Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA) Practice Exam

Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA) Practice Exam

The Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA), offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®), validates your knowledge, skills, and experience in the essential practices of business analysis. 

Who should consider this certification:

• Business analysts: Elevate your career prospects and validate your expertise in business analysis principles and practices.
• Project managers or consultants: Strengthen your understanding of business analysis and its role in project success.
• Individuals looking to transition into business analysis: Gain a strong foundation and demonstrate your commitment to the profession.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

• Elicit and manage business needs: Gather, analyze, and document stakeholder requirements, ensuring clarity and completeness.
• Analyze business problems and opportunities: Identify and define business problems and opportunities through effective analysis techniques.
• Develop solutions and recommendations: Recommend solutions that meet stakeholder needs, considering both feasibility and potential impact.
• Facilitate communication and collaboration: Facilitate effective communication and collaboration between business stakeholders and technical teams.
• Manage requirements and document artifacts: Manage requirements throughout the project lifecycle and document key information effectively.

Prerequisites

In order to receive the CCBA designation, applicants need to meet the following requirements:

• Have at least 3,750 hours of job experience in business analysis over the last seven years.
• A minimum of 900 hours must be completed in each of the two BABOK® Guide Knowledge Areas out of the 3750 minimum hours necessary; alternatively, a minimum of 500 hours must be achieved in each of the four BABOK® Guide Knowledge Areas.
• Within the last four years, finish at least 21 hours of professional development.
• Give citations.
• Accept the code of behavior.
• Concur with the terms and conditions.
• ace the test.

Exam Details:

• Format: Multiple-choice questions
• Time Limit: 3 hours
• Languages: English
• Passing Score: 70%

Course Outline

1. Requirements Analysis and Design Definition -32%

Specify and Model Requirements

• Modelling requirements and designs. (IIBA Reference: Model Business)
• Analyzing requirements and designs.
• Identifying information for requirements and designs. (IIBA Reference: Requirements Analysis and Design Definition)
• Developing the appropriate level of abstraction to meet various needs

Key behaviours include:

• Learning: Demonstrate an ability to learn quickly and willingly.
• Visual Thinking: Communicate complex concepts and data as understandable.
• Written Communication: Demonstrate well prepared, stakeholder-focused written communication.

Verify Requirements

• Applying the characteristics of requirements and designs quality. (IIBA Reference: Needs and Solutions, Requirements and Designs)
• Performing verification activities throughout the work.
• Using appropriate checklists for quality control. (IIBA Reference: Checklist)

Key behaviours include:

• Decision Making: Make and help others make the best decision based on appropriate criteria.
• Organization Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of the organization’s nuances and how to get things done.
• Methodology Knowledge: Demonstrate capability in multiple analysis methodologies.

Validate Requirements

• Identifying assumptions in order to manage risks. (IIBA Reference: Mastering Business Analysis Versatility)
• Defining measurable evaluation criteria to assess the success of the change.
• Evaluating alignment with solution scope to support value delivery.

Key behaviours include:

• Systems Thinking: Leverage holistic view of people, processes and technology to understand the enterprise.
• Organization Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of the organization’s nuances and how to get things done.
• Methodology Knowledge: Demonstrate capability in multiple analysis methodologies.

Define Requirements Architecture

• Using requirements viewpoints and views effectively.
• Leveraging templates to develop the solution architecture.
• Ensuring the set of requirements is complete
• Ensuring requirements relate to each other by identifying requirements relationships.
• Defining the business analysis information architecture.

Key behaviours include:

• Problem Solving: Use a structured approach to problem solving.
• Conceptual Thinking: Ability to put the pieces together.
• Methodology Knowledge: Demonstrate capability in multiple analysis methodologies

Define Design Options

• Identifying appropriate solution approaches.
• Identifying improvement opportunities.
• Allocating requirements to solution components and releases.
• Developing design options aligned with the desired future state.

