IIBA ECBA – Business Analysis and Strategy Analysis (IIBA – ECBA) Part 4

16. Define Change Strategy: Inputs and Elements

Define change strategy inputs and elements. After completing this topic, you should be able to recognize relevant considerations when developing the change strategy. The purpose of the change strategy is to define optional solutions and propose alternative approaches to manage the change. The inputs include Stakeholder Engagement approach, current state descriptions, the future state descriptions, and risk analyze results. The task itself is to define the change strategy. The outputs include the change strategy and the solution scope. The stakeholder Engagement approach provides inputs about how the stakeholder will be communicated and collaborated with. The current state description describes the context about the current state and includes assessments of internal and external inferences to the organization.

The future state description provides information about the context of the future state including both internal and external influences and the risk analysis results include the risk, likelihood and impact of the organization because of the change. Gap Analyzes compares current and future state capabilities. It identifies potential transition issues. For example, the current state processes may indicate an issue with bottlenecks increasing cycle time. The transition issue could include resistance to the change to the process. There are three interlinked area inputs task and outputs. The task defined change strategy has the inputs stakeholder Engagement approach, current state description, future state description, and risk analysis results. The outputs are a change strategy and solution scope. Inputs are Stakeholder Engagement approach, current state description, future state description, and Risk Analyzes results.

Gap analysis compares current and future state capabilities and identifies potential transition issues. A line graph is used to demonstrate the progress of current and future state. The difference between these two is shaded to highlight the gap. An enterprise readiness assessment determines the organization’s capacity for change, the ability to maintain the change, and the readiness of the organization, such as a training completion by end users. A solution is a response to a need. A solution scope describes the capabilities that a solution will cover.

Descriptions of out of scope solution components are also included. The strategy is made up of sequences of projects that will satisfy the organization’s need. The business case will list a series of options that must provide that the benefits outweigh the cost. The business analyst and team will consider many options before deciding on a strategy. The enterprise readiness assessment assesses the capacity for change, the ability to maintain change, and readiness. The solution scope and change strategy characteristics include the scope of capabilities the solution will cover. The strategy is made up of a sequence of projects and the business case must prove that benefits outweigh the cost. This include the organization’s readiness for the transition, the cost and investment to enable the change alignment with business objectives, the time frame to realize value and opportunity cost.

Opportunity cost describes the loss of a potential gain from another solution when one alternative is chosen. When reviewing transition to the new state, operations may be disrupted during the transition and both the current state and future state solutions may need to be run at the same time. The business analyst must plan releases and consider the budget deadlines. The business analyst would typically work with the project manager to assess budget and deadline impacts, resource constraints to be able to adopt the solution, training schedules, and the ability of the organization and end users to absorb changes.

If a number of changes are occurring at the same time, it may take longer to transition to the new state. Factors to consider when choosing a strategy include the organization’s readiness to transition cost and investment to enable change alignment with business objectives, time frame to realize value and opportunity. Cost operations may be disrupted during transition, and the business analyst must plan releases. Factors to consider are the budget deadlines, resource constraints, training schedules, and the ability to absorb changes.

17. Define Change Strategy: Guidelines and Techniques

Define change Strategy Guidelines and Techniques After completing this topic, you should be able to recognize how guidelines and techniques are used when developing the change strategy. The following guidelines will help the business analyst define the change strategy. The business analysis approach includes information about how the business analyst will describe the change strategy. Design options represent ways that the business needs may be satisfied.

Each solution will come with their own change challenges and will influence how the change strategy is impacted. Solution recommendations for the future state and recommendations from subject matter experts will help determine the types of changes that will be experienced by the organization. The following are techniques for defining change strategies benchmarking has information about best practices in the industry and will help guide decisions regarding the future state. SWOT analyzes the strengths, weaknesses of the organization and the opportunities and threats are used to make decisions about which change is most appropriate. The balanced scorecard will be used to determine the metrics that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the change strategy. Adoption rates will measure the uptake of the new solution by the end users.

Financial analysis determines the return on investment of the change score. Modeling will provide the boundaries of the change strategy. Estimation is used to determine the timelines for the change strategy. The business case documents the change strategy and addresses all options, including those options that are not recommended. The guidance and tools include the business analyze approach design options which represent ways that business needs may be satisfied, and solution recommendations.

Analyze techniques include benchmarking and market analysis, business capability analyzes, decision analysis, financial analysis, and SWOT analysis. Modeling techniques include business model canvas, organizational modeling, process modeling, and scope modeling. Group techniques include brainstorming, interviews and focus groups. Tools include a balanced scorecard estimation, functional decomposition, and mind mapping. Document reviews include the business case and Lessons Learned you.

18. Define Change Strategy: Stakeholders and Output

Define change strategy. Stakeholders and Output After completing this topic, you should be able to recognize the roles that stakeholders play in defining the change strategy. These stakeholders contribute to the change strategy. The domain subject matter expert will provide valuable information about the impact of the change to his or her respective areas. The tester identifies issues with a solution and to ensure the solution operates and meets a defined level of quality.

Operational support will provide information that will help in the transition to the new state regarding operational risk related to their ability to support the solution. The project manager plans and manages the work to complete the change. The sponsor is a very important element in change. He or she will be the champion of the change not only through funding but as a spokesperson for the change. The customer may be part of a focus group to provide input into the value that the solution provides.

