Process Mapping
Process Mapping is the analytical capability to illustrate and scrutinise a process within a business. It demands a precise understanding of various business components and their interactions. Equipped with this knowledge, a Business Analyst can establish areas for improvement, thereby optimizing productivity and efficiency.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to recognize the basic steps within a business process and document them using simple diagrams or flowcharts. You require clear instructions and guidance to capture each part accurately, focusing on completeness rather than analysis. This helps your team gain a shared understanding of how things work within the business.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to create basic process maps with guidance and identify key steps within a business process. You begin to recognize how different components connect, supporting simple analysis of where improvements may be made. This helps your team visualize processes more clearly and spot opportunities for greater efficiency.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to create clear and accurate process maps for moderately complex business processes, using the right tools and methods. You analyze these maps to identify bottlenecks or gaps, confidently engaging stakeholders to test and refine your understanding. Your work helps teams address inefficiencies and improve business outcomes.
Value Stream Mapping
Value Stream Mapping is a key capability in Business Analysis, enabling practitioners to visualize and understand a company’s processes. Through this specialized capability, analysts can identify waste points and areas for streamlining, enhancing overall organizational performance. Its impact is realized in improved efficiency, cost reductions, and commercially strategic decision-making.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to participate in Value Stream Mapping activities with guidance, helping to visualize simple business processes relevant to your team. You support data collection and contribute observations on where steps might be improved. Your involvement helps the team spot basic areas for increased efficiency and better workflows.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to contribute to value stream mapping activities under guidance, helping to map business processes and spot areas of waste. You use established templates and basic analysis techniques to capture process steps and identify simple improvement opportunities. This supports your team in making clearer recommendations that enhance efficiency and reduce unnecessary costs.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to independently create and interpret value stream maps to reveal inefficiencies and process gaps within your area of responsibility. You collaborate with stakeholders to gather insights and recommend practical improvements based on your findings. Your work enables better decision-making and delivers measurable benefits to operations and costs.
Use Case Development
Use Case Development is the adeptness to frame functional requirements in a user-oriented format. It involves creating clear, concise narratives of how a system or process should operate, focusing on user interactions. This critical capability directly impacts the efficacy of solution design and implementation in business analysis.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to identify basic user interactions and document simple use cases under guidance. You focus on capturing straightforward scenarios, using standard templates, to help clarify requirements for your team. Your work supports the business analysis process by ensuring essential user needs are visible during early solution design.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are starting to draft basic use cases with some guidance, focusing on mapping straightforward user interactions and system responses. You can capture simple functional requirements, though your scenarios may miss some details. Your contribution helps ensure requirements are understood and lays a foundation for more detailed analysis.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to develop clear, detailed use cases that accurately capture user interactions and functional needs. You work with stakeholders to shape realistic narratives that guide solution design. Your use cases help teams deliver solutions that meet business requirements and improve user outcomes.
Stakeholder Analysis
Stakeholder Analysis is the capability of identifying and assessing the relevance and influence of individuals or groups to a project or business objective. It involves the utilisation of strong communication and critical thinking abilities, managing expectations effectively to facilitate smooth execution. Done correctly, it helps to align business strategies, manage risk, and improve decision-making on a project-by-project basis.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to recognize key stakeholders for a project or business initiative with guidance from others. You record basic stakeholder information and begin to understand their interests and influence by asking questions and seeking input. This helps support clear communication and lays the groundwork for more detailed analysis as you develop your skills.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to identify key stakeholders and begin gathering basic information about their interests and influence on a project. You seek input from others to help clarify stakeholder roles and understand their expectations. This helps you contribute to more informed analysis and supports smoother communication within your project team.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to accurately identify and assess key stakeholders and clearly understand their influence on business objectives. You use effective communication to manage differing expectations and foster productive relationships. Your work helps ensure business analysis activities are aligned, reduces project risks, and supports sound decision-making.
Solution Assessment
Solution Assessment is the process of evaluating proposed alternatives in terms of business need whilst ensuring the option chosen aligns with strategic objectives. It involves detailed examination to foresee any potential consequences, risks or benefits. This methodology directs efficient decision-making, contributing significantly to achieving favourable business outcomes.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to support others by gathering relevant information and identifying basic options for meeting a business need. You can follow clear instructions to help assess proposed solutions and flag obvious risks or benefits. Your contribution supports more experienced colleagues in making informed decisions that align with organizational goals.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are beginning to compare different solutions against business needs, seeking guidance as you assess their risks, benefits, and alignment with strategy. You contribute basic analysis to help identify potential impacts of each option. Your input supports more experienced colleagues in choosing effective solutions for the organization.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to independently analyze and compare solution options, weighing up their fit against the business need and strategy. You consider risks, impacts, and benefits with attention to detail, drawing on your Business Analysis expertise. Your balanced assessments guide stakeholders towards sound, informed decisions.
