BCS Business Analysis Foundation

Access: 3 Months

Are you looking for a career change or perhaps a career upgrade?

Internationally recognised and accredited by the British Computer Society (BCS), the BCS Business Analysis Foundation course will set you on the path to a career as a Business Analyst.

Business analysis is the process of identifying needs and solutions to business problems. A Business Analyst, therefore, is someone who assesses a business by considering the business model and its integration with technology.

During the course, students will be taught professional techniques, business knowledge, strategy development, defining requirements as well as quantitative approaches, managing of stakeholders, stakeholder analysis and business architecture techniques.

This course will allow you to implement techniques and tools used in business analysis in order to steer the business in the right direction

Some of the business analysis skills you will learn:

• Development of competencies
• SWOT analysis
• Five stages of the process model
• External and internal environmental analysis
• Documenting the current situation
• Business activity models

Why study Business Analysis online?

Technological improvements and advances in educational design mean that studying online is no longer just a low-cost alternative to traditional training methods. In many respects, our online courses offer training which is superior to the majority of available “classroom” options.

Not only is the effectiveness of the training process enhanced, but also the convenience and overall cost-effectiveness of studying online make it a compelling option for training. You can learn at your own pace and can repeat each section as many times as required unlike in a classroom environment.

Studying at your own pace, rewinding and going over the material as often as you need improves your long-term memory retention and makes studying more rewarding.

Curriculum for the BCS Business Analysis course:

You will gain access to the following modules:

Module 1: What is Business Analysis?

Introduction
Chapter 1: The origins of Business Analysis
Chapter 2: Development of Business Analysis
Chapter 3: Scope of Business Analysis Work
Chapter 4: Business Analysis
Chapter 5: Taking a Holistic Approach
Chapter 6: The Role and Responsibilities of a Business Analyst
Quiz: What is Business Analysis?

Module 2: The Competencies of a Business Analyst

Introduction
Chapter 1: Behavioural Skills and Personal Qualities
Chapter 2: Professional Techniques
Chapter 3: Business Knowledge
Chapter 4: The Development of Competencies
Quiz: The Competencies of a Business Analyst

Module 3: Strategy Analysis

Introduction
Chapter 1: The Context of Strategy
Chapter 2: The Definition of Strategy
Chapter 3: Strategy Development
Chapter 4: External Environmental analysis
Chapter 5: Internal Environment Analysis
Chapter 6: SWOT Analysis
Chapter 7: Implementing Strategy
Quiz: Strategy Analysis

Module 4: The Business Analysis Process Model

Introduction
Chapter 1: An Approach To Problem Solving
Chapter 2: Five Stages of the Process Model
Chapter 3: Investigate The Situation
Chapter 4: Consider The Perspectives
Chapter 5: Analyse The Needs
Chapter 6: Evaluate The Options
Chapter 7: Define The Requirements
Chapter 8: Delivering The Changes
Quiz: The Business Analysis Process Model

Module 5: Investigation Techniques

Introduction
Chapter 1: Preparation
Chapter 2: Interviews
Chapter 3: Observation
Chapter 4: Workshops
Chapter 5: Scenarios
Chapter 6: Prototyping
Chapter 7: Quantitative Approaches
Chapter 8: Documenting the Current Situation
Quiz: Investigation Techniques

Module 6: Stakeholder Analysis and Management

Introduction
Chapter 1: Categories And Identification
Chapter 2: Analysing Stakeholders
Chapter 3: Managing Stakeholders
Chapter 4: Stakeholder Perspectives
Chapter 5: Business Activity Models
Quiz: Stakeholder Analysis and Management

Module 7: Modelling Business Processes

Introduction
Chapter 1: Organisational Context
Chapter 2: An Alternative View of an Organisation
Chapter 3: The Organisational View of Business Processes
Chapter 4: Value Chain and Value Propositions
Chapter 5: Business Process Models
Chapter 6: Analysing the "As-Is" Business Process Model
Chapter 7: Improving Business Processes
Quiz: Modelling Business Processes

Module 8: Defining the Solution

Introduction
Chapter 1: GAP Analysis
Chapter 2: Business Architecture
Chapter 3: Business Architecture Techniques
Quiz: Defining the Solution

Module 9: Making a Business and Financial Case

Introduction
Chapter 1: Identifying Options
Chapter 2: Assessing Project Feasibility
Chapter 3: Structure of a Business Case
Chapter 4: Costs and Benefits
Chapter 5: Investment Appraisal
Chapter 6: Presenting the Business Case
Quiz: Making a Business and Financial Case

Module 10: Establishing the Requirements

Introduction
Chapter 1: Requirements Engineering
Chapter 2: Requirements Elicitation
Chapter 3: Requirements Analysis
Chapter 4: Requirements Validation
Quiz: Establishing the Requirements

Module 11: Documenting and Managing Requirements

Introduction
Chapter 1: The Requirements catalogue
Chapter 2: Documenting Requirements
Chapter 3: Managing Requirements
Quiz: Documenting and Managing Requirements

Module 12: Modelling Requirements

Introduction
Chapter 1: Use Case Modelling
Chapter 2: Entity Relationship Modelling
Chapter 3: Class Modelling
Quiz: Modelling Requirements

Module 13: Delivering the Requirements

Introduction
Chapter 1: Context
Chapter 2: Life-cycles
Quiz: Delivering the Requirements

Module 14: Delivering the Business Solution

Introduction
Chapter 1: Business Change Life-cycle
Chapter 2: Design Stage
Chapter 3: Implementation Stage
Chapter 4: Realisation Stage
Quiz: Delivering the Business Solution

Please note that the official exam is not included, however for those who complete the course, they will receive a completion certificate upon request.

The Business Analysis Foundation certification is for anyone who requires an understanding of business analysis. This includes Business Managers and their staff, Business Change Managers and Project Managers.

This course is also suitable for those who are considering a career change to become a Business Analyst and who would like to understand more about the role.

The Business Analysis Foundation Certification is for anyone who requires business analysis skills and knowledge. There are, however, no prerequisites for those who wish to enter this course.

• Business Analyst
• Business Analytics Analyst
• Business Change Analyst
• Business Consultant
• Financial Consultant