Free Practice Questions for BCS BAPv5 Exam

A key performance indicator (KPI) is a measurable value that demonstrates how effectively an organisation is achieving a key business objective or critical success factor (CSF). A KPI should be relevant, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound (SMART). Therefore, options C, D and E are appropriate KPIs for the CSF ‘provide excellent customer service’, as they measure aspects of customer satisfaction and loyalty that are directly related to the quality of service provided by the hotel chain. Option A is not an appropriate KPI, as it does not measure customer service, but rather customer consumption. Option B is not an appropriate KPI, as it does not measure customer service, but rather customer preference.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 15.

A customer journey map is a visual representation of the steps and emotions that a customer goes through when interacting with a product or service. It helps to identify the pain points and opportunities for improvement in the customer experience. A customer journey map typically consists of the following elements: stages, actions, thoughts, feelings, touchpoints and opportunities. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as it matches the elements of the customer journey map for Box F and Box 6. Box F represents the feeling of the customer at the stage of choosing a frame. The feeling is concern at cost, as the customer is worried about the price of the frames and lenses. Box 6 represents the opportunity for improvement at the stage of selecting lenses. The opportunity is to provide clearer information on options and pricing, as this would help the customer to make an informed decision and reduce their anxiety. Option B is not a correct answer, as it does not match the elements of the customer journey map for Box F and Box 6. Box F represents the feeling of the customer, not an opportunity for improvement. Box 6 represents an opportunity for improvement, not a feeling of the customer. Option C is not a correct answer, as it does not match the elements of the customer journey map for Box F and Box 6. Box F represents the feeling of the customer, not an opportunity for improvement. Box 6 represents an opportunity for improvement, not a feeling of the customer. Option D is not a correct answer, as it does not match the elements of the customer journey map for Box F and Box 6. Box F represents the feeling of the customer, not an opportunity for improvement. Box 6 represents an opportunity for improvement, not a feeling of the customer.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 23.

 The role of a business analyst (BA) is to analyse business situations and problems, identify and evaluate potential solutions, and facilitate change within an organisation or project. A BA works with stakeholders at different levels and with different interests and perspectives to understand their needs and expectations and ensure they are met by suitable solutions. Therefore, option C is not likely to be used by George’s manager in describing his role as a BA in resolving this problem. To negotiate with stakeholders to reach resolution implies that George has to persuade or compromise with stakeholders to agree on one solution or approach. This is not part of the BA’s role, as the BA does not have the authority or responsibility to make decisions or impose solutions on stakeholders. The BA’s role is to analyse and evaluate different solutions or approaches objectively and present the findings and recommendations to stakeholders for their consideration and approval. Option A is likely to be used by George’s manager in describing his role as a BA in resolving this problem. To understand and challenge the stakeholders means that George has to elicit and validate the stakeholders’ views and needs and question their assumptions and rationale. This is part of the BA’s role, as the BA has to ensure that the stakeholders’ views and needs are clear, consistent, realistic and aligned with the organisation’s strategy and objectives. Option B is likely to be used by George’s manager in describing his role as a BA in resolving this problem. To facilitate the discussion to allow the stakeholders to find a way forward means that George has to organise and conduct meetings or workshops with stakeholders to explore and evaluate different solutions or approaches and help them reach a consensus or agreement. This is part of the BA’s role, as the BA has to enable effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders and help them resolve conflicts or issues. Option D is likely to be used by George’s manager in describing his role as a BA in resolving this problem. To record the meeting and the resulting decision means that George has to document and communicate the outcomes and actions of the meeting or workshop with stakeholders and ensure they are understood and accepted by all parties. This is part of the BA’s role, as the BA has to ensure that there is a clear and accurate record of what has been discussed and decided by stakeholders and that there is a shared understanding and commitment among them.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 36.

