PMI-PBA PMI Professional in Business Analysis Questions and Answers

The next step that the business analyst should take after incorporating all the relevant feedback from stakeholders in the business analysis plan is to obtain approval on the plan. The business analysis plan is a document that describes how the business analysis activities will be performed, managed, and controlled throughout the project. It should be approved by the key stakeholders before the business analyst starts documenting or implementing the requirements. The approval process ensures that the stakeholders agree on the scope, approach, deliverables, roles, and responsibilities of the business analysis work. Starting documenting requirements without obtaining approval on the plan is not advisable, as it may lead to confusion, rework, or conflicts among the stakeholders. Storing the document for safe keeping is not a productive step, as it does not communicate or validate the plan with the stakeholders. Starting implementing the project without obtaining approval on the plan is not feasible, as it may result in wasted resources, missed expectations, or failed outcomes. References: Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide 1, page 29-30; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline 2, page 13.

Interface analysis is a technique that involves identifying and describing how a system or product interacts with other systems, products, or users. Interface analysis can help the business analyst to analyze the complex, in-house processes that are being converted into the new system by defining the inputs, outputs, functions, features, behaviors, and performance of each interface. Interface analysis can also help to ensure compatibility, interoperability, usability, and security of each interface. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 12; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 69.

 According to the PMI Guide to Business Analysis, a requirements review is a formal meeting where the requirements are presented and evaluated by the stakeholders, subject matter experts, and other relevant parties. The purpose of the review is to ensure that the requirements are clear, complete, consistent, feasible, testable, and aligned with the business needs and objectives. To prepare for the review, it would be best for the team to evaluate the requirements and highlight those that cannot be met or need to be deferred, as this would help to identify any gaps, risks, issues, or dependencies that need to be addressed or resolved before proceeding to the design phase. Preparing a test procedure, starting the design, or requesting a contract amendment are not appropriate actions to take before the review, as they could introduce errors, biases, or conflicts in the requirements. References: PMI Guide to Business Analysis, page 181-182.

According to the PMI Professional in Business Analysis objectives and content, a prototype is a tool that can be used to elicit, analyze, and validate requirements. A prototype is a representation of a solution that allows stakeholders to interact with it and provide feedback. By developing a prototype, the business analyst can gather functional requirements from the end user and ensure that the new interface supports their core business processes. A prototype can also help to reduce ambiguity, resolve conflicts, and increase stakeholder satisfaction. References:

PMI Professional in Business Analysis objectives and content: PMI-PBA Certification

PMI Professional in Business Analysis reference list: PBA Reference List

PMI Professional in Business Analysis study guide: PMI.com

The business analyst is using a bottom-up estimation technique, which involves breaking down the work into smaller components and estimating the time and resources needed for each component. Then, the estimates are aggregated to obtain the total estimate for the project. Bottom-up estimation is more accurate and reliable than other techniques, but it also requires more time and effort. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 15; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 85.

External dependencies are the factors or conditions that are outside the control of the project, but may affect its scope, schedule, cost, quality, or risks. External dependencies may include legal, regulatory, cultural, environmental, political, economic, or technological factors. An organization that is evaluating the possibility of conducting business internationally should investigate these factors at the onset of the initiative, as they may have significant impacts on the feasibility, viability, and desirability of the project. The other options are not factors that should be investigated at the onset of the initiative. Deliverables to be produced are the outputs or results of the project that meet the stakeholder requirements. Impacts on requirements baseline are the changes or deviations from the approved set of requirements that define the solution scope. Change control processes are the procedures and tools that manage how changes to the project scope, schedule, cost, quality, or risks are identified, evaluated, approved, implemented, and communicated. These factors are determined or addressed during the planning or execution phases of the project, not at the onset of the initiative. References: PMI-PBA® Examination Content Outline, page 13; PMI-PBA® Reference List, page 1, BABOK® Guide v3, page 39; 4.

 According to the PMI Guide to Business Analysis, planning the requirements change process involves defining how requirement changes will be identified, analyzed, approved, and communicated throughout the project life cycle. Communication is a key aspect of managing requirement changes, as it ensures that all stakeholders are aware of the status, impact, and rationale of the changes, and that they can provide their feedback and input. How requirement changes will impact the requirements baseline, how they will be implemented, and how they will impact the validation plan are all important considerations, but they are not part of planning the requirements change process. They are part of executing, monitoring, and controlling the requirements change process. References: PMI Guide to Business Analysis, page 286-287.

According to the PMI Guide to Business Analysis, a data dictionary is a tool that defines and describes the data elements and their attributes in a consistent and standardized way. A data dictionary can help to minimize the risk of misunderstanding or misinterpreting data items mentioned in the requirements documents, as it provides a common language and reference for all stakeholders involved in the project. A data dictionary can also help to ensure the quality, accuracy, and completeness of the data requirements. Planning a peer review, asking for a formal acceptance, or holding a workshop are other ways to improve the clarity and understanding of the requirements specification, but they do not address the specific issue of defining and describing the data items. References: PMI Guide to Business Analysis, page 169-170.

