Paula is a business analyst working for a small bespoke furniture manufacturing company. The newly appointed chief executive, Beverly, has asked Paula to lead an initiative to refresh and restate (where necessary) the organization's plan for the next financial year. Paula recently led a planning worksope with senior managers and has made the following notes about issues raised in the worshop: The company.... a) Aims to supply 10% of the local bespoke furniture market by the end of the financial year. b) Will Invest In local radio advertising and appoint a creative team to develop an appropriate advertisement c) Will await the final draft of the annual accounts before considering investing in a new range of high-tech chairs. d) Will adopt new 3D printing technologies to gain an advantage when quoting for bespoke furniture designs e) Recognises that bespoke furniture will always be more expensive than mass-produced, standard furniture Which of these notes will go into her MOST analysis?
Correct Answer: A
Explanation The notes that will go into the MOST analysis are a, b and d, as they correspond to the elements of Mission, Strategy and Tactics. The mission is to supply 10% of the local bespoke furniture market by the end of the financial year (a). The strategy is to adopt new 3D printing technologies to gain an advantage when quoting for bespoke furniture designs (d). The tactics are to invest in local radio advertising and appoint a creative team to develop an appropriate advertisement (b). Note c is not part of the MOST analysis, as it is not related to any of the elements. References: MOST Analysis - What It Is And How To Use It - BusinessAnalystMentor.com MOST Analysis - Part Of The Business Strategy Toolkit - Boardroom Advisors
Question 27
A business analyst working for a manufacturing company has been asked to support a new initiative to review and redesign the company's Process, enabling it is increase its production and expand into overseas markets. He is working in a team of business analytics and has been asked to do the following: a) Assist in the evaluation of the benefits defined in the benefits plan b) Lead requirements elicitation and clarification activities c) Deliver coaching, training and ongoing support for any changes to existing processes. Once the business analyst has completed these activities, which parts of the Business Change lifecycle will he have supported-?
Correct Answer: D
Explanation The parts of the Business Change lifecycle that the business analyst will have supported are Realisation, Design and Implementation. Realisation is the phase where the benefits defined in the benefits plan are evaluated and measured. The business analyst will support this phase by assisting in the evaluation of the benefits (a). Design is the phase where the elements that will support the change are defined and developed. The business analyst will support this phase by leading requirements elicitation and clarification activities (b). Implementation is the phase where the change is embedded into the organisation and its processes. The business analyst will support this phase by delivering coaching, training and ongoing support for any changes to existing processes . References: Business Change Lifecycle - YouTube The Change Management Life Cycle; Involve Your People to Ensure Success ...
Question 28
A large retail company has asked a business analyst to investigate a problem with declining sales Which of the following techniques is the business analyst MOST LIKLEY to use to identify underlying causes of this problem?
Correct Answer: D
Explanation A Business Activity Model (BAM) is a technique for modelling business activities within an organisation or project at a high level of abstraction. It helps to understand what an organisation does, how it does it, who does it, where it does it and why it does it. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as a BAM would help the business analyst to identify underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. A BAM would help to analyse how different activities within an organisation contribute or relate to sales performance and identify any gaps or issues that may affect sales performance. A BAM would help to compare current and desired situations or problems and identify what changes or improvements are needed to achieve desired situations or problems. Option A is not a correct answer, as customer journey maps are not a technique for identifying underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. Customer journey maps are a technique for visualising customer experiences with an organisation or product across different touchpoints and stages. They help to understand customer needs, expectations and emotions and how they are met or influenced by an organisation or product. Option B is not a correct answer, as scenario analysis is not a technique for identifying underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. Scenario analysis is a technique for exploring how different scenarios or situations could affect outcomes or impacts of an organisation or project. They help to test feasibility and desirability of different options or solutions under various circumstances or assumptions. Option C is not a correct answer, as use case diagram is not a technique for identifying underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. Use case diagram is a technique for modelling functional requirements of a system or product at a high level of abstraction. They help to understand what functions or features are required or provided by a system or product and how they interact with actors or users. References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 32.
Question 29
IT services has commissioned a new desktop PC replacement project that has been funded and running for three months, with a fully-engaged sponsor and programme manager appointed The head of IT services has not been involved beyond the initial project start-up interviews and has not attended any of the project meetings What position on the power interest and does the head of IT services currently occupy?
Correct Answer: A
A power/interest grid is a tool for analysing stakeholders based on their level of power or influence and their level of interest or involvement in the organisation or project. The grid has four quadrants: high power, high interest; high power, low interest; low power, high interest; and low power, low interest. The position of a stakeholder on the grid can help to determine the appropriate strategy for engaging and communicating with them. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as the head of IT services currently occupies the high power, low interest quadrant. This means that he has the authority or ability to affect the outcome of the project, but he does not show much concern or involvement in it. Option B is not correct, as some power and influence and some interest would place the head of IT services in the middle of the grid, which is not a distinct quadrant. Option C is not correct, as high power or influence and high interest would place the head of IT services in the top right quadrant, which is not consistent with his lack of involvement. Option D is not correct, as low power and influence but high interest would place the head of IT services in the bottom right quadrant, which is not consistent with his authority.
Question 30
A business analyst has been carrying out investigations into a problem situation However, it is clear to the business analyst that, even after a number of interviews with individual stakeholders, some stakeholder s views still conflict. Which investigation technique SHOULD be used to resolve the conflict and gain a consensus?
Correct Answer: D
Explanation A workshop is a technique for conducting group discussions and activities with stakeholders to elicit, analyse, validate and prioritise their views and needs. It helps to facilitate effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders and resolve conflicts or issues. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as a workshop would help the business analyst to resolve the conflict and gain a consensus among stakeholders who have different views after individual interviews. A workshop would help to bring together the conflicting stakeholders in one place and time and enable them to share and compare their views openly and constructively. A workshop would help to identify and address the sources and reasons of the conflict and find common ground and mutual understanding among stakeholders. A workshop would help to generate and evaluate different options or solutions that satisfy all or most of the stakeholder views and agree on the best one for further development and implementation. Option A is not a correct answer, as scenario analysis is not a technique for resolving conflict and gaining consensus among stakeholders who have different views after individual interviews. Scenario analysis is a technique for exploring how different scenarios or situations could affect the outcomes or impacts of an organisation or project. It helps to test the feasibility and desirability of different options or solutions under various circumstances or assumptions. Option B is not a correct answer, as questionnaire is not a technique for resolving conflict and gaining consensus among stakeholders who have different views after individual interviews. Questionnaire is a technique for collecting information from stakeholders by asking them predefined questions in written form. It helps to elicit quantitative or qualitative data from a large number of stakeholders in an efficient and consistent way. Option C is not a correct answer, as observation is not a technique for resolving conflict and gaining consensus among stakeholders who have different views after individual interviews. Observation is a technique for gathering information from stakeholders by watching them perform their tasks or activities in their natural environment. It helps to analyse how stakeholders work in practice and identify their implicit or tacit needs. References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 42.
