Free Practice Questions for IIBA CCBA Exam

According to the BABOK® Guide, implementation subject matter experts are “stakeholders who have specialized knowledge of the technologies, tools, or techniques that will be used to implement the solution” (p. 15). They need detailed technical interface requirements to understand how the solution components will interact with each other and with external systems. Technical interface requirements specify the characteristics, formats, protocols, and standards of the data exchange between the solution and other systems (p. 36). The other options are not correct because:

Project manager is “the stakeholder who is accountable for the delivery of a specific project” (p. 14). They need high-level information about the requirements, such as scope, schedule, budget, and risks, but not detailed technical interface requirements.

Testers are “stakeholders who are responsible for verifying that the solution meets the specified requirements and quality standards” (p. 15). They need testable and measurable requirements, such as functional, non-functional, and quality requirements, but not detailed technical interface requirements.

Regulators are “stakeholders who have the authority to impose rules or standards on the solution or the domain” (p. 15). They need compliance and regulatory requirements, such aslegal, ethical, and social requirements, but not detailed technical interface requirements. References:

BABOK® Guide, p. 14-15, 36

Everything You Wanted to Know About Interface Requirements, section “What is an Interface Requirement?”

 According to the web search results, requirements envisioning is “a technique used in change-driven approaches to elicit and document a high-level overview of the scope and objectives of a project or initiative” 1. Requirements envisioning involves creating a list of high-level requirements that describe the features and capabilities of the desired solution, as well as the business value and benefits that it will deliver. Requirements envisioning helps to establish a common vision and understanding among stakeholders, as well as to prioritize and plan the requirements in short iterations. The other options are not correct because:

B. Requirements foundation is not a term used in change-driven approaches, but rather in plan-driven approaches. It refers to the “set of requirements that provide the basis for planning, managing, and delivering a project” 2.

C. Product scope is “the features and functions that characterize a product, service, or result” 3. It is not the same as the initial high-level listing of requirements, as it may include more detailed and specific information about the product specifications and quality attributes.

D. Project scope is “the work performed to deliver a product, service, or result with the specified features and functions” 3. It is not the same as the initial high-level listing of requirements, as it may include more detailed and specific information about the project activities, resources, and deliverables. References:

1: What Are High-Level Requirements in Project Management?, section “What are High-Level Requirements in Project Management?”

2: BABOK® Guide, p. 35

3: [A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)], p. 705

According to the BABOK® Guide, the business analysis approach is the plan that describes how the business analysis activities will be executed. To plan the business analysis approach, the business analyst must understand the organizational process needs and the objectives that apply to the initiative1. The organizational process needs are the policies, standards, and procedures that guide thebusiness analysis work. The objectives that apply to the initiative are the goals and expected outcomes of the project or program.

The other options are not correct because they are not necessary to plan the business analysis approach. Stakeholders’ threats and perceived threats, consideration of risk and reward, and purpose of the proposed solution are all aspects that may be considered during the business analysis activities, but they are not required to plan the approach itself.

According to the BABOK® Guide, a change control system is a set of procedures that defines how changes to the approved requirements are initiated, evaluated, authorized, prioritized, planned, implemented, validated, and communicated. A change control system is necessary to manage the impact of changes on the requirements baseline, and to ensure that the changes are aligned with the business need and the solution scope1. References: 1: BABOK® Guide, version 3, section 5.5.1, page 142.

A dependency is a relationship between two tasks or activities that indicates that one cannot start or finish before the other starts or finishes. In this case, the task in your task list is dependent on the inspector’s signoff on the initial deliverables, which means that you cannot proceed with the task until the signoff is obtained. Dependencies are important to identify and manage in order to avoid delays and conflicts in the project schedule12

Option A is incorrect because a constraint is a factor that limits the options or actions of the project team, such as time, budget, scope, quality, or resources. The inspector’s signoff is not a constraint, but a condition that must be met before the task can be completed3

Option B is incorrect because an assumption is a factor that is considered to be true or certain for the purpose of planning, without any proof or verification. The inspector’s signoff is not an assumption, but a factual requirement that must be validated4

Option D is incorrect because a milestone is a significant point or event in the project, such as a major deliverable, a phase completion, or a decision point. The inspector’s signoff is not a milestone,but a prerequisite for the task5 References: Business Analysis Techniques - ECBA, CCBA, CBAP Endorsed, Section 8.4: Dependencies; Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Simplilearn, Module 5: Planning and Monitoring, Lesson 5.4: Dependencies; Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide), Section 5.1: Define Design Options, 5.1.3.2: Constraints; Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide), Section 5.1: Define Design Options, 5.1.3.1: Assumptions; Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide), Section 5.2: Analyze Potential Value and Recommend Solution, 5.2.3.3: Milestones.