Requirements Traceability
Requirements Traceability is the structured approach in Business Analysis that ensures every business requirement is linked with its origin and tracked throughout its lifecycle. It focuses on managing the dependencies, facilitating effective change control, and ensuring the alignment of solutions with business needs. The impact is improved project outcomes, accuracy in delivery, and risk mitigation.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to follow established processes to record and track business requirements from their source through to delivery. You support the team by maintaining clear documentation and updating simple traceability records as changes occur. This helps ensure requirements are not lost and supports project accuracy.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to track and link basic business requirements to their sources under guidance, and document changes as they happen. You focus on maintaining clear records and ensuring decisions made are traceable, helping your team manage shifts in project direction. Your contribution supports delivery accuracy and reduces missed requirements.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to consistently track and document the links between business requirements, their origins, and project deliverables. You manage dependencies and support timely change control even as business needs shift. This ensures your projects stay aligned with objectives and reduces the risk of missing or incorrect requirements.
Requirements Elicitation
Requirements Elicitation is a pivotal business analysis capability, facilitating understanding of business needs. It involves engaging with stakeholders to draw out information, allowing the formulation of clear, actionable project objectives. Mastery of this capability directly impacts the alignment of project outcomes with strategic goals.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to participate in requirements elicitation by asking basic questions and recording stakeholder responses. You need guidance to identify what information to seek and how to clarify details. Your contribution helps ensure the initial understanding of business needs is documented, supporting further analysis.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are beginning to use structured approaches to gather information from stakeholders, asking relevant questions to understand their needs. You can contribute to workshops and interviews, seeking clarification when necessary. Your efforts help ensure requirements are captured more clearly, supporting the project team to move forward with greater confidence.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to guide stakeholders through structured conversations to uncover precise business needs and requirements. You use a variety of proven techniques to ensure information is complete and clearly understood by all. Your approach helps shape well-defined project objectives that deliver real value to the business.
Requirements Documentation
Requirements Documentation is a crucial aspect of Business Analysis, exhibiting the ability to accurately capture, detail, and record the client's business needs. It involves interpreting and translating these complex demands into actionable information for stakeholders, highlighting the path to achieve business goals. This capability signifies effective communication, meticulous attention to detail, and strategic foresight, driving informed decision-making and streamlined project execution.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to clearly capture and record basic business requirements as shared by stakeholders, using standard templates and guidance. You make sure information is complete and accurate, asking questions when unsure. This supports your team with reliable records and helps keep projects on track from the start.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to capture and document basic business requirements with guidance from others. You contribute to drafting clear and organized documentation, focusing on accuracy and detail, while learning to reflect stakeholder needs. Your thorough approach helps teams make informed decisions and ensures requirements are not overlooked.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to gather and document requirements clearly, capturing all essential details from stakeholders and ensuring nothing critical is missed. You confidently translate business needs into thorough, well-structured documentation that is easy for both technical and non-technical audiences to follow. This helps teams deliver solutions that accurately meet client expectations.
Process Reengineering
Process Reengineering is a critical capability in Business Analysis. It involves analyzing and redefining operational workflows to enhance efficiency. This capability requires a deep understanding of business processes, paired with creative problem-solving abilities. The impact is an optimized business operation, paving the way for increased productivity and operational excellence.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to follow defined steps to map and document business processes under guidance. You support team members by gathering basic information and identifying straightforward opportunities for improvement. Your involvement helps ensure that process reengineering activities are accurate and well-documented for further analysis.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are starting to contribute to process reengineering by supporting the identification of inefficiencies in existing workflows. You help gather and analyze data under guidance, suggesting small changes to improve processes. Your efforts support more experienced colleagues and begin to help your team achieve smoother, more effective business operations.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to analyze and redesign complex business processes, identifying opportunities to streamline workflows and remove inefficiencies. You collaborate with stakeholders to map current states and design practical future solutions. Your work leads to measurable improvements in productivity, cost savings, and greater clarity across business operations.