The implementation subject matter expert has knowledge of the impact of the change strategy and will provide input such as requirements complexity. The regulator or compliance expert will review the strategy to ensure it meets regulatory requirements.

The supplier has experience in implementing the solution in other organizations and will likely be involved in implementing the change. The outputs from the activity include the change strategy. This is the approach that will guide the change at the solution scope. This will include the people, process and technology impacted by the change and what will be achieved through the change strategy.

Operational stakeholders include the domain subject matter expert who provides insight into change, the tester who ensure that the solution works operational support, who provides insight into the ability to support the solution after change, the project manager, who plans and manages work to complete change, and the sponsor, who authorizes funding and champions the cause. Other stakeholders include the customer, who may use the solution and may be part of focus or test group implementation subject matter expert, who provides insight into change, the regulator who ensures adherence to Loaves and the supplier, who may help implement change or solutions. The outputs are the change strategy, which is an approach that guides change, and the solutions go, which is achieved through the change strategy.

19. Exercise: Developing a Change Strategy

Exercise. Developing a Change Strategy After completing this topic, you should be able to recognize what’s involved in defining the change strategy. This involves the following task recognizing relevant considerations when developing the change strategy, recognizing how guidelines and techniques are used when developing the change strategy and recognizing the roles that stakeholders play in defining the change strategy.

The change strategy defines optional solutions and proposes alternative approaches to manage change. What are the inputs to the defined change strategy task? Here we have the options stakeholder Engagement approach, current state description, future state description, risk Analyzes results, elicitation results, and business requirements. Here they have the answers. Option One this option is correct. The Stakeholder Engagement approach provides information on how the organization will communicate and collaborate with stakeholders. Option Two this option is correct. The current state description is used when defining the change strategy because it describes the context of the current state and includes assessments of internal and external influences. Option Three this option is correct. One of the inputs of the defined change strategy task is the future state description because it provides information on the context of the future state.

Option Four this option is correct. The risk analyzed result is also used in the task since it includes the risk likelihood impact to the organization due to the intended change. Option Five this option is incorrect. Elicitation results are used as an input for the assessed risk task, not the defined change strategy task. Option Six and the last one this option is incorrect. Business requirements are used when defining the future state, not when defining the change strategy. The business analyst will consider many options before deciding on a change strategy. Which option will impact the change strategy that they choose to use? Here you have the options the organization’s readiness for the transition, the cost and investment to enable the change alignment with business objectives, the time frame to realize value, opportunity, cost capabilities and processes and assumptions. What do you think? Option One this option is correct. Readiness for transition will influence what kind of strategy the business analyst chooses. Option Two this option is correct. Before selecting a strategy, the cost and investment to enable the change will be considered.

Option Three this option is correct. The strategy’s alignment with the organization’s business objectives is another consideration to keep in mind. Option Four this option is correct. The time frame needed to realize value will impact the choice of change strategy. Option Five this option is correct. Opportunity cost describes the loss of potential gain from another solution when one alternative is chosen. Opportunity cost will be considered when a change strategy is selected. Option Six this option is incorrect. Capabilities and processes will be considered when the current state is being defined. Lastly, option seven is incorrect assumptions will not be considered for the change strategy. Completing the defined change strategy task delivers a number of outputs that a business analyst can use. What are the outputs of define the change strategy.

Here you have the options change strategy solution scope, strategies for mitigating risk and potential value. And here you have the answer. Option one this option is correct. The output of the defined change strategy task is the change strategy which will guide the change in the organization. Option two this option is correct. The solutions cup as an output of the defined chain strategy task will include the people, processes and technology that will be impacted by the change. It also describes what will be achieved through the change strategy. Option three this option is incorrect. Strategies for mitigating risk are outputs of the assessed risk task. And lastly option four this option is incorrect. Initial value is an output of the defined future state task.

20. Business Analysis and Strategy Analysis

Congratulations. You finished the business. Analysis and strategy. Analyzes course. This is the fifth course of the Business Analysis Certification program, which includes a total of 14 courses. The content is aligned with the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge Guide, and in this course we are going to look at the Knowledge area, Strategy, Strategy Analyzes, and the four tasks that make it up. This course covers everything from assessing the current state of operations, doing some visioning regarding a desired future state, determining what the risks are that will need to be managed, and then coming up with the best strategy for realizing the best desired future state. The first part of the course, called Strategy Analyzes, include the following content introduction to Strategy Analysis Strategy Analyzes and Business Analysis core Concept Model and exercises on understanding strategy analysis.

The second part of the course deals with current and future state analysis and includes analyze current state inputs and elements analyze current state guidelines and techniques analyze current state stakeholders and outputs define future state inputs and elements define future state guidelines and techniques define future state stakeholders and outputs and finally, an exercise on defining future state and current states.

The third part of this course is called Assess Risk and include information about assess risk inputs and elements, assess risk guidelines and techniques this is pretty standard assess risk, stakeholders and outputs and finally, an exercise on performing a risk assessment. The fourth and last part of this course, the one called Define Change Strategy, includes the following concepts define change strategy inputs and elements define change strategy guidance and techniques and finally, an exercise on defining change strategies. You can use this course to improve your business analysis knowledge and abilities and to obtain the certifications provided by the International Institute of Business Analysis. Thank you for watching and see you on the next course. You.