BCS BAPv5 - BCS Practitioner Certificate in Business Analysis Practice v5.0

Planning activities are those that must be considered beforehand in order to complete the doing and enabling activities. They are usually related to defining or determining some aspects of the business. In this question, the activities c, d and e are planning activities, as they involve defining the skills sets of the consultants, agreeing on a marketing campaign, and running monthly open days. These activities are necessary to support the primary doing activity of delivering consultancy service. Option D is the correct answer.

An event is something that happens or occurs within or outside an organisation or project that triggers or affects an activity or process. Events can be classified into three types: external, internal and time-based. Therefore, option B is the correct answer, as it correctly classifies the events of interest in this scenario according to their types. External events are events that originate from outside the organisation or project and are beyond its control or influence. An example of an external event in this scenario is customers ordering through the website, as it originates from outside TeamClothing and is beyond its control or influence. There are two external events in this scenario. Internal events are events that originate from within the organisation or project and are under its control or influence. An example of an internal event in this scenario is shop sales assistants ordering items for a customer online, as it originates from within TeamClothing and is under its control or influence. There are no internal events in this scenario. Time-based events are events that occur at regular intervals or on specific dates or times. An example of a time-based event in this scenario is sending a monthly catalogue to website customers, as it occurs at regular intervals (every month). There is one time-based event in this scenario.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 46.

A consensus Business Activity Model (BAM) is a diagram that shows the high level activities that an organisation performs or delivers and the flow or sequence of the activities. It helps to understand what an organisation does, how it does it, who does it, where it does it and why it does it from a common or shared perspective of all relevant stakeholder groups. Therefore, options A, C and D are true statements about a consensus BAM. Option A is a true statement, as a consensus BAM is a conceptual model that represents a business situation or problem at a high level of abstraction. It helps to simplify and clarify the complexity and ambiguity of the business situation or problem. Option C is a true statement, as a consensus BAM shows the logical sequence of process steps that the organisation follows or performs to achieve its objectives and outcomes. It helps to identify the order and dependencies of the activities and how they are connected or related. Option D is a true statement, as a consensus BAM forms the basis of subsequent gap analysis that compares the current and desired situations or problems and identifies the differences or gaps between them. It helps to determine what changes or improvements are needed to bridge the gaps and achieve the desired situation or problem. Option B is not a true statement, as a consensus BAM does not show who undertakes the business activities, but what the business activities are. The actors or performers of the business activities are shown in another technique, such as RACI chart. Option E is not a true statement, as a consensus BAM does not describe a stakeholder’s perspective on what the business does, but a common or shared perspective of all stakeholder groups on what the business does. A stakeholder’s perspective on what the business does is described in another technique, such as CATWOE.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 45.

The event ‘amend KPI’ would affect the activity ‘define performance targets’, as the company would need to change its current performance target of gross profit margin to ROCE. The other activities would not be directly affected by this event, as they are either related to monitoring or defining other aspects of the business. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

References:

10 types of business events and their basic functions | Indeed.com UK

7 Types of Corporate Events [+ Virtual Event Ideas] - HubSpot Blog

An enabling activity is an activity that supports or facilitates another activity within an organisation or project. It helps to ensure that another activity can be performed or delivered effectively and efficiently. Therefore, option B is the correct answer, as check adherence to regulation is an enabling activity that supports provide insolvency services, which is the primary doing activity of a BAM reflecting DeanLegal’s business perspective. Check adherence to regulation is an enabling activity, as it involves verifying that the insolvency services provided by DeanLegal comply with the rules and standards set by the Federation of Insolvency Practitioners (FIP). It helps to ensure that DeanLegal can perform its primary doing activity legally and ethically. Option A is not a correct answer, as provide comprehensive support to customers is not an enabling activity that supports provide insolvency services, but another doing activity within DeanLegal’s business perspective. Provide comprehensive support to customers is a doing activity, as it involves delivering value and satisfaction to customers who use DeanLegal’s insolvency services. It helps to achieve DeanLegal’s objectives and outcomes. Option C is not a correct answer, as extend range of services is not an enabling activity that supports provide insolvency services, but a potential change or improvement within DeanLegal’s business perspective. Extend range of services is a change or improvement, as it involves introducing new types of services, such as advice in funding the purchase of capital assets, that DeanLegal may offer to its customers in addition to its insolvency services. It helps to enhance DeanLegal’s performance and potential. Option D is not a correct answer, as recruit experienced negotiators is not an enabling activity that supports provide insolvency services, but a resource audit within DeanLegal’s business perspective. Recruit experienced negotiators is a resource audit, as it involves identifying and evaluating the human resources that DeanLegal has or needs to perform its insolvency services. It helps to assess the availability and quality of DeanLegal’s staff.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 44.

