Course in Fundamentals of Business Analysis and the Analyst’s Operational Role

The Fundamentals of Business Analysis and the Analyst’s Operational Role course serves as an essential gateway for individuals seeking to understand how structured analysis contributes to decision-making and performance improvement in modern organizations. In a business environment defined by complexity, data overflow, and continuous change, relying solely on intuition is no longer sufficient.
Offered by Geneve Institute of Business Management, this training provides a comprehensive foundation in business analysis concepts, tools, and methods, while offering a practical view of the analyst’s role across project lifecycles and business processes. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how business analysts work, the frameworks they apply, and how their insights influence strategies, operations, and organizational growth.

Target Audience

• Individuals aspiring to enter the business analysis field and looking to build a strong professional foundation in this discipline.

• Operational and development staff seeking to enhance their analytical thinking and contribute to organizational improvement initiatives.

• Project managers and coordinators who wish to better understand the analytical component of project planning and execution.

• IT professionals responsible for systems requirements or solution delivery who aim to align better with business needs.

• Professionals in quality assurance, strategic planning, or risk management looking to incorporate analytical tools into their roles.

Objectives

• Provide participants with a thorough understanding of the core principles of business analysis and its strategic role in organizations.

• Clarify the business analyst’s responsibilities, key activities, and required skills across various operational scenarios.

• Introduce essential concepts such as stakeholders, business needs, process models, and requirement elicitation.

• Enable participants to interpret and assess data, processes, and organizational challenges in a structured manner.

• Strengthen the ability to document and present analytical findings in a way that supports well-informed decision-making.

Course Outline :

• Introduction to Business Analysis

  • Definition and importance of business analysis in modern enterprises.

  • Differentiating business analysts from technical and financial analysts.

  • Connecting business analysis to strategic planning and process optimization.

  • Overview of global standards such as BABOK and project lifecycles.

• Core Competencies of a Business Analyst

  • Essential technical and analytical skills for effective performance.

  • Behavioral and communication attributes critical to cross-functional work.

  • Navigating dynamic environments and balancing diverse stakeholder interests.

  • Adaptability and responsiveness in uncertain or evolving business contexts.

• Identifying and Analyzing Stakeholders

  • Understanding internal and external stakeholder roles and influence.

  • Tools for mapping stakeholder relationships and levels of engagement.

  • Assessing expectations, concerns, and influence on project outcomes.

  • Managing communication and alignment across different stakeholder groups.

• Information Gathering and Requirements Analysis

  • Techniques for collecting data relevant to business challenges.

  • Differentiating between functional and non-functional requirements.

  • Interviewing, surveying, and document analysis as key elicitation methods.

  • Organizing collected information into clear, actionable insights.

• Analyzing Current Processes and Identifying Gaps

  • Reviewing existing workflows and procedures to map real-time operations.

  • Pinpointing inefficiencies, redundancies, and bottlenecks.

  • Using visual tools such as flowcharts and process diagrams.

  • Assessing the operational and strategic impact of identified gaps.

• Developing and Evaluating Solution Options

  • Creating multiple solution paths based on business needs.

  • Assessing feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with objectives.

  • Balancing short-term fixes and long-term improvements.

  • Framing analytical recommendations for decision-makers.

• The Business Analyst’s Role in the Project Lifecycle

  • Engaging during pre-project phases, including feasibility studies.

  • Supporting requirement validation and solution implementation.

  • Facilitating collaboration between business and technical teams.

  • Monitoring value realization and process improvements post-delivery.

• Documentation and Reporting Techniques

  • Structuring requirement specifications and business case documents.

  • Presenting findings effectively to stakeholders and leadership.

  • Using digital tools for organizing and distributing reports.

  • Ensuring traceability and version control in analytical documentation.

• Common Analysis Tools and Models

  • Applying SWOT analysis and Porter’s Five Forces framework.

  • Mapping business models, customer journeys, and value streams.

  • Leveraging visual modeling tools for clarity and alignment.

  • Choosing appropriate tools based on the analysis scenario.

• Ethics and Professional Integrity in Analysis

  • Maintaining objectivity and impartiality in findings and recommendations.

  • Managing conflicts of interest and sensitive stakeholder dynamics.

  • Ensuring confidentiality and data security throughout the analysis process.

  • Building credibility and long-term trust within the organization.