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Strategic Business Analysis
“Strategic Business Analysis is key
to improving business outcomes. It enables organizations to
efficiently move from strategy to successful project execution.”
Stuart Houlahan, CBAP, ITIL
Strategic Business Analyst
Portfolio Manager
Project Manager
2
Why am I presenting about strategy?
http://www.thestrategicba.com/
• Pre-Project Planning• Outcome focused analysis• Feasibility studies• Solution gap analysis• …The first piece of a puzzle
• Post-Project Analysis• Project completion analysis &
documentation• …The final piece of the puzzle
3
4
• What we deliver?
• How much will it cost?
• When it will be delivered?
• Whether the end result satisfies the true business need?
How do we successfully predict…
“Tell me what you NEED… not what you WANT” 5
The evolving role of the Business Analyst
• BA’s are being brought into the pre-project discussions earlier than before; allowing us to perform the level of detailed analysis required for success.
• Project Management Institute
• PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)®
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Begin Strategic Analysis as early as possible
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Requirements Analysis, Design, ExecutionConcept, Initiation
Requirements Analysis, Design, ExecutionConcept, Initiation, Strategic Analysis
Characteristics of a Strategic Business Analyst
• Excels at critical and analytical thinking
• Builds on corporate strategy
• Utilizes an iterative, outcome focused approach
• Creates crystal clear project scope documents
• Conducts in-depth solution analysis
• Delves deep into internal and the external needs
Characteristics of a Strategic Business Analyst (continued)
• Re-purposes tools & techniques from the BABOK
• Understands the problems and the motivations
• Develops detailed holistic GAP analysis
• Confirms findings with Feasibility Studies
• Strong consistent customer focus
• Communicates open and honest assessments
What problem are we trying to solve?
1. How are projects performing?
2. Aren’t there already many approaches?
3. How can a Strategic BA improve project outcomes?
“Tell me what you NEED… not what you WANT” 10
1. How are projects performing?
11
Chaos Report 2015: Modern Resolution
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1. How are projects performing? (continued)
Chaos Report 2015: Modern Resolution
2. Aren’t there already many approaches?
• SAFe, Prince2, Six Sigma, Lean Management, Lean Six Sigma, Agile Management, Total Quality Management, Just-In-Time, Kaizen, Hoshin Planning
• Doesn’t PMI do this?
• Project Management Professional (PMP),
• PgMP (Program Management Professional (PgMP),
• Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP)
They all have their place, but no process is more valuable
than to improve Pre-Project planning.13
But what if…We apply Agile principles to Pre-Project planning ?
14
2. Aren’t there already many approaches? (continued)
Choas Report 2015: Agile vs Waterfall
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3. How can a Strategic BA improve project outcomes?
Adopt a Strategic BA mindset
Develop strong executive stakeholder relationships
Strive for clarity in process diagrams
MoSCoW, SWOT, PEST, STEEP, STEEPLE
Write a compelling Project Initiation Document
16
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
Adopt a Strategic BA Mindset
• Excellent facilitator and ability to brainstorm new ideas
• Superior communication & presentation skills
• Business outcome vs project deliverable focus
• Maintain a customer centric approach
• Critical and analytical thinking
• Iterative approach & thinking
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#1
How can a Strategic BA improve project outcomes?
Adopt a Strategic BA mindset
Develop strong executive stakeholder relationships
Strive for clarity in process diagrams
MoSCoW, SWOT, PEST, STEEP, STEEPLE
Write a compelling Project Initiation Document
18
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
Develop strong executive relationships
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#2
Before the meeting…
• Book well in advance• Prepare a goal-oriented agenda• Send background materials 1 week before appointment• Have specific questions prepared• Build wide support, in advance• Plan the session, and the next…
Develop strong executive relationships (continued)
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#2
During the meeting…
• Clearly state expectations• Self-confidence is key• Be VERY well prepared, believe in your research • Have a plan, lead the discussion• Ask specific, prepared questions• Focus on business outcomes• Focus not business needs
“Tell me what you NEED… not what you WANT”
Develop strong executive relationships (continued)
21
#2
After the meeting…
• Summarize discussions ASAP• Record findings & Actions• Detail next steps• Clearly show progression of investigation • Refine plans and timelines during subsequent meetings
How can a Strategic BA improve project outcomes?
Adopt a Strategic BA mindset
Develop strong executive stakeholder relationships
Strive for clarity in process diagrams
MoSCoW, SWOT, PEST, STEEP, STEEPLE
Write a compelling Project Initiation Document
22
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
Strive for clarity in process diagrams
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#3
Would you show your Executive sponsors...
