Business analysts, customer journey managers, project managers, product owners, service designers, business change managers and anyone who requires a thorough understanding of strategic business analysis. Business Analysis Practice is also a core module for the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis.

The Business Analysis Practice course introduces the essential skills of business analysis. The emphasis throughout is on practical learning, using real-life case studies to introduce key skills including strategic analysis, stakeholder management, business activity modelling, gap analysis and making a business case.

The course is presented by one of our expert training consultants, pictured below. Every member of the Business Analysis (BA) training team offers extensive professional knowledge and wide-ranging experience of BA projects.

The Business Analysis Practice course introduces the essential skills of business analysis. The emphasis throughout is on practical learning, using real-life case studies to introduce key skills including strategic analysis, stakeholder management, business activity modelling, gap analysis and making a business case.

The course is presented by one of our expert training consultants, pictured below. Every member of the Business Analysis (BA) training team offers extensive professional knowledge and wide-ranging experience of BA projects.

AssistKD's Business Analysis Practice eLearning course provides participants with a practical introduction to a wide range of BA techniques and approaches. This course is designed to provide delegates with the key skills required to become effective Business Analysts. These include:

• SWOT analysis
• Stakeholder management
• Business activity modelling
• Investigation of the business situation
• Analysis of key issues and their root causes
• Gap analysis
• Identification and evaluation of possible solutions

Upon the completion of this workshop, candidates will be able to demonstrate an understanding of:

• The strategic context for business analysis
• The business analysis service framework
• The need for holistic analysis of business change
• How and when to select and apply a range of techniques and tools to analyse the current and target state
• The principles of gap analysis and option identification
• The value of stakeholder engagement and perspective analysis
• The purpose and contents of a business case

BCS Certificate in Business Analysis Practice

Course Content

Business analysis rationale

• The scope of business analysis.
• Definition of business analysis services.
• The use of Design Thinking in business analysis.

Strategic context for business analysis

• External analysis – PESTLE, Five Forces Analysis.
• Internal analysis – Resource Audit, VMOST.

Business performance measurement

• Critical success factors and key performance indicators.
• Measuring performance – the Balanced Business Scorecard.

A project approach to business analysis

• Initiating a business analysis study.
• Defining terms of reference.

Understanding the business situation

• Investigation techniques.
• Documenting the business situation:
  • Customer journey maps.
  • Empathy maps.
  • Rich pictures.
  • Mind maps.

Stakeholder engagement and business perspectives

• Identifying stakeholders.
• Analysing stakeholders – Power/Interest Grid, RACI.
• Stakeholder management strategies.
• Defining business perspectives – CATWOE.

Analysing and modelling the business activities

• Types of business activity.
• Building a conceptual business activity model.
• Consolidating perspectives and building consensus.

Establish the target state

• Gap analysis.
• Business event analysis.
• Target Operating Model (POPIT™)

Making the business case

• The lifecycle for a business case.
• Contents of a business case.
• Feasibility assessment.
• Options.
• Costs and benefits.
• Investment appraisal.
• Impacts and risks.

©Assist Knowledge Development Ltd.

Here's a quick guide to the topics covered on each day of the course.

Here's a quick guide to the topics covered on each day of the course.

For virtual courses a printed copy of the latest edition of the comprehensive course manual will be sent to your home address in good time for the start of your course. Our delegates tell us that having access to a physical document is beneficial as both a reference document and for taking notes during the course. In addition, a link will be emailed to you to enable you to access an electronic copy of the same comprehensive manual for convenient future reference.

Delegates attending face:face classroom courses will receive their printed manual on Day 1 of the course.

For virtual courses a printed copy of the latest edition of the comprehensive course manual will be sent to your home address in good time for the start of your course. Our delegates tell us that having access to a physical document is beneficial as both a reference document and for taking notes during the course. In addition, a link will be emailed to you to enable you to access an electronic copy of the same comprehensive manual for convenient future reference.

Delegates attending face:face classroom courses will receive their printed manual on Day 1 of the course.

Yes. The course prepares delegates for the BCS Practitioner Certificate in Business Analysis Practice examination. If this course is part of your BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis programme you have a choice of further modules which include the other Core BA Diploma module, Requirements Engineering. 

For delegates attending a classroom, virtual classroom or eLearning course, the exam may be taken remotely using our online proctoring service TestReach. This 1 hour exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions with a pass mark of 26/40.

If this course is part of your BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis programme you have a choice of further modules which include the other core BA Diploma module, Requirements Engineering. Candidates who have already completed the Core modules can take one Practitioner specialism, which includes Benefits Management and Business Acceptance, Systems Modelling Techniques, Modelling Business Processes, Systems Development Essentials or Data Management Essentials. Before taking the Oral exam, candidates must also pass one of the Foundation Specialisms; in Business Analysis, IS Project Management or Business Change. 