 A use case is a technique that describes how an actor interacts with a system to achieve a goal or perform a task. A use case consists of a main scenario and possible alternative scenarios that capture the normal, exceptional, and error flows of events. A use case can also include the acceptance criteria that specify the conditions that must be met for the use case to be successfully completed and accepted by the stakeholders. The test team can review the use cases to help identify the acceptance criteria for the solution, as they provide a comprehensive and realistic view of the expected behavior and outcomes of the system. The test team can also use the use cases to design and execute test cases that verify and validate the functional requirements and acceptance criteria of the solution. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 20; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 99.

A requirements traceability matrix is a tool that links the requirements to their sources, objectives, and deliverables. It helps to track the status, changes, and verification of each requirement throughout the project life cycle. If the requirements traceability matrix was not updated with the change, it could result in a key requirement being missed or overlooked in the implementation. The other options are not likely to cause this problem. The requirements management plan is a document that describes how the requirements will be elicited, analyzed, documented, validated, and managed. The scope management plan is a document that describes how the project scope will be defined, controlled, and verified. The schedule management plan is a document that describes how the project schedule will be developed, monitored, and controlled. References: PMI-PBA® Examination Content Outline, page 13; PMI-PBA® Reference List, page 1, BABOK® Guide v3, page 39; 6.

Requirements status during the project development cycle is the information that should be reported to the stakeholder who wants to know how the implementation of new features in the development of a product is progressing. The requirements status shows how many requirements are in each stage of the development cycle, such as analysis, design, development, testing, or deployment. This information can help the stakeholder understand the progress and quality of the product development and identify any issues or risks that may affect the delivery of the new features. Distribution of project changes is not relevant to the implementation of new features, as it shows how many changes have been requested, approved, or rejected for the project scope, schedule, cost, or quality. Number of requirements approved vs. number of requirements rejected is not relevant to the implementation of new features, as it shows how many requirements have been accepted or discarded by the stakeholders during the requirements analysis phase. Number of requirements tested and approved is not sufficient to report the implementation of new features, as it only shows how many requirements have passed the verification and validation process, but not how many are still in development or deployment stages. References: Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 161-162; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 19.

Requirements baseline is a document that contains the approved version of the requirements that serves as a reference point for further changes. Requirements baseline can help the business analyst to address the issue of underestimating the required budget and schedule by defining the scope, value, quality, risk, and feasibility of each requirement. Requirements baseline can also help to negotiate the scope in the contract with the customer by showing how each requirement aligns with their needs and expectations, and proposing possible trade-offs or alternatives. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 10; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 40.

A test case is a set of conditions or variables under which a tester will determine whether a system under test satisfies the requirements or works correctly. A test case is derived from the requirements and the acceptance criteria, and it specifies the input data, expected output, and execution steps. A test case is incorrect if it does not match the requirements or the acceptance criteria, or if it contains errors, ambiguities, or inconsistencies. If the business analyst receives a test result report that shows evidence of defective functionality, but verifies that the functionality behaves according to the requirements, the business analyst should first verify that the test case is incorrect. This can be done by reviewing the test case, comparing it with the requirements and the acceptance criteria, and identifying any discrepancies or flaws. By verifying that the test case is incorrect, the business analyst can avoid unnecessary changes to the requirements or the solution, and ensure that the test results are valid and reliable. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline3, page 21; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide4, page 101.

The next step that the business analyst should take after comparing the requirements to internal and external quality standards is to ensure that the requirements are validated. Validation is a process that confirms that the requirements align with the business objectives, stakeholder needs, and expected value of the project. Validation also ensures that the requirements are feasible, acceptable, and testable. Validation can be performed by using techniques such as reviews, walkthroughs, inspections, or demonstrations. Validation can help to identify and resolve any errors, gaps, or conflicts in the requirements before they are approved and implemented. Setting the priority of the requirements is not the next step that the business analyst should take after comparing the requirements to internal and external quality standards, as it is a process that determines the order and importance of the requirements based on their value, risk, urgency, or dependency. Priority can be set before or after comparing the requirements to quality standards, but it does not verify or confirm that the requirements meet the stakeholder expectations or project goals. Communicating the requirements to stakeholders is not the next step that the business analyst should take after comparing the requirements to internal and external quality standards, as it is a process that involves sharing and presenting the requirements to relevant stakeholders for feedback, approval, or implementation. Communication can be done before or after comparing the requirements to quality standards, but it does not check or ensure that the requirements are aligned with the business objectives or deliver value to the stakeholders. Baselineing the requirements is not the next step that the business analyst should take after comparing the requirements to internal and external quality standards, as it is a process that establishes an agreed-upon version of the requirements as a reference point for further changes or development. Baselineing can be done only after validating and approving the requirements, as it implies that they are complete, correct, clear, and consistent. References: Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide 1, page 113-114; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline 2, page 17.