Key behaviours include:

• Systems Thinking: Leverage holistic view of people, processes and technology to understand the enterprise.
• Conceptual Thinking: Ability to put the pieces together.
• Organization Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of the organization’s nuances and how to get things done.

Analyse Potential Value and Recommend Solution

• Identifying the expected benefits of a potential solution.
• Identifying the costs associated with a potential solution.
• Determining the value of a solution to key stakeholders.
• Assessing design options and recommending the appropriate solution.

Key behaviours include:

• Decision Making: Make and help others make the best decision based on appropriate criteria.
• Systems Thinking: Leverage holistic view of people, processes and technology to understand the enterprise.
• Solution Knowledge: Leverage an understanding of the organization to identify the most effective means of implementing a change.

2. Strategy Analysis -12%

Analyse Current State

• Defining business needs.
• The organizational structure and culture.
• The organizational capabilities and processes.
• Technology and infrastructure utilized by the organization.
• Organizational policies and business rules.
• Organization’s business architecture.
• Organization’s internal assets
• External influencers.

Key behaviours include:

• Systems Thinking: Leverage holistic view of people, processes and technology to understand the enterprise.
• Business Acumen & Industry Knowledge: Demonstrate the ability to incorporate business and industry knowledge into work.
• Organization Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of the organization’s nuances and how to get things done.

Define Future State

• Articulating business goals and objectives.
• Determining the solution scope.
• Identifying constraints.
• Identifying potential changes to organizational structure and culture.
• Identifying new capabilities and business processes.
• Identifying new technology and infrastructure.
• Identifying new organizational policies and business rules.
• Ensuring business architecture is respected.
• Assessing resource alignment for future state and transition to future state.
• Identifying assumptions related to the future state.
• Evaluating the potential value for the future state.

Key behaviours include

• Creative Thinking: Think creatively and help others to think creatively to identify innovative solutions.
• Systems Thinking: Leverage holistic view of people, processes and technology to understand the enterprise.
• Organization Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of the organization’s nuances and how to get things done.

Assess Risks

• Identifying unknowns.
• Identifying and managing constraints, assumptions and dependencies.
• Quantifying the impact of risk factors.
• Assessing stakeholder and organizational risk tolerances.
• Recommending an effective course of action. 

Key behaviours include:

• Creative Thinking: Think creatively and help others to think creatively to identify innovative solutions.
• Decision Making: Make and help others make the best decision based on appropriate criteria. 
• Business Acumen & Industry Knowledge: Demonstrate the ability to incorporate business and industry knowledge into work.

Define Change Strategy

• Recommends action for identifying the appropriate solution scope.
• Performing gap analysis.
• Completing the enterprise readiness assessment.
• Developing an effective change strategy.
• Developing appropriate transition states and completing release plans.

Key behaviours include:

• Decision Making: Make and help others make the best decision based on appropriate criteria, such as:  
• Systems Thinking: Leverage holistic view of people, processes and technology to understand the enterprise.
• Organization Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of the organization’s nuances and how to get things done.

3. Requirements Life Cycle Management – 18%

Trace Requirements

• Value and relationship considerations while tracing requirements.
• Identifying the relationships to track to effectively manage traceability.
• Determining and appropriate traceability repository.

Key behaviours include:

• Conceptual Thinking: Ability to put the pieces together.
• Methodology Knowledge: Demonstrate capability in multiple analysis methodologies.
• Business Analysis Tools & Technology: Leverage appropriate business analysis tools.

Maintain requirements

• Maintaining requirement and design information.
• Managing attributes.
• Managing requirements for long-term reuse

Key behaviours include:

• Systems Thinking: Leverage holistic view of people, processes and technology to understand the enterprise.
• Organization Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of the organization’s nuances and how to get things done.
• Business Analysis Tools & Technology: Leverage appropriate business analysis tools.

Prioritize Requirements

• Recommends action for determining the appropriate basis for prioritizing requirements.
• Guiding stakeholders through prioritization changes.
• Prioritizing new information.

