Recommended Business Analysis Books
Business analysis is the discipline of identifying business needs and determining solutions to business problems. Solutions may consist of process improvement, organizational change or strategic planning and policy development.
Business analysis strives to improve efficiency, by:
- Investigating business systems, taking an holistic view of the situation. This may include examining elements of the organisation structures and staff development issues as well as current processes and IT systems.
- Evaluating actions to improve the operation of a business system. Again, this may require an examination of organisational structure and staff development needs, to ensure that they are in line with any proposed process redesign and IT system development.
- Documenting the business requirements for the IT system support using appropriate documentation standards.
The following books are highly recommended for anyone studying business analysis or working in this fascinating career.
Business Analysis
by Malcolm Eva, Keith Hindle, and Craig Rollason
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ISBN: 9781780172774 Format: Paperback Dimensions: 170 x 244 Number of pages: 308 Publication date: 23 SEP 2014 |
Publishers Description
This business analysis book provides an excellent overview of what it means to be a business analyst in today’s highly competitive global economy, developing practical, creative and financially sound solutions that will address business problems and grasp new opportunities.
This excellent guide sets out the essential toolkit required. It is also ideal for students wanting to gain university and industry qualifications in business analysis and information systems, and is particularly beneficial for those studying for the BCS Professional Certificate in Business Analysis.
Important additions in the third edition include expanded discussions regarding gap analysis and benefits management, the impact of Agile software development and an introduction to business architecture.
Contents
- WHAT IS BUSINESS ANALYSIS?
- THE COMPETENCIES OF A BUSINESS ANALYST
- STRATEGY ANALYSIS
- THE BUSINESS ANALYSIS PROCESS MODEL
- INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES
- STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT
- MODELING BUSINESS PROCESSES
- DEFINING THE SOLUTION
- MAKING A BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CASE
- ESTABLISHING THE REQUIREMENTS
- DOCUMENTING AND MANAGING REQUIREMENTS
- MODELING REQUIREMENTS
- DELIVERING THE REQUIREMENTS
- DELIVERING THE BUSINESS SOLUTION
Why We Recommend This Book
This book makes it clear where business analysis fits into overall business strategy. It covers everything from a high-level description of business analysis down to an explanation of specific low-level techniques. Each topic is described in a clear and concise way with no unnecessary padding or filler.
Business Analysis Techniques: 99 Essential Tools for Success
by James Cadle, Debra Paul, Paul Turner
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ISBN: 9781780172736 Format: Paperback Dimensions: 170 x 244 Number of pages: 356 Publication date: 23 SEP 2014 |
Publishers Description
The role of the business analyst is to formulate options for a way forward and produce business cases setting out conclusions and recommendations. This professional discipline requires the widest possible array of tools and the ability to use each when and where it is needed.
The new edition of this Business Analysis Techniques Book provides 99 possible techniques and applies them within a framework of stages. It complements Business Analysis (ed Debra Paul, Donald Yeates and James Cadle), also published by BCS, and offers a more detailed description of the techniques used in business analysis, together with practical advice on their application.
This book will be of enormous benefit to business analysts, managers and to students of information systems and business strategy.
Contents
- BUSINESS STRATEGY AND OBJECTIVES
- INVESTIGATE SITUATION
- CONSIDER PERSPECTIVES
- ANALYZE
- EVALUATE OPTIONS
- DEFINE REQUIREMENTS
- MANAGE CHANGE
Why We Recommend This Book
This book covers everything you need to perform business analysis and process analysis. There are 99 techniques described (including SWOT, PESTLE and Porter’s Five Forces) and if you want to know what a technique is used for and how to apply it, then this book is hard to beat. Each technique can be located alphabetically as well as with reference to how it fits in to the overall analysis process, making it an excellent reference book to keep on hand in the office.