The requirements approval process is documented as a measure of effective decision making that allows the business analyst to finalize the process for requirement approval. The requirements approval process defines the roles, responsibilities, criteria, methods, and tools for approving the requirements and ensuring that they meet the stakeholder needs and expectations. The requirements approval process should be agreed upon by the stakeholders and the business analyst before the requirements are elicited, analyzed, and validated. The requirements verification process is not a measure of effective decision making, but a technique for ensuring that the requirements are complete, correct, consistent, and clear. The requirements elicitation process is not a measure of effective decision making, but a set of activities for discovering, gathering, and understanding the stakeholder needs and expectations. The requirements validation process is not a measure of effective decision making, but a technique for confirming that the requirements align with the business objectives and deliver value to the stakeholders. References: Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 113-114 1; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 17 2.

 A requirements traceability matrix (RTM) is a tool that helps to track the relationship between the requirements and the product features. It can be used to determine the scope of a change request by identifying which requirements and test cases are affected by the modification of an existing feature. A project schedule and cost baseline are not directly related to the product features, but rather to the project management aspects. A requirements attributes table is a tool that helps to classify and prioritize the requirements, but it does not show the link between the requirements and the product features. A sequence diagram is a tool that helps to illustrate the interactions between the components of the product, but it does not show the traceability of the requirements. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, PMI Guide to Business Analysis2, Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide

Interface modeling is a technique to describe how different components or systems interact with each other and exchange information. Interface modeling can be used to depict how the solution will work with all of the company’s systems by showing the inputs, outputs, and dependencies of each system. Interface modeling can help to identify potential integration issues, gaps, and conflicts among the systems. The other techniques are not suitable for this purpose. Data modeling is a technique to define the structure, format, and relationships of data. Rules modeling is a technique to define the logic, constraints, and policies that govern the behavior of the solution. Enterprise modeling is a technique to describe the structure, culture, and processes of an organization. References: PMI-PBA® Examination Content Outline, page 11; PMI-PBA® Reference List, page 1, BABOK® Guide v3, page 54.

 A strategies and goals analysis is a technique that helps to ensure that the projects are aligned with the organization’s vision, mission, values, and strategic objectives. A strategies and goals analysis helps to identify the business problems or opportunities that the projects are intended to address, and to evaluate the expected benefits and outcomes of the projects. A strategies and goals analysis also helps to prioritize and select the projects that have the highest potential to improve the company’s performance and profitability. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 10; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 40.

 A user survey is a technique that can be used to determine how well the solution meets the business case. A user survey is a method of collecting feedback from the end users of the solution about their satisfaction, preferences, expectations, needs, problems, or suggestions. A user survey can help to measure the performance, quality, usability, and value of the solution and compare it with the expected benefits and outcomes defined in the business case. A user survey can also help to identify areas for improvement or enhancement of the solution. Asking the sponsor for feedback is not sufficient to determine how well the solution meets the business case, as it does not capture the perspective of the end users who are directly affected by the solution. Surveying the project is not relevant to this scenario, as it does not focus on the solution but rather on the project management processes and practices. Comparing the results of day-in-the-life (DITL) testing and integration testing is not effective, as it does not reflect the actual usage and experience of the solution by the end users after deployment. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 14; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 80.

A requirements traceability matrix (RTM) is a tool that helps to track the relationship between the requirements and the product features, test cases, and other artifacts. It can be used to ensure that all requirements have been met by verifying that each requirement has a corresponding feature, test case, and acceptance criterion. A RTM can also help to identify the risks associated with dependent requirements, but that is not its primary purpose. A RTM does not define a convention to map the requirements to their sources, but rather uses an existing convention or standard. A RTM does not address the responsibility owner for each requirement, but rather shows the status and priority of each requirement. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, PMI Guide to Business Analysis2, Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide

 The requirements baseline is a document that contains the approved and validated requirements that are used as the basis for developing the solution. The requirements baseline defines the scope and boundaries of the product development, as it specifies what the product must do, what features and functions it must have, and what criteria it must meet to satisfy the stakeholders’ needs and expectations. The requirements baseline also serves as a reference point for measuring the progress and performance of the product development, as well as for managing changes and resolving issues. The requirements baseline is established after the requirements have been elicited, analyzed, prioritized, and verified by the business analyst and the stakeholders, and it is formally approved by the project sponsor or other authorized person. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 18; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 92.

Nonfunctional requirements are the characteristics or qualities of a solution that describe how well it performs or operates. They include aspects such as usability, reliability, availability, scalability, security, performance, etc. The website crashing frequently indicates that the nonfunctional requirements related to availability and performance were not identified and tested properly. Quality attributes are another term for nonfunctional requirements, so option A is equivalent to option C. Critical business requirements and essential product requirements are both functional requirements, which describe what a solution does or provides, not how well it does it. Therefore, options B and D are incorrect. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 18; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 114-115.

