Advanced Topics in Business Analysis Course Descriptor

Course Overview

This course provides a holistic view on the people, organisation, technology and information perspectives of business, factoring both external and internal factors, including industry standards, regulations, ethics, sustainability and diversity considerations. It addresses the concepts, theories, frameworks, methods, tools and techniques of identifying, capturing and analysing business requirements in relation to business strategies, stakeholders and business operations and processes. The learners will develop the knowledge and skills required to develop and evaluate practical, creative and financially sound solutions that address business problems and grasp new opportunities.

Through this course, learners will gain the skills to evaluate the impact of Use Cases on all stakeholders of a system. They will develop the knowledge and skills to produce a business case to scope a proposed project including business benefits and recommendations, and evaluate the impacts of Use Cases on stakeholders of the business solution. They will also develop the skills to evaluate and select suitable tools for the design, development, evaluation and implementation of a system, including process modelling, requirements gathering and management, change control, quality assurance, stakeholder management, and benefit realisation.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

Subject Specific Skills

Transferable and Employability Skills

Teaching and Learning

This course has a dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) page with a syllabus and range of additional resources (e.g. readings, question prompts, tasks, assignment briefs, discussion boards) to orientate and engage students  in their studies.

This is an e-learning course, taught throughout the year. This course can be offered as a standalone short course.

Teaching and learning strategies for this course will include:

• On-line learning
• On-line discussion groups
• On-line assessment

Students are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Learners are also expected to manage their self-directed learning and independent study in support of the course.

The course learning and teaching hours will be structured as follows:

• Off-the-job learning and teaching (12 days x 7 hours) = 84 hours
• On-the-job learning (24 days x 7 hours) = 168 hours (e.g. 2 days per week for 12 weeks)
• Independent study (4 hours per week) = 48 hours

Workplace assignments (see below) will be completed as part of on-the-job learning.

Indicative total learning hours for this course: 300

Assessment

Both formative and summative assessment are used as part of this course, with purely formative opportunities typically embedded within interactive teaching sessions, office hours, and/or the VLE.

Summative Assessments

Feedback

Students will receive formative and summative feedback in a variety of ways, written (e.g. marked up on assignments, through email or the VLE) or oral (e.g. as part of interactive teaching sessions or in office hours).

Indicative Reading

Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students; the indicative reading list provided below is for a general guide and part of the approval/modification process only.

• Paul, D., Cadle, J., & Yeates, D. (2020). Business analysis. BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
• Cadle, J., Paul, D., & Turner, P. (2021). Business analysis techniques: 123 essential tools for success. BCS, The Chartered Institute.
• Meyer, B. (2022). Handbook of requirements and business analysis. Springer.
• Leading Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. (2021). Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
• Quino, C. T. E. de, Robertson, R., & Robertson, R. (2018). Diversity and inclusion in the global workplace : aligning initiatives with strategic business goals (C. T. E. de Aquino & R. (Robert W. . Robertson, Eds.). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54993-4

Indicative Topics

Note: Comprehensive and current topics for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students; the indicative topics provided below are used as a general guide and part of the approval/modification process only.

• Strategic context of business analysis
• Business situation investigation
• Stakeholder analysis and management
• Requirements elicitation and management
• Business process modelling

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