For new business analysts or supervisors of business analysts: get a basic understanding of the functions and business impact of this role. Focus on business analysis functions as they relate to the development of information technology solutions and the business analysis project life cycle. Course topics include the role of the business analyst, gathering and documenting user requirements, modeling the business, business case analysis, process modeling, quality management and testing.

Project management has been proven to be the most effective method of delivering products and/or services within the constraints of scope, schedule, and cost. In managing projects, the role of the business analyst has increased in importance over time because of the complexities of integrating new technologies and new processes in dynamic and ever changing business environments. Business analysis complements the project management function and focuses on defining and validating a strategic solution to meet business needs and goals. This course gives you a general overview of business analysis and project management processes and standards, then delves in to the details of how business requirements planning and management fit in to those processes, and how particular tools and techniques are applied for project success.

This course focuses on the analysis and documentation of requirements and the role of the business analyst. Topics include: capturing requirements in a business requirements document; project vision and scope; identifying users; types of requirements; elicitation techniques (context diagram, concept of operations etc); structuring end user requirements; and documenting user requirements.

The business analyst role requires additional skills and expertise in communicating technical concepts to others from different professional groups, hierarchical positions, or internal departments. Topics include: advocating ideas upward through more effective issue analysis and argument selection; creating compelling briefings and technical presentations; organizing thoughts and ideas for effecting technical presentations; getting people to feel urgency and make decisions and separating a real opportunity from a resource drain. Course includes role-plays, activities and interactive discussions.

This course focuses on testing, test plans and on differentiating the roles of verification and validation in achieving quality. Verification and validation are the backbone of test plans. Tasks include: reviews, inspections, testing, defect reporting, and user acceptance testing. Participants develop a test plan and write and review test cases at the business level.

Learn how to use the Unified Modeling Language (UML), an important aid to software development with an object-oriented programming language. This course, of interest to managers and QA engineers as well as to students and users of object-oriented languages such as C++ and Java, focuses on the use of UML to specify, visualize, construct, and document the artifacts of software systems and business models. The ability to work with UML is especially important for individuals responsible for the analysis and design of object-oriented systems. Students learn the fundamental concepts of UML (based on the work of Booch, Jacobson, and Rumbaugh) and how the UML notation is used to represent business systems. Students also have an opportunity to apply what they learn in a series of laboratory exercises using a graphical design tool. Topics in this course include use-case diagrams, sequence diagrams, class diagrams, collaboration diagrams, statechart diagrams, activity diagrams, and implementation diagrams. This course serves as excellent preparation for further study in object-oriented analysis, design, and programming.

The success of projects is dependent upon people and how effectively they work and communicate with one another. You will reflect upon your role as a manager/ leader within a project management framework. Explore concepts of human behavior, motivation, problem solving, decision-making, influence, conflict management, and organization structure. Build skills in recognizing and managing project stakeholders, communications, team development, and working with virtual team members, via presentations, case studies, readings, essays, and discussions.

Get a conceptual framework to approaching problem-solving and decision-making situations with clarity and confidence. Gain competence in making effective decisions based on accurate assessment of a problem and preparing creative alternative solutions. Learn how to use analysis, synthesis, and positive inquiry to approach individual and organizational problems, develop and evaluate objectives, and assess likely consequences. Using case studies and on-the-job situations encountered by the class, explore successful models and proven methods that are readily transferable on-the-job.

Learn how the structured approach of business process improvement (BPI) can be performed at all levels in an organization. Through a series of training activities, you will learn how to select, design, sell, implement, and institutionalize the changes necessary for effective BPI. Determine the process flow of a project, evaluate ineffective use of time, and change the process for improved effectiveness. In addition, collaborate on a class project that will allow for application of techniques to organization's processes and procedures.