According to the BABOK® Guide, business goals and objectives are “the desired outcomes of a change initiative or the state of the enterprise after the successful implementation of a solution” (p. 35). They describe the ends that the organization is seeking to achieve, not the means or the activities to achieve them. Business goals and objectives provide the context and direction for the business analysis work, as well as the criteria for evaluating the value and benefits of the solution. The other options are not correct because:

A. They describe all of the required work the project will need to complete in order to reach its objectives is not a description of business goals and objectives, but rather of project scope or project deliverables.

C. They describe the processes the solution will need to improve for the project to be successful is not a description of business goals and objectives, but rather of solution requirements or solution design.

D. They describe all of the positive benefits in ratio to the risk and costs of the project is not a description of business goals and objectives, but rather of business case or value proposition. References:

BABOK® Guide, p. 35

Business Goals and Objectives - Modern Analyst, section “What are Business Goals and Objectives?”

A plan-driven approach to business analysis is one that follows a predefined and detailed plan for the project or project phase. This approach typically involves more upfront business analysis work to elicit, analyze, and document the requirements before the solution development begins. A plan-driven approach is suitable for projects that have a clear and stable scope, low uncertainty, and high predictability. Examples of plan-driven approaches are waterfall, predictive, and sequential methods. References:

Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, section “The Experienced Business Analysis Professional”

CERTIFICATION OF CAPABILITY IN BUSINESS ANALYSIS, section “4. Review the Exam Blueprint”

The change-driven approach is an adaptive approach that focuses on rapid delivery of business value in short iterations. It involves defining requirements through experimentation, testing, and feedback, rather than through upfront planning and documentation. The change-driven approach allows for more flexibility and responsiveness to changing customer needs and business environments. It is often used in agile methodologies and continuous improvement initiatives.

References: The information is aligned with the competencies and knowledge areas defined in the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide) and the Certification of Capability in Business Analysis™ (CCBA®) as provided by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®). For detailed references, please consult the CCBA® guide1 and the BABOK® Guide2 available through the IIBA® website and bookstore3. You can also find some useful resources and sample questions from other sources45.

 Requirements coverage is not one of the three reasons why trace requirements are useful. Requirements coverage is a measure of how well the requirements address the needs and objectives of the stakeholders and the project. Trace requirements are useful for the following three reasons:

Requirements allocation: This is the process of assigning requirements to the components or deliverables that will satisfy them. Trace requirements help to ensure that each requirement is allocated to the appropriate component or deliverable, and that no requirement is left unallocated or over-allocated.

Quality control: This is the process of verifying that the requirements and the deliverables meet the quality standards and criteria. Trace requirements help to ensure that the quality of the requirements and the deliverables can be assessed and validated, and that any defects or issues can be identified and resolved.

Impact analysis: This is the process of assessing the potential effects of a change request or a problem on the requirements and the deliverables. Trace requirements help to determine the scope and magnitude of the impact, and the actions needed to address the change or the problem. References: Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Simplilearn, Module 5: Planning and Monitoring, Lesson 5.3: Estimation; Business Analysis Techniques - ECBA, CCBA, CBAP Endorsed, Section 8.3: Requirements Traceability; Intro to the Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Pluralsight, Course Overview, 2:00-2:20.

 The financial valuation technique that the business analyst can use to determine the breakeven point for the project is cost-benefit analysis. This is a technique for comparing the costs and benefits of different alternatives or solutions, and identifying the most optimal one12. Cost-benefit analysis helps to evaluate the feasibility and value of the project, and to estimate the return on investment (ROI). The breakeven point is the point where the total costs equal the total benefits, and the project starts to generate profit3. The other options are not financial valuation techniques that can determine the breakeven point for the project, but rather techniques for measuring the financial performance or attractiveness of the project, such as payback period (A), which is the time required for the project to recover its initial investment4, average rate of return (B), which is the ratio of the average annual profit to the initial investment, or discounted cash flow (D), which is the present value of the future cash flows of the project. References: Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, Certification of Capability in Business Analysis™ (CCBA®), Business Analysis Certification Competencies, CCBA® | IIBA®, The Ultimate Guide to Business Capability Analysis, [CBAP / CCBA Certified Business Analysis Study Guide, 2nd Edition], [Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Simplilearn]

The process that is being described in this scenario is the assessment of capability gaps. According to the Capability in Business Analysis™ (CCBA®) Learning documents, the assessment of capability gaps is a task that involves comparing the current state and the future state of the organization to identify the differences or gaps that need to be addressed by a solution. These gaps represent the new capabilities that the organization requires to achieve its business goals and objectives. The assessment of capability gaps helps the business analyst to define the scope of the solution, prioritize the requirements, and plan the business analysis approach12.

