IIBA IIBA Certifications CCBA Questions & Answers

• Question 61:

  A business analyst (BA) was asked by the vice president (VP) to evaluate the organization's claims processing capability and recommend improvements. The VP agreed to the BA's recommended solution approach and identified an external vendor to develop the modernized claims processing system. Before contracting with the external vendor, the BA realized that the budget should be approved by the Chief Financial Officer. What was missed by the BA when performing stakeholder analysis?

  A. Attitude

  B. Roles

  C. Decision making authority

  D. Level of influence

  Correct Answer: D

  Level of Power or Influence Understanding the nature of influence and the influence structures and channels within an organization can prove invaluable when seeking to build relationships and trust. Understanding the influence and attitude each stakeholder may have can help develop strategies for obtaining buy-in and collaboration. Business analysts evaluate how much influence is needed to implement a change compared to the amount of influence the key stakeholders can bring. If there is a mismatch between the influence required and the amount of influence the stakeholder has or is perceived to have, business analysts develop risk plans, responses and other strategies that might be needed to obtain the required level of support.

• Question 62:

  An organization has hired a consulting firm to implement and customize a software solution they purchased. The firm has raised concerns regarding the effort required to develop a solution that meets all requirements. On what basis should the requirements be prioritized in this context?

  A. Benefit

  B. Cost

  C. Risk

  D. Penalty

  Correct Answer: A

  The basis on which the requirements should be prioritized in this context is benefit. This means that the requirements should be ranked or ordered based on their value or impact for the stakeholders or the organization. The benefit of a

  requirement can be measured or estimated by various criteria such as return on investment, customer satisfaction, competitive advantage, etc.

  The other options are incorrect because:

  Option B is incorrect because cost is not the basis on which the requirements should be prioritized in this context, but a factor that should be considered in prioritizing the requirements. Cost is the amount of money or resources required to

  implement or maintain a requirement. Cost can affect the feasibility or viability of a requirement.

  Option C is incorrect because risk is not the basis on which the requirements should be prioritized in this context, but a factor that should be considered in prioritizing the requirements. Risk is the uncertainty or possibility of a negative or

  positive outcome or event that may affect a requirement. Risk can affect the urgency or importance of a requirement.

  Option D is incorrect because penalty is not the basis on which the requirements should be prioritized in this context, but a factor that should be considered in prioritizing the requirements. Penalty is the consequence or loss that may occur if a

  requirement is not met or delivered. Penalty can affect the necessity or desirability of a requirement.

  References:

  BABOK Guide v3, section 10.43: Prioritization

• Question 63:

  A business analyst (BA) is negotiating and resolving conflict with stakeholders to ensure they participate in the required BA activities. Which element of stakeholder management is the BA performing?

  A. Confirm elicitation results

  B. Gain agreement on commitments

  C. Monitor stakeholder engagement

  D. Plan stakeholder engagement

  Correct Answer: B

  The element of stakeholder management that the BA is performing when negotiating and resolving conflict with stakeholders to ensure they participate in required BA activities is gaining agreement on commitments. This means that the BA is

  establishing consensus or acceptance among stakeholders regarding their roles, responsibilities, expectations, deliverables, and timelines for a project or a solution. The BA is also addressing any differences or disputes among stakeholders

  that may hinder their participation or collaboration.

  The other options are incorrect because:

  Option A is incorrect because confirming elicitation results is not an element of stakeholder management, but an element of elicitation. Confirming elicitation results means verifying and validating that the information gathered from

  stakeholders during elicitation activities is accurate, complete, clear, and consistent.

  Option C is incorrect because monitoring stakeholder engagement is not an element of stakeholder management, but an element of stakeholder analysis. Monitoring stakeholder engagement means assessing and tracking the level of

  involvement, interest, influence, and impact of stakeholders throughout a project or a solution.

  Option D is incorrect because planning stakeholder engagement is not an element of stakeholder management, but an element of stakeholder analysis. Planning stakeholder engagement means defining and documenting the strategies,

  methods, and activities for engaging and communicating with stakeholders.

  References:

  BABOK Guide v3, section 2.5: Manage Stakeholder Collaboration

• Question 64:

  The business analysis deliverables went through a formal performance review process. The performance report stated that changes to the business analysis approach must be made in order to maximize the project's chances of success. Who must be consulted regarding these changes before they are implemented in this project?

  A. The project manager

  B. The lead developer

  C. The enterprise architect

  D. The subject matter expert

  Correct Answer: A

  The project manager must be consulted regarding the changes to the business analysis approach before they are implemented in this project. The project manager is responsible for planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing the project activities within the constraints of scope, time, cost, quality, resources, and risk. The project manager also coordinates with other roles such as business analysts, developers, testers, sponsors, and end users. Therefore, any changes to the business analysis approach must be discussed with the project manager to ensure alignment with the project objectives and plan. References: : Project Manager Role : Project Manager Responsibilities

• Question 65:

  In a project meeting, stakeholders presented conflicting views on how the business analysis process should be conducted, leading to the sponsor becoming very upset. If a similar situation arises in the future, what can the business analyst (BA) do to avoid the situation?

