'The Business Analyst (BA) plays an important role as liaison between business stakeholders and the technical team (software developers, vendors, etc.), ensuring that business needs are reflected in any software solution. Despite the importance of the job, there is currently no book specifically designed as a comprehensive reference manual for the working BA. The Business Analyst's Handbook solves this problem by providing a useful compendium of tools, tables, lists, and templates that BAs can use on-the-job to carry out their tasks. For example, you might be preparing for an interview session and use the book's checklist of interviewees to verify whether there is appropriate coverage of business stakeholders. Or you might be asked to review some diagrams and refer to the Glossaries of Symbols (organized by diagram type) for guidance. Or you may be asked to prepare textual requirements documentation and refer to the Business Requirement template for a list of artifacts and table of contents. Whatever your BA needs, the Business Analyst's Handbook places the necessary information right at your fingertips.
' The most up-to-date book on the topic, incorporating the latest standards in the profession, including the UML (Unified Modeling Language) - a standard for modeling (diagramming), BABOK, and ITIL. Well-tested on the job, the Business Analyst's handbook is based on a set of Job Aids the author's company currently distributes to practicing Business Analysts during in-house training and consultation engagements. Companion website provides additional templates and other Job Aids. Provides an extensive list of questions to ask business stakeholders at each phase of a project. Provides specifics, not just general information: specific questions to ask interviewees, specific checklists of invitees and preparatory documents, artifacts, etc. Includes extensive glossaries of diagram symbols and Business Analysis terms.
'Introduction Chapter 1: Overview of BA Activities Throughout the Life Cycle Chapter 2: Meeting Guide Chapter 3: Standards and Guidelines Used in This Book Chapter 4: BA Toolkit Chapter 5: Tips and Checklists Chapter 6: Templates Appendix A: Glossary of BA Terms Appendix B: Acronyms Appendix C: Further Reading
'Howard Podeswa The author is a sought-after speaker at Business Analysis conference - most recently BA World San Francisco and Vancouver. He plays a leading role in the industry (Business Analysis), as designer of BA training programs for a number of large training institutions (Boston University, TriOS, Humber College, etc.), Subject Matter Expert for the NITAS BA program (co-sponsored by US Dept. of Labor and CompTIA), and reviewer of the profession's standard book of best practices (the BABOK, owned by the International Institute of Business Analysis). Podeswa, through his role as Director for Noble Inc., has provided BA services internationally to a diverse client base, including the Canadian military (MASIS), the U.S. nuclear industry and the insurance and finance sectors.
