1/9 Chapter 1 What is business analysis?

Question 1

Which of the following has contributed to the growth of business analysis?
Select one:
1. The reduced cost of computer hardware
2. The increased significance of environmental issues
3. The shift of focus to tactical rather than technological solutions
4. The outsourcing of IT services

Answer 1

The outsourcing of IT services

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true about the scope & nature of business analysis work?
Select one:
1. Business analysis does not support user acceptance testing
2. Business analysis does not overlap with system analysis
3. Business analysis concludes with an understanding of the current business situation
4. Strategic analysis mostly lies outside the remit of business analysis

Answer 2

Strategic analysis mostly lies outside the remit of business analysis

Question 3

Which of the following is one of the viewpoints of the holistic approach to business analysis?
Select one:
1. Strategy
2. People
3. Culture
4. Change

Answer 3

People

Question 4

Which of the following is a specialist role of the business analyst?
Select one:
1. Documentation of business requirements
2. Identification of possible improvements
3. Investigation of current improvements
4. Benefits realisation

Answer 4

Benefits realisation

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true?
Select one:
1. There is no need for business analysis in the public sector
2. There is no standard definition of business analysis
3. There is no need to align IT business objectives
4. There is no dissatisfaction with IT’s contribution to business objectives

Answer 5

There is no standard definition of business analysis

Question 6

Which of the following statements is true?
Select one:
1. Outsourcing is often part of a drive to reduce costs
2. Outsourcing often gives the outsourcing provider access to specialist expertise
3. IT development is often outsourced to countries where development costs are higher
4. Outsourcing is not one of the factors that has led to the development of business analysis

Answer 6

Outsourcing is often part of a drive to reduce costs

Question 7

Which of the following statements about an IT outsourcing arrangement is true?
Select one:
1. Business representation during development is key
2. The external contractor must be overseas.
3. Requirements are simplified by language and culture
4. There is no need for a formal contract.

Answer 7

Business representation during development is key

Question 8

What must drive the development of IT systems?
Select one:
1. Competitor action
2. Desire for technology
3. Budget cuts
4. Business needs

Answer 8

Business needs

Question 9

Which of the following statements is false?
Select one:
1. The business requirements for an IT system must be defined.
2. Internal business analysts do not have to live with the impact of the actions that they recommend
3. The implementation of an IT system must be accompanied by appropriate business change.
4. External consultants are expensive and rarely transfer skills to internal staff

Answer 9

Internal business analysts do not have to live with the impact of the actions that they recommend

Question 10

How do business analysts normally contribute to strategic analysis and definition?
Select one:
1. They approve it
2. They design it
3. They define the business improvements and IT systems that implement it
4. They plan it

Answer 10

They define the business improvements and IT systems that implement it

Question 11

Who has traditionally analysed and specified IT system requirements i.e. concentrating on development of the solution?
Select one:
1. The systems analyst
2. The financial analyst
3. The business analyst
4. Senior management

Answer 11

The systems analyst

Question 12

Which of the following is outside the scope of business analysis?
Select one:
1. Performing system integration testing
2. Managing business benefits
3. Building the business case
4. Recommending business change

Answer 12

Performing system integration testing

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT explicitly considered in the holistic approach to business analysis?
Select one:
1. Organisational context
2. Processes
3. People
4. Society

Answer 13

Society

Question 14

Which of the following aspects would consider "motivation", when taking a holistic view of a business system?
Select one:
1. Purpose
2. People
3. Process
4. Promotion

Answer 14

People

Question 15

The working definition of a business analyst is seen as a role. How is that role classified?
Select one:
1. As a management role
2. As a technology role
3. As an advisory role
4. As an operational role

Answer 15

As an advisory role

Question 16

Which of the following is true about business analysis?
Select one:
1. Business analysis aligns the use of IT with business objectives
2. Business analysis is standardised across all organisations
3. Business analysis is often outsourced by organisations
4. The main focus for business analysis is on strategic analysis

Answer 16

Business analysis aligns the use of IT with business objectives

Question 17

Which of the following has not contributed to the growth of Business Analysis?
Select one:
1. The high cost of using external consultants
2. The growth of of the internet
3. The increased need to use IT for competitive advantage
4. The growth of outsourcing

Answer 17

The high cost of using external consultants

Question 18

Which of the following is core to the business change lifecycle?
Select one:
1. Business case
2. Business strategy analysis
3. User acceptance testing
4. Requirements engineering

Answer 18

Business case

Question 19

Which of the following is outside the scope of the definition of the business analyst role?
Select one:
1. A responsibility for investigating business systems
2. The identification of options for improving business systems
3. An external consultancy role
4. Bridging the needs of the business with the use of IT

Answer 19

An external consultancy role

Question 20

A holistic approach to business analysis considers people & processes. What else does it consider?
Select one:
1. Company location
2. Business strategy
3. IT system
4. Organisational context

Answer 20

Organisational context

Question 21

Business analysts are capable of fulfilling a very broad range of responsibilities, some of these are covered by two other disciplines that the business analyst role straddles. These disciplines are?
Select one:
a. Financial analysis and quantitive analyst
b. Financial analysis and data analysis
c. Strategy analysis and definition & IT systems analysis
d. Data analysis and IT systems analysis

Answer 21

Strategy analysis and definition & IT systems analysis

Question 22

Which one of the following areas is mainly associated with the traditional systems analyst role?
Select one:
1. Strategic alignment
2. Taking a holistic view of business change
3. IT system requirement specifications x
4. Business case development

Answer 22

IT system requirement specifications

Question 23

Which of the following statements about outsourcing systems development is correct?
Select one:
1. Development will be carried out in countries with more skilled labour which incurs higher costs
2. Rigorous, accurate and complete user requirements are no longer needed
3. Effective contract management between the two parties is unnecessary
4. It requires business representation within outsourcing organisations which has been a significant catalyst for development of the business analyst role

Answer 23

It requires business representation within outsourcing organisations which has been a significant catalyst for development of the business analyst role

Question 24

Which of the following statements is not true regarding the use of an external consultant to conduct a business analysis project?
Select one:
1. They will be familiar with the host organisation
2. They will have a broader business perspective
3. They will provide an objective view of the host organisation
4. They will provide expert advice

Answer 24

They will be familiar with the host organisation

Question 25

Which two disciplines are bridged by Business Analysis?
Select one:
1. IT Systems Analysis and Quality Assurance
2. Strategic Analysis and IT Systems Analysis
3. Design and Development
4. Business Case Development and Risk Analysis

Answer 25

Strategic Analysis and IT Systems Analysis