  A. Communicate with each stakeholder individually

  B. Obtain stakeholder signoff on the approach

  C. Develop a cleaner RACI matrix

  D. Obtain approval for the business case

  Correct Answer: C

  The BA can avoid the situation of stakeholders presenting conflicting views on how the business analysis process should be conducted by developing a cleaner RACI matrix. A RACI matrix is a technique for defining and documenting the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in relation to business analysis tasks or deliverables. It clarifies who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, or Informed for each task or deliverable1. By developing a cleaner RACI matrix, the BA can reduce ambiguity, confusion, and conflict among stakeholders regarding their involvement and expectations in the business analysis process. References: 1: BABOK Guide v3, Section 10.24

• Question 66:

  A business analyst (BA) has recently joined a large consultancy firm where BAs are globally distributed on different assignments. Where would the BA find expectations for business analysis work as mandated by the consultancy firm?

  A. Organizational performance standards

  B. Information management approach

  C. Modelling notations standards

  D. Business analysis approach

  Correct Answer: D

  The BA would find expectations for business analysis work as mandated by the consultancy firm in the business analysis approach. The business analysis approach is a plan that defines how and when business analysis activities will be performed on a project or an initiative. The business analysis approach can be influenced by various factors such as organizational standards, methodologies, tools, techniques, stakeholder preferences, etc. The other options are incorrect because: Option A is incorrect because organizational performance standards are not where the BA would find expectations for business analysis work as mandated by the consultancy firm, but what the BA would use to measure and monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of business analysis work. Organizational performance standards are criteria or indicators that evaluate how well an organization or a project achieves its goals or outcomes. Option B is incorrect because information management approach is not where the BA would find expectations for business analysis work as mandated by the consultancy firm, but how the BA would store, organize, and retrieve information related to business analysis work. Information management approach is a plan that defines how information will be collected, structured, accessed, shared, secured, and archived throughout a project or an initiative. Option C is incorrect because modeling notations standards are not where the BA would find expectations for business analysis work as mandated by the consultancy firm, but what the BA would use to create and communicate models related to business analysis work. Modeling notations standards are conventions or rules that govern how models are represented graphically or textually.

• Question 67:

  Linda works as a project manager for an IT project. She is getting new developers for completing her project. Which of the following processes is she involved in?

  A. Manage Project Team

  B. Develop Project Team

  C. Acquire Project Team

  D. Human Resource Planning

  Correct Answer: C

  Obtaining the human resources needed to complete the project comes under the Acquire Project Team process, which is a part of Project Human Resource Management Knowledge Area. Project Human Resource Management is one of the nine Knowledge Area groups. It includes the processes that organize and manage the project team. The project team is comprised of the people who have assigned roles and responsibilities for completing the project. Project Human Resource Management is a group of the following processes required to make the most effective use of the people involved with the project. Develop Human Resource Plan Acquire Project Team Develop Project Team Manage Project Team The project management team is a subset of the project team and is responsible for project management activities such as planning, controlling, and closing. This group can be called the core, executive, or leadership team. These processes interact with each other and with the processes in the other Knowledge Areas as well.

• Question 68:

  An organization has invested $750,000 into a technology to help secure, automate, and communicate customer ordering. The solution has worked well for the past six months, but a newer technology has been developed that surpasses the abilities of the current solution and solves many defects and issues the company has with the existing solution. Purchasing the newer solution, however, means that the company will have to discard the solution that's only been in place for the past six months. What term can be assigned to the monies already implemented into the existing solution?

  A. Opportunity cost

  B. Cost of nonconformance

  C. Sunk costs

  D. Cost-benefits

  Correct Answer: C

  The monies that have already been invested in the existing solution are called sunk costs. Sunk costs are the funds that have been "sunk" into the solution and are no longer available.

  A is incorrect. The opportunity cost is when there are two or more solutions to choose from, but only one can be selected.

  The opportunity cost is the total amount of the opportunities that cannot be selected. B is incorrect. The cost of nonconformance describes the cost of not conforming to quality, such as lost sales, lost work, defects, and even safety

  considerations.

  D is incorrect. It is a ratio to compare the costs of a solution to the benefits received for the costs.

• Question 69:

  Enterprise analysis creates just five outputs. Which one of the following is an output of the enterprise analysis tasks?

  A. Stakeholder concerns

  B. Solution approach

  C. Solution performance assessment

  D. Assumptions and constraints

  Correct Answer: B

  The solution approach is one of the outputs of the enterprise analysis tasks. The other four outputs are the business case, the business need, the required capabilities, and the solution scope. A is incorrect. Stakeholder concerns are input to enterprise analysis. D is incorrect. Assumptions and constraints are an input to enterprise analysis. C is incorrect. Solution performance assessment is an input to enterprise analysis.

• Question 70:

  Henry is a business analyst in his organization and he's asked an expert to help him determine the best business analysis duties to implement. Why would Henry ask an expert to help him define the business analysis duties?

  A. Henry is a new business analyst.

  B. Henry should always use expert judgment to confer on the business analysis approach.

  C. Henry is using an expert to help save time.

  D. Henry can use expert judgment to determine the optimal business analysis approach.

  Correct Answer: D

  Using expert judgment is ideal to determine the optimal business analysis approach. A is incorrect. Even established business analyst can rely on expert judgment. C is incorrect. There's no proof presented that the expert will save time in the

  business analysis duties.

  B is incorrect. Henry, and business analysts in general, don't always need to use expert judgment to define the business analysis activities.