Stakeholder Analysis Inputs and Elements
What are the most commonly used stakeholder analysis techniques?
1. Acceptance and evaluation criteria definition 2. Brainstorming 3. Interviewing 4. Organization modeling 5. Requirements workshops
Which of these are elements of stakeholder analysis? 1. Determining which stakeholders have authority 2. Assessing each stakeholder's feelings about a project and about working with the project team 3. Obtaining stakeholders' financial support for business plans associated with projects other than the current project 4. Providing stakeholders with shares in the organization
1. Determining which stakeholders have authority - AND - 2. Assessing each stakeholder's feelings about a project and about working with the project team
What are 4 additional stakeholder analysis techniques?
1. Risk analysis 2. Scenarios, use cases, and user stories 3. Scope modeling 4. Surveys and questionnaires
Which are inputs for planning a business analysis approach? 1. The business need 2. Organizational process assets 3. The outputs of the stakeholder analysis 4. Business objectives 5. Expert judgment
1. The business need - AND - 2. Organizational process assets - AND - 5. Expert judgment
Which of these are inputs for stakeholder analysis? 1. The different units of an organization, and how they relate to one another and to customers 2. The procedure for cost accounting 3. The ways in which new personnel are recruited 4. The procedures, policies, templates, forms, and documents mandated by the organization
1. The different units of an organization, and how they relate to one another and to customers - AND - 4. The procedures, policies, templates, forms, and documents mandated by the organization
Which of these are roles of the project manager? 1. To identify other potential stakeholders 2. To make sure project goals are met 3. To decide which personnel will be used in the development of a product 4. To collaborate with the Marketing Department on a product's promotion 5. To provide project funding
1. To identify other potential stakeholders - AND - 2. To make sure project goals are met - AND - 3. To decide which personnel will be used in the development of a product
How would you describe the Elimination of Dominated Alternatives trade-off method?
A dominated alternative is any option that is inferior to another. An option can also be considered dominated if it offers very few advantages but significant disadvantages.
Risk Analysis
A preemptive technique of trying to decide what could go wrong with an initiative beforehand so as to mitigate possible negative impacts.
Requirements Workshops
A short, structured gathering of stakeholders in which the purpose is to define and finalize requirements.
Brainstorming
A technique of drawing on the diverse experiences and creative inputs of a group of people to generate many possible solutions to a problem.
What is a stakeholder map?
A visual representation of how stakeholders relate to proposed business solutions and to each other.
A business analyst sits down with internal role players and they each offer ideas as to who they think potential stakeholders might be. Identify the technique that is being used. A. Brainstorming B. Organizational modeling C. Risk analysis D. Scope modeling
A. Brainstorming
What are the 6 types of stakeholders who influence the BA approach selected?
A. Customer, Domain SME, End User, or Supplier B. Implementation SME C. Project Manager D. Tester E. Regulator F. Sponsor
What are the 3 techniques that can be used when planning a BA approach?
A. Decision Analysis B. Process Modeling C. Structured Walkthroughs
What are commonly used financial models when using the decision analysis technique?
A. Discounted Cash Flow B. Net Present Value C. Internal Rate of Return D. Average Rate of Return E. Pay Back Period F. Cost-Benefit Analysis
What are effective Trade-Off methods?
A. Elimination of Dominated Alternatives B. Ranking Objective on a Similar Scale
What is a decision tree used for in decision analysis?
A. Laying out a problem effectively B. Allowing you to fully analyze the possible consequences if a decision C. Providing the framework for quantifying the values of outcomes and the probabilities of achieving them D. Enabling you to make an informed decision, based on existing information
What are 3 important elements to consider when using the decision analysis technique?
A. Outcomes B. Uncertainty C. Trade-Offs
What should you consider when using the decision analysis technique?
A. Relevant values, goals, and objectives B. Type of decisions being considered C. Source of the uncertainty affecting the decision, and D. Consequences of each decision
Acceptance and Evaluation Criteria
Acceptance criteria identify which solutions will meet a stakeholder's requirements. Evaluation criteria narrow shortlisted solutions down to a single solution that a stakeholder will approve.
RACI Matrix C = Consulted
Any person or group who must provide input or be consulted, before or during task completion.
Organization Modeling
Assessing organizational structures to determine how different stakeholders interact, in accordance with their organizational roles. Usually, this is expressed as an organizational chart.
Which of these is an example of process modeling? A. You draw up a chart that maps all the departments of your organization, maps roles and functions to each department, and identifies interactions among them. You then assess roles to identify stakeholders. B. You draw up a chart that maps each of the organization's tasks in a work flow, and then consider each task and the associated roles to identify stakeholders. C. You draw up a chart that maps each staff member's qualifications, capabilities, and current earnings. You then consider how stakeholders might relate to your organization's personnel. D. You draw up a chart that shows your organization's finances over a set period. You then consider how stakeholders influence changes according to the organization's results for each fiscal year.