Gap Analysis
Gap Analysis is the process of comparing actual performance or results with what was expected or planned within a business context. It encompasses the skills of identifying, documenting, and evaluating mismatches between the current state and desired future state. This ability subsequently facilitates informed decision-making, enabling targeted business improvements.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to recognize basic differences between where the business is now and where it wants to be. You gather straightforward information and assist in documenting simple gaps under close guidance. Your work provides early insights that help your team begin to plan business improvements.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to identify basic gaps between current and desired business states with guidance from others. You document these differences clearly and begin to consider their impact on business outcomes. Your work supports more experienced analysts in scoping improvement opportunities and shaping recommendations.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to independently identify and document gaps between current and target business states, using structured analysis techniques. You apply your findings to support clear recommendations and practical action plans. Your work helps your team make informed decisions, leading to noticeable and measurable business improvements.
Functional Specification Development
Functional Specification Development is a key discipline in business analysis. It involves extracting and analyzing client needs, and designing comprehensive, precise guideposts for system design and execution. High proficiency enables agile responses to client needs, directly enhancing business productivity and client satisfaction.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are learning how to gather basic requirements from stakeholders and document them in a clear, structured way. You follow established templates and seek guidance to ensure your specifications support the work of more experienced team members. Your careful attention helps to minimize misunderstandings during the early stages of business analysis.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to draft basic functional specifications with guidance, capturing straightforward client needs and documenting requirements clearly. You contribute to workshops and reviews, learning to translate business requests into system features. Your work helps project teams start with clarity, though you still rely on others to refine and validate your specifications.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to gather and analyze client needs to produce clear, detailed functional specifications that guide system design and development. You work independently on moderately complex projects, ensuring specifications are accurate, consistent, and practical. Your work helps teams deliver effective solutions quickly, improving project outcomes and client confidence.
Facilitation of Workshops
Facilitation of Workshops is a vital capability for Business Analysis, entailing the planning and management of interactive sessions to gather data and reach objectives. It involves understanding group dynamics, using participative processes and engaging participants to maximize output. This capability enhances stakeholder engagement and expedites decision-making processes, thereby driving organizational efficiency.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to support the facilitation of workshops by assisting with basic planning and helping to manage simple group discussions. You take part in preparing materials and ensuring participants are engaged, while learning from the process. Your contribution builds your confidence and helps the group work towards clear business analysis outcomes.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to organize and support business analysis workshops, ensuring basic structure and participation. You use simple facilitation techniques to help collect input and keep discussions on track. This allows you to contribute to stakeholder engagement and helps the team move towards agreed outcomes.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to independently plan and facilitate business analysis workshops that effectively gather input, clarify requirements, and build group consensus. You adapt your approach to suit different stakeholders and workshop objectives, using structured techniques to guide participation. Your workshops consistently produce clear outcomes that support timely, informed decision-making.
Agile User Story Development
Agile User Story Development is the capacity to articulate user needs in an Agile context. Utilising clear communication, it is about capturing and interpreting complex user requirements into manageable chunks. It enables concise story crafting to deliver product value, ensuring strategic alignment and fostering better team understanding. This capability enhances effective backlog management and promotes an iterative, customer-centric development approach.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to describe simple user needs in plain language and break them down into clear, basic Agile user stories under guidance. You support your team by capturing straightforward requirements and ensuring they are understandable for everyone involved. This helps establish a shared understanding and supports smooth backlog management.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to draft straightforward user stories under guidance, translating clear business needs into small, manageable tasks. You ask relevant questions to clarify requirements and ensure stories match basic Agile practices. Your work helps the team understand priorities and keeps projects moving, though you still rely on support for more complex situations.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to translate complex stakeholder needs into clear, actionable user stories that drive project progress. You confidently facilitate conversations to refine and prioritize stories in line with business goals. Your work ensures the backlog is well-managed and helps the team deliver meaningful, iterative value to customers.
