Certified Associate Business Analyst

The need for improved and more reliable information transfer calls for Software Business Analyst professionals who can effectively bridge the knowledge and language gap between the business and IT communities. Certification is recommended as a means to define the Common Body of Knowledge for the practice of business analyzation, and evaluate an individual’s ability to apply that knowledge to practice. Acquiring the designation of Certified Associate Business Analyst (CABA) indicates a professional level of competence in the principles and practices associated with the business analyst profession.

Skill Categories: (CABA)

1. Business Analyst Principles and Concepts
2. Management and Communication Skills
3. Define, Build, Implement and Improve Work Processes
4. Business Fundamentals
5. Requirements
6. Software Development Processes, Project and Risk Management
7. Acceptance Testing
8. Commercial Off-the-Shelf Software and Performance Based Contracting

Knowledge Category 1 ~ Business Analyst Principles and Concepts
In this Skill Category we examine the evolution of quality concepts and practices around the world. It also provides an introduction to the basic tools of implementing quality processes and procedures.

Knowledge Category 2 ~ Management and Communication Skills
This Skill Category reviews how Theories of Management evolved and the role the attitude of management plays in the successful implementation of improvement initiatives. We have also look at the management and communication skills needed for the Business Analyst to be able to successfully perform their job.

Knowledge Category 3 ~ Define, Build, Implement and Improve Work Processes
This Skill Category is focused on understanding processes as they relate to the role of the Business Analyst. It looks at how various national and international models and awards provide support for process-oriented thinking

Knowledge Category 4 ~ Business Fundamentals
This section discusses a view of the business part of the organization which is often undiscovered by much of the Information Technology staff. The section lays a firm foundation for learning about the specific instantiations of the business practices within the organization.

Knowledge Category 5 ~ Requirements
This Skill Category addresses the single most important part of the development process, Requirements. The steps taken to move a vaguely understood, poorly articulated want or need to a clearly actionable statement are detailed. Methods for gathering the information, refining it and prioritizing it are presented.

Knowledge Category 6 ~ Software Development Processes, Project and Risk Management
Planning for and executing successful Information Technology projects requires a sound understanding of the various development approaches, their strengths and weaknesses. This Skill category discusses the role of the Business Analyst in identifying business related risks and helping to assess various strategies for effectively managing them.

Knowledge Category 7 ~ Acceptance Testing
Skill Category 7 examines one of the key roles of the Business Analyst in the development of a software product, the successful execution of the acceptance testing needed to verify that the product is ready for production. It examines how creating an effective acceptance test plan that begins in Requirements, and allocates resources to these early life cycle activities, allows the Business Analyst to leverage the total resource contribution and minimize the amount of actual testing time required.

Knowledge Category 8 ~ Commercial Off-the-Shelf Software and Performance Based Contracting
This Skill Category discusses the special issues and approaches needed to work with vendors for the development and acquisition of software products. This may range from completely custom, developed from the customers requirements, to completely off-the-shelf.