Introduction to Study With Me Series A new series called 'Study With Me' is introduced, focusing on guiding daily study topics for an 8-day curriculum. The first session covers brainstorming techniques essential for business analysts (BAs). Brainstorming involves gathering random ideas from stakeholders in a group setting.
Understanding ADP and Its Functionalities ADP, a leading payroll company in the US, automates payroll functionalities like generating pay slips and managing taxes. It also supports HR tasks such as recruitment, onboarding, training employees using pre-built software solutions instead of custom development.
Stakeholders’ Role in Requirement Gathering Primary stakeholders within ADP provide requirements rather than end-users or public customers. Business teams collaborate with IT teams to define additional features like AI capabilities that enhance existing products by automating processes or improving efficiency.
'Word Explorer' Technique Explained 'Word Explorer,' part of brainstorming methods used by BAs during requirement elicitation sessions focuses on exploring keywords related to project goals through stakeholder discussions about potential product enhancements or challenges faced currently.
'Fishbone Diagram': Root Cause Analysis Tool 'Fishbone diagrams analyze root causes behind introducing specific features into projects—like integrating AI—to understand their necessity from both technical feasibility & market demand perspectives while documenting all insights gathered effectively via templates available online free-of-cost tools e.g., SmartSheet etcetera
Understanding Business Requirements Business requirements are derived from stakeholders' needs and must be translated into actionable user stories. These requirements should clearly define the functionality desired, its purpose, and how it benefits end users or specific roles like HR personnel.
Converting Ideas to User Stories To create effective user stories, collaborate with developers to assess feasibility. Break down business requirements into smaller tasks that can be developed incrementally while considering technical limitations and resource availability.
Iterative Requirement Gathering Process Requirement gathering is an ongoing process involving multiple sessions over weeks or months for complex projects. Regular follow-ups ensure alignment between documented expectations and stakeholder approvals.
'SWOT Analysis in Claims Processing Projects' Example. 'Strengths include batch processing efficiency; weaknesses involve time-consuming manual processes.' Opportunities arise from digital solutions replacing paper-based methods; threats stem from potential compliance issues if validations fail (e.g., HIPAA).
Testing Language Scope and Login Modules The testing process ensures all defined languages for business owners are in scope. One crucial module involves logging in if the current employer uses ADP, requiring an existing account to access functionalities like viewing pay slips. Developers test scenarios before moving code to QA, where testers identify errors through specific cases.
QA Testing and UAT Process After developers complete their tests, the code transitions to a QA environment for further validation with multiple error scenarios tested. Once approved by testers, it moves into User Acceptance Testing (UAT), where business owners validate functionality based on predefined scenarios.
Defect Reporting via Jira If issues arise during UAT or valid login attempts fail despite correct credentials, defects are logged using Jira's bug creation feature. Screenshots of error messages accompany these reports as they get assigned back to developers for resolution before retesting begins.
Production Deployment Workflow Once sign-off is obtained from stakeholders post-UAT success without errors or bugs remaining unresolved—code advances towards production deployment enabling public usage under real-time conditions monitored within prod regions ensuring smooth operations across users globally accessing features seamlessly thereafter validated periodically too!
'Sprint Planning & Story Points Allocation' Insights. 'User stories must align achievable goals fitting sprint timelines; typically spanning two weeks involving development completion alongside SIT/U readiness stages culminating ideally prior live launch dates scheduled accordingly balancing workloads effectively optimizing resources utilized throughout cycles iteratively managed collaboratively teams involved therein.'
Understanding Team Structures in Banking Applications Banking applications often involve multiple teams, such as mobile banking, enrollment, credit card services, and loans. These teams may work on both customer-facing products and internal tools for employees. Collaboration across these specialized groups is essential to ensure seamless functionality.
Key Documents: BRD vs FD vs SRS Business Requirement Document (BRD) focuses on business needs from a high-level perspective while Functional Design (FD) includes detailed diagrams like UML or activity diagrams primarily used by developers. In Agile environments, user stories can incorporate functional details directly into platforms like Confluence for team-wide visibility.
Essential Tools for Business Analysts: Jira Overview Jira serves as an end-to-end tool enabling the creation of epics (high-level projects), user stories (specific requirements), tasks (<8 hours efforts), and bugs/defects tracking within agile workflows. It facilitates collaboration among diverse roles—developers to product owners—and provides backlog management with color-coded identifiers ensuring clarity in project progress monitoring.
'Epic' Versus 'User Story': Key Differences Explained 'Epics' represent overarching goals encompassing numerous specific 'user stories,' which detail individual functionalities or features required under that epic's scope. Breaking down complex processes into smaller parts ensures efficient development cycles without overwhelming resources during sprints.
'Story Points': Estimating Effort Levels Effectively. 'Story points' estimate task complexity using Fibonacci series values ranging from 1-13 based upon time/resource intensity needed per story/task completion; higher-pointed items should ideally split further simplifying execution/testing phases reducing confusion/errors later stages
Exam Application Validity and Recommendations The application for an exam must be approved, after which candidates have one year to take the test. There is no specific timeline tied to when training with a vendor was completed. It’s recommended to complete exams within this timeframe due to potential changes in vendors or unforeseen circumstances.
Choosing Between CCBA and CBAP Certifications For those planning certifications like CCBA, it requires 3,750 hours of experience along with references from employers or colleagues. Additional mandatory training from authorized vendors is necessary before applying for these professional-level certifications.
ECBA Certification Suitability Newcomers aiming at enhancing their resumes can consider ECBA certification as it's suitable without extensive prior experience requirements compared to advanced levels such as CCBA or CBAP.
'Salesforce Business Analyst' Certification Overview 'Salesforce BA' certification offers affordability ($200) and flexibility by providing free online modules through Trailhead platform covering stakeholder collaboration & business process mapping basics; however additional preparation beyond official materials may be needed since feedback indicates gaps between provided content versus actual examination patterns