IIBA CBAP - Certified Business Analysis Professional

 MoSCoW is an acronym for Must-have, Should-have, Could-have, and Won’t-have this time. It is a prioritization technique that many organizations use in project management, software development, business analysis, etc., to categorize and prioritize requirements or tasks based on their importance and urgency. The method provides a simple and effective way to prioritize work items by assigning them to one of the four categories12:

Must-have: These are the critical and non-negotiable requirements or tasks that must be completed for the project or product to be successful. Without them, the project or product will fail or become useless. For example, compliance with legal or security standards, or core functionality of the product.

Should-have: These are the important but not essential requirements or tasks that should be completed for the project or product to be satisfactory. They add significant value or benefit, but they are not as time-sensitive or critical as the must-haves. They can be postponed or omitted without compromising the project or product. For example, performance improvements, minor bug fixes, or nice-to-have features.

Could-have: These are the desirable but not necessary requirements or tasks that could be completed for the project or product to be enhanced. They improve the user experience or customer satisfaction, but they have a low impact or benefit. They can be included if time and resources permit, or they can be left out without affecting the project or product. For example, aesthetic changes, extra functionality, or user feedback.

Won’t-have: These are the least important or relevant requirements or tasks that won’t be completed for the project or product at the current time. They have a low or negative impact or benefit, or they are not appropriate or feasible at the moment. They can be excluded, deferred, or reconsidered for future projects or products. For example, out-of-scope requests, low-priority issues, or unrealistic expectations.

MoSCoW prioritization helps to manage the expectations and needs of the stakeholders, and to focus on the most valuable and urgent work items. It also helps to deal with changing requirements, scope creep, and resource constraints. MoSCoW prioritization is often used with timeboxing, which is a technique that sets a fixed deadline for the completion of a project or product34. References:

What is MoSCoW Prioritization? | Overview of the MoSCoW Method

MoSCoW method - Wikipedia

Simplify Requirement Prioritization With the MoSCoW Method - Geekflare

MoSCoW: Framework for Effective Prioritization | craft.io

The work breakdown structure (WBS) is not an element of the solution scope, but rather a project management tool that decomposes the project scope into manageable deliverables and tasks. The WBS is created after the solution scope is defined and approved, and it helps to plan, monitor, and control the project execution.

The other options are elements of the solution scope, which are:

B. Implementation approach, which describes how the solution will be delivered, such as the methodology, the phases, the roles and responsibilities, and the quality measures.

C. Solution scope definition, which describes what the solution is, what it does, and what it does not do, in terms of the features, functions, and characteristics that address the business need.

D. Dependencies, which describe the relationships and interactions between the solution and other internal or external factors, such as other projects, systems, processes, or stakeholders.

References:

CBAP® Handbook, page 15, section 4.1.2.3

BABOK® Guide, page 32, section 3.2.3

Solution Scope – An Insight

How To Write a Project Scope in 5 Steps (With Example)

An assumption is something that is believed to be true or certain to happen, without proof. Assumptions are often used to fill in the gaps of incomplete or uncertain information, and they can affect the analysis of the current and future states. In this question, the project manager is assuming that her project team members have a certain skill, without verifying it. This is an example of an assumption that should be identified and validated as part of the assessment of capability gaps.

The other options are not assumptions, but rather:

B. A constraint, which is a restriction or limitation that affects the performance or outcomes of a project or solution.

C. A requirement, which is a condition or capability needed by a stakeholder to solve a problem or achieve an objective.

D. A risk, which is an uncertain event or condition that, if it occurs, has a positive or negative effect on one or more project or solution objectives.

References:

CBAP® Handbook, page 14, section 4.1.2.2

BABOK® Guide, page 30, section 3.2.1

CBAP / CCBA Certified Business Analysis Study Guide, page 94, section 3.2.1

A plan-driven approach to business analysis is a methodology that focuses on minimizing up-front uncertainty and ensuring that the solution is fully defined before implementation begins in order to maximize control and minimize risk. This approach tends to be preferred in situations where requirements are stable and clear, and where changes are costly and disruptive. Therefore, a plan-driven approach has the most business analysis work at the beginning of the project or during the start of a project phase, as it involves detailed planning, analysis, and documentation of the requirements and the solution. A plan-driven approach also requires formal approval and sign-off of the requirements and the solution before moving to the next phase123. References: 1: How to Choose the Right Business Analysis Approach1 2: Plan driven projects versus change driven2 3: Business Analysis Methodology3

The project manager is the stakeholder who must approve the business analysis approach to ensure that it is compatible with the other project activities. The project manager is responsible for overseeing the project execution, managing the project resources, and ensuring that the project meets its objectives, scope, schedule, and budget. The project manager also coordinates the work of the project team, including the business analyst, and ensures alignment between the project management approach and the business analysis approach. The project manager needs to approve the business analysis approach to ensure that it supports the project goals, fits the project constraints, and does not conflict with the project plan. The project manager also needs to monitor and control the business analysis activities and deliverables throughout the project lifecycle. The project manager and the business analyst should collaborate closely to define and document the business analysis approach, as well as to communicate and manage changes to the approach as needed1234. References: 1: How to Choose the Right Business Analysis Approach1 2: Business analysis approach planning2 3: Approve Requirements3 4: Defining the Business Analysis Approach in 20235