Key behaviours include:

• Decision Making: Make and help others make the best decision based on appropriate criteria.
• Business Acumen & Industry Knowledge: Demonstrate the ability to incorporate business and industry knowledge into work.
• Negotiation & Conflict Resolution: Resolve conflicts and negotiate to reach agreements.

Assess Requirements Changes

• Assessing the formality of the assessment process.
• Completing impact analysis activities.
• Guiding impact resolution activities.

Key behaviours include:

• Decision Making: Make and help others make the best decision based on appropriate criteria.
• Systems Thinking: Leverage holistic view of people, processes and technology to understand the enterprise.
• Organization Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of the organization’s nuances and how to get things done.

Approve Requirements

• Stakeholder roles and authority levels.
• Managing conflicts and resolving issues.
• Using appropriate methods to gain consensus about key business analysis information.
• Action for tracking and communicating approval decisions.

Key behaviours include:

• Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication: Adapt communication style to the needs of the situation and the individual.
• Listening: Use active listening and discovery skills to understand “real” issues/needs and build chemistry.
• Negotiation & Conflict Resolution: Resolve conflicts and negotiate to reach agreements.

4. Solution Evaluation -6%

Measure Solution Performance

• Identifying appropriate measures for assessing solution performance.
• Validating selected performance measures with key stakeholders.
• Collecting appropriate performance measures to assess solution performance.

Key behaviours include:

• Solution Knowledge: Leverage an understanding of the organization to identify the most effective means of implementing a change.
• Methodology Knowledge: Demonstrate capability in multiple analysis methodologies.
• Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication: Adapt communication style to the needs of the situation and the individual.
• Office Productivity and Communication Tools & Technology: Demonstrate proficiency in using office applications to document, track, and communicate information and artifacts.

Analyze Performance Measures

• Examining collected performance measures to assess solution performance.
• Highlighting identified risks.
• Identifying relevant trends.
• Testing and analysing performance measures to ensure accuracy.
• Identifying the root cause of performance variances and recommending actions.

Key behaviours include:

Assess Solution Limitations

• Identifying internal solution component dependencies.
• Performing problem analysis to identify the source of solution limitations.
• Performing impact assessment activities to quantify factors that affect solution performance.

Key behaviours include:

• Learning: Demonstrate an ability to learn quickly and willingly.
• Systems Thinking: Leverage holistic view of people, processes and technology to understand the enterprise.
• Business Acumen & Industry Knowledge: Demonstrate the ability to incorporate business and industry knowledge into work.

Assess Enterprise Limitations

• Assessing enterprise culture.
• Completing stakeholder impact analysis.
• Assessing solution impact on organizational structure.
• Performing operational assessment.

Key behaviours include:

• Learning: Demonstrate an ability to learn quickly and willingly.
• Systems Thinking: Leverage holistic view of people, processes and technology to understand the enterprise.
• Business Acumen & Industry Knowledge: Demonstrate the ability to incorporate business and industry knowledge into work.

Recommend Actions to Increase Solution Value

• Ensuring appropriate solution performance measures are being used.
• Providing substantiated recommendations.

Key behaviours include:

• Decision Making: Make and help others make the best decision based on appropriate criteria.
• Systems Thinking: Leverage holistic view of people, processes and technology to understand the enterprise.
• Organization Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of the organization’s nuances and how to get things done.

5. Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring – 12%

Plan Business Analysis Approach

• Selecting the business analysis approach.
• Level of business analysis formality.
• Identifying business analysis activities.
• The timing of business analysis work.
• Assessing complexity, size, and risk factors.
• Gaining stakeholder understanding and agreement.

Key behaviours include:

• Methodology Knowledge: Demonstrate capability in multiple analysis methodologies.
• Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication: Adapt communication style to the needs of the situation and the individual.
• Listening: Use active listening and discovery skills to understand “real” issues/needs and build chemistry.

Plan Stakeholder Engagement

• Stakeholder analysis.
• Stakeholder collaboration.
• Identifying stakeholder collaboration needs.

