competence, and satisfaction by having a plan. It is possible to have both increased job and career satisfaction. Come find out how.

Learning Objectives:

See the difference between a job and a career
Learn what resources are available
Create your plan

Speaker Biography: Bruce Opsal, CBAP^®, is a Business Analyst Consultant and Instructor with Requirements Quest with over 30 years in the Information Technology (IT) industry. He has been training with Requirements Quest for more than one year and has been involved with developing new Requirements Quest courses. Bruce is VP Certifications of the IIBA^® Greater Madison Chapter. Bruce has significant experience in the financial services industry (banking, insurance, and revolving credit) as well as experience in the biotechnology industry. As an instructor, he is currently delivering the majority of the Requirements Quest courses.

BAs Can Be Difficult People

Presented by Laura Brandenburg, Clear Springs Business Analysis

Many qualities that make business analysts great at what they do can also make them perceived as difficult to deal with. As business analysts, we are often in situations where we are the most informed person in the room and have analyzed the problem in the most detail. While this makes us great at what we do, it can also make us be perceived as “difficult” by our peers. This presentation will bring to light personal stories of handling “difficult situations” including dealing with troublesome stakeholders and developers who tell us our requirements are possible to implement. Attendees will benefit from some practical tips for bringing your best BA qualities forward while earning the respect of your peers on both the business and the implementation teams.

Learning Objectives:

Understand some common BA qualities that can make us “difficult”.
Appreciate why certain qualities or behaviors might create negative reactions or perceptions from others.
Learn how to recognize difficult situations and explore some alternative approaches to bring your best qualities forward.

Speaker Biography: Laura Brandenburg is a business analyst consultant, author, and mentor. She has 9 years of experience across technology leadership, analysis, project management, and QA. She volunteers for IIBA^® as Career Center Product Manager and VP, Marketing of the Denver Chapter. She hosts Bridging the Gap, a blog about business analyst practices. She authored How to Start a Business Analyst Career and The Promotable Business Analyst.

Business Analysis Competency Model

Presented by Angela Wick, CBAP, IIBA^®

In February 2010 the IIBA^® launched the BA Competency Model! In June 2010 version 2 was released, and release 3 is coming in January 2011. The session is presented by IIBA's^® Competency Model Product Manager and Committee Chair. Learn about the model, the components of the model, and the future direction of the model and the various uses of the model of BAs, BA Managers, and Organizations. In the session participants will look at pieces of the model and begin to formulate plans to evaluate their own competency (individually and/or organizationally). Join us to begin evaluating your BA Competency!

Learning Objectives:

Learn about the IIBA^® BA Competency Model
Discover the various uses of the IIBA^® BA Competency Model
Begin evaluating your BA Competency (Individually and/or Organizationally)

Speaker Biography: In June of 2009, Angela Wick was appointed as the Chair of the IIBA^® Competency Model Committee. In this volunteer role, Angela has led the committee and product development of the IIBA^® Competency Model first released in February of 2010, and Version 2 in June of 2010. Angela is also an active member and Director at Large for the Twin Cities Minnesota IIBA^® Chapter. Angela has 12+ years experience in Business Analysis as a Consultant, Trainer, and Mentor. Her BA experience has covered numerous organizations in multiple industry verticals. Angela consults on developing and implementing business analysis centers of excellence, business analysis practice & competency assessments, and business analysis improvement initiatives. Angela also provides leadership teams with coaching on BA practices and competency development.

Advancing your BA Career by Increasing Your Perceived Value

Presented by Laura Brandenburg, Clear Springs Business Analysis

Business analysis, at its core, is about creating alignment and clarity to drive positive change in our organizations. If you are having trouble with your stakeholders attending meetings or with tight deadlines that impact the quality of your deliverables, it may be that your definition of successful business analysis and your employer’s perception of value are out of sync. After this presentation, you’ll be better prepared to frame your business analyst activities in value terms your stakeholders understand – and will act on. We’ll help you compare your principles of success to those of your employer and stakeholders. We will provide practical ways you can increase your perceived value of common BA practices such as templates, meetings, and reviews.