Version control is a technique that helps to manage changes to requirements and ensure that only authorized changes are made. It also helps to maintain a history of requirements changes, which records the date, reason, and impact of each change. Tracking the status of each requirement helps to monitor the progress and completion of requirements throughout the project life cycle. These practices help to ensure the integrity of requirements and avoid confusion, inconsistency, or ambiguity. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 8; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 38.

 A configuration management system is a capability that will help ensure that the product conforms to approved requirements, changes can be documented, and the status of each change can be reported. A configuration management system is a system that consists of the processes, procedures, tools, and databases that are used to manage and control the configuration items of the project. A configuration item is any component of the project that has a defined and approved version, such as a requirement, a deliverable, a document, a model, a test case, etc. A configuration management system can help the business analyst and the project team to record, track, update, and maintain the configuration items throughout the project lifecycle, and to ensure their consistency, integrity, and traceability. A configuration management system can also help to handle changes, resolve issues, and measure the quality and performance of the project. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 24; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 133.

 The MoSCoW technique is a prioritization technique that helps to rank requirements according to their importance and urgency. The acronym stands for Must have, Should have, Could have, and Won’t have. This technique can help the business analyst to manage requirements by focusing on the most critical ones and minimizing the scope creep. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 19.

 A requirements specification is a document that describes the customer’s needs for a product and includes a functional model, a data model, and a glossary of terms. A standard operating manual is a document that provides instructions on how to use a product or service. A business case is a document that justifies the initiation of a project or investment based on its expected benefits and costs. A project charter is a document that authorizes the start of a project and defines its scope, objectives, and stakeholders. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 8; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 36.

A requirements traceability tool is a tool that provides combined functionality for business analysis and quality assurance activities. It helps to document and track the relationships and dependencies among the requirements, the sources of the requirements, and the project deliverables. It also helps to monitor the status, changes, and verification of the requirements throughout the project life cycle. A requirements traceability tool can also support the analysis, validation, and testing of the requirements, as well as the evaluation of the solution quality and performance12.

A functional specification tool is a tool that helps to define and document the functional requirements of a system or a solution. It describes the features, functions, behaviors, and inputs and outputs of the system or the solution. It also specifies the acceptance criteria and the expected results of the system or the solution. A functional specification tool is mainly used for business analysis activities, but not for quality assurance activities13.

A system use case modeling tool is a tool that helps to illustrate and communicate the interactions and scenarios between the users and the system or the solution. It uses diagrams, symbols, and text to represent the actors, use cases, relationships, and flows of events of the system or the solution. It also defines the preconditions, postconditions, and exceptions of each use case. A system use case modeling tool is mainly used for business analysis activities, but not for quality assurance activities14.

A solution quality assurance tool is a tool that helps to measure and evaluate the quality of the system or the solution. It uses various methods and techniques, such as testing, inspection, review, audit, and feedback, to check the quality of the system or the solution against the quality standards and criteria. It also identifies and reports any quality issues, defects, or errors of the system or the solution. A solution quality assurance tool is mainly used for quality assurance activities, but not for business analysis activities1 .

References: 1 PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 9-11; 2 Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 121; 3 Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 133; 4 Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 135; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 125

 Prototyping is a technique that involves creating a simplified or partial version of the solution to elicit feedback from the stakeholders. Prototyping can help the business analyst to deal with a complex project with stakeholders who find it difficult to articulate their needs by providing a visual and interactive representation of the solution. Prototyping can also help to reduce requirements risk by validating or verifying the requirements, identifying gaps or errors, and resolving ambiguities or conflicts. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 12; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 69.

The customer and the business analyst are collaborating in the development of a solution scope, which is a description of the boundaries, assumptions, and deliverables of the solution that will address the business need. It is important for the customer to spend the time required to provide, clarify, and elaborate requirements, because requirements are the basis for defining the solution scope. Requirements are the capabilities, features, functions, and qualities that the solution must have or meet to satisfy the customer and the stakeholders. By providing, clarifying, and elaborating requirements, the customer can help the business analyst to understand the problem, the needs, the expectations, and the value proposition of the solution. This will enable the business analyst to define a solution scope that is aligned with the customer’s vision and goals, and that is feasible, viable, and desirable. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 15.

User acceptance testing (UAT) is a process that should be done by the business analyst after the software developers have delivered a completed solution and the quality assurance team has passed it. User acceptance testing is a process of verifying that the solution meets the requirements and expectations of the end users and delivers value to them. User acceptance testing involves preparing test cases, scenarios, or scripts based on the acceptance criteria, executing them with representative users or stakeholders, collecting feedback, identifying defects or issues, and obtaining sign-off or approval for deployment. User acceptance testing can help to ensure that the solution is fit for use, suitable for purpose, and aligned with business objectives. Evaluating the solution against the project charter is not necessary at this stage, as it does not involve testing or validation by the end users or stakeholders. Evaluating the solution with the sponsor(s) is not sufficient at this stage, as it does not capture the perspective of all relevant users or stakeholders who will use or benefit from the solution. Conducting performance testing is not relevant at this stage, as it is usually done by the quality assurance team before delivering the solution to ensure that it meets the non-functional requirements such as speed, reliability, scalability, etc. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 14; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 80.

