2/9 Chapter 2 Competencies of a business analyst

Question 1

Competence has been defined by the Working Group on Vocational Qualifications(1986) as:
Select one:
1. The ability to do a particular activity to a prescribed standard
2. Behaving in a way that is adequate to perform the task
3. Having the skills required to do a particular job
4. Displaying the level of talent to fulfill a particular role.

Answer 1

The ability to do a particular activity to a prescribed standard

Question 2

When analyzing the competence of a business analyst there are three main groups of skills. They are:
Select one:
1. Technical skills, business knowledge and personal qualities
2. Management ability, professional techniques and business knowledge
3. Professional techniques, business knowledge and personal qualities
4. Programming skills, database knowledge, business knowledge and personality

Answer 2

Professional techniques, business knowledge and personal qualities

Question 3

Which of these is not classified as business knowledge?
Select one:
1. Supplier management
2. Management of business change
3. Principles of IT
4. Business finance

Answer 3

Professional techniques, business knowledge and personal qualities

Question 4

Which of these is classified under "Personal qualities"?
Select one:
1. Project management
2. Data modelling
3. Domain knowledge
4. Attention to detail

Answer 4

Professional techniques, business knowledge and personal qualities

Question 5

Which of these is not classed as a communication skill?
Select one:
1. Influencing
2. Collecting data
3. Building rapport
4. Listening

Answer 5

Collecting data

Question 6

Some decision-makers that a BA must influence are obvious, some are not. Which one of these is not obvious?
Select one:
1. Network of colleagues
2. Project sponsor
3. Governance committees
4. Steering group

Answer 6

Network of colleagues

Question 7

Business analysts often work in teams. This teamwork approach can incorporate many people. Which one of the following is the least likely to be a member of such a team?
Select one:
1. Business Analyst
2. IT Suppliers
3. Customers
4. Project Team Members

Answer 7

Customers

Question 8

Analysis involves many skills. Analyst behavior should include which one of the following:
Select one:
1. Digging past the surface for answers
2. Jumping to decisions quickly
3. Looking for the obvious
4. Accepting things at the face value

Answer 8

Digging past the surface for answers

Question 9

In describing the fundamental characteristics of leadership which of the following is the best description?
Select one:
1. Controlling and organizing people, skills and demand
2. Responding to situations in a positive and constructive manner
3. Managing change
4. Developing a vision and undertaking actions to achieve that vision

Answer 9

Developing a vision and undertaking actions to achieve that vision

Question 10

Which of the following does a business analyst not need a good working knowledge of when considering business finance?
Select one:
1. Budgeting and cash flows
2. Financial accounts (e.g. balance sheet, profit and loss account)
3. Staff recruitment costs and tax guidelines for depreciation
4. Financial analysis tools (e.g. ratio analysis)

Answer 10

Staff recruitment costs and tax guidelines for depreciation

Question 11

Subject matter expertise is best explained by which of the following statements?
Select one:
1. It is as understanding of how organisations behave
2. It is specialist knowledge taking domain knowledge to a lower level of detail.
3. It is an understanding of procurement processes and contract types.
4. It is a good general understanding of the business domain or sector.

Answer 11

It is specialist knowledge taking domain knowledge to a lower level of detail.

Question 12

A business analyst is expected to be familiar with IT principles. Which of these skills and knowledge are not necessary?
Select one:
1. To understand system development lifestyle and approaches
2. The ability to specify and write computer programs
3. Knowledge of operating systems, hardware and networks
4. Knowledge of trends and new opportunities that it brings

Answer 12

The ability to specify and write computer programs

Question 13

Most business analysis projects involve some restructuring of an organisation.This includes the following changes, except?
Select one:
1. Improving customer service
2. Removing handoffs
3. Centralizing a process
4. Re-costing a product

Answer 13

Re-costing a product

Question 14

Supplier management is one of the business knowledge competencies that a business analyst should have as they may have to deal with external suppliers. Which one of the following is not a type of contract that the analyst should be familiar with?
Select one:
1. Fixed price
2. Risk & Reward
3. Time and materials
4. Cost benefit

Answer 14

Cost benefit

Question 15

The business analyst needs to have a general understanding of project management. Which of the following areas are they not expected to understand?
Select one:
1. Quality & Risk management
2. Planning approaches
3. Project initiation
4. Human Resource Management

Answer 15

Human Resource Management

Question 16

Classroom based training has the below attributes, except which of the following?
Select one:
1. Allows skills to be learnt & practiced in a safe environment
2. Responsive to questions
3. Emphasis on technical skills
4. On hand tutor to help guide and support

Answer 16

Emphasis on technical skills

Question 17

Which of the following is not a required competency of a business analyst?
Select one:
1. Business Modelling
2. Test analysis & Design
3. Stakeholder analysis & management
4. Data modelling

Answer 17

Test analysis & Design

Question 18

Which competency consists of a set of practices & processes that lead to well-formed business & system requirements?
Select one:
1. Investigation Techniques
2. Facilitation skills
3. Strategy Analysis
4. Requirements Engineering

Answer 18

Requirements Engineering

Question 19

Which competency is associated with brainstorming & mind mapping?
Select one:
1. Benefits management
2. Investigation techniques
3. Facilitation skills
4. Business modelling

Answer 19

Facilitation skills

Question 20

How can competency NOT be developed?
Select one:
1. By purchasing qualifications online
2. By self study
3. Through workplace experience
4. By attending training courses

Answer 20

By purchasing qualifications online

Question 21

Which of the following are ALL classified as Business Knowledge?
Select one:
1. Business case development, supplier management and facilitation skills
2. Business case development, subject matter expertise and supplier management
3. Communication, business case development and supplier management
4. Communication, influencing and attention to detail

Answer 21

Business case development, subject matter expertise and supplier management

Question 22

Which one of the following competencies would be a good reason for a software development company, developing a package specifically for the hotel industry, to employ a business analyst who has been formally employed by a major player within the hotel industry for a number of years?
Select one:
1. Insider knowledge
2. Domain knowledge
3. Problem solving
4. Commercial contacts

Answer 22

Domain knowledge

Question 23

Which of the following is one of the competency categories that a business analyst should aim to develop?
Select one:
1. Supplier management
2. An understanding of the principles of IT
3. Business knowledge
4. Facilitation skills

Answer 23

Business knowledge

Question 24

Which of the following are NOT the categories of competency that a business analyst should aim to develop?
i)  Behavourial skills & personal qualities
ii) Techniques
iii)Project management
iv) Supplier management
v) Business knowledge
Select one:
1. iii & iv
2. i, ii, iii & iv
3. i, iii & iv
4. iii, iv & v

Answer 24

iii & iv

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT classified as a 'Business knowledge' competency for a business analyst
Select one:
1. Strategy analysis
2. Principles of IT
3. Domain knowledge
4. Supplier management

Answer 25

Strategy analysis