The other options are not correct because:

Option A is incorrect. Communication needs are not a process, but a type of information that the business analyst needs to identify and document for each stakeholder group based on their level of interest, influence, and involvement in the project. Communication needs include the frequency, format, content, and channel of communication that are appropriate and effective for each stakeholder group. Communication needs are part of the stakeholder analysis task, not the assessment of capability gaps task3.

Option C is incorrect. Resource allocation is not a process, but a technique that involves assigning or distributing the available resources, such as human, financial, physical, or technological, to the project activities or components. Resource allocation helps to optimize the use of resources, balance the workload, and ensure the feasibility and quality of the solution. Resource allocation is part of the plan business analysis approach task, not the assessment of capability gaps task4.

Option D is incorrect. Resource procurement is not a process, but a technique that involves acquiring or purchasing the resources that are not available internally, such as contractors, consultants, equipment, or materials. Resource procurement helps to fill the resource gaps, reduce the project risks, and enhance the solution performance. Resource procurement is part of the plan business analysis approach task, not the assessment of capability gaps task5.

References:

Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK) Guide Version 3, page 36-37

Business Analysis Driving Business Success, page 5-6

Stakeholder Analysis: The Ultimate Guide, section “What are communication needs?”

Resource Allocation, section “Description of Change”

Resource Procurement, section “Description of Change”

According to the BABOK® Guide, reviewing stakeholder concerns is a technique that involves identifying and analyzing the issues, expectations, and interests of the stakeholders that may affect the acceptance or implementation of the solution. The purpose of reviewing stakeholder concerns is to address potential problems or issues that may arise during the solution delivery or operation, and to develop strategies to mitigate or resolve them1. References: 1: BABOK® Guide, version 3, section 10.29, page 341.

 The predictive approach provides the appropriate level of formality for this project. The predictive approach is a method of planning and managing projects that follows a predefined and sequential process. The predictive approach aims to define the scope, requirements, and deliverables of the project upfront and minimize changes during the implementation. The predictive approach is suitable for projects that have a clear and stable vision, well-understood requirements, and low uncertainty or risk.

The other options are incorrect because:

Option B is incorrect because the reactive approach does not provide the appropriate level of formality for this project. The reactive approach is a method of planning and managing projects that responds to changes and issues as they arise. The reactive approach does not follow a predefined or sequential process, but adapts to the changing needs and expectations of the stakeholders. The reactive approach is suitable for projects that have a vague or evolving vision, unclear or changing requirements, and high uncertainty or risk.

Option C is incorrect because the proactive approach does not provide the appropriate level of formality for this project. The proactive approach is a method of planning and managing projects that anticipates and prevents potential problems or opportunities before they occur. The proactive approach involves identifying, analyzing, and mitigating risks, as well as enhancing benefits and value. The proactive approach is suitable for projects that have a complex or dynamic environment, multiple or conflicting stakeholder interests, and significant impacts or dependencies.

Option D is incorrect because the adaptive approach does not provide the appropriate level of formality for this project. The adaptive approach is a method of planning and managing projects that delivers the solution in increments or iterations. The adaptive approach involves frequent feedback, collaboration, and testing to ensure that the solution meets the stakeholder needs and expectations. The adaptive approach is suitable for projects that have an emergent or innovative vision, flexible or variable requirements, and moderate uncertainty or risk.

References:

BABOK Guide v3, section 3.2: Plan Business Analysis Approach

CCBA Exam Questions, question 21

Validating the performance measure is the process of ensuring that the measure is relevant, reliable, and accurate for evaluating the solution performance. The business analyst (BA) must validate the performance measure to determine if it reflects the actual loan processing time, and if it is aligned with the business objective and the stakeholder expectations. Analyzing the current state, assessing the risks, and determining requirements changes are possible actions that the BA may take after validating the performance measure, depending on the results of the validation. References: IIBA CCBA Certification Exam Sample Questions - Process Exam, [BABOK® Guide v3], Chapter 6: Solution Evaluation, Section 6.1: Measure Solution Performance, p. 178.

 The BA must identify the required cultural changes to address the concerns of the CEO about the impact to the staff once the strategy has been implemented. This is because cultural changes are changes that affect the values, beliefs, behaviors, or norms of an organization or a group of people. Identifying the required cultural changes can help the BA to assess how the new system will affect the staff and what actions are needed to facilitate their adoption and acceptance of the change. The other options are not as effective or relevant as identifying the required cultural changes. References:

BABOK Guide, section 10.19: Identify Cultural Differences

CCBA Practice Test, question 114