business systems analysis

Delegates will learn
  • How to interview effectively
  • How to record the information collected
  • How to model the data used within the business
  • How to normalise business forms, reports and data
  • How to create a logicalised view of a business system
  • How to analyse gathered information
  • How to produce short term and long term recommendations
Style

This is an intensive 5-day non-residential course with a combination of instruction, in-class exercises and case study work that reflects current systems development work in a live environment. Great emphasis is placed on the practical application of analysis skills in the real world, mixed with elements of fun.

Target Audience
  • Business Analysts or Systems Analysts who need a logical approach to using structured analysis techniques
  • Business Analysts or Systems Analysts who need to cultivate a professional working relationship with business users
  • Business Analysts or Systems Analysts who have to understand, analyse and evaluate a business system
Topics

SETTING THE SCENE

  • Introduction
  • Business drivers for effective analysis
  • Role of the Analyst
  • Profile of an effective Analyst
  • Personal assessment

BUSINESS ANALYSIS OVERVIEW

  • Benefits of a structured approach to business analysis
  • Types of systems development lifecycle
  • Tuning the lifecycle to fit the project

INTERVIEWING FOR FACT FINDING

  • Data gathering methods
  • Preparing to interview users
  • Structuring effective user interviews
  • Questioning techniques
  • Recording information
  • Validating information gathered with the user population

DATAFLOW DIAGRAMMING

  • Defining business processes
  • Taking a Top-Down approach
  • The 4 types of Dataflow Diagram
  • Components of the Dataflow Diagram
  • Context Diagrams
  • Level Zero Diagrams
  • Defining Functional Primitives

DATA ANALYSIS – ENTITY RELATIONSHIP MODELING

  • Benefits of data modeling
  • Defining entity types
  • Defining attributes
  • Defining relationships
  • Producing the Entity Relationship Diagram

LOGICAL DATA ANALYSIS – NORMALISATION

  • History of Logical Data Analysis
  • The 3 commonly used Normal Forms
  • Moving from Un-normalised Form to 3rd Normal Form
  • Producing the Relational Data Model
  • Combining the Entity Relationship Diagram with the Relational Data Model
  • Validating the combined model

LOGICAL DATAFLOW DIAGRAMS

  • Logical versus physical processes
  • Benefits of the logical view
  • Steps involved in producing a logical Dataflow Diagram
  • Validating the logical model

PROBLEM ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES

  • Taking a systems view of life
  • SWOT Analysis
  • Pareto Analysis
  • Business Requirements Workshops

CAUSE AND EFFECT DIAGRAMMING

  • Components of the Ishikawa Diagram
  • Building an Ishikawa Diagram
  • Analysing an Ishikawa Diagram

ANALYSIS METHODS

  • Analysing the Physical Dataflow Diagrams
  • Analysing the Logical Dataflow Diagrams
  • Analysing the Data Models
  • Stakeholder Analysis
  • Critical Review Technique
  • Identifying Non-Functional Requirements

SUMMARY & CONCLUSION

  • Key learning points
  • The ISEB examinations explained
  • Review of ISEB syllabus
  • Personal Action Planning