Underlaying Competencies

Question 1

Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving core competencies include:

Answer 1

• Creative Thinking,
• Decision Making,
• Learning,
• Problem Solving,
• Systems Thinking,
• Conceptual Thinking,
• Visual Thinking.

Question 2

Creative Thinking purpose is to:

Answer 2

Thinking creatively and helping others to apply creative thinking helps business analysts to be effective in generating new ideas, approaches, and alternatives to
problem solving and opportunities.

Question 3

Creative Thinking Definition is to:

Answer 3

Creative thinking involves generating new ideas and concepts as well as finding new or different associations between existing ideas and concepts. Creative thinking may involve combining, changing, and reapplying existing concepts or ideas. Business analysts can be effective in promoting creative thinking in others by identifying and proposing alternatives, and by asking questions and challenging assumptions.

Question 4

Creative Thinking Measurements are:

Answer 4

Measures of effective creative thinking include:
• generating and productively considering new ideas,
• exploring concepts and ideas that are new,
• exploring changes to existing concepts and ideas,
• generating creativity for self and others, and
• applying new ideas to resolve existing problems.

Question 5

Purpose of Decision making is to:

Answer 5

Business analysts must be effective in understanding the criteria involved in making a decision, and in assisting others to make better decisions.

Question 6

Definition of Decision Making is:

Answer 6

When a business analyst or a group of stakeholders is faced with having to select an option from a set of alternatives, a decision must be made on which is the
most advantageous for the stakeholders and the enterprise. Business analysts document decisions (and the rationale supporting those decisions) to use them as
a reference in the event a similar decision is required in the future or if they are required to explain why a decision was made.

Question 7

Measures of effective decision making include:

Answer 7

the appropriate stakeholders are represented in the decision-making process,
• stakeholders understand the decision-making process and the rationale behind the decision,
• the pros and cons of all available options are clearly communicated to stakeholders,
• the decision reduces or eliminates uncertainty, and any remaining uncertainty is accepted,
• the decision made addresses the need or the opportunity at hand and is in the best interest of all stakeholders,
• stakeholders understand all the conditions, environment, and measures in which the decision will be made, and
• a decision is made.

Question 8

Purpose of Learning

Answer 8

The ability to quickly absorb new and different types of information and also modify and adapt existing knowledge allows business analysts to work effectively
in rapidly changing and evolving environments.

Question 9

Definition of learning process

Answer 9

Learning is the process of gaining knowledge or skills. Learning about a domain passes through a set of stages, from initial acquisition and learning of raw facts,
through comprehension of their meaning, to applying the knowledge in day-today work, and finally analysis, synthesis, and evaluation

Question 10

When learning is improved?

Answer 10

Learning is improved when the learning technique is selected based on the required learning outcomes.

Question 11

Learning techniques to consider include:

Answer 11

• Visual: learning through the presentation of pictures, photographs, diagrams, models, and videos.
• Auditory: learning through verbal and written language and text.
• Kinesthetic: learning by doing

Question 12

Effectiveness Measures in Learning

Answer 12

• understanding that learning is a process for all stakeholders,
• learning the concepts presented and then demonstrating an understanding
of them,
• demonstrating the ability to apply concepts to new areas or relationships,
• rapidly absorbing new facts, ideas, concepts, and opinions, and
• effectively presenting new facts, ideas, concepts, and opinions to others

Question 13

Problem Solving purpose:

Answer 13

Business analysts define and solve problems in order to ensure that the real, underlying root cause of a problem is understood by all stakeholders and that
solution options address that root cause.

Question 14

Definition of problem solving is:

Answer 14

Defining a problem involves ensuring that the nature of the problem and any underlying issues are clearly understood by all stakeholders. Alternatives are measured against the objectives to determine which possible solution is best, and identify the value and trade-offs that may exist between
solutions.

Question 15

Measures of effective problem solving include:

Answer 15

• confidence of the participants in the problem solving process,
• selected solutions meet the defined objectives and solve the root cause of
the problem,
• new solution options can be evaluated effectively using the problem solving
framework, and
• the problem solving process avoids making decisions based on unvalidated
assumptions, preconceived notions, or other traps that may cause a suboptimal
solution to be selected.

Question 16

Systems Thinking purpose is to:

Answer 16

Understanding how the people, processes, and technology within an organization interact allows business analysts to understand the enterprise from a
holistic point of view.

Question 17

Definition of system thinking:

Answer 17

Systems theory and systems thinking suggest that a system as a whole has properties, behaviors, and characteristics that emerge from the interaction of
the components of that system. These factors are not predictable from an understanding of the components alone.

Question 18

Measures of effective use of systems thinking include:

Answer 18

• communicating how a change to a component affects the system as a whole,
• communicating how a change to a system affects the environment it is in, and
• communicating how systems adapt to internal and/or external pressures and changes

Question 19

Conceptual Thinking purpose:

Answer 19

Business analysts routinely receive large amounts of detailed and potentially disparate information. They apply conceptual thinking skills to find ways to
understand how that information fits into a larger picture and what details are important, and to connect seemingly abstract information

Question 20

Conceptual thinking definition is:

Answer 20

Conceptual thinking is about understanding the linkage between contexts, solutions, needs, changes, stakeholders, and value abstractly and in the big
picture. It involves understanding and connecting information and patterns that may not be obviously related.

Question 21

Measures of effective conceptual thinking include:

Answer 21

• connecting disparate information and acting to better understand the relationship,
• confirming the confidence and understanding of the concept being communicated with stakeholders,
• formulating abstract concepts using a combination of information and uncertainty, and
• drawing on past experiences to understand the situation.

Question 22

Visual Thinking purpose:

Answer 22

The ability to communicate complex concepts and models into understandable visual representations allows business analysts to engage stakeholders and help them understand the concepts being presented.

Question 23

Visual thinking definition

Answer 23

Visual thinking skills allow business analysts to create graphical representations of the concepts or systems being discussed. The goal of these graphical
representations is to allow stakeholders to easily understand the concepts being presented, and then provide input. Visual thinking requires that the analyst make abstractions and then find suitable graphic devices to represent them.

Question 24

Measures of effective visual thinking include:

Answer 24

• complex information is communicated in a visual model which is understandable by stakeholders,
• visuals allow for comparisons, pattern finding, and idea mapping with participants,
• productivity increases due to increased learning, quick memory, and follow through from effective visuals,
• stakeholders are engaged at a deeper level than with text alone, and
• stakeholders understand critical information which may have been missed if presented in textual content alone.