A Business Activity Model (BAM) is a technique for modelling business activities within an organisation or project at a high level of abstraction. It helps to understand what an organisation does, how it does it, who does it, where it does it and why it does it. Therefore, options A and D are correct answers, as they apply to a BAM. Option A applies to a BAM, as multiple BAMs could be created to reflect different perspectives of different stakeholder groups within or outside the organisation or project. A BAM is not a single or definitive representation of the business activities, but a subjective and contextual view that depends on the purpose and scope of the analysis. Option D applies to a BAM, as the activities are most likely to be shown in boxes in a BAM. A BAM is typically represented as a diagram that consists of boxes and arrows. The boxes represent the high level activities that the organisation performs or delivers, and the arrows represent the flow or sequence of the activities. Option B does not apply to a BAM, as the owner should not always choose the final BAM. The owner is one of the stakeholder groups that may have a perspective on the business activities, but not the only or ultimate one. The final BAM should be agreed by all relevant stakeholder groups based on their needs and expectations. Option C does not apply to a BAM, as normally a consensus BAM will not be produced. A consensus BAM is a BAM that reflects a common or shared perspective of all stakeholder groups within or outside the organisation or project. A consensus BAM is not realistic or desirable, as different stakeholder groups may have different or conflicting views on the business activities. Option E does not apply to a BAM, as dependencies between the activities are shown in a BAM. Dependencies between the activities are the relationships or connections that indicate how one activity affects or influences another activity. Dependencies between the activities are shown by the arrows in a BAM diagram.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 43.

CATWOE is a technique for exploring stakeholder business perspectives by identifying six elements: Customer, Actor, Transformation, Worldview, Owner and Environment. It helps to understand how different stakeholders perceive a business situation or problem and what they expect from a solution. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as it identifies which specific areas of CATWOE are they considering respectively. Customer is the element that describes who benefits from or is affected by a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to identify who are the recipients or users of value or satisfaction from a business situation or problem or its solution. George and Laura are considering customer, as they have different views on who should be the target market for their products (people aged over 50 vs people aged 30-60). Owner is the element that describes who has the authority or power to start or stop a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to identify who are the decision makers or influencers of a business situation or problem or its solution. George and Laura are considering owner, as they have different views on who should be responsible for marketing activities (outsourced vs in-house). Option B is not a correct answer, as it does not identify which specific areas of CATWOE are they considering respectively. Actor is the element that describes who carries out or performs a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to identify who are responsible for implementing or delivering a business situation or problem or its solution. George and Laura are not considering actor, as they have no views on who carries out their products (although this may be related to owner). Transformation is the element that describes what changes or processes take place in a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to identify what inputs are converted into outputs in a business situation or problem or its solution. George and Laura are not considering transformation, as they have no views on what changes or processes take place in their products (although this may be related to customer). Option C is not a correct answer, as it does not identify which specific areas of CATWOE are they considering respectively. Transformation is the element that describes what changes or processes take place in a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to identify what inputs are converted into outputs in a business situation or problem or its solution. George and Laura are not considering transformation, as they have no views on what changes or processes take place in their products (although this may be related to customer). Environment is the element that describes the external factors or constraints that affect a stakeholder’s perspective or limit their options. It helps to explain what factors or constraints are beyond the stakeholder’s control or influence. George and Laura are not considering environment, as they have no views on what external factors or constraints affect their products (although this may be related to customer). Option D is not a correct answer, as it does not identify which specific areas of CATWOE are they considering respectively. Customer is the element that describes who benefits from or is affected by a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to identify who are the recipients or users of value or satisfaction from a business situation or problem or its solution. George and Laura are considering customer, as they have different views on who should be the target market for their products (people aged over 50 vs people aged 30-60). Actor is the element that describes who carries out or performs a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to identify who are responsible for implementing or delivering a business situation or problem or its solution. George and Laura are not considering actor, as they have no views on who carries out their products (although this may be related to owner).

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 37.

