IIBA CERTIFICATION: FROM APPLICATION TO SUCCESS! Southwest Ohio Business Analysis Regional Conference Hosted by: Cincinnati IIBA Chapter Sharonville Convention Center Cincinnati, Ohio May 1, 2015 Copyright 2015 The Cincinnati Insurance Companies. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce or post online, in whole or in part, without written permission.
The authors affiliation with The Cincinnati Insurance Companies is provided for identification purposes only and is not intended to convey or imply The Cincinnati Insurance Company s concurrence with or support for the positions, opinions or viewpoints expressed. 2
What Makes a Great Certification? It is backed by independent professional body. It is based on a generally accepted standard. Requires education and/or training in the field. Requires experience in the field. Requires applicant to pass an examination to demonstrate their knowledge in the field. Has recertification path. 3
Value of Professional Certification Demonstrate your competence in the principles and practice of business analysis. Receive recognition by the community of your competence. Personal satisfaction by achieving a professional career milestone. Demonstrate your commitment to your career. Advance your career potential. Potentially higher income. 4
Value of Certification to Your Organization Demonstrates your commitment to your employees. Provides advancement and recognition opportunities for staff. Promotes higher morale among your employees. Demonstrates to the business community your commitment to standards in business professions. Demonstrates to your stakeholders your commitment to run your business effectively. 5
INTRODUCTION TO IIBA 6
The IIBA Core Purpose: To unite a community of professionals to create better business outcomes. Core Values: Recognition Collaboration Thought Leadership Honesty and Integrity Innovation Empowerment 7
IIBA Statistics Dashboard As of March 25, 2015 Membership: 28,537 Chapters: 113 CBAP Recipients: 4,933 CCBA Recipients: 699 8
About the BABOK v2.0 6 Knowledge Areas 34 Techniques 20 Underlying Competencies Reflects currently accepted practices Written by the BA community Not a methodology Not a training manual 9
About the BABOK v3.0 6 Knowledge Areas 50 Techniques 29 Underlying Competencies 5 Perspectives BA Core Competency Model Reflects currently accepted practices Written by the BA community 10
Audience Poll: How much business analysis experience do you have? 5+ years 3 to 5 years 1 to 3 years New to business analysis 11
IIBA CERTIFICATIONS AND THE APPLICATION PROCESS 12
CCBA or CBAP 13
CCBA If you are a Business Analyst who has acquired core business analysis skills, this is for you! 14
CCBA Requirements Minimum 3750 hours of BA work experience aligned with the BABOK Guide in the last seven years Minimum 900 hours in each of 2 of the 6 knowledge areas, or 500 hours in each of 4 of the 6 knowledge areas Minimum 21 hours of Professional Development in the past four years Two references from a career manager, client or CBAP recipient Signed Code of Conduct 15
CBAP If you are an experienced Business Analyst at a senior level who has mastered core business analysis skills, this is for YOU! 16
CBAP Requirements Minimum 7500 hours of BA work experience aligned with the BABOK Guide in the last 10 years Minimum 900 hours in each of 4 of the 6 knowledge areas Minimum 21 hours of Professional Development in the past four years Two references from a career manager, client or CBAP recipient Signed Code of Conduct 17
The Application Professional Development Education Work Experience References Personal Information 18
Activities by KA (Total BA Hours. Need 900+ in 4 or more KAs) Activities by KA (Percentage of Total BA Hours; will be calculateddon t enter any values) BA Activity Hours BAPM RE RC EA RA SAV Project Name Start Dates End Dates BAPM RE RC EA RA SAV TOT New Order Entry System Jan-2015 May- 2015 1010 60 150 200 50 500 50 1010 6% 15% 20% 5% 50% 5% 100% AAAAAA 0% BBBBB 0% CCCCC 0% DDDDD 0% TOTAL (Recommend BA hours be 8500 or more unless you select only BA tasks) TOTAL (Calculat ed) N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Watermark Learning 19
BABOK Terminology Terminology is half the battle. --Aaron Whittenberger, CBAP Lead project team meeting for Order Entry application change. Met with business people individually to coordinate requirements for enhancement. Facilitated focused group discussion on business requirements for enhancement to Order Entry application. Conducted interviews with business stakeholders to validate requirements for enhancement. 20
Documenting a Project on Application Project Name Project start and end date Contact Name Phone Email address Project Description Total Hours on Project % BA Hours on Project Tasks 21
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 23
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory. George S. Patton 24
PREPARING FOR THE CERTIFICATION EXAM 25
Develop a personal study plan Understand the exam process 26
Why Develop a Study Plan? Imparts a sense of direction. Feel organized and in control. Sets milestones. Provides a gauge of progress. Allows time for leisure activities. No need to press the panic button. 27
When developing your study plan, Approximate an exam date. Determine your personal priority for the exam. Define your level of focus. Make it realistic. Build in some time for contingencies. 28
Study Plan Basics Stick to the plan. Take one chapter of the BABOK at a time. Review the study resource options. Pick what is right for you. 29
Study Resources IIBA Business Analysis Book of Knowledge BABOK v2.0 BABOK v3.0 Study Guides CBAP /CCBA Focused Confirm the BABOK version it follows 30
Study Resources Study Tables Quick reference resource Drills and memorization tool Flash Cards Make your own 31
Study Resources CBAP /CCBA Preparation Class Online classes Classroom Training Study Groups/Networking Local IIBA Chapter Workplace 32
Study Resources IIBA Website Certification FAQs CBAP Handbook Practice Tasks in Day to Day Work Follow the BABOK 33
Study Resources Practice Exams Study Guides Online exam opportunities 34
Study or Set an Exam Date First? An exam date provides a deadline. Preliminary studying helps to estimate the timeframe needed to prepare. 35
Study Tips and Tricks Align with the BABOK Understand the basics of each chapter then dive into the details Study Approach Practice Exams Be Prepared 36