Stakeholder analysis is performed as soon as a business need is identified, as this is the first step in the business analysis process. Stakeholder analysis helps to identify who are the people or groups that have an interest or influence in the project, what are their needs and expectations, and how to engage them effectively. Stakeholder analysis is essential for defining the project scope, objectives, requirements, risks, and success criteria. Stakeholder analysis is also an ongoing process that should be revisited throughout the project lifecycle, as stakeholders may change or new ones may emerge12. References:

Stakeholder Analysis: Overview, Tools and Techniques - KnowledgeHut

How to Perform a Stakeholder Analysis | Lucidchart

 A stakeholder map is a strategic tool that helps to identify and analyze the stakeholders involved in a project or business initiative. It shows the level of interest, influence, power, and impact of each stakeholder, as well as their expectations, needs, and concerns. A stakeholder map also illustrates how the stakeholders are related to each other and to the solution, and how they may affect or be affected by the project outcomes. A stakeholder map can help to plan and manage stakeholder engagement, communication, and collaboration throughout the project lifecycle1234. References: 1: Stakeholder Analysis and Mapping: Getting Started Smartsheet1 2: What Is A Stakeholder Analysis? Everything You Need To Know2 3: Mastering Stakeholder Mapping: An Essential Guide for Stakeholder …4 4: Stakeholder Mapping | What is Stakeholder Mapping + Examples - Boréalis5

The implementation approach is a component of the solution scope that describes how the chosen solution approach will deliver the solution scope. The solution approach is the method or process that will be used to implement the solution, such as a predictive or adaptive approach. The solution scope is the set of capabilities and features that the solution must provide to meet the business need1. The implementation approach explains how the solution approach will be applied to achieve the solution scope, such as the phases, activities, tasks, deliverables, and resources involved. The implementation approach also considers the risks, issues, assumptions, and constraints that may affect the implementation process23.

The other options are not correct. A. The implementation approach is not described in terms of the major features and functions that are to be included, as this is part of the solution scope, not the implementation approach. B. The implementation approach does not define major business and technical dependencies that impose constraints to the effort to deploy the solution, as this is part of the risk analysis, not the implementation approach. C. The implementation approach does not describe the new capabilities required to meet the business need, as this is part of the solution scope, not the implementation approach. References:

Solution Scope - IIBA®

Defining the Business Analysis Approach in 2023 | Free Template

Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring - IIBA®

According to the BABOK Guide, textual requirements are one of the forms of specifying and modeling requirements. Textual requirements are written statements that describe the characteristics of the solution in a clear, concise, and consistent manner. Textual requirements typically consist of three components: the capability of the solution, the condition under which the requirement is applicable, and the constraint that may limit the solution. The capability describes what the solution must or should do, the condition describes the situation or scenario in which the requirement is relevant, and the constraint describes the restriction or limitation that may affect the solution’s ability to meet the requirement. For example, a textual requirement for a banking system could be:

The system shall allow customers to withdraw cash from any ATM machine (capability) within the network (condition) up to a maximum of $500 per day (constraint).

References:

[A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK Guide)], version 3, page 402, section 10.31.2.11

Textual Requirement Artifacts - Blueprint Online Help - HelpDocs, paragraph 1

How to Model Textual Requirements - Formal Mind GmbH, paragraph 2

 A business analysis plan is a document that describes the scope of work, the deliverable Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), the activity list, and estimates for the business analysis activities. It also includes the business analysis approach, the roles and responsibilities of the business analyst and other stakeholders, the communication plan, the requirements management plan, the change management plan, and the risk management plan12. A business analysis plan is an important input for the business analysis execution and monitoring process, as it helps to guide and control the business analysis work, and to ensure that the business analysis deliverables meet the quality standards and stakeholder expectations3.

The other options are not correct. A project management plan is a document that describes how the project will be executed, monitored, and controlled. It covers the project scope, schedule, cost, quality, resources, communication, risk, procurement, and stakeholder management. An implementation plan is a document that describes how the solution will be deployed, transitioned, and integrated into the business operations. It covers the implementation strategy, schedule, resources, tasks, roles, responsibilities, risks, and issues. A requirements management plan is a document that describes how the requirements will be elicited, analyzed, documented, validated, verified, prioritized, traced, and maintained throughout the project lifecycle. It is a component of the business analysis plan, not a separate document. References:

Business Analysis Plan - IIBA®

Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring - IIBA®

Business Analysis Execution and Monitoring - IIBA®

[Project Management Plan - PMI]

[Implementation Plan - PMI]

[Requirements Management Plan - IIBA®]