 Porter’s Five Forces model is a technique for analysing the competitive forces that affect an organisation or industry. It helps to assess the attractiveness and profitability of an organisation or industry. Porter’s Five Forces model consists of five forces: threat of new entrants, bargaining power of customers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of substitute products and competitive rivalry. Therefore, option B is the correct answer, as these preliminary findings would be documented in the bargaining power of customers force of Porter’s Five Forces model. Bargaining power of customers is the force that measures the ability and influence of customers to affect the price, quality and quantity of products or services offered by an organisation or industry. It depends on factors such as customer concentration, switching costs, differentiation and loyalty. An example of bargaining power of customers in this scenario is the market is saturated, customers have a lot of choice and it is easy for them to switch from one bank to another, which implies that customers have high bargaining power and can demand lower prices or better services from banks. Option A is not a correct answer, as these preliminary findings would not be documented in the threat of new entrants force of Porter’s Five Forces model. Threat of new entrants is the force that measures the likelihood and impact of new competitors entering an organisation or industry. It depends on factors such as entry barriers, economies of scale, capital requirements and brand loyalty. An example of threat of new entrants in this scenario is an overseas bank launching a new bank in the UK, which implies that there is a potential threat of new entrants to the existing banks in the UK. Option C is not a correct answer, as these preliminary findings would not be documented in the bargaining power of suppliers force of Porter’s Five Forces model. Bargaining power of suppliers is the force that measures the ability and influence of suppliers to affect the price, quality and quantity of products or services supplied to an organisation or industry. It depends on factors such as supplier concentration, switching costs, differentiation and dependency. An example of bargaining power of suppliers in this scenario is the suggested changes to the business structure will affect our relationships with suppliers, which implies that suppliers may have some bargaining power over the organisation or industry. Option D is not a correct answer, as these preliminary findings would not be documented in the threat of substitute products force of Porter’s Five Forces model. Threat of substitute products is the force that measures the likelihood and impact of customers switching to alternative products or services that satisfy their needs or wants better than those offered by an organisation or industry. It depends on factors such as availability, price, quality and performance of substitute products or services. There is no example of threat of substitute products in this scenario.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 49.

CATWOE is a technique for exploring stakeholder business perspectives by identifying six elements: Customer, Actor, Transformation, Worldview, Owner and Environment. It helps to understand how different stakeholders perceive a business situation or problem and what they expect from a solution. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as Paul and his business partner are in disagreement on their worldview element of CATWOE. Worldview is the element that describes the beliefs, values, assumptions or principles that underpin a stakeholder’s perspective. It helps to explain why a stakeholder thinks that a business situation or problem is worth addressing or solving. Paul and his business partner have different worldviews regarding the possibility of extracting natural gas from their land. Paul believes that it is a safe, profitable and reasonable option that will improve their financial situation. His business partner believes that it is a dangerous, unattractive and unacceptable option that will compromise their vision of living off the land. Option A is not a correct answer, as Paul and his business partner are not in disagreement on their customer element of CATWOE. Customer is the element that describes who benefits from or is affected by a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to identify who are the main beneficiaries or victims of a business situation or problem or its solution. Paul and his business partner have the same customer, which is themselves as the owners of the farm. Option B is not a correct answer, as Paul and his business partner are not in disagreement on their actor element of CATWOE. Actor is the element that describes who carries out or performs a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to identify who are responsible for implementing or delivering a business situation or problem or its solution. Paul and his business partner have the same actor, which is themselves as the owners of the farm. Option C is not a correct answer, as Paul and his business partner are not in disagreement on their transformation element of CATWOE. Transformation is the element that describes what changes or processes take place in a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to identify what inputs are converted into outputs in a business situation or problem or its solution. Paul and his business partner have the same transformation, which is extracting natural gas from their land.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 37.

