BABOK v3.

0 Overview

The BABOK® Guide is divided into 11 major chapters: an introduction, an overview of business analysis key
concepts, detailed descriptions of the six knowledge areas, an overview of underlying competencies, descriptions
of commonly used techniques and a review of the perspectives business analysis can be applied. In addition,
BABOK v3.0 contains 2 appendix that contain valuable information. We recommend getting familiar with both of
these:
 Appendix A: Glossary
 Appendix B: Techniques to Task Mapping

Introduction & Key Concepts

The IIBA did an excellent job of providing a clean easy to reference and read guide so instead of retyping these
items here, we thought it best to point out areas that need to be thoroughly understood. Each of these provide a
baseline for full business analysis comprehension:
 Definitions of Business Analysis and
Business Analyst
 Business Analysis Core Concept ModelTM
(BACCMTM): This diagram was developed
to display the framework of business
analysis. We added to it to provide a
visual of the question that needs to be
asked when considering how each is
addressed. Also see our chart on page 3.
 Requirements Classification Schema
 Key Terms and Stakeholders

Knowledge Areas, Techniques, and

Underlying Competencies
The next page in this document includes a high
level diagram that we put together to encompass
the tasks and BACCM Core Concepts of each for
quick references.
 Knowledge Areas: Each of these 6 knowledge areas represent areas of expertise that include specific
tasks.
 Techniques: a means to perform business analysis tasks. These 50 listed are the most commonly used
with in the BA community.
 Underlying Competencies: the general competencies, skills, and knowledge needed to effectively perform
business analysis. The defined knowledge is not unique to those performing business analysis tasks. The
better you understand these core competencies and work to increase your knowledge and skill in each,
the easier time you will have understanding the role.
 Business Analysis (BA) Knowledge Areas
Business Analysis Requirements
Elicitation & Requirements Life
Planning & Strategy Analysis Analysis & Design Solution Evaluation
Collaboration Cycle Management
Monitoring Definition

Plan Business Analysis Specify & Model Measure Solution

Prepare for Elicitation Trace Requirements Analyze Current State
Approach Requirements Performance

Plan Stakeholder Maintain Analyze Performance

Conduct Elicitation Define Future State Verify Requirements
Analysis Requirements Measures

Plan Business Analysis Confirm Elicitation Prioritize Validate Assess Solution

Assess Risks
Governance Results Requirements Requirements Limitations

Plan Business Analysis Communicate

Assess Requirements Define Change Define Requirements Assess Enterprise
Information Business Analysis
Changes Strategy Architecture Limitations
Management Information

Identify Business Recommend Actions

Manage Stakeholder Approve
Analysis Performance Define Design Options to Increase Solution
Collaboration Requirements
Improvements Value

Analyze Potential
Value and
Recommend Solution

Techniques
Acceptance & Evaluation Criteria · Backlog Management · Balanced Scorecard · Benchmarking & Marketing Analysis · Brainstorming · Business
Capability Analysis · Business Cases · Business Model Canvas · Business Rules Analysis · Collaborative Games · Concept Modelling · Data Dictionary ·
Data Flow Diagrams · Data Mining · Data Modelling · Decision Analysis · Decision Modelling · Document Analysis · Estimation · Financial Analysis ·
Focus Groups · Functional Decomposition · Glossary · Interface Analysis · Interviews · Item Tracking · Lessons Learned · Metrics & Key Performance
Indicators · Mind Mapping · Non-Functional Requirements Analysis · Observation · Organizational Modelling · Prioritization · Process Analysis ·
Process Modelling · Prototyping · Reviews · Risk Analysis & Management · Roles & Permissions Matrix · Root Cause Analysis · Scope Modelling ·
Sequence Diagrams · Stakeholder List, Map or Personas · State Modelling · Survey or Questionnaire · SWOT Analysis · Use Cases & Scenarios · User
Stories · Vendor Assessment · Workshops

Underlying Competencies
Business Analysis Requirements
Elicitation & Requirements Life
Planning & Strategy Analysis Analysis & Design Solution Evaluation
Collaboration Cycle Management
Monitoring Definition

