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Business Need Analysis

Determining scope, conducting a baseline analysis, compiling findings and making recommendations to address needs.
Level 1. Demonstrates introductory understanding, directing people to the appropriate source for further information.

BEHAVIORS

  • Assists in conducting a needs analysis.
  • Assists in compiling findings gathered through needs analysis process.
  • Identifies minor issues that are already known or documented.
  • Evaluates a simple process using a checklist.
  • Participates in documentation and record keeping for analyses.
  • Participates in structured brainstorming sessions to generate and prioritize ideas.

QUESTIONS

  • Describe a time you participated in a business analysis exercise.

Probing Questions

* What role did you have?

* What data gathering and analysis approach(es) did you use?

* How did you determine the business need you were analyzing?

* What did your analysis show?

* What recommendation did you put forward?

  • Discuss a time when you were part of a brainstorming needs analysis session.

Probing Questions

* What was the topic? Why were you a participant?

* What techniques were used?

* What value did you see from the process? Why?

* Was the session productive? To what extent?

* Were your ideas well considered?

Level 2. Applies the competency in common situations that present limited difficulties, working with a moderate level of guidance.

BEHAVIORS

  • Identifies the objectives for the needs analysis.
  • Selects tools and methods to gather information.
  • Identifies type of analyses required, e.g. audience, environment, culture, equipment, tasks, capability gap, etc.
  • Determines scope and context of business need based on needs analysis results.
  • Researches additional information required to complete needs analysis, as required.
  • Compiles findings from needs analysis to form the basis of recommendations

QUESTIONS

  • Describe a time you had to select the business analysis approach and tools to be used on a project.

Probing Questions

* What was the nature of the project and your role?

* How did you determine what types of tools to consider?

* Which tools did you select? Why?

* How did the tools fit into the chosen approach?

* Would you select the same tools again in this instance?

  • Explain a situation where you used the results of a needs analysis to decide the scope of the business analysis required.

Probing Questions

* What needs analysis tools and information did you consult?

* How did you determine which factors from the needs analysis were important in deciding the scope of the business analysis?

* What other factors came into play in deciding the scope?

* What scope did you settle on?

* How did this impact the amount of work necessary to define the business requirement?

Level 3. Applies the competency in the full range of typical situations, requiring guidance in only the most complex or new situations.

BEHAVIORS

  • Develops needs analysis objectives that address the requirements of multiple groups or individuals.
  • Determines business needs analysis methodologies adapting elements based on unique client factors.
  • Uses a variety of tools and methods to obtain required information.
  • Records results of analysis and systems for dissemination.
  • Develops and evaluates potential recommendations.
  • Applies a range of modeling techniques available to uncover different perspectives and levels of detail about the business requirements.

QUESTIONS

  • Describe a time where you had a number of client groups for a business analysis.

Probing Questions

      • How did this complicate the business analysis objectives?

* How did you determine the appropriate tools to conduct and support the analysis?

* Did you use a variety of tools? Why or why not?

* What unique client factors did you identify?

* Were the final business needs properly documented and supported by all clients?

  • Discuss a time you used modelling techniques to fill in information gaps from data gathering.

Probing Questions

* How did you decide modelling was necessary?

* What modelling techniques did you consider?

* How did you decide on a modelling technique?

* What modelling technique did you choose?

* Would you make the same choice again?

Level 4. Applies the competency in new or complex situations and advises others.

BEHAVIORS

  • Leverages industry best practices to create/adapt solutions and improve efficiency.
  • Engages multiple team members and stakeholders in conducting needs analyses across groups or lines of business.
  • Coaches others in business needs analysis methods, processes and systems.
  • Coordinates multiple needs analyses to attain overall objectives.
  • Manages processes, technology, data and people to leverage and align enterprise capabilities with new business models.

QUESTIONS

  • Describe a time you coached a less experienced business analyst on how to determine business needs analysis methods for different situations.

Probing Questions

* What analysis methods did you introduce to him/her?

* What complicating or situational factors did you identify that would impact the choice?

* How did you describe the steps required to review information and arrive at a preferred analysis approach?

* How did you measure the degree of understanding?

* Did you learn anything about business needs analysis from this exercise?

  • Describe a situation where you led a team of business needs analysts who operated across different organizational or business lines?

Probing Questions

* What factors did you consider when identifying potential team members?

* How did you identify which business needs analysis tools and information were appropriate?

* How did you control the actions of the team? Why was this necessary?

* What difficulties did you encounter in coming up with business requirements?

* What compromises were necessary and why?

Level 5. Develops new approaches and methods in the area. Is recognized as an expert within the organization.

BEHAVIORS

  • Evaluates needs analysis processes to determine if they continue to meet organizational objectives.
  • Establishes organizational guidelines for needs analyses including privacy, access to information, and approved methods and tools.
  • Develops organizational strategies based on results of previous needs analyses or systematic analyses of the full organization.
  • Works with business leaders to identify strategic initiatives and bring them from concept to implementation.

QUESTIONS

  • Describe a time you dealt with privacy considerations related to information and data requirements.

Probing Questions

* How did you ensure stakeholders’ data was secure?

* How did the privacy requirement effect the needs analysis approach and tool selection?

* What impact did the privacy requirements have on the willingness of others to participate in the process?

* What guidance did you provide your team members to ensure the objectives of the needs analysis were met?

* Were the business requirements high quality?

  • Tell us about a time when you led a process with the senior business managers to establish strategic level business requirements.

Probing Questions

* What steps did you take to engage them in the exercise?

* How did you ensure your approach to needs analysis reflected the strategic level of the discussions?

* What facilitative skills and approaches helped keep the focus on the HR impacts of the strategic direction?

* How did you ensure that the identified HR business requirements were valuable for the rest of the organization?

* Was the process repeatable for the next year?