Checklist Description

Use this checklist (and the checklists underlying this checklist) to plan how to attack a business analysis project.

Checklist

1. Identify the business process for analysis see checklist 3.1 Nine key questions for high-level business understanding .

2. Identify the goal of the business analysis see checklist 3.3 Fourteen common business problems spotting which ones are yours .

3. List the types of information required:

   • what data do we need?

   • why do we need it?

   • when do we need it (what step in the investigation)?

   • what filters will we apply to screen out unneeded data (not all information is worth collecting)?

4. List the sources of information required:

   • Some possible sources are:

     • strategy, policy and planning documentation

     • organizational chart

     • process actors themselves (including who they call, email, memo and who calls/ emails/memos them)

     • process actors in-tray , out-tray , pending tray

     • document distribution lists

     • documented procedures and standards

     • job descriptions

     • quality manuals

     • existing systems documentation.

   • List the mix of people/user to involve/interview a matrix of:

     • level of involvement in the process:

       • dedicated does the process everyday

       • casual does the process on an ad-hoc basis

       • QA/authorizers

       • performance monitors (e.g. supervisor, accounts, personnel)

     • level of system use:

       • expert full understanding of entire application

       • capable full understanding of business process in application

       • simple understands only their screen/report-set

       • simple report/query only

       • MIS complex query possibly...