Decomposition model is a technique that involves breaking down a complex entity into smaller and more manageable components. Decomposition model can help the business analyst to estimate the effort associated with project requirements by providing a hierarchical structure of the requirements, showing the dependencies and relationships among them, and allowing for more accurate and detailed estimation at lower levels. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 13; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 71.

Before beginning requirements elicitation, the business analyst should document how the relevant systems interact. This is an important activity that helps to understand the current state of the systems, their interfaces, dependencies, and data flows. It also helps to identify the gaps, issues, and opportunities for improvement in the systems. Documenting how the systems interact can be done using various techniques, such as system context diagrams, data flow diagrams, or interface analysis12.

Preparing the requirements traceability matrix, defining how the solution will be evaluated, and drafting a high-level data model are not activities that should be initiated before beginning requirements elicitation. These activities are part of the analysis, validation, and management of the requirements, and they should be done after the requirements have been elicited12.

References: 1 PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 10-11; 2 Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 131-132

 Plurality is the decision role that was used by the project team to decide which requirements will be included in the next release. Plurality means that the option with the most votes is selected, even if it does not have a majority (more than 50%) of the votes. Plurality is a decision role that can be used when there are more than two options and a quick decision is needed. References: PMI Guide to Business Analysis, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.2.4; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, Domain II: Planning, Task 3.

 Root cause analysis (RCA) is a technique that can be used to investigate the problem of increased call interval in a new call management system. Root cause analysis is a method of identifying and resolving the underlying causes of a problem or an issue, rather than treating the symptoms or the effects. Root cause analysis involves asking questions, collecting data, analyzing evidence, finding patterns, drawing conclusions, and recommending solutions. Root cause analysis can help to prevent recurrence of the problem, improve performance, reduce risks, and increase customer satisfaction. Interviews are a technique that can be used to elicit information from stakeholders, but they may not be sufficient to investigate the problem in depth and find its root causes. Observation is a technique that can be used to understand how stakeholders perform their work in their own environment, but it may not be able to explain why the problem occurs and what causes it. Process modeling is a technique that can be used to represent how activities are performed in a process, but it may not be able to identify and resolve the problem in the process. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 15; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 95.

 A version control system is a tool that can be used to track requirements documentation. A version control system is a tool that allows the business analyst to manage and record changes to the requirements documentation throughout the project lifecycle. A version control system can help to ensure that the requirements documentation is consistent, accurate, and up-to-date. A version control system can also help to facilitate collaboration and communication among the team members and stakeholders who work on or use the requirements documentation. A version control system can also help to identify and resolve any conflicts or issues that may arise from concurrent or conflicting changes to the requirements documentation. An affinity diagram is not a tool that can be used to track requirements documentation. An affinity diagram is a technique that involves grouping similar or related ideas, issues, or data into categories based on their affinity or similarity. An affinity diagram can help to organize and analyze complex or diverse information, but it does not track or manage changes to the requirements documentation. A data dictionary is not a tool that can be used to track requirements documentation. A data dictionary is a tool that defines and describes the data elements and their attributes that are used or produced by a system or a solution. A data dictionary can help to standardize and clarify the meaning and usage of data elements, but it does not track or manage changes to the requirements documentation. A business rules matrix is not a tool that can be used to track requirements documentation. A business rules matrix is a tool that documents and organizes the business rules that govern or constrain a system or a solution. A business rules matrix can help to specify and communicate the logic and behavior of a system or a solution, but it does not track or manage changes to the requirements documentation. References: Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide 1, page 161-162; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline 2, page 19-20.

Power/interest grid is a technique that involves plotting the stakeholders on a matrix based on their level of power and interest in the project. Power/interest grid can help the business analyst to identify and categorize the stakeholders during the initial phase of a project by showing how influential and engaged each stakeholder is. Power/interest grid can also help to determine the appropriate communication and engagement strategy for each stakeholder group. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) ® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 9; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 61.

The business analyst should use a traceability matrix to help communicate the status of the requirements. A traceability matrix is a document that shows the relationships and dependencies among the requirements, and tracks their changes, verification, and validation throughout the project life cycle. A traceability matrix can help the business analyst and the project manager to monitor the progress and quality of the requirements, and to identify any gaps, issues, or risks. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 20; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 100.

