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Course Code

DipBA

Duration

6 months, part time

Target Audience

The course is primarily aimed at the professional business analyst.

However, other types of delegates have benefitted from the diploma. Delegates who are not practicing BA’s should complete the course pre-assessment carefully to ensure that they will derive value from the diploma.

Typical delegates include business and systems analysts, test analysts, process specialists, IT consultants, independent contractors, package implementers, developers, analyst programmers, technical specialists, project managers, project sponsors, systems auditors and managers of IT people.

Comments from Past delegates

“Excellent learning- you definitely walk away with something you can use immediately in the work place.”
T.P.

“This was structured extremely well. I feel so much more confident, as a presenter.”
V.S.

“If you are a serious IT professional you need to do this course.”
D.C.

 “Valuable and essential in the BA field.”
V.N. “I've learnt more in 6 months than 4 years doing a B.Com informatics degree.”
N.E.

“To see how a business works from front to back, and back again, it's excellent.”
Anon.

“Very challenging, but the experience is immeasurable.”
Anon.

“Excellent, covered anything that may be expected of a BA in the market.”
D.M.

“Very hard work, but an excellent learning environment with lots of practical experience.”
R.F.

 “A wonderful learning experience. People at FTI are fabulous. I've enjoyed the stress.”
M.S.

“One of the few courses that will help in the real world.”
P.F.

“Fun, hard work and definitely career changing.”
Z.B.

This comprehensive, respected, part-time programme is the definitive qualification for Business Analysts

Learn to:

• understand the multi-skilled role and responsibilities of the modern professional Business Analyst

• deliver presentations, run workshops and JAD sessions, and conduct interviews

• have a strong problem-solving focus, and be able to think strategically about IT solutions

• gather and document functional, informational and non-functional requirements

• understand and be able to produce common BA artifacts, including business cases and functional specifications

• model processes, data, organisation and interfaces using strong modelling skills

Course Overview

The Diploma in Business Analysis is designed to develop confident, competent, multi-skilled professional Business Analysts, who are capable of reducing organisational risk, and increasing organisational value from the deployment of technology-based solutions.

Modern thinking now splits the analysis function and as a result, the traditional role of the Systems Analyst has evolved into two distinct new roles: that of the Business Analyst who often reports into the business, and the Solution or Application Architect, who is an IT specialist.

The main focus of the BA is to elicit and document requirements for new business solutions that usually have a technology base. The core body of knowledge is defined in the emerging BABOK™ (Business Analysis Body of Knowledge) which is defined by the IIBA® (International Institute of Business Analysis).

The Diploma in Business Analysis does not teach a specific dogma and methodology. Its intention is to develop thinking, confident Business Analysts with a strong grounding in selected, representative tools and techniques and an awareness of different project and software lifecycles.

This course is endorsed by the IIBA®.

"Make sure you manage information and data rather than let it manage you"
Edward de Bono

Duration

The course can be completed within approximately 6 months and comprises 8 full-day sessions and 21 evening sessions, with two half days for a presentation assessment and written exam. Added to the classroom time is the time spent by the delegate on homework, readings, research and assignments.
Certain courses such as the Saturday programme or in-house courses may vary in format.

"A good Business Analyst is someone who can sort through the chaos and ambiguity of
what is told to them by many people and exact a concise description of the business"
Advanced Strategies Inc

Course Delivery

The course comprises instructor-led training seminars, supplemented by readings, exercises and practical group work. Workplace assignments, coupled with rich feedback, ensure that the delegate is able to apply the skills directly in the workplace.

Various formats are available, ranging from public to in-house courses, as well as part-time, full-day or hybrid formats. In-house courses can be co-branded. Content and schedules can be customised. Seminars and workshops may be scheduled more or less frequently at the client's discretion, either after hours or during a working day.

"71% of projects that fail do so because of ineffective requirements"
2004 CHAOS Report, Standish Group

Course Prerequisites

To get the most value out of the course, it should be done at the right time in a person's career. Delegates and their companies will derive maximum benefit from the learning experience if they are able to apply the skills learnt in the workplace during the course.

Successful past candidates have been drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We therefore do not exclude any delegate who is strongly motivated to do the course, provided that they can show that they are able to find work-related projects, that involve requirements gathering and specification, while they are attending the course.

As a minimum, in order to be permitted to attend the Diploma, delegates should:

• have at least 4 years working experience

• be highly computer literate

• have at least a year's experience working with business applications, not just as users, but in a role where they are problem solvers, super-users, developers or analysts

• be doing business analysis work while on the course

• have the active support and mentorship of their managers

• have ready access to a PC and relevant software for course assignments

Prospective delegates should complete our course readiness questionnaire, with their managers, to ensure that they are in a position to derive the best benefit from the diploma. Delegates whose score indicates that they may experience difficulties in completing the course may be excluded.

"It does not seem to matter whether the BA resides in IT or in the business. What is critical
is a corporate investment in the [business analysis function] and sustaining it over time."
Mike Fitzgerald senior analyst Celent

Course Assessment

This course has a formal assessment mechanism. To obtain the diploma, delegates will need to complete and pass the following assessments:

• two written assignments (Business Case and a Functional Specification)

• a business presentation

• an examination

• contributions and participation

Alternative or additional assessments may apply to in-house courses.

"In virtually every organisation, the pivotal leadership role of the
business analysts is beginning to shape the future of IT"
Kathleen Hass PM Practice Leader, Management Concepts

Course Accreditation

FTI was the first IIBA® Endorsed Education Provider (EEP) in South Africa, and is the only EEP in SA to hold Charter status. This specific course is also endorsed by IIBA.

Faculty Training Institute was approved as an Approved Education & Training Provider with the ISETT SETA in January 2003. FTI is currently in the process of applying for full accreditation, conditional on the future structure of SAQA and the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). FTI is also actively engaged with various Skills Governing Bodies (SGBs) in ISETT to develop standards and qualifications for business analysts.

This course is widely recognized as a de facto qualification for Business Analysts by more than 100 companies throughout South Africa.

Academically and intellectually, the course assessment is done at senior undergraduate level, which would equate to level 5-6 on the NQF.  

Course Content