Business Analysis Mastery: Planning, Skills, and Perspective from Coursera

This advanced course, "Advanced Business Analysis Mastery," offers a deep dive into the intricacies of business analysis. Participants will gain expertise in planning, stakeholder engagement, governance, and information management. The course also emphasizes the importance of soft skills for business analysts, such as adaptability and effective communication. Learners will explore a range of perspectives relevant to business analysis, including Agile, Business Intelligence, IT, Business Architecture, and Business Process Management. By the course's conclusion, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of advanced business analysis concepts, the skills required to excel in this field, and the ability to approach complex business challenges with confidence and competence.

This course is ideal for experienced business analysts, project managers, and professionals involved in business analysis roles. It is tailored for individuals seeking to enhance their skills in planning, stakeholder engagement, and the application of various business analysis perspectives to drive organizational success.

Participants should have a foundational understanding of business analysis principles and techniques. Prior experience in business analysis or related roles is beneficial. Familiarity with project management practices and basic business operations will enhance the learning experience. This course is suitable for those looking to advance their expertise in business analysis planning, skills, and perspectives, regardless of their prior knowledge level.

What's inside

Syllabus

Business Analysis Planning and Monitoring

This module covers the critical aspects of planning and monitoring in business analysis. It includes techniques for developing a business analysis approach, engaging stakeholders, governance, information management, and identifying performance improvements.

Soft and Hard Skills for a Business Analyst

In this module, you will explore the essential soft and hard skills required for a successful Business Analyst. It covers behavioral characteristics, human skills, and the evolving role of a Business Analyst in today's landscape.

Business Analyst Perspectives

This module introduces various perspectives that a Business Analyst may encounter in their role, including the Agile perspective, Business Intelligence perspective, IT perspective, Business Architecture perspective, and Business Process Management perspective.

Final Assessment

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops professional skills and deep expertise in business analysis planning

Explores business analyst perspectives including Agile, Business Intelligence, IT, Business Architecture, and Business Process Management

Covers essential soft and hard skills for successful business analysts, including adaptability and effective communication

Specifically designed for experienced business analysts, project managers, and professionals in business analysis roles

Teaches planning, stakeholder engagement, governance, and information management for business analysis

Instructed by Igor Arkhipov

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Business Analysis Mastery: Planning, Skills, and Perspective with these activities:

Organize notes and assignments

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As you progress through the course, take time to review and consolidate your notes and assignments to enhance retention.

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Review your notes after each lecture or reading.
Summarize key concepts and ideas.
Organize your notes into a logical structure.

Review a book on project management governance

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Enhance your understanding of project management governance by reviewing a reputable book on the subject.

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Read through each chapter thoroughly.
Take notes and highlight key concepts.
Complete the review questions or exercises at the end of each chapter.

Review project management

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Start your course with a review of the basic concepts and principles of project management as outlined in the PMBOK guide.

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Obtain a copy of the PMBOK Guide.
Review the introduction and the 10 knowledge areas of project management.
Read through case studies and examples to reinforce concepts.
Complete practice questions to test your understanding.

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Develop stakeholder engagement plan

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Throughout the course, you will analyze stakeholder engagement and governance. Create an example plan for a project to solidify these concepts.

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Identify the key stakeholders for a project.
Develop a communication plan for each stakeholder group.
Create a risk management plan to address potential issues.
Present your plan to a mentor or peer for feedback.

Follow tutorials on Agile project management

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Expand your knowledge of Agile project management by following online tutorials and demonstrations.

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Search for online tutorials on Agile project management.
Follow the step-by-step instructions and examples.
Practice applying the techniques in your own projects.

Conduct a business analysis project

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Put your learning into practice by applying business analysis principles to a real-world project.

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Identify a business problem or opportunity.
Gather and analyze data.
Develop and present your recommendations.

Agile principles exercises

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Solidify your understanding of Agile principles and apply them to real-world scenarios through exercises.

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Join an online forum or community dedicated to Agile.
Participate in discussions and ask questions about Agile methodologies.
Work on case studies or simulations that involve applying Agile principles.

Write a blog post on advanced business analysis techniques

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Share your learnings and insights from the course by creating a blog post on advanced business analysis techniques.

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Choose a specific topic within advanced business analysis.
Research and gather information on the topic.
Write a well-structured and informative blog post.

Career center

Learners who complete Business Analysis Mastery: Planning, Skills, and Perspective will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Business Analyst

Business Analysts help organizations understand their business needs and develop solutions to improve their operations. This course provides a comprehensive overview of business analysis, including planning, stakeholder engagement, governance, and information management. It also emphasizes the importance of soft skills for business analysts, such as adaptability and effective communication. By taking this course, you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as a Business Analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Business Intelligence Analyst

Business Intelligence Analysts use data to help organizations make better decisions. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for Business Intelligence Analysts. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, Business Intelligence Analysts can help organizations improve their performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Intelligence Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for Project Managers. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, Project Managers can help ensure that projects are successful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

IT Business Analyst

IT Business Analysts work with IT departments to understand the business needs and develop solutions to improve IT systems. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for IT Business Analysts. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, IT Business Analysts can help organizations improve their IT systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Business Analyst

Business Architecture Analyst

Business Architecture Analysts help organizations design and implement business architectures. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for Business Architecture Analysts. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, Business Architecture Analysts can help organizations improve their business architectures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Architecture Analyst

Business Process Analyst

Business Process Analysts help organizations improve their business processes. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for Business Process Analysts. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, Business Process Analysts can help organizations improve their business processes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Process Analyst

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and marketing of products. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for Product Managers. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, Product Managers can help organizations develop and market successful products.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts help organizations design and implement systems. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for Systems Analysts. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, Systems Analysts can help organizations design and implement successful systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Security Analyst

Security Analysts help organizations protect their information systems. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for Security Analysts. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, Security Analysts can help organizations protect their information systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst

Program Manager

Program Managers are responsible for managing programs. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for Program Managers. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, Program Managers can help organizations manage their programs successfully.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Information Systems Manager

Information Systems Managers are responsible for managing the information systems of organizations. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for Information Systems Managers. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, Information Systems Managers can help organizations improve their information systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Systems Manager

Data Analyst

Data Analysts use data to help organizations make better decisions. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for Data Analysts. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, Data Analysts can help organizations improve their performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Risk Analyst

Risk Analysts help organizations identify and manage risks. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for Risk Analysts. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, Risk Analysts can help organizations identify and manage risks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Technical Business Analyst

Technical Business Analysts work with technical teams to understand the business needs and develop solutions to improve IT systems. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for Technical Business Analysts. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, Technical Business Analysts can help organizations improve their IT systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Business Analyst

Consultant

Consultants help organizations improve their performance. This course provides a strong foundation in business analysis, which is essential for Consultants. By understanding the business needs and developing effective solutions, Consultants can help organizations improve their performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant