Business Analysis 2 - 2025 entry
| MODULE TITLE | Business Analysis 2 | CREDIT VALUE | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MODULE CODE | ECM3442DA | MODULE CONVENER | Dr Vladimir Ryabov (Coordinator) |
| DURATION: TERM | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DURATION: WEEKS | 12 |
| Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) | 15 |
|---|
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content
A Business Analyst is responsible for assessing the business impact of change, capturing, analysing and documenting requirements and supporting the communication and delivery of requirements with relevant stakeholders. You will create detailed analysis of systems and make recommendations for improvement. You will produce specifications of user requirements that enable software engineers to develop the right software solutions. You will require a broad foundation of skills and knowledge to be able to be effective at your work and incorporate all aspects of digital technology systems.
Pre-requisite ECM3434DA Business Analysis 1
AIMS - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to further develop your knowledge of Business Analysis methods and your expertise in their application to the business context, addressing techniques for exploring complex problem situations with a range of stakeholders and more advanced skills in the use of data and process modelling and requirements analysis techniques.
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)
On successful completion of this module you should be able to:
Module Specific Skills and Knowledge
1. Apply structured processes for identifying, defining and analysing unstructured business problems, their root cause and impact
2. Develop and apply modelling and analysis techniques to describe business problem scenarios and to help select solutions
2. Develop and apply modelling and analysis techniques to describe business problem scenarios and to help select solutions
3. Elicit and prioritise requirements for an IT system using ‘industry best practice’ methods
4. Develop a clear, complete, unambiguous and testable requirements specification
5. Model the ‘as is’ and future state for a business process using industry standard approaches and notation.
6. Use industry standard tools to facilitate the analysis, documentation and traceability of requirements
7. Develop models of system data, such as entity relationship models or UML class diagrams, with supporting descriptions
Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge
8. Recognise the elicitation and collaboration approaches, including how to prepare for and conduct elicitation activities and confirm the results
9. Understand the principles of Strategy Analysis, including how to identify the business need, address that need, and align the change strategy within the organisation
9. Understand the principles of Strategy Analysis, including how to identify the business need, address that need, and align the change strategy within the organisation
10. Understand how to perform Solution Evaluation, including how to assess the performance of and value delivered by a solution and to recommend improvements on increasing values
11. Recognise the legislation and industry standards relevant to Business Analysis
12. Understand the purpose and value of quality assurance techniques
13. Recognise a range of Business Analysis investigative techniques
14. Recognise the approaches to change control and requirements management
15. Use requirements elicitation, analysis and documentation to produce an acceptable solution for business problems or further opportunities
16. Conduct Process Analysis, Definition, Mapping and Modelling within a business situation
17. Use tools and benchmarking to support modelling and requirements gathering and recommend approaches to team members as required
18. Produce a business case for a proposed project including business benefits and recommendations
19. Use products of analysis in the design and development of a system
20. Evaluate the impacts of model selection and how they inter-relate with each other when generating business analytics
21. Recommend and use appropriate software tools to implement Business Analysis tasks and outcomes
Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge
22. Communicate orally and in writing
23. Solve problems creatively
23. Solve problems creatively
24. Think analytically and critically
25. Organise your own work
26. Work to a deadline
27. Collaborate and negotiate
28. Commitment to continuous professional development
SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module
Analysis of business scenarios/problems (2 weeks)
• Overview of Business Analysis techniques
• Identifying, defining and analysing unstructured business problems and problem situations
o Describing business problem scenarios
o Identifying root causes
o Assessing impact of problems
• Selecting solutions
Advanced business process modelling and analysis (2 weeks)
• Overview of modelling techniques and tools
• Modelling ‘as is’ and ‘to be’ processes; redesigning processes
• Evaluating process models against business objectives and system requirements
Advanced data modelling and analysis (2 weeks)
• Advanced use of entity relationship diagrams
• Supporting descriptions
• Use of UML class diagrams for data modelling
Advanced requirements gathering (2 weeks)
• Overview of requirements techniques and tools
• Eliciting and prioritising business requirements for IT systems
o Using elicitation techniques
o User stories and scenarios
o Prioritising requirements
• Documenting clear, complete, unambiguous and testable requirements specifications
o Functional and non-functional requirements
o Data, user interface and security requirements
• Validating requirements
Working with designers and developers (2 weeks)
• Developing and maintaining models of system functionality
o Use case diagrams and supporting descriptions
Advanced topics in Business Analysis (2 weeks)
• Using Business Analysis tools and techniques in the real world
o Selecting appropriate tools for business/organisational analyses
• Problems that can arise with requirements
o Traceability of requirements
o Relating models with one another
o Requirements engineering as a potential solution
o Other best practices
LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities | 22 | Guided Independent Study | 128 | Placement / Study Abroad | 0 |
|---|
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 18 | Online learning activity, including virtual workshops, synchronous and asynchronous virtual lectures and other e-learning. |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 2 | Lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 2 | Group workshops |
| Guided independent study | 128 | Coursework, exam preparation and self-study |
ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
| Form of Assessment | Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) | ILOs Assessed | Feedback Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contribution to class discussion | N/A | All | Verbal |
SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
| Coursework | 60 | Written Exams | 40 | Practical Exams | 0 |
|---|
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
| Form of Assessment | % of Credit | Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) | ILOs Assessed | Feedback Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problem situation analysis exercise | 60 | 3,000 words | All | Written |
| Written Exam | 40 | 2 hours | 1-16, 19, 20, 22-25 | Written |
DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original Form of Assessment | Form of Re-assessment | ILOs Re-assessed | Time Scale for Re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem situation analysis exercise | Problem situation analysis exercise (3,000 words, 60%) | All | Completed over the Summer with a deadline in August |
| Written Exam | Written Exam (2 hours, 40%) | 1-16, 19, 20, 22-25 | Referral/deferral period |
RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be deferred in the assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you may be required to sit a referral. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%.
RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener
Basic reading:
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International Institute of Business Analysis, Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge(R) (BABOK(R) Guide), 3rd, IIBA, 2015, 9781927584026.
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Paul, D., Cadle, J., Yeates, D., Business Analysis, 3rd, BCS, 2014, 9781780172774.
ELE:
- ELE.
Web based and Electronic Resources:
Other Resources:
Reading list for this module:
| CREDIT VALUE | 15 | ECTS VALUE | 7.5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRE-REQUISITE MODULES | None |
|---|---|
| CO-REQUISITE MODULES | None |
| NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) | 6 | AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING | No |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORIGIN DATE | Tuesday 30th September 2025 | LAST REVISION DATE | Wednesday 8th October 2025 |
| KEY WORDS SEARCH | Business, analysis |
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Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.