Learning Objectives:

Models for evaluating how your organization and stakeholders perceive value and how to frame business analysis activities within that framework
Techniques for increasing the value generated from your business analyst activities and, just as importantly, the perception of value by your organization
Tactics for delivering on the core principles of business analysis when practices are challenged

From Deep Freeze to Defrost: Taking a Mid-life Career Crisis to the Next Level of Your Business Analysis Career!

Presented by Bob Prentiss, CBAP^®, Watermark Learning

Have you been feeling blasé and unmotivated about your career as a Business Analyst? Do you feel like you have lost your requirements mojo? Are you bored out of your mind sitting in requirements meeting after requirements meeting? Is that all there is? Really? It sounds like you might be going through a mid-life career crisis! Well don’t worry; it is perfectly natural at times to feel “frozen” given that the Business Analysis profession is changing every day right before our very eyes. The career path of the Business Analyst is expanding with opportunities in Enterprise Analysis, Agile, Business Rules and Business Process Management. Learn how to see your career in a whole new light by developing a plan for your Business Analysis career growth and success. Get ready to be motivated, shake off the deep freeze and start defrosting!

Learning Objectives:

How to promote your personal and career growth
How to connect to the next level of Business Analysis including Enterprise Analyst
How to compete in the hyper-competitive marketplace making good career decisions

Speaker Biography: Bob Prentiss is the Client Solutions Director of Business Analysis at Watermark Learning. Bob is CBAP^® certified with 14+ years of Business Analysis experience; managing BA Centers of Excellence, assessing/managing BA maturity and competency. Bob stays involved in giving back to the BA community through mentoring and coaching, providing formal training, developing best practices, speaking at industry conferences on topics such as; CBAP^® Certification, Centers of Excellence, BA Competency and BA Careers. Bob is a founding member of the IIBA^® MSP Chapter wearing several hats on the board, currently serving as the Past President and Executive Counsel and also as the Chapter Architect for the IIBA^® International.

Introduction to the Certification of Competency in Business Analysis™ (CCBA™)

Presented by Dave Bieg, IIBA^®

International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA^®) is pleased to announce a new business analysis certification. The Certification of Competency in Business Analysis™ (CCBA™) is an intermediate level designation that will launch by the end of 2010. The CCBA™designation is a stepping stone to obtaining the Certified Business Analysis Professional TM (CBAP^®) designation and provides recognition for individuals who have business analysis experience but don't yet meet the requirements for the CBAP^® designation.

Learning Objectives:

IIBA^®vision for the CCBA™ designation
Application requirements
Differentiating the CBAP^® / CCBA™ designations

Speaker Biography: In February 2010, Dave Bieg became International Institute of Business Analysis's Chief Operating Officer after having held the role as a volunteer since June 2006. IIBA^®, a professional association for Business Analysts, focuses on defining and enhancing the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge^® (BABOK^®) and implementing a certification program for qualified practitioners. With 28 years of experience in business and information technology, Dave has held many roles including, operating his own consulting and facilitation business where his team provided learning, process and knowledge transfer strategies and solutions to achieve their client's business objectives. Dave previously worked at General Electric and Lockheed Martin, where he served as a Program Manager as well as a Business Analyst and Systems Engineer. Dave holds a MS in Business Administration and Information Systems Management from Johns Hopkins University and is active in the learning & consulting community including the greater Atlanta chapter of IIBA^®. Dave resides in Marietta, GA with his family where he volunteers his time to his daughters’ soccer and track & field activities.

Panel Discussion: The CBAP^® Value

Moderated by David DeBruine, DeBruine & Associates

Are you on the fence regarding whether or not to pursue the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP^®) accreditation? Wonder if earning the CBAP^® will make a difference in advancing your career? This session is an opportunity to ask local CBAP^® recipients questions about their experiences.

