Question 1

Complete this sentence in regard to the level of abstraction. Requirements need to say _____________ needs to be done, not ________________ to do it.

Accepted Answer

Requirements need to say what needs to be done, not how to do it. Answer: A is incorrect. This isn't a valid statement about the level of abstraction, as the schedule isn't addressed. Answer: B is incorrect. This isn't a valid statement about the level of abstraction, as the resources and project team aren't addressed. Answer: D is incorrect. This isn't a valid statement about the level of abstraction, as the cost of the requirements is not addressed.

Question 2

One of the techniques to assess capabilities in an organization is to use SWOT. What does SWOT accomplish?

Accepted Answer

The best answer to what SWOT accomplishes is that it identifies how current capabilities (strengths and weaknesses) match up against the influencing factors (opportunities and threats). Answer: C is incorrect. While this answer does provide the key of what SWOT stands for, it's not the best answer for what SWOT accomplishes. Answer: A is incorrect. This answer does use the legend of SWOT, but it does not define the purpose of SWOT. Answer: D is incorrect. This isn't a valid statement about SWOT.

Question 3

You are the business analyst in your organization and you're working to organize the requirements for the business units in your company. Which technique is best suited for structuring requirements around the needs of each stakeholder group?

Accepted Answer

Organizational modeling is the best choice, as this structuring approach allows requirements to be structured around organizational units, stakeholders, and the relationships among stakeholders. Answer: C is incorrect. Data modeling isn't the best choice, as this approach maps the concepts relevant to the business domain, not the business units. Answer: D is incorrect. Functional decomposition is a popular modeling approach that breaks down an organization, product, scope, or similar concept. Each part in the decomposition can have its own set of requirements. Answer: B is incorrect. User stories describe the stakeholder objectives that the solution will support.

Question 4

Which of the following is used to define and document the business analysis approach?

Accepted Answer

Process modeling is used to define and document the business analysis approach. Answer: D is incorrect. Decision analysis is used to rate available methodologies against organizational needs and objectives. Answer: A is incorrect. Structured walkthrough is used as a means of validating a created, selected, or tailored business analysis approach. Answer: B is incorrect. Progressive elaboration describes the process of providing more and more information through incremental details. It is a form of deductive reasoning to go from a very broad set of requirements to the exact details on the requirements.

Question 5

In order to assess the capability gaps of an organization, you'll need all of the following inputs except for which one?

Accepted Answer

The solution scope is not an input of this process. The solution scope actually uses the output of the assess capability gaps process as one of its inputs. Answer: D is incorrect. The business need does serve as one of the three inputs of the assess capability gaps process. Answer: B is incorrect. The enterprise architecture does serve as one of the three inputs of the assess capability gaps process. Answer: A is incorrect. Solution performance assessment does serve as one of the three inputs of the assess capability gaps process.

Question 6

Anne is the business analyst for her organization and she's creating a textual requirement for her analysis. As part of the textual requirements, there are specific rules that Anne should follow. Textual requirements must always address what three things in regard to the requirements?

Accepted Answer

Of all the choices, only this answer defines the three requirements of the textual requirements. defining the capabilities of the solution, defining the conditions for the requirements to operate, and identifying any constraints that may hinder he solution. Answer: B is incorrect. This is an incorrect statement about the elements of the textual requirements. Answer: D is incorrect. This is an incorrect statement about the elements of the textual requirements. Answer: C is incorrect. This is an incorrect statement about the elements of the textual requirements.

Question 7

Robert is the business analyst for his organization and is preparing to host a workshop for twenty stakeholders. The goal of this workshop is to comprehensively identify the requirements for new software that will be created for Robert's organization. What must first be established in the workshop to ensure that the elicitation process moves smoothly?

Accepted Answer

Whenever a business analyst hosts event-based elicitation, ground rules should always be established. Ground rules help organize how the elicitation will take, how feedback should be offered, and how identified requirements will be verified. Answer: C is incorrect. Robert will need to communicate the business opportunity before the workshop so the group understands the purpose of the workshop. Answer: B is incorrect. While stakeholders may have different rankings in the organization the understanding of which stakeholders are most important is not relevant to the meeting running smoothly. Answer: D is incorrect. Stakeholders do not need to understand how the requirements elicitation processes work beyond the workshop meeting.

Question 8

Which of the following are not appropriate for a plan-driven business analysis approach? Each correct answer represents a complete solution.

