Business Analysis Centre of
Excellence
Government of Saskatchewan’s BA
Initiative
BACE - Inception
• In response to requests from Deputy Ministers
the Information Technology Office advised , on
July 28, 2009, that a Business Analysis Centre
of Excellence would be formed for
Government.
• In October of 2009, BACE was unveiled to
Ministries.
BACE - Vision
• Overarching vision was to ensure that there
was a:
• functional,
• business oriented,
• business aligned,
• collaborative,
• cross ministry community
BACE - Vision
Ensuring:
• Consistency of approach
• Consistency of process, methods, outputs
• Best practices
• Professional standards
BACE - Goals
• Define and deliver to the BA population of
Government, best practices, processes and
methods that are realistically workable and
achievable inside a government organization.
• Establish Ministry wide Business Analyst roles
and functions.
BACE – Objectives
For 2009/2010 and for 2010/11
1. Mechanism for dissemination of information,
and support of a standard BA role in
government, and also a mechanism for delivery,
support and library of processes, methods,
practices and tool sets for use in the
government BA Community.
2. Provide a forum for professional development
for Business Analysts across government.
BACE - Objectives
1. Capacity and method for “peer-to-peer”
sharing of knowledge and approaches.
2. Access to professional expertise and
knowledge to support the BA role in their BA
work.
BACE - Objectives
• Early Activities for 2009/10 and 2010/11
a) Develop a Charter for BACE
b) Develop and deliver a Governance Model for
BACE
c) Define the knowledge and skills sets required
of government BA’s
d) Assess current BA’s capacity
a) Carried out via 4 BA Boot Camp’s winter of
2009/10
BACE - Objectives
Early Activities continued:
d) 64 BA’s attended boot camp
Of the 5 levels of competency and expertise, the
vast majority of those in attendance were at level
1 and 2 (low end)
e) Define key processes, tools and methods to use to
enhance capacity and ensure consistency
f) Develop a standard tool kit
g) Conduct a “gap analysis” from current state to
desired future state
BACE - Objectives
• Early Activities continued:
h) develop a forward action plan for the
Leadership Group, Steering Committee,
Sponsor to approve.
The IIBA Body of Knowledge was used as a
starting point for these activities.
BACE - Objectives
• Created a “straw model” for review and
discussion
– Currently the Leadership Group and the
Intellectual Capital Groups of BACE are working to
define the most realistic model for Government
BA’s.
• Encouraging support of the value of BA’s
within the Government organization.
BACE - Value
• Overarching Value to Government:
– Consistency of approach, methods, outputs
– Professional rigor around these methods and
practices
– Ensuring all steps are identified and followed for
solution support initiatives, change management
initiatives, solution acquisition and solution
development initiatives so that solution suppliers
have effective documentation and methods
BACE - Value
• Alignment across government to ensure all
business requirements are well and
thoroughly developed, and identified
• Standard templates and tools used to support
consistency and alignment
BACE – Where are we now?
• Charter
– Complete, signed off, implemented
• Boot Camp
– 64 of the 113 BA’s in the BACE have attended a 3
day boot camp, completed a self assessment,
completed an “after training” validation
assessment
• Governance Model
– Complete, signed-off and implemented
BACE – Where are we now?
• Tools, templates
– There is a project currently underway led by the
iCAP group (Intellectual Capital Committee) – April
to June of 2011 – proceeding well to date
• Professional Development Assessment
– Leadership Group reviewing at present
– Training plans to be determined as an outcome
– Funding has been secured for some training for
upcoming year
BACE – Challenges and Risks
• Like any new initiative, BACE has some tough
“start-up” challenges:
– There are a number of other Ministry wide initiatives
going on at the same time
• Workforce Adjustment
• LEAN initiative
• Etc
– BA’s across government are extremely busy and
mostly over-allocated to these new initiatives as well
as regular work – tough to get their time and
attention on BACE initiatives
BACE – Challenges and Risks
• Mentoring a challenge – very few level 4 and 5
BA’s in govt (they are mostly level 1 or 2) and
those few 4&5 BA’s are also over-allocated
and have limited capacity to mentor formally.
• Lack of access to BA’s for BACE further
development initiatives - too busy and no
time, even though they have a desire
• Supervisors, managers, directors not as
supportive as senior executives (DM’s, ADM’s).
BACE – Challenges and Risks
• Lack of common understanding of the value of
BA’s and the value of business analysis as a
function and tool.
• The term Business Analyst is used
indiscriminately across government – many
employees called BA’s but do not do authentic BA
work. Causes rifts re: levels and pay.
• Hard sell to get Public Service Commission to take
this on as a special designation (similar to what
has been done with Proj Mgrs).
BACE – Hopes, Dreams, Opportunities
• Start-up hiccups are normal – we’ll get over
them as we grow and mature
• Slow and steady wins the race
• iCAP group is very vibrant and passionately
engaged
• Strong support from Executive Sponsor and
DM’s
• Leadership Group is generally very supportive
BACE – Hopes, Dreams, Opportunities
• Those concerned, and those who “believe in
this” are working hard formally and informally
• Good strong BA network emerging
• Looking at greater and more innovative
collaboration and co-operation with local IIBA
Chapters.
– Sharing training opportunities, networking,
initiatives, knowledge resources
BACE - Overall
• We’re off to a strong start
• There are many, very high, mountains to climb
but there are place in place to address and to
take on these challenges
• Patience is needed – it’s a long road, and we
won’t get there quickly but we will get there!
• Do the right thing, right, the first time! (Take
the time to do it right)
BACE
Questions?
BACE
• Thank you for the opportunity to speak about
this important topic to the IIBA membership.