 Engaging all stakeholders early in the requirements gathering phase is a good practice to ensure stakeholder satisfaction with the enhancement. By involving the stakeholders in the elicitation process, the business analyst can understand their needs, expectations, preferences, and constraints. By defining the acceptance criteria with the stakeholders, the business analyst can establish a clear and measurable definition of what constitutes a successful solution. Engaging all stakeholders early can also help to build trust, collaboration, and buy-in for the change. Requesting that the project manager identify all affected project stakeholders is not sufficient to ensure stakeholder satisfaction, as it does not involve direct communication with the stakeholders. Providing all signed-off project documentation to the stakeholders for information purposes only is not effective, as it does not allow for feedback or validation from the stakeholders. Soliciting feedback and adding requirements to the project backlog is not advisable, as it can lead to scope creep, rework, and delays. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 11; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 66.

 According to the PMI Professional in Business Analysis objectives and content, the business analyst should recommend the option with the highest functionality score and the lowest cost score. In this case, option A, 1, Custom solution, has the highest functionality score of 10 and the lowest cost score of 1. Therefore, it should be recommended. References:

PMI Professional in Business Analysis objectives and content: PMI-PBA Certification

PMI Professional in Business Analysis reference list: PBA Reference List

PMI Professional in Business Analysis study guide: PMI.com

 A product scope is a description of the features, functions, and characteristics of a product that meets the needs and expectations of the stakeholders. It defines what the product is and what it is not, and provides the basis for planning, developing, testing, and delivering the product. A product scope should align with the company’s objectives, which are the desired outcomes or results that the company wants to achieve through its products, services, and projects. Aligning the product scope with the company’s objectives helps to ensure that the product delivers value to the customers and the business, supports the company’s vision and mission, and contributes to the company’s strategic goals12.

To collaborate on a product scope that aligns with the company’s objectives, the business analyst should follow these steps12:

Identify and engage the relevant stakeholders, such as the human resources, engineering, and marketing departments, as well as the product sponsor, the customers, and the end users. Stakeholders are the individuals or groups who have an interest or influence in the product, and who can provide input, feedback, and approval for the product scope.

Elicit and analyze the business needs, requirements, and expectations of the stakeholders, using various techniques, such as interviews, surveys, workshops, observation, prototyping, and brainstorming. Business needs are the problems or opportunities that the product aims to address or exploit, and that justify the investment in the product. Requirements are the specifications or conditions that the product must meet or satisfy to fulfill the business needs. Expectations are the desires or wishes that the stakeholders have for the product, which may or may not be realistic or feasible.

Validate and prioritize the business needs, requirements, and expectations, based on their value, urgency, risk, dependency, and alignment with the company’s objectives. Validation is the process of ensuring that the business needs, requirements, and expectations are clear, complete, correct, consistent, and feasible. Prioritization is the process of ranking the business needs, requirements, and expectations according to their relative importance and impact on the product scope and the company’s objectives.

Define and document the product scope, using various tools, such as a product vision statement, a product scope statement, a product backlog, a product roadmap, and a product breakdown structure. A product vision statement is a brief and compelling description of the purpose, value proposition, and target market of the product. A product scope statement is a detailed and formal description of the product scope, including the product objectives, deliverables, features, functions, boundaries, assumptions, constraints, and acceptance criteria. A product backlog is a list of the product requirements, features, and enhancements that are prioritized and refined for development. A product roadmap is a high-level and strategic plan that shows the direction, timeline, and milestones of the product development. A product breakdown structure is a hierarchical and graphical representation of the product components and their relationships.

Communicate and manage the product scope, using various techniques, such as reviews, walkthroughs, inspections, audits, and change control. Communication is the process of sharing and exchanging the product scope information with the stakeholders, and ensuring that they understand and agree on the product scope. Management is the process of monitoring and controlling the product scope, and ensuring that it is delivered according to the plan and the company’s objectives. Change control is the process of evaluating, approving, and implementing any changes to the product scope, and ensuring that they are aligned with the company’s objectives.

Voting on the product’s highest-value business needs is not the best option, because it may not consider the perspectives and preferences of all the stakeholders, and it may not reflect the company’s objectives. Negotiating to best meet each department’s objectives is not the best option, because it may result in compromises or trade-offs that may not benefit the product or the company as a whole, and it may not align with the company’s objectives. Delegating the decision to be made by the product sponsor is not the best option, because it may not involve the participation and collaboration of the other stakeholders, and it may not align with the company’s objectives. References: 1 PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 10-11; 2 Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 133-134

The rationale for each requirement is the justification or explanation of why the requirement is needed and how it supports the business objectives. It should include the reasons and assumptions behind the requirement, as well as any constraints or dependencies that affect it. The product vision and operational relationships are part of the business case, not the rationale. The stakeholder impact and design decisions are part of the analysis and solution evaluation, not the rationale. The functional relationships and work breakdown structure code are part of the solution scope and architecture, not the rationale. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 17; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 113.

