Lessons

Learn exactly what you need to know to pass the PMI-PBA exam on your first try and add this newly-minted BA credential to your qualifications.

Today more than ever the world is moving towards project-based work. The jobs of business analysts and solution builders are intermingled with project environments and management of projects. PMI has recognized the need to educate and certify the role of the business analyst as viewed through the lens of the project. With the introduction of the PBA credential, PMI is formalizing the importance of BA work in the project management world. They have highlighted specific knowledge areas, skills, and published materials which describe the value of business analysis to projects, and built the new PMI-PBA certification around them.

As the nation's largest trainer on business analysis skills, nobody understands this evolution better than us. This PMI-PBA training course walks you through how PMI has constructed the certification, what material is covered on the exam, and why it matters to your job.

Increase your odds of passing the PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® the first time Advance your career opportunities and career path options in the business analysis profession Shorten study time by streamlining the recommended exam resources Run through simulated practice exams for the domains, tasks, knowledge, and skills Learn the essential areas necessary to pass the exam Master the 5 domains and 28 tasks that constitute the exam Conquer the 40 knowledge and skills Grasp the tasks for eliciting, analyzing, documenting, validating, and verifying requirements Become proficient with business analysis terminology Create a personalized test-taking strategy based on your strengths and opportunities

PMI-PBA Certification Boot Camp is designed to help you succeed on your first exam attempt. During each of the five domains identified in the PMI-PBA® Examination Content Outline, you will be continuously exposed to review questions to reinforce the information reviewed during the lecture and discussion portions. These review questions are comparable to the types of questions you will experience on the actual exam. This course has aligned the forty Knowledge and Skills within the five Domains to help you understand how they interrelate.

Who Should Attend

Anyone involved in business analysis and/or project work will see substantial career enhancement by earning the PMI-PBA®. A few of the most relevant professionals include:

• Business Customers, Users or Partners
• Business Analysts
• Business Systems Analysts
• Project Managers or Team Leaders
• Systems Architects or Designers
• IT Managers/Directors
• Systems or Application Developers
• QA Professionals
• Systems Testers
• Systems Analysts
• Anyone wanting to enhance their business analysis skills

Outline
1. Introduction: Identifying Key Requirements Management Definitions 
The field of business analysis is rich with terms, concepts, tools, techniques, and processes. This beginning section sets the foundation of key terms to know in order to prepare you for the five domain areas and forty knowledge and skills areas that are part of the exam:

• What is Business Analysis?
• What are the Roles of the Business Analyst?
• The Requirements Management Process
• Project Methodologies
• PMI's Code of Ethics

In the Introduction section you will gain skills from the following Knowledge Areas:

• Leadership principles and skills
• Project methodologies and how they impact requirements and business analysis practices
• Requirements types
• Systems thinking

Class Exercise: In this exercise participants will recognize and review key requirements management terms in order to understand the foundations of the business analysis profession.

2. Needs Assessment 
The first domain of the exam is where people begin their requirements process and the activities that lead to project success. Emphasis is placed on the processes used to define the business problem or opportunity. The Needs Assessment Domain encompasses 18 percent of the exam. In this section we review how to effectively perform these five tasks:

• Defining Business Problems or Opportunities
• Developing a Solutions Scope Statement or Business Case
• Determining the Business Problem or Opportunity Value
• Identifying Business Needs
• Identifying Stakeholders and Stakeholder Values

In the Needs Assessment section you will gain skills from the following Knowledge Areas:

• Political and cultural awareness
• Problem solving and opportunity identification tools and techniques
• Stakeholder analysis
• Valuation techniques

Individual and Class Exercise: In this exercise participants will review questions individually to reinforce the information reviewed during the Needs Assessment Domain, followed by discussions with the instructor and other class participants regarding the most correct responses.

3. Planning
In the Planning Domain your focus will shift to putting the proper requirements management activities in order. The person performing business analysis work will determine which tools, techniques, policies, or procedures are necessary to prepare the requirements management plan. The Planning Domain includes 22 percent of the exam. Attention is also given to planning for traceability, managing changes, controlling documents, and identifying acceptance criteria. In this section we cover these six planning tasks:

• Determining Business Analysis Activities
• Establishing Requirements Traceability
• Preparing the Requirements Management Plan
• Defining Requirements Change Control and Communication Processes
• Identifying Document Control Processes
• Specifying Business Metrics and Defining Acceptance Criteria

In the Planning section you will gain skills from the following Knowledge Areas:

• Collaboration tools and techniques
• Contingency planning
• Development methodologies
• Documentation management tools and techniques
• Elements of a requirements management plan
• Estimating tools and techniques
• Measurement tools and techniques
• Planning tools and techniques
• Quality management
• Scheduling tools and techniques
• Version control tools and techniques

Individual and Class Exercise: In this exercise participants will review questions individually to reinforce the information reviewed during the Planning Domain, followed by discussions with the instructor and other class participants regarding the most correct responses.

