Beyond Requirements: Analysis with an Agile Mindset, 1st edition

Published by Addison-Wesley Professional (August 29, 2015) © 2016

  • Kent J. McDonald
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Beyond Requirements shows how to use business analysis practices and techniques to identify key business problems, find optimal solutions, and successfully implement them. Unlike most business analysis texts, it places analysis techniques in context, positioning them as a "means to the end" of solving organizational problems, not as an end in themselves.

Preface xv

Acknowledgments xxv

About the Author xxvii

 

Part I: Ideas 1

 

Chapter 1: Guiding Principles 3

Introduction 3

Deliver Value 4

Collaborate 5

Iterate 7

Simplify 8

Consider Context 9

Decide Wisely 10

Reflect and Adapt 11

Conclusion 12

If You Remember Nothing Else 12

 

Chapter 2: Helpful Concepts 15

Introduction 15

Needs and Solutions 15

Outcome and Output 19

Discovery and Delivery 20

If You Remember Nothing Else 23

 

Chapter 3: Influence of Lean Startup 25

Introduction 25

Customer Development 25

Build-Measure-Learn 29

Metrics 31

If You Remember Nothing Else 38

 

Chapter 4: Decision Making 39

Introduction 39

A Structure for Decision Making 39

Real Options 46

Cognitive Biases 48

If You Remember Nothing Else 53

 

Chapter 5: Deliver Value 55

Introduction 55

Feature Injection 55

Minimum Viable Product 63

Minimum Marketable Features 65

If You Remember Nothing Else 67

 

Chapter 6: Analysis with an Agile Mindset 69

Introduction 69

What Is the Need? 71

What Are Some Possible Solutions? 71

What Should We Do Next? 72

What Are the Details of This Part (i.e., Telling the Story)? 73

If You Remember Nothing Else 73

 

Part II: Case Studies 75

 

Chapter 7: Case Study: Conference Submission System 77

Introduction 77

The Need 77

The Possible Solution(s) 78

The Deliveries of Value 79

Lessons Learned 92

 

Chapter 8: Case Study: Commission System 95

Introduction 95

The Need 96

The Possible Solution(s) 96

The Deliveries of Value 97

Lessons Learned 98

 

Chapter 9: Case Study: Data Warehouse 101

Introduction 101

The Need 101

The Possible Solution(s) 102

The Deliveries of Value 103

Lessons Learned 110

 

Chapter 10: Case Study: Student Information System 111

Introduction 111

The Need 111

The Possible Solution(s) 114

Lessons Learned 118

 

Part III: Techniques 121

 

Chapter 11: Understanding Stakeholders 123

Introduction 123

Stakeholder Map 124

Commitment Scale 129

User Modeling 133

Persona 138

 

Chapter 12: Understanding Context 141

Introduction 141

Purpose-Based Alignment Model 142

Six Questions 147

Context Leadership Model 150

 

Chapter 13: Understanding the Need 159

Introduction 159

Decision Filters 160

Project Opportunity Assessment 163

Problem Statement 167

 

Chapter 14: Understanding the Solution(s) 171

Introduction 171

Impact Mapping 173

Story Mapping 177

Collaborative Modeling 182

Acceptance Criteria 188

Examples 192

 

Chapter 15: Organizing and Persisting Solution Information 199

Introduction 199

Discovery Board 200

Definition of Ready 204

Delivery Board 206

Definition of Done 211

System Documentation 213

 

Part IV: Resources 219

 

Glossary 221

References 245

Index 249

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