The first thing the business analyst should do immediately after the discussion with the project manager is to schedule time with the process owners. The process owners are the people or groups responsible for a specific business process or procedure that is affected by the project5. The business analyst needs to understand the current state of the processes, the pain points and opportunities, the requirements and expectations, and the impact of the project on the processes. By meeting with the process owners, the business analyst can establish a relationship, gather relevant information, and ensure alignment and collaboration. Putting the information into a project plan is premature, as the business analyst needs to conduct more analysis and planning before creating a project plan. Developing an issues log is not necessary, as there are no issues identified at this stage. Assessing the risks for the project is important, but it is not the immediate action, as the business analyst needs to understand the scope and objectives of the project first. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline2, PMI Guide to Business Analysis3, Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide4, What is a Process Owner? Definition & Responsibilities

 Asking stakeholders to vote on the requirements is a technique that the business analyst can employ to rectify the issue of not having enough resources to deliver all the requirements. Voting is a method of prioritizing requirements by asking stakeholders to rank or rate them according to their importance, urgency, value, or risk. Voting can help to identify the most critical or essential requirements that should be delivered first or within the available resources. Voting can also help to resolve conflicts or disagreements among stakeholders and reach a consensus on the priority of the requirements. Holding a brainstorming workshop to build the rationale for the requirements is not an effective technique to rectify the issue, as it does not address the resource constraint or the priority of the requirements. Brainstorming is a method of generating ideas or solutions by encouraging free and creative thinking from participants. Brainstorming can help to elicit or analyze requirements, but not prioritize them. Performing traceability to find out where the requirements originated is not a useful technique to rectify the issue, as it does not indicate the importance or value of the requirements. Traceability is a process of tracking the relationship between requirements and other project artifacts, such as design, test cases, or deliverables. Traceability can help to ensure completeness, consistency, and quality of the requirements, but not prioritize them. Surveying stakeholders on their likes and dislikes about the requirements is not a viable technique to rectify the issue, as it does not provide a clear or objective way of prioritizing the requirements. Surveying is a method of collecting feedback from stakeholders by asking them questions about their satisfaction, preferences, expectations, needs, problems, or suggestions. Surveying can help to validate or evaluate the requirements, but not prioritize them. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 15; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 95.

 Inspection is a technique or tool that is used to obtain acceptance of the delivered product. Inspection is a process that involves examining and measuring the product or its components against the predefined standards, criteria, or specifications, to determine its quality, completeness, and correctness. Inspection can help the business analyst and the project team to identify and correct any defects, errors, or deviations in the product, and to ensure that it meets the requirements and the stakeholder expectations. Inspection can also help to obtain the formal approval and acceptance of the product from the customer and other stakeholders, and to confirm that the product is ready for delivery or deployment. Inspection can be done using various methods, such as reviews, walkthroughs, audits, or tests. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 21; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 101.

According to the PMI Professional in Business Analysis objectives and content, a critical design review is a formal review that occurs after the completion of the design phase of a project. The purpose of a critical design review is to verify that the design specification meets the requirements and that the solution is feasible, cost-effective, and acceptable to the customer. A critical design review can help to establish an approved requirements baseline, which is a set of agreed-upon requirements that serves as a reference for further development and testing activities. References:

PMI Professional in Business Analysis objectives and content: PMI-PBA Certification

PMI Professional in Business Analysis reference list: PBA Reference List

PMI Professional in Business Analysis study guide: PMI.com

Verification is the process of ensuring that the requirements meet a quality checklist and conform to the specified standards, rules, and criteria. Verification can help the business analyst to ensure that all requirements meet a quality checklist before the development and testing phase by checking the completeness, correctness, clarity, consistency, and testability of each requirement. Verification can also help to identify and resolve any defects, errors, or ambiguities in the requirements. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 10; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 40.

 Measurable and testable requirements are requirements that have clear and specific criteria that can be used to verify and validate the product against the customer’s expectations. Measurable and testable requirements can help to avoid ambiguity, confusion, or disagreement between the customer and the company. If the customer’s acceptance test plan did not have measurable and testable requirements, it could result in a situation where the product was successfully verified against the acceptance test criteria, but the customer did not believe that the product met the requirements. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 10; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 40.

Business rules are statements that define or constrain some aspect of the business, such as policies, standards, procedures, regulations, or constraints. Business rules can be uncovered by asking about the reasons for choosing a particular course of action when modeling processes or analyzing tasks. By asking why a certain decision is made, what criteria are used, what conditions are applied, or what consequences are expected, the business analyst can elicit the business rules that govern the behavior or outcome of the process or task. Asking about tasks that overlap with each other, work that may be performed out of sequence, or task transitions that hinder organizational performance may help to identify issues or opportunities for improvement in the process or task, but they may not reveal the business rules that underlie them. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 15; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 95.

 The business analyst should determine if the defect is in the solution developed, in the original requirement, or in the test case. This criterion will help the business analyst to identify the root cause of the defect, and to decide the appropriate response to the defective test result. Depending on the source of the defect, the business analyst may need to revise the requirement, update the test case, or request a change to the solution. The business analyst should also communicate the defect and the response to the relevant stakeholders, and document the discrepancy report accordingly. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 25; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 140.