A cost is an expenditure or sacrifice incurred or expected to be incurred as a result of a business change. A benefit is an advantage or improvement that is gained or expected to be gained as a result of a business change. Costs and benefits can be classified as tangible or intangible, depending on whether they can be measured in monetary terms or not. Therefore, options B and D are correct answers, as they describe intangible costs and benefits that are not easily quantified or valued. Intangible costs include the temporary reduction in productivity due to the introduction of new business policies and processes. Intangible benefits include the enhancement of the company’s reputation as the market leader due to being the first to receive compliance certification. Option A is not a correct answer, as tangible costs are not described in the extract. Tangible costs are those that can be measured in monetary terms, such as the cost of purchasing new equipment or hiring new staff. Option C is not a correct answer, as tangible benefits are not described in the extract. Tangible benefits are those that can be measured in monetary terms, such as the increase in revenue or decrease in expenses.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 20.

 A vision statement is a concise and inspiring statement of what the organisation aspires to be in the future. It should reflect the organisation’s core values and purpose, and provide direction and motivation for its stakeholders. A vision statement should not be too specific or focused on the current state of the organisation, but rather on the desired future state. Therefore, option A is the best choice, as it expresses a clear and aspirational vision that aligns with the company’s mission of meeting or undercutting all its competitors’ prices. Option B is too narrow and does not capture the essence of the organisation’s purpose. Option C is too vague and does not indicate how the organisation will achieve its goal. Option D is too generic and does not differentiate the organisation from its competitors.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 13.

 The role of a business analyst (BA) is to analyse business situations and problems, identify and evaluate potential solutions, and facilitate change within an organisation or project. A BA works with stakeholders at different levels and with different interests and perspectives to understand their needs and expectations and ensure they are met by suitable solutions. Therefore, option C is not likely to be used by George’s manager in describing his role as a BA in resolving this problem. To negotiate with stakeholders to reach resolution implies that George has to persuade or compromise with stakeholders to agree on one solution or approach. This is not part of the BA’s role, as the BA does not have the authority or responsibility to make decisions or impose solutions on stakeholders. The BA’s role is to analyse and evaluate different solutions or approaches objectively and present the findings and recommendations to stakeholders for their consideration and approval. Option A is likely to be used by George’s manager in describing his role as a BA in resolving this problem. To understand and challenge the stakeholders means that George has to elicit and validate the stakeholders’ views and needs and question their assumptions and rationale. This is part of the BA’s role, as the BA has to ensure that the stakeholders’ views and needs are clear, consistent, realistic and aligned with the organisation’s strategy and objectives. Option B is likely to be used by George’s manager in describing his role as a BA in resolving this problem. To facilitate the discussion to allow the stakeholders to find a way forward means that George has to organise and conduct meetings or workshops with stakeholders to explore and evaluate different solutions or approaches and help them reach a consensus or agreement. This is part of the BA’s role, as the BA has to enable effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders and help them resolve conflicts or issues. Option D is likely to be used by George’s manager in describing his role as a BA in resolving this problem. To record the meeting and the resulting decision means that George has to document and communicate the outcomes and actions of the meeting or workshop with stakeholders and ensure they are understood and accepted by all parties. This is part of the BA’s role, as the BA has to ensure that there is a clear and accurate record of what has been discussed and decided by stakeholders and that there is a shared understanding and commitment among them.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen, page 36.

A business case is a formal written proposal that details the costs and benefits of a proposed business change or solution. It helps to justify and secure the approval and funding for a proposed business change or solution. Costs and benefits can be classified into two types: tangible and intangible. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as it identifies which categories of costs and benefits are described in this extract respectively. Intangible costs are costs that have no physical existence and cannot be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Examples of intangible costs are reputation, image, morale etc. An example of intangible costs in this extract is significant investment in terms of software licenses and annual maintenance fees, which will not be negotiable until year four of the proposal, as it has no physical existence and cannot be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Tangible benefits are benefits that have physical existence and can be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Examples of tangible benefits are revenue, profit, market share etc. An example of tangible benefits in this extract is improved management information, in addition to the boost it will give to our image with our established customers, as it has physical existence and can be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Option A is not a correct answer, as it does not identify which categories of costs and benefits are described in this extract respectively. Tangible costs are costs that have physical existence and can be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Examples of tangible costs are equipment, materials, labour etc. There is no example of tangible costs in this extract. Intangible benefits are benefits that have no physical existence and cannot be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Examples of intangible benefits are satisfaction, loyalty, quality etc. There is no example of intangible benefits in this extract (although image could be considered as an intangible benefit). Option B is not a correct answer, as it does not identify which categories of costs and benefits are described in this extract respectively. Tangible benefits are benefits that have physical existence and can be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Examples of tangible benefits are revenue, profit, market share etc. An example of tangible benefits in this extract is improved management information, in addition to the boost it will give to our image with our established customers, as it has physical existence and can be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Intangible costs are costs that have no physical existence and cannot be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Examples of intangible costs are reputation, image, morale etc. An example of intangible costs in this extract is significant investment in terms of software licenses and annual maintenance fees, which will not be negotiable until year four of the proposal, as it has no physical existence and cannot be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Option C is not a correct answer, as it does not identify any category of cost or benefit that has been described in this extract.

References: BCS Practitioner Certificate in BAP Specimen,