Key behaviours include:

• Systems Thinking: Leverage holistic view of people, processes and technology to understand the enterprise.
• Organization Knowledge:  Demonstrate an understanding of the organization’s nuances and how to get things done.
• Listening: Use active listening and discovery skills to understand “real” issues/needs and build chemistry.

Plan Business Analysis Governance

• Identifying an effective decision-making process.
• Developing an effective change control processes.
• Developing an effective prioritization process.
• Planning an effective approval process.

Key behaviours include:

• Decision Making: Make and help others make the best decision based on appropriate criteria.
• Organization Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of the organization’s nuances and how to get things done.
• Methodology Knowledge: Demonstrate capability in multiple analysis methodologies.

Plan Business Analysis Information Management

• Organize business analysis information.
• Determining the appropriate level of abstraction.
• Traceability.
• Planning for requirements reuse.
• Storing and accessing business analysis information.
• Attributes for requirements and design management.

Key behaviours include:

• Organization Knowledge: Demonstrate an understanding of the organization’s nuances and how to get things done.
• Methodology Knowledge: Demonstrate capability in multiple analysis methodologies.
• Business Analysis Tools & Technology: Leverage appropriate business analysis tools.

Identify Business Analysis Performance Improvements

• Reports on business analysis performance.
• Identifying business analysis performance measures.
• Assessing business analysis performance measures.
• Recommending business analysis performance improvements.

Key behaviours include:

• Creative Thinking: Think creatively and help others to think creatively to identify innovative solutions.
• Learning: Demonstrate an ability to learn quickly and willingly.
• Adaptability: Adapt to and embrace changing situations as an opportunity, rather than an obstacle.

6. Elicitation and Collaboration – 20%

Prepare for Elicitation

• Elicitation scope
• Selecting appropriate elicitation techniques
• Setting up logistics for elicitation activities
• Preparing supporting elicitation materials
• Stakeholder preparation for elicitation activities

Key behaviours include:

• Learning: Demonstrate an ability to learn quickly and willingly.
• Organization & Time Management: Organize activities and manage time efficiently to adhere to commitments and changing priorities.
• Adaptability: Adapt to and embrace changing situations as an opportunity, rather than an obstacle.
• Teaching: Teach and ensure comprehension of new concepts.

Conduct Elicitation

• Guiding the elicitation activity
• Capturing the outcomes of the elicitation activity.

Key behaviours include:

• Conceptual Thinking: Ability to put the pieces together.
• Adaptability: Adapt to and embrace changing situations as an opportunity, rather than an obstacle.
• Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication: Adapt communication style to the needs of the situation and the individual.
• Listening: Use active listening and discovery skills to understand “real” issues/needs and build chemistry.
• Facilitation: Use facilitation skills to encourage participation from all attendees.

Confirm Elicitation Results

• Comparing elicitation results against source information.
• Comparing elicitation results against other elicitation results.

Key behaviours include:

• Decision Making: Make and help others make the best decision based on appropriate criteria.
• Leadership & Influencing: Influence others to drive action.
• Negotiation & Conflict Resolution: Resolve conflicts and negotiate to reach 

Communicate Business Analysis Information

• Determining objectives and format of communication.
• Communicating the appropriate level of detail.

Key behaviours include:

• Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication: Adapt communication style to the needs of the situation and the individual.
• Written Communication: Demonstrate well prepared, stakeholder-focused written communication.
• Listening: Use active listening and discovery skills to understand “real” issues/needs and build chemistry.

Manage Stakeholder Collaboration

• Gaining stakeholder agreement.
• Monitoring stakeholder engagement.
• Collaborative stakeholder relationships.

Key behaviours include:

• Organization & Time Management: Organize activities and manage time efficiently to adhere to commitments and changing priorities.
• Adaptability: Adapt to embrace changing situations as an opportunity, rather than an obstacle.
• Teamwork: Foster a collaborative working environment.
• Negotiation & Conflict Resolution: Resolve conflicts and negotiate to obtain agreement.