Free Practice Questions for IIBA CCBA Exam

According to the BABOK® Guide, from the top down is one of the methods to generate the business need in an organization. This method is described as the need to achieve a strategic goal that is defined by senior management or the governing body of the organization. The business need is derived from the vision, mission, values, and objectives of the organization. This method helps to align the solution with the organizational strategy and direction. References: BABOK® Guide, page 28; Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, section “What Should I know to be CCBA Certified?”

 MoSCoW is a prioritization technique used in business analysis and project management to categorize requirements into four levels of priority: Must have, Should have, Could have, and Won’t have.This method helps teams focus on the most critical requirements that need to be satisfied for a project to be successful, while also identifying which requirements can be deferred or excluded if necessary.

Must have: These are non-negotiable requirements that are essential for the project’s success. If these are not met, the project is considered a failure.

Should have: These are important but not critical requirements. They are high-priority items that can be scheduled for a future release without impacting the current one.

Could have: These are desirable requirements that do not affect the overall success of the project. They can be included if time and resources permit.

Won’t have: These are the lowest priority requirements or those that are not necessary for the current delivery cycle. They are recognized but not planned for the current project timeline.

References: The MoSCoW method is detailed in the Dynamic System Development Method (DSDM) handbook and is widely used across various industries for effective project management

A plan-driven business analysis approach is a methodology that follows a predefined and structured process, where the requirements and the solution are fully defined and agreed upon before implementation begins. A plan-driven approach is suitable for projects that have low complexity, uncertainty, or volatility, and that require stability and predictability of the scope, schedule, and budget. A plan-driven approach is characterized by its formal and rigid nature, where each project phase must be completed before moving on to the next one. Therefore, the following are not appropriate for a plan-driven business analysis approach:

Informal: This means that the communication, documentation, and validation of the requirements and the solution are done in a casual and flexible manner, without following any standards or rules. Informal methods may lead to ambiguity, inconsistency, and misunderstanding of the requirements and the solution, which can cause delays, errors, and rework in a plan-driven approach.

Face-to-face: This means that the interaction and collaboration among the stakeholders are done in person, rather than through electronic or written means. Face-to-face methods may enhance rapport and trust among the stakeholders, but they may also introduce challenges such as scheduling, availability, and travel costs in a plan-driven approach.

Ad hoc: This means that the business analysis activities and tasks are done in a spontaneous and unplanned manner, without following any methodology or process. Ad hoc methods may allow for creativity and innovation, but they may also result in chaos, confusion, and waste in a plan-driven approach.

Option D is incorrect because formal is appropriate for a plan-driven business analysis approach. Formal means that the communication, documentation, and validation of the requirements and the solution are done in a systematic and rigorous manner, following established standards and rules. Formal methods ensure the quality, completeness, and alignment of the requirements and the solution, which are essential for a plan-driven approach.

References:

Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide), Version 3, Chapter 2: Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring, Section 2.1: Plan Business Analysis Approach, p. 31-32.

Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Simplilearn, Module 5: Planning and Monitoring, Lesson 5.1: Plan Business Analysis Approach, p. 6-7.

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How to Choose the Right Business Analysis Approach

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 Goals are longer-term, ongoing, and qualitative statements of a state or condition that the organization is seeking to establish and maintain. Goals are derived from the organization’s vision and mission, and they provide the direction and purpose for the organization’s activities. Goals are different from objectives, which are shorter-term, specific, and measurable statements of what the organization intends to achieve; requirements, which are the capabilities and conditions that a solution must satisfy; and operations, which are the processes and activities that the organization performs to deliver value to its stakeholders. References:

CCBA Handbook, page 10

[BABOK Guide], page 10

[Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide], page 13

[Business Analysis: The Question and Answer Book], page 9

 Formal communication is the type of communication that is most likely required to be used in regard to requirements in a plan-driven approach to business analysis processes. Formal communication is a type of communication that follows predefined standards, formats, and protocols, and is documented and approved by the authorized parties. Formal communication is suitable for a plan-driven approach, which is a business analysis approach that focuses on minimizing changes and delivering the planned outputs in a predictable manner. A plan-driven approach requires formal communication to ensure the clarity, consistency, and alignment of the requirements with the stakeholder needs and expectations, and to prevent or resolve any conflicts or issues that may arise from the requirements or the solution12

Option A is incorrect because informal communication is not the type of communication that is most likely required to be used in regard to requirements in a plan-driven approach to business analysis processes, but a type of communication that does not follow predefined standards, formats, and protocols, and is not documented or approved by the authorized parties. Informal communication is more suitable for an adaptive or change-driven approach, which is a business analysis approach that focuses on maximizing value and delivering the most important outputs in a flexible manner. An adaptive or change-driven approach requires informal communication to facilitate collaboration, feedback, and learning among the stakeholders, and to respond to changes quickly and effectively34