A mind map is a technique for organising and visualising information in a hierarchical and associative way. It helps to generate, structure and classify ideas and concepts and show how they are related or connected. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as a mind map would enable Girby to model the arising themes and how they relate to each other. A mind map would help to identify the main theme or problem (declining production) and the sub-themes or causes (staff blaming each other, more parts being faulty etc.) and arrange them in a tree-like structure. A mind map would help to use colours, symbols, images and keywords to represent and emphasise the themes and their relationships. A mind map would help to analyse and evaluate the themes and their relationships and identify any patterns or gaps that may exist. Option B is not a correct answer, as a business activity model is not a technique for modelling the arising themes and how they relate to each other. A business activity model is a technique for modelling business activities within an organisation or project at a high level of abstraction. It helps to understand what an organisation does, how it does it, who does it, where it does it and why it does it. Option C is not a correct answer, as a rich picture is not a technique for modelling the arising themes and how they relate to each other. A rich picture is a technique for drawing a holistic view of a complex situation or problem using informal symbols and images. It helps to capture the main elements and aspects of a situation or problem and how they interact or influence each other. Option D is not a correct answer, as a business process model is not a technique for modelling the arising themes and how they relate to each other. A business process model is a technique for modelling business processes within an organisation or project at a low level of abstraction. It helps to understand how business processes are performed or delivered in terms of inputs, outputs, activities, tasks, roles, rules, events etc.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 36.

 A stakeholder management strategy is a plan for how to engage and communicate with stakeholders based on their level of interest and influence in the organisation or project. A stakeholder management strategy can vary depending on the stakeholder’s position on the power/interest grid, which has four quadrants: high power, high interest; high power, low interest; low power, high interest; and low power, low interest. Therefore, option C is the correct answer, as it represents appropriate stakeholder management strategies for Harvey based on his position on the grid before and after his role change. Watch means to monitor the stakeholder’s level of interest and influence and keep them informed of relevant developments. This is suitable for when Harvey was in the low power, low interest quadrant, as he had little authority or concern over the project. Constant active management means to involve the stakeholder closely in the project and seek their input and feedback regularly. This is suitable for when Harvey moved to the high power, high interest quadrant, as he became the sponsor and owner of the project. Option A is not a correct answer, as keep informed means to provide the stakeholder with sufficient information and updates to maintain their interest and support. This is more suitable for when Harvey was in the low power, high interest quadrant, not the low power, low interest quadrant. Option B is not a correct answer, as ignore means to disregard the stakeholder’s views and needs and exclude them from communication. This is not a good strategy for any stakeholder, especially one who has some power or influence over the project. Option D is not a correct answer, as constant active management means to involve the stakeholder closely in the project and seek their input and feedback regularly. This is more suitable for when Harvey was in the high power, high interest quadrant, not the low power, low interest quadrant.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 21.

A business case is a document that provides the rationale and justification for a proposed business change or solution. It helps to evaluate the benefits, costs, risks and impacts of different options and recommend the best one for further development and implementation. A business case typically consists of several sections, such as executive summary, description of the current situation, description of the desired situation, options considered, analysis of costs and benefits, risk assessment and recommendations. Therefore, options A, B and C are correct answers, as they cover the sections of a business case that will address the points noted by the business analyst and the project manager. Options considered is the section where different approaches or solutions to meet the objectives of the project are identified and described. It helps to show that a range of alternatives have been explored and evaluated. Analysis of costs and benefits is the section where the financial implications of each option are estimated and compared. It helps to show the expected value and return on investment of each option. Description of the current situation is the section where the problem or opportunity that motivates the project is clearly defined and articulated. It helps to show the justification and urgency for the project. Option D is not a correct answer, as recommendations is not a section of a business case that will address any of the points noted by the business analyst and the project manager. Recommendations is the section where the preferred option is selected and proposed based on the analysis and evaluation of other sections. Option E is not a correct answer, as risk assessment is not a section of a business case that will address any of the points noted by the business analyst and the project manager. Risk assessment is the section where the uncertainties and potential negative consequences of each option are identified and analysed. It helps to show how risks can be avoided, reduced or managed.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 30.