Business Analysis
Business analysis is the application of knowledge, skills and techniques to determine problems and identify business needs. Business analysis helps manage the stakeholder requirements in order to meet business and project objectives, and facilitates the successful implementation of the product, service and result of the program or project.
Below you will find a variety of courses and resources to support you in implementing this approach, which are organized by streams:
- What is Business Analysis?
- Increase Your Overall Understanding
- Deep Dive into the Subject
- Extend your knowledge!
- Additional Resources
What is Business Analysis?
This section is an introduction to business analysis in general. With the help of short videos and articles, you will learn or refresh your knowledge of basic concepts in this area.
Intro to Business Analysis (English only)
This video presents business analysis by defining its core concepts. You will learn about business analysis roles, skills and key terms, as well as the stakeholders and underlying requirements.
French subtitles available.
Duration: 12 minutes
Methodology: Video
Course ID: N/A
La Business Analysis (French only)
This introductory video describes the basic principles of business analysis to help you make better use of this competency in your work environment.
Duration: 4 minutes
Methodology: Video
Course ID: N/A
Why your Team Needs Business Analysts (English only)
This article provides information about the role and competencies of business analysts. After reading it, you will see the value added that a business analyst can contribute to your team.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
Rôle de L’analyste d’affaires — Entre les TI et les affaires (French only)
(Role of the Business Analyst - Between IT and Business)
This article describes the role of a business analyst. It will enable you to better understand the work and tasks performed by this type of specialist to help you develop an action plan with your colleagues, and thus improve your project collaboration efforts.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
Les 5 compétences de l’analyste d’affaires (French only)
(The 5 skills of the Business Analyst)
This article provides information about the 5 key competencies required of a business analyst. After reading it, you will be able to determine whether you have the skills to perform business analysis on your projects.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
5 Common Business Analyst Pitfalls (English only)
This article explores common pitfalls that business analysts can fall into when developing a business plan if they are not aware of their environment. After reading it, you will get to know some best practices to avoid those pitfalls.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
La gestion des processus d’affaires : l’excellence opérationnelle au service des entreprises (French only)
(Business process management: operational excellence for businesses)
This article explores the challenges that companies face in achieving operational excellence. After reading it, you will be able to assess all of these factors in your work environment and target your operational issues.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
Processus d’affaires en 7 étapes — Analyse d’affaires (French only)
(Business Process in 7 Steps - Business analysis)
This short article explores business processes in seven steps. After reading it, you will know how to structure and organize your business analysis simply and efficiently.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
Mind Maps for Business Analysis (English only)
This article explains what mind maps are, their benefits and uses in business analysis. After reading it, you will have a better understanding of how mental maps can provide you with an overview of your project, and how they can serve as a checklist and visual reminder throughout your projects.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
Increase Your Overall Understanding
In this section, you will learn more about business analysis through this informative course that covers the topic from different angles.
Leading Innovation in a Context of Business Processes Transformation
The purpose of this recorded session is to provide information to help ESDC employees to be more responsive and effective in transforming business processes.
This conference covers the following topics:
- What organizations and individuals need to do to integrate innovation into business operations;
- How to quickly solve increasingly complex problems related to businesses processes;
- How to create and maintain the right environment for innovation; and
- The culture of innovation, what it involves and how we can take advantage of it.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Methodology: Web-based
Course ID: 00014552
Deep Dive into the Subject
This section goes to the heart of the topic and includes training that covers business analysis in its entirety. You will be able to expand your knowledge and equip yourself with more tools.
Preparing a Business Case
This course presents the objectives, steps and elements needed to prepare a viable business case. You will learn to write clear statements, conduct an option analysis and make sound recommendations.
Duration: 15 hours
Methodology: Instructor-led Classroom
Course ID: C220
Business Analysis
This course explores the connection between different aspects of finance, performance indicators and results while also examining the function of comptrollership. You will learn how to improve organizational performance through the strategic use of financial information and analysis.
Duration: 22.5 hours
Methodology: Instructor-led Classroom
Course ID: F106
Preparing and Implementing a Business Plan
This course presents what is a business plan, its main ingredients, and the steps you need to take to develop one. You will learn how to carry out an internal analysis and about the key elements examined in any external and SWOT analyses.