Learning Objectives:

Network with local CBAP^® recipients
Understand the value of earning the CBAP^® accreditation
Identify ways that the CBAP^® can help advance your career

Moderator Biography: David DeBruine is an independent business analyst consultant and owner of DeBruine & Associates, LLC. He was the founding president of the Southeast Wisconsin Chapter of the IIBA and co-founder of WI BADD™. Dave has more than 20 years experience in business analysis bridging the gap between business and technology.

Panelist Biography: George Turnbull, PMP^®, CBAP^®, started his technology career as a B-52 Electronics Warfare Officer, tactics trainer and CPI coach. He then switched to systems administration, earning a MCSE+I while working in or as a consultant for state government, banking, telecom, dairy foods and small business. George is currently a Project Manager with CUNA Mutual Group.

Panelist Biography: Jean Hampton, CBAP^®, has over 33 years' experience in Information Technology with her most recent experience as a business analyst at Lands' End. Jean holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and an MBA from University of Dubuque. Jean received her CBAP certification on March 18, 2010.

Panelist Biography: Karl Kleifgen, CBAP^®, is an IT veteran. His 30 year career spans many software development roles and technologies within the financial sector. He has a passion for problem-solving, process improvement and is currently refining Requirements Definition and Management processes for American Family Insurance in Madison. He earned his CBAP in 2007.

Panelist Biography: Tomette J. Kirk, CBAP^® (July 2009), is Senior Consultant for SysLogic, Inc., an Information Technology Consulting and Services firm in Brookfield, WI. Her areas of proficiency include: Requirements Elicitation, Process Documentation and Diagramming, Requirements Change Management, Interpersonal Dynamics, and Organizational Philosophy and Paradigms. She holds degrees from TCU and Vanderbilt.

Panelist Biography: Carla Baumgartner, CBAP^®, has over 20 years experience performing business analysis in various roles. The past ten years Carla has worked in IT at TDS Telecom identifying business needs, implementing process improvements, custom-designed and vendor software solutions. Carla especially enjoys how her BA career creates opportunities to work with many different people.

Measuring the Performance of Business Analysts

Presented by Adriana Beal, Beal Projects

The work of a business analyst is usually classed as difficult to measure. This presentation will teach business analyst managers how to design meaningful and relevant performance indicators that can lead to the desired performance improvements on their teams.

Learning Objectives:

Explain why it is important to measure the performance of business analysts
Identify what can and can’t be measured
Differentiate measurement for controlling behavior from measurement for learning and empowerment, and use the latter to design relevant and meaningful performance indicators

Speaker Biography: Adriana has a B.Sc in electronic engineering and an MBA in strategic management of information systems received from two of the most prestigious graduate schools in Brazil. She has two books on Strategic Management of Information published in Brazil, and in 2005 she received an 0-1-Alien of Extraordinary Ability visa from the U.S. recognition for her achievements in the IT management field. From October 2005 to May 2010 she worked for ThinkInternational, a NY-based human capital boutique, providing consulting assistance throughout the software development life cycle for Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies implementing large, complex software projects. She has recently relocated to Austin, TX where she works as an enterprise analysis and business analysis consultant for companies in the IT and semiconductor industries. Adriana's work has been published in numerous publications, including the world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology, IEEE. She recently wrote a chapter discussing the role of the business analyst in the context of Green ICT for the Handbook of Green ICT (to be released by Information Science Publishing in September 2010).

Building a Business Analyst Practice

Presented by Suzanne Lawson, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Sue Lawson, Director of Project Support Services at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, will outline the journey that Thrivent took to build a formal Business Analyst Practice in their organization. Sue will walk through the steps taken and the lessons learned along the way. She will also share Thrivent’s results to date, as well as their strategies for moving forward.