Accepted Answer

Plan driven approaches to business analysis practices most often use the formal type of communications. This means the communication of the actual requirements is in writing, and often uses pre-defined forms requiring signatory approvals. All project documentation is normally archived as part of the project history. Face-to-face is an effective communication method, but for plan-driven approaches, formal communication is preferred in regard to requirements. Ad hoc describes the sudden, quick conversations. This is an informal approach to communication and isn't appropriate for a plan-driven business analysis approach.

Question 9

You are the business analyst for your organization and you're working with your stakeholders to assess the organization's readiness for the solution. As part of this assessment, you'll perform a cultural assessment. What is the purpose of this assessment?

Accepted Answer

The cultural assessment examines the beliefs, attitudes, and feelings among the stakeholder groups to measure the stakeholders' willingness and hope that the change is successful. Answer: D is incorrect. This isn't a valid description of the cultural assessment. Answer: A is incorrect. While this answer is somewhat correct, the assessment measures the stakeholders' genuine desire for the change to be successful. Answer: C is incorrect. A cultural assessment is different from a feasibility study. In a cultural assessment, the focus is on the stakeholders' attitude towards the change the solution will bring.

Question 10

You are the business analyst for your organization and you're training Marcy, a new business analyst, on how requirements are defined. Which one of the following best describes how requirements are defined?

Accepted Answer

Requirements are based on stakeholders' needs, wants, and expectations. This is why it's important to identify stakeholders and requirements gathering processes early in the project to quickly and accurately capture requirements. Answer: D is incorrect. This is not a valid answer to the question as not all requirements gathering are solutions-driven, but could be just a study. Answer: B is incorrect. The risk and reward solution is always considered, but requirements are based on stakeholders' needs, wants, and expectations. Answer: C is incorrect. The change-driven approach isn't a valid answer for this question.

Question 11

An organization has invested $750,000 into a technology to help secure, automate, and communicate customer ordering. The solution has worked well for the past six months, but a newer technology has been developed that surpasses the abilities of the current solution and solves many defects and issues the company has with the existing solution. Purchasing the newer solution, however, means that the company will have to discard the solution that's only been in place for the past six months. What term can be assigned to the monies already implemented into the existing solution?

Accepted Answer

The monies that have already been invested in the existing solution are called sunk costs. Sunk costs are the funds that have been "sunk" into the solution and are no longer available. Answer: A is incorrect. The opportunity cost is when there are two or more solutions to choose from, but only one can be selected. The opportunity cost is the total amount of the opportunities that cannot be selected. Answer: B is incorrect. The cost of nonconformance describes the cost of not conforming to quality, such as lost sales, lost work, defects, and even safety considerations. Answer: D is incorrect. It is a ratio to compare the costs of a solution to the benefits received for the costs.

Question 12

You are the business analyst for your organization. You are identifying new opportunities to improve upon your existing web services. Management is open to new opportunities as long as the changes do not take more than 60 days to implement. What type of a factor does the 60-day implementation represent?

Accepted Answer

A time limit, budget limit, limit on the number of resources, and other organizational restrictions are business constraints.   Answer: C is incorrect. A technical constraint describes the architectural decisions concerning hardware, software, platforms, and interoperability with the enterprise architecture. Answer: D is incorrect. An assumption is something that's believed to be true, but it hasn't yet been proven to be true. Answer: A is incorrect. A schedule constraint is tempting, but this is not a valid term for business analysis. Constraints on the time limit are just part of the business constraint.

Question 13

A business analyst wants to host a brainstorming session with eight key stakeholders. In preparation for this event, the business analyst should designate which one of the following rules for the session?

Accepted Answer

Of all the choices, the only valid answer is that the business analyst should set a time limit for the brainstorming session. Answer: B is incorrect. The ideas generated should actually map to a clear and concise definition of the area of interest. Answer: D is incorrect. The business analyst should not rate each idea that is generated. Answer: A is incorrect. The business analyst should not create a goal for the number of ideas the team is to generate.

Question 14

You are a business analyst for your organization. Your current business analysis endeavor includes working with stakeholders located in offices around the world. Because these stakeholders are dispersed, what is likely to increase in this endeavor as opposed to a collocated group of stakeholders?

