The Masters Certificate in Business Analysis

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1 The Masters Certificate in Business Analysis Over 1300 graduates in Canada The University of New Brunswick, in partnership with Schulich Executive Education Centre, Schulich School of Business, York University, is offering their pathbreaking and comprehensive Masters Certificate in Business Analysis (MCBA) program in Saint John, New Brunswick beginning February 10, This program is the only Masters Certificate in Business Analysis program in Canada backed by not just one but six leading Canadian Universities and our program is endorsed by the IIBA Fundy Chapter, Saint John, NB. The Masters Certificate in Business Analysis focuses on the vital ingredients to be an effective BA from planning, communicating, eliciting, and analyzing to validating and managing the user requirements through the project life cycle. The result: projects with cost savings, accurate time to market, and most importantly, solutions that meet the organization s business needs. Why should you attend this program? Effective Business Analysts are very much in demand today in the technical arena as well as the business side of projects. But formal education is becoming a base requirement for all BAs the days of just winging it are over. Our Masters Certificate in Business Analysis builds the knowledge and skills of a successful and sought after Business Analyst a competent and confident professional who achieves successful business solutions and satisfied customers. Our program will help you: Expand and confirm the knowledge, tasks and techniques of an effective Business Analyst Become creative, innovative, and a critical thinker Master the communication, analytical, and modeling practices throughout the project life cycle Share and network with other business analysts Advance your career in business analysis Prepare for the IIBA certification process

2 Testimonials The training I received through the Masters Certificate in Business Analysis Program has given me a comprehensive view of industry standards in business analytics, along with the skills and tools to help manage project requirements. I am able to customize my approach as a Business Analyst on projects using the skills learned in the MCBA program. Scott Yvonne, Business Analyst Atlantic Lottery Corporation With each module I m learning new skills and tools that make me a better business analyst. Instruction is top notch and well delivered. The program schedule of 2 to 3 day modules over a 2 year time span is perfect to allow for minimal disruption of work and home life. Ron Gimby, Business Analyst Ambir Solutions Who should attend? Business Analysts from all industries who are responsible for identifying, analyzing and managing business requirements; analyzing business processes; and recommending solutions Business Analysts and their managers who are new to the role Business Analysts who lack formal training and need to close the gaps in their background Business or IT professionals who want to move into the Business Analyst role Project Managers Quality Assurance professionals Product Managers Program Key Points The program will be offered in Saint John over a period of two years and will be held on weekdays The program will consist of 8 modules (totaling 18 days of training). Upon successful completion, participants will be awarded the Masters Certificate in Business Analysis (MCBA) from The University of New Brunswick and The Schulich School of Business The modules will be offered every two months throughout the year starting in February, 2011 and excluding the summer months Participants can take individual modules to fill in gaps in their knowledge or to complete their MCBA certificate

3 Program Features Results-Oriented Applied Learning. Our modules are dynamic and interactive, exposing students to current business analysis tools and techniques applicable to a diverse range of industries. The climax of the Masters Certificate in Business Analysis program is the project simulation in module 8, which reinforces and consolidates your knowledge and skills as a professionally trained business analyst. Shared Knowledge. Participants proceeding through the 18-day program will benefit from the knowledge and experience of business analysts from different organizations and industries and form a business analysis community that will live on after graduation. Top Caliber Instruction. Our program is delivered by instructors who have a wealth of realworld expertise in business analysis. They use case studies and exercises to ensure learned skills are put into practice. Responsive Scheduling. Our program appreciates the work, family, and budget considerations of participants. The 18-day, 8 module course scheduled on weekdays over two years is an approach which is fair to both you and your employer. Course Descriptions Module 1: Course: Creativity and Critical Thinking Date: February 10-11, 2011 Think outside of the box and put creativity and innovation into your everyday business analysis practices and solutions. Learn proven techniques to enhance your personal creativity and strategic thinking skills Determine root causes Draft a problem statement that clearly defines your challenge Apply innovative thinking techniques to generate business systems solutions Identify the best solutions and create successful action plans Module 2: Course: Planning, Validating & Managing User Requirements Date: April 5-6, 2011

4 Develop a plan that includes determining and estimating the requirements activities a BA will perform on a particular project and how you will control and manage changes to the deliverables. Develop a high level test plan to verify and validate your user requirements and achieve quality performance. Understand the importance of the planning and managing aspect in the role of the Business Analyst Identify and analyze stakeholders Determine product scope Determine planning considerations Develop a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) that is requirements driven, focusing on planning, testing and managing responsibilities Select and estimate requirements activities in all phases of the project Develop a risk plan that is based on the WBS and the stakeholders Discuss the importance of testing and testing strategies Develop a high level test plan Identify, analyze, and manage requirements change Module 3: Course: Communications Input - Questioning. Listening. Facilitating. Managing Conflict. Date: June 7-8, 2011 Elicit user requirements, recommend the business solution and achieve commitment by effectively communicating and negotiating with all stakeholders, from user groups to technical teams. Work effectively with all communication styles Ask the right questions from the start Apply effective listening and clarifying skills Facilitate a group requirements session Learn to manage conflict and build consensus Module 4: Course: Eliciting User Requirements Date: September 20-12, 2011 Equip yourself with the ability to gather, document and identify user requirements.

5 The roles and responsibilities of the Business Analyst in the requirements gathering process Types of requirements Requirements gathering techniques Capture, clarify, confirm and prototype requirements Create excellent requirements Write clear, complete, and unambiguous requirements Identify high risk requirements and what to do about them Prioritize requirements Obtain requirements signoff Module 5: Duration: 3 days Course: Modeling the Business Problem and Solution Date: November 22-24, 2011 Fee: $ (No HST) Learn the key analysis models BAs should have in their toolkits, their purpose and strengths, and when to use each of them. These techniques will help you to analyze, formalize and validate business and system requirements. Techniques to document, analyze and redesign business processes How to build a logical data model to represent an organization s information requirements and business rules How to develop a Use Case Model, considered to be industry best practice in representing functional requirements Fundamental business rules concepts and the interrelationships between Business Rules, Business Processes, Logical Data Models and Use Case Models Module 6: Course: Communications Output: Planning, Writing, Presenting Date: January 26-27, 2012 Write readable documents and present clear requirements and solutions by defining your objectives and your audience. Develop a communications plan to get buy-in from stakeholders.

6 Write clear and concise requirements Assemble a requirements package, complete with executive summary and a plan for how requirements will be communicated Present requirements to different types of audiences and ensure that the contents are understood Create a communication plan detailing stakeholders, the information needed by each, and forms of communication Module 7: Course: Filling in the Gaps Date: April 17-18, 2012 This module is a full review of the material presented in the program. It provides an in-depth look at the Enterprise Analysis sections of the IIBA Body of Knowledge. It equips potential candidates to sit for the IIBA CBAP exam. Review of course material mapped to the IIBA Body of Knowledge Enterprise analysis activities and the BA role in Enterprise analysis A review of the CBAP exam process Module 8: Duration: 3 days Course: Simulation Date: January 5-7, 2012 Fee: $ (No HST) In this module, we introduce a real-world case study and establish teams for the case study. The teams develop the deliverables and present the completed case study, applying the knowledge and skills learned throughout the modules - planning, critical thinking, communicating, eliciting, and analyzing. Gain insight into different approaches to the case study Relate concepts taught in the course to the case study Produce and present the deliverables needed to complete the project successfully