About the Book
Adopting an Agile approach can revolutionise business analysis working practices. Agile focuses on iterative development and incremental delivery of software solutions, enabling a clear focus on customer needs and early delivery of new or enhanced software products.
This revised edition reflects the latest Agile developments and provides a comprehensive introduction to Agile methods and techniques, explaining how they may be applied within the business analysis and holistic business change contexts.
Written by industry experts, this new edition is ideal for any business analysts who work in an Agile environment and wish to understand or extend their understanding of Agile practices. Recommended reading for BCS Professional Certificate in Agile Business Analysis.
Table of Contents:
Business Analysis in Agile Environments
Agile Philosophy and Principles
Analysing the Enterprise
Adopting an Agile Mindset
Understanding Agile Methods and Frameworks
Modelling the Business Context
Working with Stakeholders and Roles
Decomposing Goals
Prioritising the Work
Deciding the Requirement Approach
Modelling Users and Personas
Modelling Stories and Scenarios
Organising Tasks and Requirements
Estimating Agile Projects
Planning and Managing Iterations
Considerations When Adopting Agile
About the Author :
Lynda Girvan is the Head of Business Analysis and Agile for CMC Partnership Consultancy Ltd and a Chartered Fellow of BCS. She has over 25 years’ experience in business analysis, agile development, agile coaching and transformational change programmes and is co-author of the BCS book, Agile from First Principles.
Debra Paul is the Chief Executive Officer of Assist Knowledge Development, a Chartered Fellow of BCS and a Visiting Fellow at Henley Business School, University of Reading. She has worked in business analysis and transformation for over 30 years and is the editor and co-author of the best-selling BCS books, Business Analysis and Delivering Business Analysis: the BA Service Handbook.
Review :
A must-read that’s not just for Business Analysts! The book takes you on a journey through Agile, showcasing how Business Analysis complements the Agile mindset. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Estimating Agile Projects, always very topical.
Geraint Crocker, Business Analysis Lead, UK Home Office
This book provides valuable context, background, and insight into how we move from simply talking agile, to being agile. We can learn how business agility is linked to a clear organisational purpose, we understand how to adopt and encourage an agile mindset, have clarity on the various roles and expectations within an agile team, and ultimately ensure business requirements are prioritised to provide the best value. The modern BA simply cannot get by without it.
Mary Brown, Business Analysis Capability Lead, Virgin Media O2
An invaluable guide applying Agile to business analysis. Relevant for all agile professionals, it delves into history, roles, risks, and effective techniques of business analysis. Essential for Service/Product Development Teams seeking analytical excellence.
Selina Martinez Keogh, Agile Coach, BBC
Requirements practices are as important today as they were when I introduced Use Cases almost 40 years ago. This book shows how they integrate with agile practices and, as such, are essential for all business analysts and development teams.
Dr. Ivar Jacobson, creator of use cases and co-creator of CBSE (component-based software engineering), UML, RUP and Essence
This is a very complete book. I think it will help Business Analysts work with agile teams.
Alistair Cockburn, Co-author, the Agile Manifesto
Not every agile team includes a dedicated business analyst, but every team must perform business analysis well to succeed. Agile and Business Analysis shows in considerable detail how an agile team can incorporate a wide variety of established, effective BA practices and agile thought processes into their work.
Karl Wiegers PhD, Principal Consultant, Process Impact and Co-author of Software Requirements and Software Requirements Essentials
Agile and Business Analysis provides a comprehensive toolkit for the modern Business Analyst, empowering them as core members of cross-functional agile delivery teams in fast-paced business environments. It has everything you need to know about how to model business context, identify and prioritise business goals, and execute for business success.
Tim Clarke PMP POPM,BRMP, Senior Project Manager, Alfa Financial Software
The combined knowledge of both authors is phenomenal and in this completely reviewed edition they have combined the holistic approach of business analysis with the Agile mindset. They discuss different approaches and various ways how to apply your analysis skills in an agile environment. A must read for every business analyst.
Geertje Appel, Business Analysis Lead at Le Blanc Academy
Agile project delivery is about building collaborative relationships to achieve outstanding results. Business analysis plays a key role, wearing many hats, driving Agile ceremonies, managing, and translating requirements and building on those techniques to expect, adapt and respond to change, in the delivery environment. Agile and Business Analysis provides the BA with established techniques, along with the processes, practices, and principles to embrace the ever-changing technology and business worlds.
Sarah Bullen, Head of Business Analysis, BBC Technology and Media Operations.
This version continues to offer practical guidance to help BAs adapt their existing skills and techniques to agile methods. Case studies stress the importance of being “Agile enough”, providing cautionary tales to all Agile practitioners.
Michelle Shakesheff CITP, Head of Business Analysis at Close Brothers
From a solid grounding in the fundamentals of Agile, this book progresses into a well-structured and highly practical handbook for any business analyst navigating the agile world. This will be an invaluable guidebook for my team as we transition into agile working.
Rachel Drinkwater BSc MA MBCS, Senior Business Analyst sand Author of The Next Step: A Practical Guide to Your Business Analysis Career
