Pass the IIBA Certified Business Analysis Professional CBAP Questions and answers with ExamsMirror

 This question is based on a case study that compares two scenarios for Company C, a software development firm. In Scenario 1, Company C uses a traditional waterfall approach to develop a software product for a client. In Scenario 2, Company C uses an agile approach to develop the same product. The question asks for the increased cost in Scenario 2, which is the difference between the total cost of Scenario 2 and the total cost of Scenario 1. According to the case study, the total cost of Scenario 1 is $1,236,210 and the total cost of Scenario 2 is $1,444,000. Therefore, the increased cost in Scenario 2 is $1,444,000 - $1,236,210 = $207,790. References: The case study is available in the CBAP® Exam Sample Questions and Exam Blueprint document1. The answer is also verified by the CBAP® Exam Answer Key document2. Both documents are accessible from the IIBA® website3.

A balanced scorecard is a technique that helps to measure the performance of an organization or a change strategy using four perspectives: financial, customer, internal process, and learning and growth. A balanced scorecard helps to align the strategic objectives of the organization with the operational activities and the metrics that indicate the progress and success of the change. A balanced scorecard also helps to communicate the vision and goals of the change to the stakeholders and to monitor and evaluate the results. A decision modeling is a technique that helps to analyze and compare the possible outcomes of different courses of action using criteria such as costs, benefits, risks, and impacts. A financial analysis is a technique that helps to assess the feasibility and viability of a change initiative using quantitative measures such as return on investment, net present value, payback period, and break-even point. A business case is a technique that helps to justify the need for a change and to provide the rationale and evidence for selecting a preferred solution. A business case typically includes the problem or opportunity statement, the objectives and scope of the change, the alternatives and their evaluation, the recommended solution and its benefits, costs, risks, and impacts, and the implementation plan and timeline. References: BABOK Guide v3, Chapter 10: Techniques, Section 10.4: Balanced Scorecard, p. 496-497; Section 10.9: Business Case, p. 506-508; Section 10.16: Decision Modelling, p. 518-520; Section 10.23: Financial Analysis, p. 529-531.

A change strategy is a plan that outlines how the project team will manage the transition from the current state to the future state of the system, and how they will address the impacts and risks of the change on the organization and the stakeholders. A change strategy is needed when system A is offline for 3 months, as this will affect the claims processing operations and the user experience. A change strategy should include the following elements:

Change vision and objectives: This defines the purpose and scope of the change, and the expected outcomes and benefits of the system upgrade.

Change readiness assessment: This evaluates the current level of awareness, willingness, and ability of the organization and the stakeholders to adopt the change, and identifies any gaps or barriers that need to be addressed.

Change impact analysis: This identifies and analyzes the potential effects of the change on the business processes, roles and responsibilities, policies and procedures, systems and tools, and culture and behavior of the organization and the stakeholders.

Change communication plan: This specifies the key messages, channels, methods, and frequency of communication with the organization and the stakeholders, and how to solicit and incorporate feedback and input.

Change training plan: This defines the learning objectives, content, delivery modes, and evaluation methods of the training programs that will help the organization and the stakeholders acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to use the upgraded system.

Change management roles and responsibilities: This clarifies the roles and expectations of the project team, the sponsors, the champions, the change agents, and the end users in the change process, and how they will collaborate and coordinate with each other.

Change monitoring and evaluation plan: This establishes the metrics, indicators, and tools that will measure the progress and performance of the change process, and how to report and act on the results.

References:

IIBA BABOK Guide, Section 5.6, Define Change Strategy

Change Management Strategy: A Guide with Best Practices, Smartsheet

How to Develop a Change Management Strategy, Indeed

The BA should use the stakeholder engagement approach to help determine the formality of the assessment process to be followed to understand the impacts of the scope change. Stakeholder engagement is a technique that helps the BA identify, analyze, and communicate with the stakeholders who are affected by or have influence on the project. By engaging the stakeholders, the BA can understand their needs, expectations, interests, and concerns regarding the scope change, and tailor the assessment process accordingly. The BA can also use stakeholder engagement to obtain feedback, buy-in, and approval for the scope change, and manage any conflicts or issues that may arise. References:

IIBA BABOK Guide, Section 10.24, Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder Engagement: A Key Technique for Business Analysts, BA Times