Option B is incorrect because ad hoc communication is not the type of communication that is most likely required to be used in regard to requirements in a plan-driven approach to business analysis processes, but a type of communication that is spontaneous, unplanned, and unscheduled, and is used to address specific or urgent situations or needs. Ad hoc communication is not related to the business analysis approach, but to the communication needs and preferences of the stakeholders. Ad hoc communication can be used in any business analysis approach, as long as it is appropriate and feasible for the purpose and context of the communication5

Option C is incorrect because face-to-face communication is not the type of communication that is most likely required to be used in regard to requirements in a plan-driven approach to business analysis processes, but a type of communication and elicitation technique that involves direct and personal interaction and collaboration among the stakeholders in a physical or virtual setting. Face-to-face communication is not related to the business analysis approach, but to the availability, accessibility, and convenience of the stakeholders. Face-to-face communication can be used in any business analysis approach, as long as it is effective and efficient for the communication and elicitation of the requirements.

References:

Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide), Version 3, Chapter 2: Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring, Section 2.1: Plan Business Analysis Approach, p. 31-32.

Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Simplilearn, Module 5: Planning and Monitoring, Lesson 5.1: Plan Business Analysis Approach, p. 6-7.

Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide), Version 3, Chapter 2: Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring, Section 2.1: Plan Business Analysis Approach, p. 32-33.

Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Simplilearn, Module 5: Planning and Monitoring, Lesson 5.1: Plan Business Analysis Approach, p. 8-9.

Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide), Version 3, Chapter 2: Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring, Section 2.3: Plan Business Analysis Communication, p. 36-37.

[Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide)], Version 3, Chapter 10: Techniques, Section 10.16: Interviews, p. 351-352.

[Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Simplilearn], Module 6: Elicitation and Collaboration, Lesson 6.4: Confirm Elicitation Results, p. 6-7.

Requirements prioritization is the process of assigning relative importance or urgency to the requirements based on various criteria, such as business value, risk, dependency, cost, complexity, stakeholder preference, or regulatory compliance. Requirements prioritization is not limited to any specific approach to business analysis, such as plan-driven or change-driven, but it can be applied differently depending on the context and the level of uncertainty. Requirements prioritization helps to determine which requirements are essential, desirable, or optional for the solution scope, and how they will be addressed in the solution delivery. Requirements prioritization also helps to manage the expectations of the stakeholders and to resolve any conflicts or trade-offs among the requirements. References:

CCBA Handbook, page 18

[BABOK Guide], page 54

[Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide], page 63

[Business Analysis: The Question and Answer Book], page 30

 A terminology register is a document that defines the terms, acronyms, and nomenclature used in a specific domain or context. It helps to ensure consistency and clarity in communication and documentation. A terminology register is one of the outputs of the Plan Business Analysis Approach task, which is part of the Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring knowledge area. A terminology register is different from a data dictionary, which describes the attributes and relationships of data elements in a solution. A WBS is a work breakdown structure, which is a hierarchical decomposition of the project scope and deliverables. A business analysis register is a tool that tracks the status and ownership of business analysis deliverables and issues. References: Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, Business Analysis Certification Competencies, CCBA® | IIBA®, CERTIFICATION OF CAPABILITY IN BUSINESS ANALYSIS

SMART goals are objectives that are designed to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. The element of ‘Relevant’ in SMART goals refers to ensuring that the goal aligns with broader business strategies, visions, missions, and values. In the context of the facilities management company’s objective to double the revenue of their office waste recycling service, the goal would need to be relevant to the enterprise’s overall direction and purpose to ensure it contributes meaningfully to the organization’s success.

References: The information is based on the SMART goals framework as understood in business analysis practices up to the year 2021. For the most current and detailed explanations, please refer to the latest resources provided by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) or the specific learning documents for the Capability in Business Analysis™ (CCBA®) certification.

Requirements traceability is the process of linking requirements to other related artifacts, such as design elements, test cases, or issues, throughout the project life cycle. Requirements traceability helps to ensure that the requirements are aligned with the project objectives, validated by the stakeholders, and verified by the testers. Requirements traceability also supports change management, impact analysis, and quality assurance.

There are different tools and techniques that can be used to implement requirements traceability, depending on the size, complexity, and nature of the project. One of the simplest and most common tools is a spreadsheet, which can be used to create a requirements traceability matrix (RTM). An RTM is a table that lists the requirements in one axis and the related artifacts in another axis, and shows the relationships between them using symbols, colors, or codes. An RTM can be used when there is a relatively low amount of requirements that need to be traced, and when the project team is familiar with the spreadsheet software.

