Study information

Business Analysis 1 - 2024 entry

MODULE TITLEBusiness Analysis 1 CREDIT VALUE30
MODULE CODEECM3434DA MODULE CONVENERUnknown
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 0 11 0
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 20
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

***DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP STUDENTS ONLY***

A Business Analyst is responsible for assessing the business impact of change, capturing, analysing and documenting requirements and supporting the communication and delivery of requirements with relevant stakeholders. They create detailed analysis of systems and make recommendations for improvement. They produce specifications of user requirements that enable software engineers to develop the right software solutions. They require a broad foundation of skills and knowledge to be able to be effective as their work incorporates all aspects of digital technology systems.

AIMS - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to give you an introductory level of knowledge in Business Analysis techniques, including requirements gathering and data and process modelling, and basic competence in their application to the business context.

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

1. Use Business Analysis techniques to elicit and prioritise business requirements for a simple IT system and confirm the results 

2. Develop a requirements specification, including functional and non-functional requirements

3. Use tools to facilitate the analysis and documentation of requirements

4. Model and analyse a business process

5. Develop simple use case diagrams with supporting use case descriptions

6. Model data by developing entity relationship diagrams

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

7. Recognise the elicitation and collaboration approaches, including how to prepare for and conduct elicitation activities and confirm the results

8. Recognise the approaches to Requirements Life Cycle Management including how to manage and maintain requirements and design information from inception to retirement of a product

9. Recognise the legislation and industry standards relevant to Business Analysis

10. Recognise a range of Business Analysis investigative techniques 

11. Recognise the approaches to change control and requirements management

12. Use requirements elicitation, analysis and documentation to produce an acceptable solution for business problems or further opportunities

13. Conduct Process Analysis, Definition, Mapping and Modelling within a business situation

14. Produce Use Cases which are of value to all stakeholders of a system

15. Use tools and benchmarking to support modelling and requirements gathering and recommend approaches to team members as required

16. Produce a business case for a proposed project including business benefits and recommendations

17. Use products of analysis in the design and development of a system 

18. Recommend and use appropriate software tools to implement Business Analysis tasks and outcomes

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge

19. Communicate orally and in writing

20. Solve problems creatively

21. Think analytically and critically

22. Organise your own work

24. Collaborate and negotiate

25. Commit to continuous professional development

 

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

Introduction (2 weeks)

•          Business Analysis in the business context

•          Case studies of requirements analysis in practice

•          What are requirements?

           o          Functional vs non-functional requirements

•          The importance of understanding and managing requirements

•          Agile Business Analysis
 

Introduction to requirements gathering and analysis (4 weeks)

•          Requirements elicitation

•          User stories

           o          Documenting

           o          Prioritising and validating

•          Managing requirements

           o          Using tools for analysis and documentation of requirements
 

Introduction to data and process modelling (4 weeks)

•          Business process modelling

•          Use case diagrams and descriptions

•          Entity relationship diagrams

•          Using tools for modelling and analysis
 

The transition to design and development (2 weeks)

•          How the products of analysis feed into the design and development of a system

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 22 Guided Independent Study 128 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 18 Online learning activity, including virtual workshops, synchronous and asynchronous virtual lectures and other e-learning.
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 2 Lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 2 Group workshops
Guided independent study 128 Coursework, exam preparation and self-study

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Contribution to class discussion N/A 1-25 Verbal

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 60 Written Exams 40 Practical Exams 0
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Requirements and modelling exercise 60 3000 words 1-25 Written
Written exam 40 2 hours 1-9, 11, 13, 14, 17-22 Written

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-assessment
Requirements and modelling exercise (60%) Requirements and modelling exercise 1-25 Completed over summer with a deadline in August
Written exam (40%) Written exam (2 hours) 1-9, 11, 13, 14, 17-22 Referral/deferral period

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be deferred in the assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you may be required to sit a referral. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%.

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

ELE: https://ele.exeter.ac.uk

 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Paul, D., Cadle, J., Yeates, D. Business Analysis 3rd BCS 2014 9781780172774
CREDIT VALUE 30 ECTS VALUE 15
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 6 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Thursday 14th March 2024 LAST REVISION DATE Thursday 14th March 2024
KEY WORDS SEARCH Business, Analysis

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.