Certification Exams 150 multiple choice questions with four possible answers each 3.5 hours time limit Computer-based exam at Prometric Testing Centers Questions based on comprehension and situational analysis Flag Question feature Randomized weighted questions Pass or Fail 37
CBAP Exam Blueprint CBAP Handbook based on v2.0 of the BABOK 38
Exam Day Arrive early. Present your confirmation email and required Personal IDs. Empty your pockets. Take your time. Revisit your flagged questions. Answer all of the questions. Click Submit. Woo Hoo!! You passed! 39
KEEPING YOUR CERTIFICATION 40
Recertification Recertify your certification every three years. 60 Continuing Development Units (CDUs). Six categories: Academic Professional Development Professional Activities Self-Directed Learning Volunteer Service Professional Experience Limits in each category you cannot get all 60 CDUs in one category. 41
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APPENDIX 43
Lisa Austin, CBAP has been with Cincinnati Insurance Company (CIC) for 14 years. She has 26 years of professional experience, including 12 years as a business analyst. Prior to becoming a business analyst, Lisa worked 11 years in retail as a Buyer, International Coordinator and Retail Director; working for such places as Mercantile Stores and Culinary Sol. She received her business analysis training through B2T Training. Lisa is a Mentor and a member of the leadership team for the CIC Business Analysis Center of Excellence (BACoE) and presents on many topics to assist business analysts to do their work better, including her recent presentation on Facilitating Effective Meetings. Lisa earned her Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP ) certification in October 2014. Lisa is a strong supporter of the Cincinnati IIBA Chapter and of the IIBA. 44
Suzanne Roy, CBAP has been with Cincinnati Insurance Company for over six years. She has more than 25 years of professional experience, including 12 years as a business analyst. Suzanne has a great deal of Quality Assurance experience in her background at such places as PMSC in Chicago, Great American Insurance Company (GAIC), and International Paper Company. She made the transition to business analysis as it developed as a career path at GAIC, where she was a key contributor to the definition and rollout of a Project Lifecycle program. Suzanne received her business analysis training through B2T Training and agile training through EBG Consulting. She is a presenter on the business analyst role and how it collaborates with other project roles. Suzanne earned her Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP ) certification in March 2014. Suzanne is a member of Cincinnati IIBA Chapter and has been a member of the IIBA since 2011. 45
Aaron Whittenberger, CBAP came to Cincinnati Insurance Company (CIC) eight months ago with 28 years of business and technology experience, including 15 years of business analysis experience. Aaron currently serves on the Cincinnati IIBA Membership Committee, as President of the Bluegrass IIBA Chapter (Lexington, KY), as Regional Director of the Americas Eastern Region for IIBA and for the past five years as Co-Chairperson of the Role Delineation Committee for the IIBA Certification Program. He now serves as a member of the leadership team for the CIC Business Analysis Center of Excellence (BACoE). Aaron received his business analysis training through ASPE Technologies. He earned his Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP ) certification in September 2008. Aaron is an avid Business Analyst, Business Process Analyst, Blogger, Mentor, Trainer and Presenter. He is a champion for the IIBA, business analysis as a profession and the recognition of its practitioners. You may connect with Aaron on LinkedIn or follow him on twitter @TheWittyBA. 46
Application Process Register at www.iiba.org Confirm Personal Info Education Work Experience Professional Development References Pay Application Fee Client Career Mgr. or CBAP Use Appeal Process No Approved? Yes Pay Exam Fee Schedule Exam 47
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Being certified by the IIBA brings a lot of opportunities and it really differentiates you as that senior analyst. --Samia Osman, Business Solutions Lead, MEG Energy 50
Personal leadership is the process of keeping your vision and values before you and aligning your life to be congruent with them. -- Stephen Covey. American leadership consultant and writer 51
In my early professional years I was asking the question: How can I treat, or cure, or change this person? Now I would phrase the question in this way: How can I provide a relationship which this person may use for his own personal growth? -- Carl Rogers. 52
I learned how incredibly difficult it can be to demonstrate competency through a professional certification. I persevered and passed. -- JoAnn W. Klinedinst. 53
I continue to value these two credentials as tools in my toolbox. They signal to others that I have both the education and the competency to perform. -- JoAnn W. Klinedinst. 54
Certifications are door openers to any role you want to get into or any job you want to apply for. Get a recognized certification in that field and watch recruiters checking out your resume more than those without. -- Yemi. 55
If you want hiring managers to understand that you have the foundational knowledge for a Business Analyst role, then the CBAP is one of the best ways to get that interview (and probably the job). -- Bridget Bellet. 56
Although employers might not be looking for CBAP, it can still be a differentiator. It might well mean that one candidate gets the job over another. -- Adrian Reed, CBAP, Business Analyst Consultant, United Kingdom 57
Study reveals value employers and HR place on professional certification Key findings of the survey include: Professional certification is a highly valued credential. While employers are more willing to pay for certificate programs and professional certification, professional certification is considered better value for the money spent. Reputation of the awarding body, as well as experience-based exams, recertification and continued education are the key factors that make certification valuable. Increases in employee engagement, employment satisfaction and productivity are the top ways of measuring the value of professional certification, as are reductions in staff churn, training, and recruitment costs. 58