Business Analysis: Developing Requirements from Udemy

Developing Requirements aims to help you advance your business analysis career by giving you the skills needed to elicit the best requirements.

Get to the Next Step as a Business Analyst by Mastering Requirements Elicitation

Learn how to start your project on the right foot by planning an effective analysis phase
Learn how to uncover requirements that stakeholders don't volunteer (or might not even be aware of)
Learn how to effectively interview and observe your stakeholders
Learn the basics of Joint Requirements Planning (JRP) sessions to accelerate the pace of requirements development
Learn how to develop requirements that accurately match the needs of your organization, so you can find the best solutions

Business analysis is easy, right? You just ask your stakeholders what they want and write down their responses... No. Experienced Business Analysts know that real requirements development is a challenging endeavor, requiring a number of interviewing, observation, group facilitation, and documentation skills.

In this course, we'll step through how to plan effective requirements development phases for your project, cover the skills you need to run them effectively, and set you up for success in developing solutions to your organization's problems.

In this course, we'll cover:

How to plan your project's analysis phase. Determine where your requirements input should come from. Learn how best to gather requirements from those sources. Choose the best form of plan for your project.

How to gather requirements. Learn how to interview and observe stakeholders. Run effective brainstorming and group interview sessions. Learn the basics of JRP Session facilitation. Run surveys and focus groups. Gather requirements from documents and systems.

How to document requirements. Learn how to organize and categorize your notes into tangible requirements input. Streamline it to avoid duplication and bad requirements. Frame it all into a coherent document.

Throughout the course, you'll also see how the course material works in the real world through a series of scenarios.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Develop a plan for gathering requirements effectively
Interview stakeholders to understand their pain points and needs
Observe colleagues and customers to understand how they really do their work

Facilitate group interviewing, brainstorming, surveys, and other requirement-gathering methods
Frame requirements input into a cohesive set of actual requirements

Develop a plan for gathering requirements effectively
Interview stakeholders to understand their pain points and needs
Observe colleagues and customers to understand how they really do their work
Facilitate group interviewing, brainstorming, surveys, and other requirement-gathering methods
Frame requirements input into a cohesive set of actual requirements

Syllabus

Course Introduction

Intro to the course. A little bit about the course and the instructor.

Pre-Elicitation: Planning Requirements Development

This lecture covers where requirements come from: people, documents, and systems.

When we have a lot of stakeholders, it's inefficient to handle them all one-on-one. This lecture covers how to classify them effectively.

Once we know who our stakeholders are, and how they're classified, it's time to figure out how we're going to elicit requirements from them... which we cover in this lecture.

A requirements development plan will help to keep us on track. This lecture covers how to come up with an easy light-weight plan.

In this lecture we go through two scenarios which cover everything in this section.

Elicitation: Developing Requirements

One-on-one interviewing is the most common requirement-gathering method -- and one you must master. Learn how in this lecture.

Scenario time! See how Doug (our BA) interviews Solomon (our project sponsor).

Scenario time again! This is a more detailed scenario with Doug and Martha (the Product Analyst).

Observation is another critical skill in the BA toolbox. Get up to speed on it in this lecture.

Scenario again! See how Doug observes Martha as she works.

Group interviewing can be a powerful way to save time while gathering requirements from stakeholders. This lecture covers the unique skills you'll need.

Yes... another scenario! Here, Doug interviews several Product Managers all at once.

Brainstorming is a fun and effective way for gathering lots of input all at once. Here we'll cover how to do it effectively.

If you want to be a master Business Analyst, you'll need to know how to run JRP and JAD sessions. In this lecture, we cover the dynamics.

Focus groups can help you learn about stakeholder attitudes towards products and processes. This lecture covers how to run them most effectively.

Surveys can help you get feedback from dozens or hundreds (or more) of stakeholders in a relatively short timeframe. Learn how to develop and execute surveys in this lecture.

Documents contain tons of valuable information that your stakeholders might not even be aware of. Learn how to review them effectively in this lecture.

In this lecture, we'll cover systems as requirement gathering tools. Learn about interface analysis, reverse engineering, and prototyping here.

Documenting Requirements

There's no point gathering requirements if we don't document them. In this lecture, we cover the best approach to doing so.

Organizing and categorizing your input will help ensure that your final requirements are solid. Learn how in this lecture.

In this lecture, we cover how to streamline all the requirements input you've received from your sources.

In this lecture, we cover the writing part of documenting the requirements.

Special Topics in Requirements Development

In this lecture, we will cover some "interesting" situations that often cause problems for both novice and expert BAs.

This is where we wrap up the course (and say "thank you").

Downloads

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on developing professional skills

Taught by experienced instructors

Provides hands-on practice through scenarios

Requires no prior experience

Covers a wide range of requirement gathering techniques

May require additional resources for more in-depth knowledge

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: Developing Requirements with these activities:

Create a study guide for the course

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A study guide is a great way to organize your notes and prepare for exams.