Learning Objectives:

Understand an approach for building a Business Analyst practice
Identify implementation pitfalls and how to avoid them
Understand some practical ways of measuring Business Analyst performance

Speaker Biography: Sue Lawson has been the Director of Project Support Services at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for the last 6 years. During that time she and her team have built a strong Business Analyst organization - with a solid career path, identified competency levels, and a consistent requirements development and management process to improve our business representation of system development needs. Sue is a graduate of MN State University - Mankato with a Bachelor of Science in Administrative Mgmt. Prior to this position, Sue spent 5+ years as a business analyst. Sue is single with one son and currently resides in Appleton WI.

Five Simple Steps for Accelerating and Perfecting Requirements: A Framework, a New Model, and Visualization

Presented by Barbara von Halle & Larry Goldberg, Knowledge Partners International

This presentation introduces a requirements framework and methodology that may be different from what most are doing. Its three prominent characteristics are a framework, a new model, and visualization. The framework ensures completeness of all requirements. The new model is the Decision Model, transforming important business thinking into a tangible and manageable business requirement. The visualization simulates user scenarios, alleviating the need for abstract specifications or models.

Learning Objectives:

Use the framework to identify the requirements deliverables for your business audience
Include the Decision Model to separate, visualize, and manage important business thinking behind business decisions
Adopt a visualization methodology to elicit requirements before completing models

Speaker Biography: Barbara von Halle (BA, MS) is Managing Partner of Knowledge Partners International, LLC (KPI) and co-inventor of The Decision Model. The fifth recipient of the Outstanding Individual Achievement Award from International DAMA, Barb was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995. As an early advocate for the Relational Model, she was the leading columnist in Database Programming and Design magazine for many years. Her first book, Handbook of Relational Database Design published by Addison-Wesley in 1989 has over 21 printings and cited in 28 books. Today, Barbara co-authors columns on the Decision Model in Modern Analyst, BPTrends, and TDAN. She is currently assisting organizations in developing Decision Models and establishing Decision Model Centers of Excellence.

Speaker Biography: Larry Goldberg (BS, PhD), is Managing Partner of Knowledge Partners International, LLC (KPI) and co-inventor of The Decision Model. Larry has over thirty years of experience in building technology based companies on three continents, and in which the focus was rules-based technologies and applications. Commercial applications in which he played a primary architectural role include such diverse domains as healthcare, supply chain, and property and casualty insurance. Larry is a co-editor of The Business Rule Revolution: Running the Business the Right Way (HappyAbout.info 2007), is on the editorial board of BPMInstitute.org and is the Editorial Director of the BDM Bulletin, a monthly e-publication of the BPMInstitute.org.

The Essential Business Architect: The Business Architect as Project Ambassador

Presented by Linda Finley, Trissential

The Business Architect is emerging as a critical player in project success. Filling the role of business strategy liaison, and organizational and process designer, the Business Architect behaves as an ambassador for the corporate vision in projects, ensuring that the strategic intention of the project is realized throughout the organization. While strategists are primarily concerned with the direction of the organization, Business Architects focus on the design of its dynamic structure, and line managers with driving results. The Business Architect partners with appropriate experts to develop options for bringing the corporate strategy to life, securing executive management approval, presenting necessary changes to the right audiences in the right way to achieve adoption, and ensuring implementation.

Learning Objectives:

Leverage project team members to ensure delivery of intended outcomes
Manage organizational stakeholders to achieve change adoption
Understand the linkage between the role of the Business Analyst and the Business Architect

Speaker Biography: Linda is responsible for the Strategy, Governance, and Architecture practices at Trissential, a management consulting firm in the upper Midwest. Her energy is focused on improving organizations in these areas and beyond, supporting the work of her staff and personally delivering solutions to clients. Linda’s special interests lie in analysis in its many forms, as well as program management and delivery of organizational results, creating governance frameworks, strategic procurement, architecture, strategy development and problem solving. She started her IT career as a business analyst, and has held many positions from developer to CIO.