4. Analysis 
Analysis of the requirements involves eliciting requirements from stakeholders and making sense of what has been revealed. This domain includes performing the following requirements activities: eliciting, analyzing, decomposing, accepting, approving, specifying, and validating. The Analysis domain contains 35 percent of the exam. In this section we'll cover the following eight tasks:

• Eliciting and Identifying Requirements
• Analyzing, Decomposing, and Elaborating Requirements
• Evaluating Options and Decision-Making
• Allocating Requirements and Creating a Requirements Baseline
• Facilitating Stakeholder Consensus in order to Obtain Sign-off
• Creating Requirements Specifications
• Validating Requirements with Stakeholders
• Elaborating and Specifying Detailed Business Metrics and Detailed Acceptance Criteria

In the Analysis section you will gain skills from the following Knowledge Areas:

• Analytic tools and techniques
• Business rule analysis tools and techniques
• Data analysis tools and techniques
• Decision making tools and techniques
• Elicitation tools and techniques
• Facilitation tools and techniques
• Interface analysis
• Negotiation tools and techniques
• Prioritization tools and techniques
• Process analysis tools and techniques
• Root cause analysis

Individual and Class Exercise: In this exercise participants will review questions individually to reinforce the information reviewed during the Analysis Domain, followed by discussions with the instructor and other class participants regarding the most correct responses.

5. Traceability and Monitoring 
Identifying the status of requirements throughout the lifecycle of the project and communicating critical information related to requirements is an important factor for project success. This domain is concerned about managing, examining, and sharing requirements information with the project stakeholders. The Traceability and Monitoring Domain comprises 15 percent of the exam. This domain includes the following five tasks:

• Tracking the Status, Sources, and Relationships of Requirements
• Monitoring the Lifecycle of Requirements
• Updating the Status of Requirements and Communicating Requirements States to Stakeholders
• Using Communication Methods to Share Important Requirements Information and Status with Stakeholders
• Determining and Managing Change Impacts to the Requirements

In the Traceability and Monitoring section you will gain skills from the following Knowledge Areas:

• Backlog management
• Change control tools and techniques
• Communication skills, techniques, and tools
• Conflict management and resolution tools and techniques
• Organization assessment
• Reporting tools and techniques
• Requirements traceability tools and techniques

Individual and Class Exercise: In this exercise participants will review questions individually to reinforce the information reviewed during the Traceability and Monitoring Domain, followed by discussions with the instructor and other class participants regarding the most correct responses.

6. Evaluation 
The final domain topic examines if the delivered solution achieves the business need and satisfies the requirements. These activities could include solution testing, gaps analysis, and final sign-off. The Evaluation Domain comprises 10 percent of the exam. In this section we will explore the following four tasks:

• Comparing Solutions Test Results to Defined Requirements Acceptance Criteria
• Analyzing, Communicating, and Resolving Solution Gap Analysis
• Obtaining Stakeholder Sign-off and Moving Toward Deployment
• Measuring How Well the Solution Met Business Needs and Values

In the Evaluation section you will gain skills from the following Knowledge Areas:

• Lessons learned and retrospectives
• Validation tools and techniques
• Valuation tools and techniques
• Verification methods and techniques

Individual and Class Exercise: In this exercise participants will review questions individually to reinforce the information reviewed during the Evaluation Domain, followed by discussions with the instructor and other class participants regarding the most correct responses.

7. What to Expect on the Exam 
Now that you know the content expectations for the exam it's important to realize how to prepare for the exam and what to expect as you go through the application process. To ensure you successfully pass the first time, this section will cover:

• The PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA®)SM Application Process
• Exam Requirements
• Exam Overview
• Preparing for the Exam
• Understanding the Questions
• Taking the Exam
• General Tips to Help You Through the Process
• Final Practice Exam

Individual Exercise: In this exercise participants will take a portion of the final practice exam to determine specific areas of additional review and practice, as well as areas of strength. The final practice exam will be timed to simulate the actual exam. A review of correct responses and discussion will conclude this exercise.

Cancellation Policy

If a change needs to be made to your public course registration (cancel, transfer, or substitution) ASPE must receive written notice via email at customerservice@aspeinc.com or fax at 919-816-1710. If a cancel or transfer request is made less than 15 business days prior to the class start date, payment will still be due, no refunds will be issued and you will be charged a $200 change fee. Your paid tuition will be available for one year to be used as a credit towards another course of equal value; only one reenrollment opportunity is allowed. Failure to attend the course without written notification will result in forfeiture of the full course price. Student substitutions may be made at any time prior to the start of class free of charge. If ASPE is forced to cancel a course for any reason, liability is limited to the registration fee only.