Accepted Answer

Of all these possible choices, the best answer is that communication needs will increase. Because complex projects often involve non-collocated stakeholders, it may be necessary to travel more often, have more teleconferences or video conferences, or take other measures to provide accurate and consistent communications across offices, countries, and time zones. Answer: B is incorrect. Face-to-face meetings are often the best type of communication, but this isn't the best choice presented. Answer: D is incorrect. Risks do not necessarily increase because the stakeholders are not collocated. Answer: A is incorrect. Costs do not necessarily increase in the business analysis approach because of the dispersed stakeholders.

Question 15

When a business analyst is using alternative generation, what should she always include as an output?

Accepted Answer

Whenever generating alternatives, the business analyst should always include the option of doing nothing. Answer: A is incorrect. The best answer is to include the option of doing nothing; the cost of the requirements isn't an in-depth consideration at this point. Answer: B is incorrect. The schedule for the implementation is often considered, but the option of doing nothing should always be considered. Answer: D is incorrect. The cost of each solution isn't the best choice for this question.

Question 16

As a business analyst, you need to define when the activities of the business analysis approach will take place. This includes all of the following business analysis approach activities except for which one?

Accepted Answer

The timing of the business analysis activities in the plan-driven approach includes defining when enterprise analysis, requirements analysis, solution assessment, and validation activities occur. It does not, however, include the timing of the business analysis governance. Answer: D is incorrect. Enterprise analysis timing should be defined as part of the business analysis approach. Answer: A is incorrect. Requirements analysis should be defined as part of the business analysis approach. Answer: B is incorrect. Solution assessment should be defined as part of the business analysis approach.

Question 17

An organization has two different solutions to grow its business. One project is worth $375,000 to the organization. The second project is worth $565,000 to the business. The organization can only do one of the projects and elects to do the second project for $565,000. What is the opportunity cost of this decision?

Accepted Answer

The opportunity cost is the whole amount of the opportunity that can be seized. In this instance, the opportunity cost is $375,000, as this is the project that the organization can't do. Answer: B is incorrect. This answer is the value of the project the organization has elected to do. Answer: A is incorrect. $190,000 is the difference between the two projects and does not reflect the opportunity cost. Answer: D is incorrect. This is the value of both projects combined and does not represent the opportunity cost.

Question 18

As a candidate for CCBA, you should be able to recognize the activities associated with each knowledge area. Which of the following is an elicitation process that is a part of job observation?

Accepted Answer

Job shadowing is an elicitation process that is a part of job observation. In this process, the observer is required to keep an eye on those workers whose work routine is down and who are unable to explain their work. The observer has to understand their work process for better assessment of the modifications of the work required. The following are the approaches for this technique: Passive/Invisible. In this approach, the observer does not ask questions from the user about his work while the user is working. Active/Visible. In this approach, the observer does ask questions from the user about his work even when the user is working. Answer: A is incorrect. Identifying stakeholders is one of the first business analysis activities. Answer: C is incorrect. Defining and determining business analysis processes are needed as part of business analysis planning. Answer: D is incorrect. Planning how requirements will be approached, traced, and prioritized is a precursor to requirements elicitation.

Question 19

You are the business analyst for your organization and management has asked you to select a model for your solution. Management wants you to describe the people within and without of your organization who will interact with the solution. What type of model has management asked you to create?

Accepted Answer

The user classes, profiles, and roles model helps organize the participants by their interaction, categories, and usage of the solution. Answer: B is incorrect. The concept and relationship model is a tempting choice, but this model can also show things, not just people. Answer: A is incorrect. Events models are tied to requests, actions, and responses, not just people. Answer: C is incorrect. Process models show repeatable actions to bring about a specific result.

Question 20

You are the business analyst for your organization and you're training Marcy, a new business analyst, on how requirements are formed. Which one of the following best describes how requirements are formed?

Accepted Answer

Requirements are based on stakeholders' needs, wants, and expectations. This is why it's important to identify stakeholders and requirements gathering processes early in the project to quickly and accurately capture requirements. Answer: B is incorrect. This is not a valid answer to the question, as not all requirements gathering are solutions-driven, but could be just a study. Answer: D is incorrect. The risk and reward solution is always considered, but requirements are based on stakeholders' needs, wants, and expectations. Answer: C is incorrect. The change-driven approach isn't a valid answer for this question.

Exam 2: Certification of Competency in Business Analysis

Complete this sentence in regard to the level of abstraction. Requirements need to say _ needs to be done, not ____ to do it.