Browse courses on Study Guide

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Review your notes from the course.
Identify the key concepts from each lecture.
Create a study guide that summarizes the key concepts.

Attend a conference or meetup on business analysis

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Conferences and meetups are a great way to learn about the latest trends in business analysis and meet other professionals in the field.

Browse courses on Networking

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Find a conference or meetup on business analysis.
Review the agenda and speakers.
Attend the conference or meetup.
Network with other attendees.

Volunteer with a non-profit organization

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Volunteering with a non-profit organization is a great way to give back to your community and learn about the challenges that businesses face.

Browse courses on Volunteering

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Find a non-profit organization that you are interested in volunteering with.
Contact the organization and ask about volunteer opportunities.
Attend a volunteer orientation.
Start volunteering.

Five other activities

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Practice writing user stories

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User stories are a common way to document requirements, and this activity will give you the opportunity to practice writing them.

Browse courses on User Stories

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Find a template for writing user stories.
Write a user story for a feature that you would like to see in a product or service.
Share your user story with a friend or colleague and get feedback.

Follow a tutorial on interview skills

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Interviewing is a critical skill for business analysts, and this tutorial will provide you with the basics of how to conduct effective interviews.

Browse courses on Interviewing

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Find a tutorial on interview skills.
Follow the steps in the tutorial.
Practice your interviewing skills with a friend or colleague.

Read Business Analysis: Best Practices for Success

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This book will provide you with a comprehensive overview of the business analysis process, including best practices for requirements gathering, elicitation, and documentation.

View Business Analysis Techniques: 123 essential... on Amazon

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Read the book.
Make notes on the key concepts.
Apply the concepts to a real-world project.

Join a study group for business analysis

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Study groups are a great way to learn from your peers and get support with your coursework.

Browse courses on Collaboration

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Find a study group for business analysis.
Attend the study group meetings regularly.
Participate in the discussions.

Conduct a requirements gathering workshop

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This project will allow you to put your requirements gathering skills into practice and get feedback from real stakeholders.

Browse courses on Requirements Gathering

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Identify the stakeholders for your project.
Develop a plan for your workshop.
Conduct the workshop.
Document the results of the workshop.

Career center

Learners who complete Business Analysis: Developing Requirements will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Business Analyst

Business analysts are responsible for analyzing and documenting business requirements. They work closely with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet those needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful business analyst. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements. This course is a great way to get started in a career as a business analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Requirements Engineer

Requirements engineers are responsible for eliciting, analyzing, and documenting system requirements. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and ensure that those needs are met by the system. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful requirements engineer. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements. This course is a great way to get started in a career as a requirements engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Requirements Engineer

Systems Analyst

Systems analysts are responsible for analyzing and designing business systems. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet those needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful systems analyst. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements. This course is a great way to get started in a career as a systems analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Software Engineer

Software engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and testing software applications. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet those needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful software engineer. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements. This course is a great way to get started in a career as a software engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Product Manager

Product managers are responsible for managing the development and launch of new products. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop products that meet those needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful product manager. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements. This course is a great way to get started in a career as a product manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Project Manager

Project managers are responsible for planning and executing projects. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop plans that meet those needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful project manager. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements. This course is a great way to get started in a career as a project manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Data Analyst

Data analysts are responsible for analyzing data to identify trends and patterns. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet those needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful data analyst. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements. This course is a great way to get started in a career as a data analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Market Researcher

Market researchers are responsible for conducting research to understand market trends and consumer behavior. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet those needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful market researcher. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements. This course is a great way to get started in a career as a market researcher.

See salaries and explore the career path for Market Researcher

User Experience Designer

User experience designers are responsible for designing user interfaces that are easy to use and understand. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet those needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful user experience designer. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements. This course is a great way to get started in a career as a user experience designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality assurance analysts are responsible for testing software applications to ensure that they meet requirements. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop tests that meet those needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be a successful quality assurance analyst. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements. This course is a great way to get started in a career as a quality assurance analyst.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Technical Writer

Technical writers are responsible for creating documentation for software applications and other products. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop documentation that meets those needs. This course may be useful to you if you are interested in a career as a technical writer. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Business Development Manager

Business development managers are responsible for developing and implementing business plans. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop plans that meet those needs. This course may be useful to you if you are interested in a career as a business development manager. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Development Manager

Management Consultant

Management consultants are responsible for providing consulting services to businesses. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet those needs. This course may be useful to you if you are interested in a career as a management consultant. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Systems Architect

Systems architects are responsible for designing and maintaining IT systems. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet those needs. This course may be useful to you if you are interested in a career as a systems architect. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Architect

IT Consultant

IT consultants are responsible for providing consulting services to businesses. They work with stakeholders to understand their needs and develop solutions that meet those needs. This course may be useful to you if you are interested in a career as an IT consultant. You will learn how to plan and execute requirements gathering sessions, interview stakeholders, observe work processes, and document requirements.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Consultant