About IQBBA

Organization
IQBBA is an international and independent standard-giving body for business analysis and a special interest group (SIG) in the international organization GASQ - Global Association for Software Quality AISBL.

Structure
The IQBBA certification consists of three levels: Certified Foundation Level Business Analyst (CFLBA), Certified Advanced Level Business Analyst (CALBA) and Certified Expert Level Business Analyst (CELBA).

Internationality
The scheme was developed in cooperation between several international experts. The content of this scheme can therefore be seen as an international standard. The syllabus thereby makes it possible to train and test internationally at the same level.

Target audience
IQBBA scheme is designed for people involved in analyzing business processes within an organization, modeling businesses and process improvement: Business Analysts, Process and Product Owners, Innovators, Product Designers, Process Optimization Professionals etc.

Mission
The mission of IQBBA is to develop and maintain best standards in the field of business analysis and for the certification of its practitioners.

IQBBA Certification Structure

Foundation Level

Target audience for the Foundation level certification

The Foundation level is suitable for business and system analysts, requirements engineers, product owners and product managers. A basic experience in solution concept, design or development is required.

With graduation of the Foundation level certificate you become qualified for the advanced training course - the IQBBA Certified Advanced Level Business Analyst.

Learning objectives

The Foundation level certification forms a base for a today's key qualification in the business analysis field. The acquired knowledge assures a proficiency in definitions and background about business processes modeling and improving, collecting and analyzing requirements, designing business solutions and working in the area of innovation.

Main focus of the Foundation level certification is put on common rules and standards used in business analysis. An additionally topic is the innovation and design as one of major means of building competitive advantage

Please download the glossary here.

The content

1. Fundamentals of Business Analysis
2. Strategy Definition
3. Management of Business Analysis Process
4. Requirements Engineering in Business Analysis
5. Solution Evaluation and Optimization

Please download the syllabus in English here.
Please download the syllabus in German here.
Please download the syllabus in Italian here.
Please download the syllabus in Polish here.
Please download the syllabus in French here.

Advanced Level

Advanced Level modules aim to further improve the Fundation Level skills. The Advanced Level is designed to develop more advanced skills in the specific knowledge area of IQBBA Business Analysis approach – for example, in the scope of Requirements Management.

The GERMAN IQBBA Advanced Level Syllabus is available for download here.
The ENGLISH IQBBA Advanced Level Syllabus is available for download here.

 

Content

Specific modules of the Advanced Level covers the following knowledge areas:

Business Analysis Process Management – this module provides deep knowledge about generic Business Analysis processes, elaborates on process management including context analysis and process performance management, and people management. New tools, methods and techniques to be used to support this knowledge area are provided

Requirements Management – this module explains the context and specific activities of Requirements Management (RM). It covers the topic of establishing processes for Requirements Development and building a framework for RM consisting of information architecture and traceability, configuration and change management, conflict management, Quality Assurance and requirements communication. In addition, process performance assessment and process improvement areas are explained. More tools, methods and techniques to be used to support this knowledge area are provided

Strategic Analysis and Optimization – more advanced and even more practical knowledge about Strategy Definition and Solution Evaluation and Optimization. Make your organization successful and increase business value with the means provided by IQBBA.

Certified Agile Business Analysis

Target audience for the Foundation level certification

As agile grows in maturity, it is increasingly evident that Business Analysts are fundamental to the delivery of features that yield a satisfactory return on enterprise investment. This is the domain of the business analyst. While both developers and testers have clear and recognizable roles in the agile development environment, the role of the Business Analyst is not so well defined. This may be because business analysis is misunderstood in general but is probably exacerbated by the lack of any widely accepted definition or framework for agile Business Analysis -until now. The International Institute of Business Analysis™ (IIBA®) provides business analysis guidelines in A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK®Guide) and, in collaboration with the Agile Alliance® has developed the Agile Extension. The IQBBA Certified Agile Business Analysis course is focused on the work that a Business Analyst practitioner will face in an agile context. The Agile Business Analysis Syllabus and training will support practitioners to become familiarized with the context, the practices and the challenges they will face, and ensure they will be ready to perform.

Content:

The IQBBA CABAis based on the original iSQI CABAmaterials which have been updated for relevance. The IIBA BABOK (now Version 3.0) and the Agile Extension to BABOK Guide (now Version 2) continue to be cited.

The updated product will include anewfully detailed syllabus (attached) that covers nine major chapters with clearly defined learning objectives within each chapter. Each learning objective is specified according to Bloom's cognitive levels specifically: K1 (Remember), K2 (Understand), and K3 (Apply).

 

The content

At the end of the course, successful participants will be able to:
• Identify the role of a business analyst in agile software development projects
• Participate in agile teams developing software
• Articulate the BA’s responsibilities to both the enterprise and the agile team
• Understand and apply the agile business analysis principles and techniques
• Know BA techniques that enable the delivery of artefacts that add value to the enterprise developing agile projects
• Appreciate the importance of, and how to contribute to, continuous improvement of agile processes

The Chapters are as follows (including course timings):

1.What is Business Analysis? (K2) -50 minutes
2.What is Agile? (K1) -15 minutes
3.Common Agile Approaches (K2) -100 minutes
4.Techniques in Agile Projects (K2) -50 minutes
5.See the Whole (K3) -70 minutes
6.Think as a Customer (K3) -110 minutes
7.Determine: What is of Value? (K3) -65 minutes
8.Get Real with Examples (K3) -70 minutes
9.Understand what is Doable (K3) -95 minutes

Exam

The exam (40 multiple-choice questions with a duration of 60 minutes, 75 with extra time) is available as online and paper exam.

The Syllabus in ENGLISH can be downloaded here.

Exam

The examination for the IQBBA Certified Business Analyst is based on the respective IQBBA curriculum. The full examination areas are well defined in the Learning Objectives (Objectives) of the  curricula. Consequently, the Learning Objectives provide the framework for the exams. The testing format is multiple choice.

Candidates eligible to participate in an IQBBA exam either have attended an accredited course or they are participants of an open exam (no prior course attendance required).

GASQ recommends participants attend a training program with an accredited provider prior to taking the exam.
If you are interested in arranging an open exam for a group of 5 or more individuals who do not require an accredited training, we will be pleased to organize an exam at your location within Germany. To make arrangements, please complete our exam form and submit it to info@gasq.org. We will contact you to negotiate the details as soon as possible.

 

Why IQBBA?

On the beginning of each IT project there is always a business need. 

Improving or automating business processes, extending software system’s functionality, opening new access channels for customers – these are examples of various business needs creating a fundaments for an IT project. Each business need has to be explored, analyzed and converted into a solution.

This is the field for a Business Analyst. The success of the project depends on the skills and experience of the Business Analyst – to collect concrete requirements and model them into a solution specific competences are necessary.

 

5 Good Reasons to Invest in Business Analysis

1 – It’s always better when we understand each other

One of the most frequent problems encountered in our modern IT organizations is what we call the Babel syndrome, which describes the mutual incomprehension between the various departments of a company – typically Business and IT or Development and Production.

This well-known communication issue is typically due to different ways of thinking, different rhythms or vocabulary. These miscommunications often result in incomplete, fuzzy if not deceptive or erroneous requirements - and ultimately in dysfunctional, non-conforming or buggy products.

One estimates that up to 40% of computer defects, which cause extra costs and delays, a lot of frustration – when it doesn’t simply cause a massive product failure – are introduced way before the first line of code is written (during requirements and design phases).

This is exactly what Business analysis – and in particular the IQBBA® scheme - addresses by offering a strong formalism (best practices, processes, standards) and specific techniques (requirements engineering, elicitation), so as to help you succeed and reach what really counts for you: added value.

2 – BA can save money and bring the money in

It is always better to do it right once than having to do it twice, or even, all over again (and again). Exponential costs due to the late detection of defects and its subsequent reengineering effort have been proven for long. Whatever your approach or degree of complexity or whatever the flexibility you require, a comprehensive understanding of business needs associated with proven and controlled practices are key to realize savings and keeping the money in.