Duration: 30 minutes
Methodology: Web-based
Course ID: C073
Extend your knowledge!
This section contains a wealth of information in different formats to assist your daily work. You will find several resources that can expand your range of knowledge about business analysis.
Related Training
Financial Statement Analysis for Non-financial Professionals
This course covers some of the methods for analyzing financial statements from the perspective of a non-financial professional. In this course, you will learn about using common financial ratios for profitability, efficiency, liquidity, and solvency in your analysis. In addition to ratios, the course covers percentage calculations specifically for horizontal analysis and vertical analysis.
Duration: 30 minutes
Methodology: Web-based
Course ID: F005
Video
Business Analysis Training: Agile in less than 20 mins! (English only)
This video features an accelerated course on the agile approach to business analysis. You will learn the basics of this methodology, as well as its pros and cons. You will be able to apply the agile concepts of business analysis to your projects.
French subtitles available.
Duration: 20 minutes
Methodology: Web-based
Course ID: N/A
Articles
Top Tools for Successful Business Analysts (English only)
This article explores a list of five key tools that business analysts like to use. After reading it, you will have an opportunity to use and test these tools in your team to optimize your business analyses.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
Guide pour la gestion efficace des parties prenantes (French only)
(Guide for effective stakeholder management)
This article contains a wealth of information about stakeholders and you will discover ways for managing and identifying them. Learn how to ensure maximum stakeholder engagement, which can be critical to how well projects function and their overall success.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Reading
Course ID: N/A
Stakeholder Engagement Strategy for the Missing SME (English only)
During the needs assessment stage of your projects, good communication with stakeholders is vital. In this article, you will learn tips and strategies for engaging your stakeholders and different ways to avoid any misunderstandings.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Web-based
Course ID: N/A
Le BaBok 2.0 à l’ombre de la version 3.0 (French only)
This presentation contains a wealth of information on BaBok (Business Analysis Book of Knowledge), including an overview of the different concepts in version 2.0 and an idea of what to expect from version 3.0. This reading is a “must“ when it comes to exploring all of the aspects that a business analyst has to deal with on a day-to-day basis.
Duration: Variable
Methodology: Web-based
Course ID: N/A
Recommended Books
Seven Steps to Mastering Business Analysis (English only)
In this book by Barbara Carkenord, you will be immersed in the current context of business analysis and take a deeper look at the role of business analysts, their skills and which characteristics are necessary to become a good business analyst. This guide is a good learning tool for beginners or those with more experience to improve your proficiency in business analysis.
Find this book at your local library or buy it at a bookstore ($30 to $60, depending on the format).
Duration: Variable - 404 pages
Methodology: Reading
E-book available: Yes
Course ID: N/A
Les fondamentaux de la Business Analysis (French only) (The fundamentals of Business Analysis)
In this book by Alice Svadchii, you will learn the basics of context-based business analysis, including key activities, deliverables, techniques and methodologies. This book provides a good foundation for anyone interested in performing business analysis.
Find this book on the author’s blog for free.
Duration: Variable - 404 pages
Methodology: Reading
E-book available: Yes
Course ID: N/A
Additional Resources
Below you will find other resources on the web where you will find even more tools and information on business analysis.
Gartner (CEB)
Did you know that you can further your understanding of business analysis through the Gartner (CEB) subscription service? To access a host of articles, discussions and events, all you need to do is:
- Create an account
- Search their catalogue with the keywords "Business Analysis", "Stakeholder", "Business Plan", "Business Case", and "Business Processes".
Mouvement québécois de la qualité (French only)
Did you know that you have access to the Mouvement québécois de la qualité's resources? To access a host articles, job-aids and trainings, all you need to do is:
- Create an account
- Search their catalogue with the keywords "analyse", et "plan d'affaires"
Several competencies are required to be an effective business analyst. Be sure to browse the College@ESDC's complete offering on competencies that support transformation such as project management, risk management, business process management and strategic thinking.
If you have questions about these offerings, contact your Learning Coordinator (NCR) or your Learning Centre (regions).