 A change-driven approach is the approach that best aligns with the business need for an organization that prefers taking an exploratory approach to finding the solution that best meets the business need. A change-driven approach is an adaptive and iterative approach that embraces changes and feedback throughout the project lifecycle. It allows the organization to explore different options and alternatives for the solution and deliver value incrementally and frequently. A change-driven approach is suitable for projects that have high uncertainty, complexity, or volatility in the requirements or the environment. A plan-driven approach is not the approach that best aligns with the business need for an organization that prefers taking an exploratory approach to finding the solution that best meets the business need. A plan-driven approach is a predictive and sequential approach that follows a detailed plan and minimizes changes and deviations from the baseline. It requires the organization to have a clear and stable vision of the solution and deliver value at the end of the project. A plan-driven approach is suitable for projects that have low uncertainty, complexity, or volatility in the requirements or the environment. A waterfall approach is not the approach that best aligns with the business need for an organization that prefers taking an exploratory approach to finding the solution that best meets the business need. A waterfall approach is a type of plan-driven approach that divides the project into distinct phases and completes each phase before moving to the next one. It does not allow for any changes or revisions once a phase is completed. A waterfall approach is suitable for projects that have very simple, well-defined, and fixed requirements and solutions. An analytical approach is not the approach that best aligns with the business need for an organization that prefers taking an exploratory approach to finding the solution that best meets the business need. An analytical approach is a technique or a method for solving problems or making decisions based on data, logic, and reasoning. It does not refer to a specific project management or business analysis approach. References: Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide 1, page 28-29; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline 2, page 13.

The change management plan outlines the process for managing changes to requirements, ensuring that any revisions are controlled and documented throughout the project lifecycle. References: PMI-PBA® Examination Content Outline, Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide.

The best course of action to take when the customer reports defects after implementation of the product is to compare reported defects with user acceptance test results. User acceptance testing (UAT) is a process of verifying that the solution meets the requirements and expectations of the end users and delivers value to them. User acceptance testing involves preparing test cases, scenarios, or scripts based on the acceptance criteria, executing them with representative users or stakeholders, collecting feedback, identifying defects or issues, and obtaining sign-off or approval for deployment. By comparing reported defects with user acceptance test results, the business analyst can determine whether the defects were already detected and resolved during UAT, whether they were missed or overlooked during UAT, or whether they emerged after UAT due to changes in the environment, configuration, data, or usage. This can help to assess the impact and severity of the defects and decide on the appropriate actions to address them. Escalating the issue to the project manager since the acceptance was given by the customer is not helpful, as it does not involve investigating or resolving the defects. Doing nothing since the solution is now the responsibility of the operations manager is not responsible, as it does not ensure customer satisfaction or solution quality. Involving the end users and planning a new round of acceptance tests to check the gaps is not feasible, as it may be costly, time-consuming, and disruptive to conduct another UAT after implementation. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 14; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 80.

Time-boxing is a prioritization technique that involves allocating a fixed amount of time or resources to each requirement or backlog item. Time-boxing can help the business analyst to review the amount of work the team is capable of delivering based on the approved project schedule by setting deadlines and constraints for each requirement or backlog item. Time-boxing can also help to focus on the most valuable and feasible requirements or backlog items and avoid scope creep or gold plating. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 11; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 66.

When a change request is received, the business analyst is responsible for analyzing the impact on business and underlying systems. The business analyst should assess how the change request will affect the business needs, objectives, and value, as well as the existing or planned systems, processes, and functions. The business analyst should also evaluate the feasibility, priority, and urgency of the change request, and provide recommendations and alternatives to the stakeholders. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 23; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 132.

 Quality function deployment (QFD) is a technique that involves translating customer needs or requirements into product features or specifications. QFD helps to relate the product features to customer value by using a matrix called a House of Quality, which shows how each feature satisfies a customer requirement, how important each requirement is to the customer, how well each feature performs compared to competitors, and how each feature affects other features. QFD can also help to identify gaps or opportunities for improvement in the product design. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 12; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 69.

 The technical staff and testing team from Company A are responsible for writing and coding the requirements and testing the new functionality. Responsible means that the person or group is assigned to perform the work or activity. The responsible role is often indicated by the letter R in a RACI matrix, which is a tool for identifying roles and responsibilities of stakeholders. References: PMI Guide to Business Analysis, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.2.3; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, Domain II: Planning, Task 2.

According to the PMI Guide to Business Analysis, a Pareto analysis is a tool that helps to prioritize problems or causes based on their frequency or impact. It is based on the Pareto principle, which states that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. A Pareto analysis can help to identify the high-priority changes needed to improve a service by showing which problems or causes account for most of the complaints or dissatisfaction. A work breakdown structure analysis, a flowchart, and a cause-and-effect diagram are other tools that can help to analyze a service, but they do not necessarily help to prioritize the changes needed to improve it. References: PMI Guide to Business Analysis, page 145-146.