Stakeholder Engagement in Business Analysis, Business Analyst Learnings

 Quantitative and qualitative data are two types of data that can help the end users evaluate the effectiveness of a solution. Quantitative data are numerical, measurable, and objective, such as cost, time, scope, quality, and customer satisfaction. Qualitative data are descriptive, subjective, and interpretive, such as feedback, opinions, perceptions, and experiences. By using both types of data, the end users can assess the solution from different perspectives and dimensions, and compare the results with the predefined success criteria for the initiative. References:

Project Success Criteria Guide, Smartsheet

7 Project Success Criteria Examples, Indeed.com

IIBA BABOK Guide, Section 5.4, Evaluate Solution Performance

 The requirement ‘’Ability to view policies created in the legacy system for a period of 6 months’’ is a transition requirement. A transition requirement is a temporary requirement that specifies the capabilities or conditions that the solution must have or meet during the transition from the current state to the future state. Transition requirements are typically related to data conversion, training, migration, or decommissioning. In this case, the requirement is needed to ensure that the policies created in the legacy system are still accessible for a limited time after the system is decommissioned, until the new system is fully operational and stable. References:

CBAP / CCBA Certified Business Analysis Study Guide, 2nd Edition, Chapter 2: Business Analysis Key Concepts, Section 2.4: Requirements Classification Schema, p. 66-67

A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide), Version 3, Chapter 2: Business Analysis Key Concepts, Section 2.4: Requirements Classification Schema, p. 34-35

The next step for the BA after selecting a passive approach for establishing performance metrics is to identify the performance measures. Performance measures are the indicators that are used to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of a process, a solution, or an outcome. They can be quantitative or qualitative, and they can be based on various criteria, such as time, cost, quality, customer satisfaction, or compliance. The BA should identify the performance measures that are relevant, measurable, achievable, and aligned with the objectives and requirements of the project. The BA should also define the baseline and target values for each performance measure, as well as the data sources and collection methods. References:

CBAP / CCBA Certified Business Analysis Study Guide, 2nd Edition, Chapter 7: Solution Evaluation, Section 7.1: Measure Solution Performance, p. 307-308

A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide), Version 3, Chapter 7: Solution Evaluation, Section 7.1: Measure Solution Performance, p. 267-268

 The BA needs to compare the value and costs of different design options, such as a customized version of the existing software or a fully made to order solution. The potential value is the benefit that the solution will provide to the bank, such as improved efficiency, accuracy, and security. The design options are the alternative ways of meeting the needs and requirements of the bank, such as modifying the existing software or developing a new one. The BA needs to evaluate the trade-offs between the value and costs of each option and recommend the most feasible and desirable one. References:

CBAP / CCBA Certified Business Analysis Study Guide, 2nd Edition, Chapter 6: Strategy Analysis, page 217

Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK ®) Guide, Version 3, Section 6.4: Define Design Options, pages 142-144

Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®) | Coursera, Course 3: Strategy Analysis, Week 3: Define Design Options

 A satisfy relationship is a type of traceability relationship that indicates that a model element (such as a requirement, a design element, or a test case) fulfills the intent of another model element (such as a stakeholder need, a business requirement, or a regulatory requirement). By using a satisfy relationship, the BA can link the solution components that implement the regulatory requirements and show how they meet the compliance criteria. References:

Overview of working with requirements (SysML)

SysML: Establishing Traceability using Matrix and ETL Table

IIBA BABOK Guide, Section 7.6, Traceability and Monitoring

 A purchase solution approach is one that involves acquiring a COTS software package from an external vendor or provider, rather than developing a custom solution in-house. A purchase solution approach can offer several benefits, such as faster delivery, lower cost, higher quality, and reduced risk. However, a purchase solution approach also has some drawbacks, such as limited customization, dependency on the vendor, compatibility issues, and licensing fees. A BA should evaluate the pros and cons of a purchase solution approach against the business needs and requirements, and compare it with other possible solution approaches, such as outsource, exploit, or create. References:

Evaluating Candidate COTS Packages, ArgonDigital

Seven Insights: Agile and Custom Off The Shelf (COTS) packaged software, Kenny & Company

COTS Software Procurement Methodology, IGI Global