B. You draw up a chart that maps each of the organization's tasks in a work flow, and then consider each task and the associated roles to identify stakeholders.
You are constructing a RACI matrix to outline the responsibilities of identified stakeholders for a data system project. One role, a domain SME, will be required to advise the development team about how the system should function. How would this role be represented in a RACI matrix? A. Subject matter expert (R) B. Subject matter expert (A) C. Subject matter expert (C) D. Subject matter expert (I)
C. Consulted
At which layer of an onion diagram of stakeholder interactions would stakeholders be members of the creative team who design the product? A. The organization layer B. The layer representing external stakeholders C. The solution layer D. The layer representing the organizational unit that is affected
C. The solution layer
What are Scenarios, Use Cases, and User Stories used for in BA planning?
Consists of an actor, a description, and a benefit, and describes of the requirements a user has of a product.
The business analysis approach selected depends on the availability as well as the degree of involvement in the project of the _____________________.
Customer, Domain SME, End User, or Supplier
What planning approach matches the situation: A business analyst is hired by a large accounting firm to compare two possible business analysis approaches. A. Decision Analysis B. Process Modeling C. Structured Walkthroughs
Decision Analysis - Compare & contrast
What are the 4 typical elements of process modeling?
Decisions, Activities, Flow, Roles
What are typical process modeling elements used in stakeholder analysis? Hint: d,a,f,r
Decisions, activities, flow, and roles
What does the RACI Matrix identify?
Each letter identifies one of four roles that can be assigned to a potential stakeholder
What are additional process modeling elements used in stakeholder analysis?
Events, swimlanes, pools, and terminal points
The business analysis approach taken needs to be compatible with the implementation life cycle determined by the _______________________.
Implementation SME
RACI Matrix I = Informed
Person or group that must be briefed of the result after a task is completed.
RACI Matrix R = Responsible
Person or group that's responsible for performing a task.
RACI Matrix A = Accountable
Person who makes the decisions and who must answer for the success of a task. The role can be filled by only one person per task.
Stakeholder Matrix
Plots the influence a stakeholder might have on a solution against how the solution will affect the stakeholder.
What planning approach matches the situation: A business analyst is hired by a large accounting firm to identify how selecting a particular business analysis approach will work within the organization. A. Decision Analysis B. Process Modeling C. Structured Walkthroughs
Process Modeling - Define & record
Events, swimlanes, pools, and terminal points are all part of what portion of stakeholder analysis techniques?
Process modeling
This stakeholder's responsibility is to ensure that the planned business analysis approach is aligned with all the other project activities in the organization.
Project Manager
How would you describe the Ranking Objective on a Similar Scale trade-off method?
Rankings can be converted to a similar scale using proportional scoring. This sets the rate for the best outcome at 100 and the worst at 0. All the other outcomes are given a score according to where they fall between those two.
This stakeholder approves aspects of the approach or decisions made in the tailoring process.
Regulator
What do the 4 letters in the RACI Matrix stand for?
Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed
Scope Modeling
Scope modeling is a technique of determining the boundaries - or scope - of a project, usually with the help of a context diagram.
This stakeholder's availability and involvement with the initiative may determine the approach taken. They may also have specific needs and objectives that apply to the approach.
Sponsor
The ongoing process of identifying parties with a vested interest in a project and of factoring in their influence describes which type of analysis?
Stakeholder Analysis
What are 2 forms a stakeholder map can take?
Stakeholder Matrix & Onion Diagram
What types of information are provided by the stakeholder list and definitions?
Standard: Roles required, names and titles of stakeholders, location of stakeholders, and the category of each stakeholder. Additional: Number of people in a stakeholder role, description of their interest/influence in the project, special needs, authority level documentation
What planning approach matches the situation: A business analyst is hired by a large retail chain to elicit feedback from stakeholders on how a particular business analysis approach would perform for an initiative. A. Decision Analysis B. Process Modeling C. Structured Walkthroughs
Structured Walkthroughs - validate a created, selected, or tailored BA approach
This stakeholder's responsibility in the business analysis approach is to ensure that appropriate testing activities take place.
Tester
Which option is an aspect of the output of planning a business analysis approach? A. The specification of team roles B. The specification of analysis timing C. The specification of stakeholders' requirements
The specification of team roles
What is Decision Analysis used for in BA?
To contrast and compare available methodologies against the organization's needs and objectives.
What is Process Modeling used for in BA?
To define and record the BA approach
What are Structured Walkthroughs used for in BA?
To validate a created, selected, or tailored BA approach
Surveys & Questionnaires
Useful for identifying the requirements of groups of stakeholders.
Onion Diagram
Visual depiction of how involved each stakeholder is with a particular solution. Each layer represents a stage of the task with which an appropriate stakeholder can be identified. The 4 possible levels are; external stakeholders who are affected, organization, organization unit that is affected, and solution.