My Journey to Become a CBAP…

1. My Journey to Become a CBAP… Presented by: Paula R. Maychruk, B.V/TEd., CAPM, CBAP Business Analyst

2. First Steps… • Become an IIBA member • Download the BABOK and start reading • Find & join a CBAP study group, or start your own • Begin preparing the CBAP application

3. IIBA Membership Benefits • Free, unlimited access to the BABOK, job postings, and other website content • Local, national and international networking opportunities • Ability to influence the growth and direction of the business analysis profession

4. Local Chapter Membership Benefits • Discounts on local chapter events and training opportunities • Access to local CBAP study groups (next one in January, 2009) • Access to borrow exam prep materials • CBAP exam discount for the first 25 eligible applicants in Saskatchewan

5. Download the BABOK • Visit http://www.theiiba.org • Click on Professional Development • Choose Business Analysis Body of Knowledge from the menu • The final version (1.6) is available only to IIBA members • Solution & Assessment KA

6. Find a CBAP Study Group • Previous session ran January through June, 2008 • Next session will begin in January, 2009 • Please contact either Paula Maychruk or Cindy Radford if interested

7. Begin the CBAP Application • 21 hours of professional development in the last four years • Show expertise in 4 of 6 Knowledge Areas • Experience: • Resumes will not be accepted • Must be listed by project • 7,500 hours of BA-related work in the last ten years

8. Preparing the Application • Begin the application at least 2 months before you plan to apply • It can take anywhere from 6-10 hours to complete • Download and review the CBAP Handbook before you begin • Suggest you apply within 6 months of when you plan to write

9. Application Process • Can take up to 30 days to receive approval and your candidate ID • Must book (and pay for) the exam within 60 days of when you will write • Current application is paper-based • Online CBAP application expected to be available February, 2009

10. Certification Benefits • Designation recognized by international governing body, similar to PMI • Non-industry specific designation • Growing trend in BA job applications across Canada • Business Analysts in high demand

11. Exam Breakdown • 22.0% - Enterprise Analysis • 22.7% - Req. Planning & Management • 18.7% - Requirements Elicitation • 20.7% - Req. Analysis & Documentation • 10.7% - Requirements Communication • 5.3% - Solution Validation & Assessment

12. What Does the Exam Cover? • BABOK version 1.6 • Experience • Any BABOK reference material • Footnotes • Internet sources • Other books • “Common knowledge”

13. Exam Format • 150 multiple guess questions • 3.5 hours • Definition and scenario-based questions • Electronic exam is now available at the Wascana Testing Center in Regina!!!

14. Begin Studying the BABOK

15. My Study Plan • Read the BABOK once through (speed-read) to get a sense of the content • Through my study group, read in detail approx. 30-50 pages every 2 weeks • A month before the exam, started using the study guide to prepare • Two weeks before, began memorizing specific content

16. Study Tips • Break the BABOK into manageable pieces • Practice questions were very helpful • Reviewed all wrong answers in detail • Reviewed all other answer choices • Matrices can help organize information

17. Example Study Question • A type of modeling that provides a visual representation of the business area under consideration is a: • Component Business Model • Domain Model • Class Model • Use Case Model

18. Example Study Question • The person who is responsible for determining the technical direction or solution of the project is the: • Developer • Application architect • Database designer • Infrastructure analyst

19. Example Study Question • After the number of phases for a project has been decided, what should a BA do next? • Review the features & functions list • Map requirements to the respective design phases • Update the traceability matrix • Recommend improvements for the phases

20. Example Study Question • A requirements package may contain all of the following, except: • A partial list of requirements • Table of contents • Revision log • Work product

21. Context Diagram WBS PBS Example Matrix

22. Practice Exam Tips • Took practice exam 3 times • All the way through to see where I was at (before my in-depth preparations began) • In pieces as I prepped using the study guide • The night before the real test

23. Test Taking Tips • Activities, Tasks, Techniques – know that order in which they are performed and how they relate • Simplify the terminology for yourself • Any topics you are unfamiliar with – do detailed research to help solidify the concepts (e.g. business architecture, use cases, etc.)

24. Study Tricks • Types of Architecture: BIAST • Planning a Feasibility Study: PM BRAIN WORK • Elicitation Techniques: PRO BID FIRS • Verify Requirements = quality (clear, correct, complete, consistent – 4 c’s) • Validate Requirements = meet the need (solution-oriented)

25. Endorsed Training Opportunities in Regina • 4-day “Business Process Reengineering for Competitive Advantage” (January 13-16, 2009 - few seats remaining) • 3-day “Mastering Requirements Management with Use Cases” (early April, 2009) • 3-day “The Business Analyst’s Course” (late April, 2009) • 5-month “Master’s Certificate in Business Analysis” (next intake will be Fall, 2009)

26. Training Unplugged $159.00 USD 108 practice questions Sample exam – 75 questions Also offer a 3-day exam prep class Also offer online exam prep questions 30-day subscription = $99 USD 90-day subscription = $199 USD B2T Training $149.00 USD 300 practice questions Sample exam – 150 questions Also offer BA “certification” Exam Prep Materials

27. Upcoming CBAP Prep Sessions • December 9, 2008 • “Preparing the CBAP Application” • Mid-January, 2009 • CBAP Study Group Kick-off