Strive for clarity in process diagrams (continued)
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#3
Provide clear, easy to understand high level work flow diagrams
• Clearly state the ‘Happy Path’ and
the not–so-happy path
• Identify the impact of items not in scope
• Use diagrams as a tool to build a
cohesive story
https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/templates/process-map/high-level-process-map-template
How can a Strategic BA improve project outcomes?
Adopt a Strategic BA mindset
Develop strong executive stakeholder relationships
Strive for clarity in process diagrams
MoSCoW, SWOT, PEST, STEEP, STEEPLE
Write a compelling Project Initiation Document
25
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
MoSCoW, SWOT, PEST, STEEP, STEEPLE
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MoSCoW provides a way to reach a common understanding on relative importance of delivering a story or other piece of value in the product. (BABOK v3)
#4
Image: https://online.visual-paradigm.com/diagrams/templates/moscow-method/moscow-prioritization-template/
MoSCoW, SWOT, PEST, STEEP, STEEPLE (continued)
27
#4
SWOT analysis can be used to:
• Evaluate an organization's current environment
• Identify the best possible solution
• Identify potential barriers to success
• Adjust and redefine plans
• Identify areas of strength
• Identify areas of weakness
Reference: IIBA BABOK v3, page 354
MoSCoW, SWOT, PEST, STEEP, STEEPLE (continued)
PEST
• Political, Economical, Social, and Technological
STEEP
• Political, Economical, Social, and Technological
PLUS Environmental
STEEPLE
• Political, Economical, Social, and Technological
PLUS Environmental
PLUS Legal and Ethical factors
28
#4
How can a Strategic BA improve project outcomes?
Adopt a Strategic BA mindset
Develop strong executive stakeholder relationships
Strive for clarity in process diagrams
MoSCoW, SWOT, PEST, STEEP, STEEPLE
Write a compelling Project Initiation Document
29
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
Write a compelling Project Initiation Document
Typically contain:
• Background information
• Included Scope
• Excluded Scope
• Benefits
• Cost
• Timeline
• Risks
• Roles & Responsibilities
• Project Team
• Project Control
30
#5
• Base scope on your options analysis
• Clearly state:• In scope, NOT in scope, and why
• Base statements on feasibility analysis
• Use diagrams to illustrate key points
• Be BLUNT.
What is impact of delays?
How will these risks be mitigated?
Don’t simply state as an assumption that resources
will be available. What is the impact if they are not?
How can a Strategic BA improve project outcomes?
Adopt a Strategic BA mindset
Develop strong executive stakeholder relationships
Strive for clarity in process diagrams
MoSCoW, SWOT, PEST, STEEP, STEEPLE
Write a compelling Project Initiation Document
31
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
How is the job market?
32
What are employers looking for?
A curious and tenacious nature: A self-starter motivated by learning something
new every day but also not afraid to call out what does not add up or question status quo.
You are Passionate: Ability to transform strategy & insight into compelling senior
leadership presentations… with a natural storytelling ability.
Eye for detail and a grasp of evolving market dynamics: You are able
to look at a problem from 20,000 feet and see its macro impact and at the same time be able
to dig into a large pile of data to develop your understanding at a micro level.
Outstanding communication and collaboration: The team is constantly in conversation with key
stakeholders and leaders in the organization, you are expected to have strong presentation skills, confidence in your
analysis and open minded approach to influence decision making.
A passion for market research, networking and strategic thinking: You enjoy digging deep into
research, reaching out to industry experts, getting the voice of the customer and suggesting a better way of doing
business.
33
Why now, what’s different?
• Technical advancements have made possible for businesses to get huge extremely fast
• Accelerating technology (Reference book Exponential Organizations, by Salim Ismail)
• Cannot happen without technology, it drives the growth, think of: Uber; Facebook; TED; Amazon
“Tell me what you NEED… not what you WANT” 34
Strategic Business Analysts are critical
• They decipher, investigate and define the new reality
• Use their analytical, investigative, and communications skills to build a high quality and focused pre-project planning documentation
• Must communicate highly complex scenarios clearly & with simplicity
“Tell me what you NEED… not what you WANT” 35
Strategic BA’s uncover and articulate the true value of a project proposal. It’s the first piece of the puzzle. It must be
carefully selected and accurately placed.
• IIBA BABOK, https://www.iiba.org/
• PMI PMBOK, https://www.pmi.org/
• The Standish Group, https://www.standishgroup.com/
• Mobius, https://www.mobiusloop.com/
• Blue Ocean, https://www.blueoceanstrategy.com/
• Strategyzer & the Business Model Canvas, https://www.strategyzer.com/
• 7 Elements of Strategy Execution, Mona Mitchell & David Barrett
• Exponential Organizations, by Salim Asmail
• The Age of Agile, by Stephen Denning
• Difference between SWOT, PEST, STEEP & STEEPLE Analysis http://pestleanalysis.com
• Lucidchart, https://www.lucidchart.com/
References
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