Verbal Office Productivity

Creative Thinking Ethics Business Acumen Facilitation
Communication Tools & Technology

Personal Non-Verbal Leadership & Business Analysis

Decision Making Industry Knowledge
Accountability Communication Influencing Tools & Technology

Organizational Written Communication Tools

Learning Trustworthiness Teamwork
Knowledge Communication & Technology

Organization & Time Negotiation &

Problem Solving Solution Knowledge Listening
Management Conflict Resolution

Methodology
Systems Thinking Adaptability Teaching
Knowledge

Conceptual Thinking

Visual Thinking
The chart below presents the BACCM Core Concepts as they are used and applied to each of the knowledge areas.
During
Business Analysis Planning & Requirements Life Cycle Requirements Analysis & Design
Core Concept Elicitation & Collaboration Strategy Analysis Solution Evaluation
Monitoring Management Definition
business analysts…
Change
the act of transformation are responsible for determining use a variety of elicitation manage how proposed changes to define the future state and develop transform elicitation results into recommend a change to either a
in response to a need how changes to business analysis techniques to fully identify the requirements and designs are a change strategy to achieve the requirements and designs in order solution or the enterprise in order
results will be requested and characteristics of the change evaluated during an initiative. future state. to define the change. to realize the potential value of a
authorized. including concerns that solution.
stakeholders have about the
change. The change itself may
determine the appropriate types
and extent of elicitation and
collaboration.
Need
a problem or opportunity choose a business analysis elicit, confirm, and communicate trace, prioritize and maintain identify needs within the current analyze the needs in order to evaluate how a solution or solution
to be addressed approach that provides adequate needs and supporting business requirements to ensure that the state and prioritize needs to recommend a solution that meets component is fulfilling the need.
analysis for the change. analysis information. As elicitation need is met. determine the desired future state. the needs.
is iterative and incremental, the
understanding of the needs may
evolve over time.
Solution
a specific way of evaluate if the business analysis elicit, confirm, and communicate trace requirements and designs to define the scope of a solution as define solution options and assess the performance of the
satisfying one or more performance was a key contributor necessary or desired characteristics solution components to ensure part of developing a change recommend the one that is most solution, examine if it is delivering
needs in a context to the successful implementation of proposed solutions. that the solution satisfies the need. strategy. likely to address the need and has the potential value and analyze
of a solution. the most value. why value may not be realized by
the solution or solution
component.
Stakeholder
a group or individual perform a stakeholder analysis to manage the collaboration with the work closely with key stakeholders collaborate with stakeholders to tailor the requirements and designs elicit information from the
with a relationship to the ensure planning and monitoring stakeholders who participate in the to maintain understanding, understand the business need and so that they are understandable stakeholders about solution
change, the need or the activities reflect stakeholder needs business analysis work. All agreement and approval of to develop a change strategy and and usable by each stakeholder performance and value delivery.
solution and account for stakeholder stakeholders may participate in requirements and designs. future state that will meet those group.
characteristics. different roles and at different needs.
times during a change.
Value
the worth, importance or conduct performance analysis to collaborate with stakeholders to maintain requirements for reuse to examine the potential value of the analyze and quantify the potential determine if the solution is
usefulness of something ensure business analysis activities assess the relative value of extend value beyond the current solution to determine if a change is value of the solution options. delivering the potential value and
to a stakeholder within a continue to produce sufficient information provided through initiative. justified. examine why value may not be
context value for the stakeholders. elicitation, and apply a variety of realized.
techniques to confirm and
communicate that value.
Context
the circumstances that ensure a complete understanding apply a variety of elicitation analyze the context to support consider the context of the model and describe the context in consider the context in
influence, are influenced of the context under analysis in techniques to identify business tracing and priorirization activities. enterprise in developing a change formats that are understandable determining solution performance
by, and provide order to develop an efficient analysis information about the strategy. and useable by all stakeholders. meausres and any limitations
understanding of the busiess analysis approach. context that may affect the within the context that may
change change. prohibit value from being realized.