Chapter 7:
Increase Your Value
Seven Steps to Mastering Business Analysis
(Barbara Carkenord, 2008)
Build your foundations
Find
a starting point
Think analytically
Master effective note-taking
Master effective questioning
level of detail – optimum point
Manage your time
 Get
an understanding of the task
 Prioritize – time and effort:
 The 80-20 rule: the critical 20%
 Timeboxing ~ iterate; focus equally on parts
 An agile approach
Build relationships & communication
 People
skills
 Listening skills – overcome the barriers o
filters – page 292
 Writing skills – written and oral comm.
 Skills to help people discover needs
 Skills in conducting meetings
Learn New Analysis Techniques
Overcome Analysis
Paralysis – infinite
loop
 Root cause analysis

 Fishbone
5
diagramming
Whys
Intelligent
disobedience
 Improve your skills

Plan your analysis

Map the project in 2x2 grid
As Is
What
How
What is the
current
state
How is the
current state
what it is
To Be
What do you
want as future
state
How is the
future state
going to
happen
Plan your analysis (ctd.)
 Map
your project
 Assess business impact
 Conduct stakeholder analysis
 Plan communication w/ stakeholders
 Plan on deliverables
 Make a task list and assign time for each