This course was written by our team of training consultants, who bring their substantial experience of business analysis projects to the programme.

Watch the video below to find out more about our eLearning.

Do you have a question about our eLearning courses? Check out our FAQs section…

When will I receive my joining instructions?

You will receive joining instructions two weeks before the start of your course. One week before the course you will receive detailed instructions on how to log on.

I have additional needs, can they be accommodated?

Please provide us with full details of any additional needs in advance of the course so that we can work with you to accommodate them. Please contact enquiries@assistkd.com

When will I receive my course manual?

You will receive your course manual at the venue on the first day of your course.

Can you accommodate a last-minute booking?

Yes, provided there is availability.

Do you offer discounted prices if I am taking more than one course?

Yes, please contact enquires@assistkd.com

What happens if I need to reschedule, do I have to pay twice?

If you need to reschedule, to avoid a cancellation fee please give 10 working days’ notice by contacting enquiries@assistkd.com.

Do the courses run on consecutive days?

Yes. Courses which last for more than one day are delivered on consecutive days from the start date indicated. These are on working days, during Monday to Friday.

Do you offer courses over the weekend?

Our virtual (live) classroom and face-to-face classroom courses run from Monday to Friday only.

Is the exam taken during the actual course?

No. The exam can be taken on a date and time of your choice. You will be provided with exam registration details before the start of your course. We recommend that you take the exam within two weeks of the end of your course, while the knowledge is fresh.

When will I receive my exam results and certificate?

Exams will be taken online you will find out your result immediately on completion. Then, approximately two weeks after the exam this will be confirmed via the BCS portal and you can print out your certificate. 

How do AssistKD’s virtual classroom courses work?

AssistKD’s virtual courses are conducted live and online in a ‘virtual’ classroom space via Microsoft Teams. 
On each day of the course, we ask delegates to log on in time for a 9am start. The courses end at 4.30pm. An hour is ring-fenced for lunch, but timings can vary.

Designed to be interactive, responsive and engaging, our virtual (live) courses are led by trainers who are experts in their fields, with real-life industry experience. 
The benefit of the virtual classroom is that delegates enjoy all the benefits of ‘in-real-time' training, but with no travel requirements or overnight stays. 

Regular comfort breaks, team exercises and break-out sessions keep delegates focused and reinforce learning. 
The courses allow learners to develop their professional toolkits.

Can you attend virtual classroom courses from outside the UK?

Yes, however you will be issued with a digital course manual in advance of the course, not a printed manual. 

When will I receive my joining instructions?

You will receive joining instructions two weeks before the start of your course. One week before the course you will receive detailed instructions on how to log on.

I am concerned about logging on, is there support available?

If you have concerns about logging on and your technology, it is best to address these prior to the day of the course. We can offer you a test call at a time that suits you. To request this please contact support@assistkd.com

I have additional needs, can they be accommodated?

Please provide us with full details of any additional needs in advance of the course so that we can work with you to accommodate them. Please contact enquiries@assistkd.com

When will I receive my course manual?

You will receive your course manual, in both printed and digital form, two weeks before the start of your course.

Can you accommodate a last-minute booking?

Yes, provided there is availability.

Do you offer discounted prices if I am taking more than one course?

Yes, please contact enquires@assistkd.com

What happens if I need to reschedule, do I have to pay twice?

If you need to reschedule, to avoid a cancellation fee please give 10 working days’ notice by contacting enquiries@assistkd.com.

Do the courses run on consecutive days?

Yes. Courses which last for more than one day are delivered on consecutive days from the start date indicated. These are on working days, during Monday to Friday.

Do you offer courses over the weekend?

Our virtual (live) classroom and face-to-face classroom courses run from Monday to Friday only.

Is the exam taken during the actual course?

No. The exam can be taken on a date and time of your choice. You will be provided with exam registration details before the start of your course. We recommend that you take the exam within two weeks of the end of your course, while the knowledge is fresh.

When will I receive my exam results and certificate?

Exams will be taken online you will find out your result immediately on completion. Then, approximately two weeks after the exam this will be confirmed via the BCS portal and you can print out your certificate. 

Is the exam included with the eLearning subscriptions?

All BCS and A4Q eLearning exams can be taken online via remote proctoring, giving you complete flexibility to sit your exam from any suitable location. If you choose the Core or Extra option, your exam voucher is already included, making it simple to progress toward certification.

Can I buy now and start later?

Absolutely. Your course is added to your account right after purchase, but you choose when to activate your subscription - ideal for planning around work or personal commitments. When you are ready to begin learning, you simply log in to your account and click 'Activate' next to the course name.

Have more questions? Check out our full FAQs here or contact us directly.