 Again, Business Analysis – especially when it takes into account continuous improvement like in IQBBA® - is an undisputed key success factor for your projects and products.

3 – BA is trendy

The Internet Of Things? It’s one of the most talked about topic today!

There’s no single day goes by that the press is writing new stories, all more technological than the others, on the connected houses or cars of the future, when it is not a living showcase of all sorts of brand new technology gadgets.

Connected watches or bracelets are now displayed in every trendy shop and they hold the best place in online catalogues. Builders, developers and suppliers keep on ringing bells and whistles to get the best grip on this huge multi-billion dollar mass market.

However, some connected products are facing a hard take off (if any), just because they couldn’t reach their market or users. In most cases, the reason of their failure does not lie in a bad design or technological problems. In most cases, they are simply lacking useful or useable functionality which may be sensitive and valuable for their customers.

Because they focused too much on technology or connectivity, they just missed what makes the difference between an overpriced gadget for techies and a massively adopted product by who really matters: the user!

The difference between success and failure lies in a good market analysis, combined with product design (IQBBA®) and usability (like it is addressed in the IBUQ® scheme for instance).

4 – BA makes your horizon wider

IT jobs and functions are constantly evolving.

Because quality becomes more and more a real differentiator and a key success factor – just see what large technology groups are doing now – experts in quality assurance and quality control (testing) are searched for like never before. 

Because quality is transversal by nature and because realizing software quality starts long before the first line of code is written, it becomes essential that modern testers get a clear understanding of the requirements and goals of the products they are testing.

It shouldn’t come as a big surprise then that many consultancy companies started to certify their quality experts with the IQBBA® internationally recognized standard.

5 – BA is already a part of the IT world

Finally and last but not least, Business Analysis is a known and renowned discipline recognized all over the world. Many books, articles or references exist so as to constantly improve and feed this productive and exciting activity.

No need to overspend your time in evangelizing for Business Analysis and the need to introduce it in your organization, in your own « world ». Just put it in a different perspective and integrate it with your IT so as to optimize its positive effects on your business.

IQBBA

IQBBA provides you with a certification scheme allowing to gather knowledge and skills necessary for improving your business.

IQBBA provides the following skills:

Enterprise Analysis – understand the business processes performed within an organization, identify the change needed and prepare feasibility studies together with risk analysis.

Business Analysis –  identify business needs and determine solutions to business problems.

Process Improvement – optimize an organization’s performance.

Innovation, design and customer – apply modern techniques of innovation and creative design in order to produce new, competitive products.

IQBBA Board Members

  • Karolina Zmitrowicz (Poland)
  • Judy McKay (USA)
  • Beata Karpinska (Sweden)
  • Folke Nilsson (Sweden)
  • Maureen Denning (USA)
  • Alan Calder (UK)
  • Alain Ribault (France)
  • Eric Riou du Cosquer (France)
  • Olivier Denoo (France)
  • Robert Treffny (Germany)
  • Nikolaas Döbel (Germany)
  • Dariusz Paczewski (Poland)
  • Ingvar Nordström (Sweden)
  • Yves Souvenir (Belgiun)
  • Salvatore Reale (Italy)
  • Alexey Lemeshev (Belarus)
  • Werner Henschelchen (Germany)
  • Andrey Konushin (Russia)
  • Dmitry Parilov (Russia)

Accreditation

Training courses for IQBBA Certified Foundation Level Business Analyst must be accredited by an accreditation body authorized by the IQBBA. It helds both a substantive control of training materials as well as monitoring of the training provider. The goal is to provide the customers with the best possible quality to offer. An accreditation has benefits for training providers and for the students as well. Find out more about accreditation here.

GASQ is the official accreditation body for the IQBBA and therefore your starting point if you want to be an accredited training provider for IQBBA Certified Foundation Level Business Analyst. The accreditation is valid for 3 years and can be re-accredited for another 3 years after 3 years.


There is a common training material available which can be licensed. For further information please contact info@gasq.org.