A spreadsheet-based RTM has some advantages, such as being easy to create, update, and share, and being flexible and customizable. However, it also has some limitations, such as being prone to errors, inconsistencies, and duplication, and being difficult to maintain, scale, and integrate with other tools. Therefore, for larger or more complex projects, it may be more suitable to use a dedicated requirements management tool that supports traceability features, such as SpiraTeam1, codeBeamer2, or Modern Requirements3

According to the BABOK® Guide, the level of abstraction is the degree to which a requirement or design statement is general or specific. Requirements need to say what needs to be done, not how to do it. This means that requirements should focus on the desired outcome or value, not the implementation details or solution design. How to do it is the responsibility of the solution provider, not the business analyst. Therefore, option C completes the sentence correctly. References: BABOK® Guide, page 11; Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, section “What Should I know to be CCBA Certified?”

According to the BABOK® Guide, opportunity cost is the value of the next best alternative that is forgone as a result of making a decision. In this case, the opportunity cost of choosing the second project for $565,000 is the value of the first project that is not chosen, which is $375,000. This means that the organization is giving up the potential benefit of $375,000 by selecting the second project over the first one. References: BABOK® Guide, page 32; Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, section “What Should I know to be CCBA Certified?”

According to the BABOK Guide, a plan-driven approach is an approach that plans upfront with maximum control of what the expected implementation would be. The waterfall project methodology supports a predictive approach in planning. In this approach, the business analyst defines the requirements at a high level and then seeks formal approval from the stakeholders before proceeding to the next phase of the project. This ensures that the scope and objectives of the project are clear and agreed upon by all parties involved. The initial requirements are also known as the business requirements or the scope statement. They provide a broad overview of the problem or opportunity, the desired outcomes, the assumptions, constraints, and risks. The initial requirements are usually documented in a business case, a project charter, or a statement of work. The initial requirements must be formally approved by the stakeholders before the business analyst can begin capturing and defining the requirements at a deeper level of detail, such as the stakeholder, functional, non-functional, transition, and quality requirements. These detailed requirements are usually documented in a requirements specification, a use case model, a data model, a process model, or other artifacts. The detailed requirements must also be validated and verified by the stakeholders before they can be implemented by the solution team. References:

BABOK Guide, section 3.1 Plan Business Analysis Approach, page 38-40

How to Choose the Right Business Analysis Approach, section Waterfall Approach, page 1-2

Defining the Business Analysis Approach in 2023, section What is a Business Analysis Approach?, page 1

According to the BABOK® Guide, user classes, profiles, and roles are a type of model that describes the people who will interact with the solution, their characteristics, and their needs. This model helps to identify the stakeholders, their expectations, and their requirements. Management has asked the business analyst to create this type of model to describe the people within and without of the organization who will interact with the solution. References: BABOK® Guide, page 116; Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, section “What Should I know to be CCBA Certified?”

 Solution assessment is the process of evaluating the proposed or implemented solutions, assessing their value and performance, and recommending improvements or changes. Solution assessment can be done in multiple iterations, depending on the number and nature of the solutions, the complexity and uncertainty of the problem, and the stakeholder preferences and expectations. The business analyst can do multiple assessments, one for each solution or to compare multiple solutions, to determine the best solution that meets the business need and objectives, and delivers the expected benefits and outcomes12

Option B is incorrect because there is no rule that the business analyst should perform the same type of assessments for each solution to be balanced. The type of assessments that the business analyst performs depends on the criteria and metrics that are relevant and appropriate for each solution, as well as the availability and reliability of the data and information. The business analyst should use the most suitable and effective assessment methods for each solution, which may vary depending on the solution characteristics and context34

Option C is incorrect because the business analyst can do more than one assessment per solution. The business analyst may need to repeat or refine the assessment for a solution, based on the feedback, validation, and verification of the results, or the changes in the requirements, assumptions, or constraints. The business analyst may also need to perform different types of assessments for a solution, such as feasibility, cost-benefit, risk, impact, gap, or performance assessments, to evaluate the solution from different perspectives and dimensions12

Option D is incorrect because there is no limit to the number of solution assessments that the business analyst can do. The business analyst should not assume that some of the solutions are better than others, without conducting a proper and rigorous assessment. The business analyst should consider all the possible solutions that are within the solution scope, and evaluate them based on the agreed criteria and metrics, to ensure that the optimal solution is selected and implemented5

References:

Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide), Version 3, Chapter 7: Solution Evaluation, p. 157-158.

Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Simplilearn, Module 8: Solution Evaluation, Lesson 8.1: Measure Solution Performance, p. 6-7.

Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide), Version 3, Chapter 7: Solution Evaluation, Section 7.2: Solution Evaluation Techniques, p. 160-161.

Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Simplilearn, Module 8: Solution Evaluation, Lesson 8.2: Assess Enterprise Limitations, p. 6-7.

Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide), Version 3, Chapter 7: Solution Evaluation, Section 7.3: Recommend Actions to Increase Solution Value, p. 162-163.

[Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Simplilearn], Module 8: Solution Evaluation, Lesson 8.3: Recommend Actions to Increase Solution Value, p. 6-7.