PMI-PBA PMI Professional in Business Analysis Question and Answers

Functional specifications are a type of requirements documentation that describes what the system or product should do in terms of functions, features, behaviors, inputs, outputs, etc. Functional specifications can help the business analyst to document the requirements in a way that is clearly understood by the development team and provides enough information to check if the requirement has been met. Functional specifications can also include acceptance criteria, test cases, data models, user interface designs, etc. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 10; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 39.

Root cause analysis is a technique that involves identifying and analyzing the underlying causes of a problem or an issue. Root cause analysis can help the business analyst to determine how the selection criteria requirement was missed, and to prevent similar errors from occurring in the future. Root cause analysis can be done using various tools, such as fishbone diagram and the Five Whys. A fishbone diagram is a graphical tool that organizes the possible causes of a problem into categories, such as people, process, technology, environment, etc. A fishbone diagram can help the business analyst to visualize the relationships between the causes and the effects, and to identify the most likely root causes. The Five Whys is a questioning technique that involves asking “why” repeatedly until the root cause of a problem is revealed. The Five Whys can help the business analyst to drill down into the details of the problem, and to uncover the underlying factors and assumptions that led to the missed requirement. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 21; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 101.

 A capability table is a tool that lists the current capabilities of an application and compares them with the desired capabilities identified by the end users. A capability table can help the business analyst to analyze this information and determine project scope by showing the gaps between the current and future states of the application, and prioritizing the new features that will address those gaps. A capability table can also help to define the high-level requirements and objectives of the project. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 11; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 67.

 According to the PMI Guide to Business Analysis, planning the requirements change process involves defining how requirement changes will be identified, analyzed, approved, and communicated throughout the project life cycle. Communication is a key aspect of managing requirement changes, as it ensures that all stakeholders are aware of the status, impact, and rationale of the changes, and that they can provide their feedback and input. How requirement changes will impact the requirements baseline, how they will be implemented, and how they will impact the validation plan are all important considerations, but they are not part of planning the requirements change process. They are part of executing, monitoring, and controlling the requirements change process. References: PMI Guide to Business Analysis, page 286-287.

 Acceptance criteria are the conditions that must be met for a solution or deliverable to be accepted by the stakeholders. Acceptance criteria should be measurable, testable, and clear, so that the team can verify if the requirements have been met or not. If the acceptance criteria for the requirements were not measurable, the team would have difficulty confirming if certain requirements have been met, as they would not have a clear and objective way to evaluate the solution or deliverable. The other options are not likely to cause this issue. The test engineer is not responsible for communicating requirements to the team, but for testing them against the acceptance criteria. Not all stakeholders need to be involved during requirements elicitation, as long as the key stakeholders who can provide relevant and accurate information are consulted. Requirements should be adequately reviewed with the project sponsor, but this does not affect the confirmation of meeting the requirements, as the sponsor is not the one who verifies them. References: PMI-PBA® Examination Content Outline, page 13; PMI-PBA® Reference List, page 1, BABOK® Guide v3, page 39.

The business analyst should follow the change control process to handle the new regulatory mandate that affects the project. The change control process is a set of procedures that defines how changes to the requirements or the project scope are identified, analyzed, approved, and implemented. The change control process helps to ensure that changes are aligned with the business need, the project objectives, and the stakeholder expectations. References: PMI Guide to Business Analysis, Chapter 9, Section 9.4.1; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, Domain IV: Traceability and Monitoring, Task 2.

The business analyst should check the traceability matrix to identify affected use cases. A traceability matrix can help the business analyst to find out which use cases are related to the new set of regulations, and how they will impact the scope, schedule, cost, quality, and risk of the project. The business analyst should also communicate the changes to the relevant stakeholders, and update the requirements documentation and the business analysis plan accordingly. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 20; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 100.

 Engaging all stakeholders early in the requirements gathering phase is a good practice to ensure stakeholder satisfaction with the enhancement. By involving the stakeholders in the elicitation process, the business analyst can understand their needs, expectations, preferences, and constraints. By defining the acceptance criteria with the stakeholders, the business analyst can establish a clear and measurable definition of what constitutes a successful solution. Engaging all stakeholders early can also help to build trust, collaboration, and buy-in for the change. Requesting that the project manager identify all affected project stakeholders is not sufficient to ensure stakeholder satisfaction, as it does not involve direct communication with the stakeholders. Providing all signed-off project documentation to the stakeholders for information purposes only is not effective, as it does not allow for feedback or validation from the stakeholders. Soliciting feedback and adding requirements to the project backlog is not advisable, as it can lead to scope creep, rework, and delays. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 11; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 66.

 Stakeholder analysis is a process of identifying and analyzing the stakeholders who have an interest or influence on the project and its outcomes. Stakeholder analysis helps to ensure that the requirements are elicited from all relevant sources and that the stakeholders are appropriately engaged throughout the project. By identifying the user from a department that did not participate in the requirements analysis as a stakeholder, the business analyst could have avoided the situation of logging a defect during user acceptance testing and minimized the impact on the project. Interviewing the user to understand how the user’s work would be impacted, involving the user in the development and sign-off of the business requirements, and giving the user the opportunity to review the user acceptance test scripts are possible actions that could be taken after identifying the user as a stakeholder, but they are not sufficient to avoid the situation and minimize the impact on the project. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 9; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 55.

An interview is a technique that involves a structured or unstructured conversation between the business analyst and one or more stakeholders to elicit information, opinions, or feedback about a topic. An interview can be conducted face-to-face, over the phone, or through other communication channels. An interview can be prepared in advance with a list of questions or topics to cover, or it can be spontaneous and flexible. An interview can be used to explore the needs, expectations, preferences, or concerns of the stakeholders, as well as to clarify, verify, or validate the requirements. An interview is suitable for a project involving a low number of stakeholders, as it allows the business analyst to establish rapport, ask probing questions, and obtain detailed and specific information from each stakeholder. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 17; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 89.