Data Requirements Definition
Data Requirements Definition is the process of identifying, documenting and analyzing information needed to support business activities. With a deep understanding of the company, this involves clarifying distinct attributes, relationships, or constraints of the data. Through this capability, better decision making and operational efficiency is achieved, driving business growth.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to identify and record simple data needs for business tasks under guidance. You focus on capturing basic facts or details as directed, asking questions to clarify what is needed. Your work helps the team begin building a clearer view of essential business information.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to assist in gathering and documenting basic data requirements for business processes, often under guidance. You identify key data elements and ask clarifying questions, helping your team understand what information is needed. By doing this, you support smoother project delivery and more consistent decision making.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to clearly define and document data requirements by engaging with stakeholders to understand business needs. You analyze and organize information to capture key data attributes, relationships and rules in detail. This ensures others can use your work to make sound decisions and helps drive efficient, reliable outcomes for the business.
Change Readiness Analysis
Change Readiness Analysis is the capability of assessing an organization's preparedness for implementation of business changes. It involves business analysts using qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate people, processes, and technology in the context of potential transition. The impact facilitates informed decisions, minimizes resistance and shapes effective change management strategies.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to recognize when change readiness should be considered in business analysis activities. You support data collection and basic assessment of how people, processes, and technology may be affected by business changes. Your work helps identify early issues and ensures more senior business analysts can plan next steps.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are starting to assess how prepared people, processes, and technology are for business change by gathering information and sharing your findings with others. You use simple techniques to spot possible challenges, and you seek help from more experienced colleagues when needed. Your input helps your team plan for change and address basic risks.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to independently assess the organization’s readiness for change using both data and direct engagement with stakeholders. You carefully analyze how people, processes, and technology could be affected, and confidently recommend actions to address gaps. Your thorough assessments help leaders plan smooth transitions and reduce the risks of change.
Business Needs Analysis
Business Needs Analysis is the systematic review of a company's current operations to identify areas of improvement or inefficiencies. This capability involves critically assessing business processes, gathering and interpreting data, and presenting potential solutions. The impact is optimizing business performance, enhancing profitability, and driving innovation.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are beginning to recognize basic business problems and can help gather straightforward data or information from colleagues. You follow clear instructions to support simple reviews of business processes, showing curiosity about how things work. Your efforts help your team start to see where improvements might be made.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to contribute to business needs analysis by gathering information on business processes and recognizing clear areas for improvement. You support more experienced analysts in basic data collection and reporting, which helps to build your understanding of where efficiency and performance can be increased. Your input supports smoother team reviews and more focused solutions.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to independently analyze business operations to uncover underlying issues and opportunities for improvement. You use data and stakeholder input to recommend practical solutions that align with business goals. Your work results in more efficient processes and supports business growth and innovation.
Business Case Support
Business Case Support is a vital capability in Business Analysis, relating to aiding the development and review of business cases. It involves the comprehension of business objectives, identification of solutions, and the evaluation of their impacts and benefits. This capability supports informed decision-making, driving effective change and progress.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are learning to support business case work by gathering basic information, understanding business needs, and helping to organize relevant data. You listen to direction and assist more experienced colleagues to develop or review business cases. Your contribution helps ensure decisions are based on accurate and considered information.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are able to support the preparation and review of business cases by gathering information and identifying basic options. You follow guidance to link business needs with possible solutions and help assess the potential impacts. Your work contributes to more informed decisions and lays the groundwork for future improvement.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to support the development and review of business cases by clearly identifying business needs, assessing solution options, and evaluating their practical impacts. You apply business analysis techniques to gather relevant information and present balanced recommendations. Your input helps stakeholders make confident, well-informed decisions that align with business objectives.
Benefits Mapping
Benefits Mapping is a key capability in Business Analysis, facilitating clarity on the perceived advantages of strategic initiatives. It pertains to the identification, analysis, and alignment of project benefits with overarching business objectives. The proficiency to craft these maps fosters informed decisions, ensuring projects contribute effectively to organizational goals.
Level 1: Emerging
At a foundational level you are able to recognize the purpose of benefits mapping and can support others in identifying potential benefits within a project. You contribute by gathering basic information and helping to connect benefits to business goals under guidance. Your efforts help ensure benefits are not overlooked in early planning stages.
Level 2: Proficient
At a developing level you are beginning to support the creation of benefits maps by identifying and recording basic benefits linked to business objectives. You can contribute to mapping discussions and gather information from others, though you may need guidance. Your work helps clarify project value and supports better decision-making for your team.
Level 3: Advanced
At a proficient level you are able to create clear and detailed benefits maps that link project outcomes to business objectives. You work independently, collaborating with stakeholders to gather information and ensure benefits are well-defined and measurable. Your work helps others make informed decisions and improves alignment between projects and organizational goals.
