C14 Delivering the Business Solution

Question 1

There are five stages in the business change lifecycle, these are; Alignment, Definition, Design, Implementation, Realisation.

What is the Alignment stage concerned with?

Answer 1

Alignment is concerned with ensuring the organisations objectives and strategy are aligned with the external business world, and that any proposed changes are aligned policies and architectures.

Question 2

There are five stages in the business change lifecycle, these are; Alignment, Definition, Design, Implementation, Realisation.

What is the Definition stage concerned with?

Answer 2

Definition is concerned with taking a closer look at a proposed business situation in order to uncover root causes of problems, conduct a thorough analysis, recommend relevant, feasible changes and define the requirements. The business analyst will have defined business and solution requirements by the conclusion of this stage.

Question 3

There are five stages in the business change lifecycle, these are; Alignment, Definition, Design, Implementation, Realisation.

What is the Design stage concerned with?

Answer 3

Design is concerned with the detailed specification, development of testing of the solution, including the business processes and related tasks, and the software needed to support them.

Question 4

There are five stages in the business change lifecycle, these are; Alignment, Definition, Design, Implementation, Realisation.

What is the Implementation stage concerned with?

Answer 4

Implementation is concerned with the planning and preparation for the deployment of business changes.

Question 5

There are five stages in the business change lifecycle, these are; Alignment, Definition, Design, Implementation, Realisation.

What is the Realisation stage concerned with?

Answer 5

Realisation is concerned with the review of the predicted business benefits with a view to identifying those that have been achieved and taking further action to support the achievement of those still need to be realised.

Question 6

What is the BA’s involvement in the Design stage of the Business Change Lifecycle?

Answer 6

Extensive testing or piloting of the revised business processes,

POPIT (4 View) as a useful aid for gap analysis,
people - skill development,
organisation - structures, measures and jobs (reconsider CSFs and KPIs),
business process design - detail should not be overlooked or postponed,
information and technology - involvement in design / development / testing,

Question 7

What is the BA’s involvement in the Implementation stage of the Business Change Lifecycle?

Answer 7

Understanding the emotional impact on business staff during this stage - SARAH model can be used here - shock, anger, rejection, acceptance, hope. BA’s can help staff through these emotions.

Question 8

What elements might you expect to see in a benefits plan? (realisation stage of the BC lifecycle).

Answer 8

Context / vision - this sets out the background for the change project and provides a wider business context for the benefits.

Benefits profiles - This is a full description of each of the benefits, including the type of benefit and benefit owner. Identifier / name / owner / stakeholders involved / measures and dependencies.

Benefits dependency network - shows the enabling and actual changes required to deliver the predicted business benefits.

Responsibilities - a list of all benefit owners and their responsibilities.

Tracking procedures - how the benefits will be tracked and reported upon.