 A survey is a technique that involves collecting information from a large number of people by asking them questions and analyzing the results. Surveys are often used to measure the satisfaction, opinions, preferences, or attitudes of customers, employees, or other stakeholders. Surveys can be conducted through various methods, such as mail, online, phone, or in-person. Surveys are a suitable technique for gathering information from employees regarding their satisfaction with the solution because:

Surveys can reach a large and geographically dispersed population of employees across the country.

Surveys can allow employees to provide anonymous and honest feedback without being influenced by peer pressure or group dynamics.

Surveys can use standardized and quantifiable questions that can be easily analyzed and compared.

Surveys can be cost-effective and time-efficient compared to other techniques that require more resources and coordination.

References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) ® Examination Content Outline, page 19.

 Prototyping is a technique that involves creating a simplified or partial version of the solution to elicit feedback from the stakeholders. Prototyping can help the business analyst to deal with a complex project with stakeholders who find it difficult to articulate their needs by providing a visual and interactive representation of the solution. Prototyping can also help to reduce requirements risk by validating or verifying the requirements, identifying gaps or errors, and resolving ambiguities or conflicts. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 12; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 69.

 The project life cycle is a key factor that drives the selection of business analyst activities to be included in the project. The project life cycle is the sequence of phases or stages that the project goes through from initiation to closure. The project life cycle can be selected based on various factors, such as the nature, complexity, size, and uncertainty of the project, the stakeholder preferences, the organizational culture, and the industry standards. The project life cycle can influence the approach that the business analyst and the project team use to plan, execute, monitor, and control the project, and to deliver the product or service. The project life cycle can also affect the type, level, and timing of the business analysis activities, such as elicitation, analysis, documentation, validation, and management of the requirements. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 15; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 84.

 Operational feasibility is the kind of feasibility assessment that the business analyst is undertaking to understand how well a potential solution fits into the organization. Operational feasibility evaluates how the solution will affect the current operations, processes, culture, and people of the organization. It also considers how the solution will be accepted, adopted, and used by the stakeholders. Technical feasibility is not the kind of feasibility assessment that the business analyst is undertaking, as it evaluates how the solution can be implemented using the available technology, infrastructure, and resources. Cost-effectiveness feasibility is not the kind of feasibility assessment that the business analyst is undertaking, as it evaluates how the solution will provide benefits that outweigh its costs. Time feasibility is not the kind of feasibility assessment that the business analyst is undertaking, as it evaluates how long it will take to implement the solution and whether it can meet the desired schedule. References: Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 41-42 1; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 14 

 Phased baselining is an approach that involves dividing the requirements into smaller subsets or increments that can be approved, developed, and delivered separately. Phased baselining can help to cope with the requirements’ volatility, as it allows the business analyst and the stakeholders to accommodate changes and feedback in each increment, and to adjust the scope and priorities of the subsequent increments accordingly. Phased baselining can also reduce the risk and uncertainty of the project, as it enables early validation and verification of the solution, and provides more flexibility and adaptability to the changing business environment and regulations. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 24; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 133.

 A user survey is a technique that can be used to determine how well the solution meets the business case. A user survey is a method of collecting feedback from the end users of the solution about their satisfaction, preferences, expectations, needs, problems, or suggestions. A user survey can help to measure the performance, quality, usability, and value of the solution and compare it with the expected benefits and outcomes defined in the business case. A user survey can also help to identify areas for improvement or enhancement of the solution. Asking the sponsor for feedback is not sufficient to determine how well the solution meets the business case, as it does not capture the perspective of the end users who are directly affected by the solution. Surveying the project is not relevant to this scenario, as it does not focus on the solution but rather on the project management processes and practices. Comparing the results of day-in-the-life (DITL) testing and integration testing is not effective, as it does not reflect the actual usage and experience of the solution by the end users after deployment. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 14; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 80.

 The technical staff and testing team from Company A are responsible for writing and coding the requirements and testing the new functionality. Responsible means that the person or group is assigned to perform the work or activity. The responsible role is often indicated by the letter R in a RACI matrix, which is a tool for identifying roles and responsibilities of stakeholders. References: PMI Guide to Business Analysis, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.2.3; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, Domain II: Planning, Task 2.

 Time-boxing is a prioritization technique that involves assigning a fixed amount of time or resource to each requirement or deliverable, and delivering as much value as possible within that time or resource constraint. Time-boxing is useful when the project has a tight timeline or budget, and the stakeholders have too many requirements for the delivery window. Time-boxing helps to focus on the most important and valuable requirements, and to manage the expectations and scope of the stakeholders. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 18; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 97.

Interface analysis is a technique to describe how different components or systems interact with each other and exchange information. Interface analysis can help to identify the inputs, outputs, and dependencies of each system, and to ensure that they are compatible and consistent with each other. Interface analysis can also help to detect potential integration issues, gaps, and conflicts among the systems. An organization that is in the process of replacing its current system should conduct interface analysis to facilitate a successful migration, as it would help to ensure that all current connections to other systems remain functional after the upgrade. The other options are not correct. Document analysis is a technique to review existing documents or records to elicit information or requirements. User interface analysis is a technique to design and evaluate how users interact with a system or product. Systems analysis is a technique to understand and model the structure, behavior, and functions of a system or process.

 Moscow analysis is a tool or technique that the business analyst can use with the stakeholders to prioritize the requirements to determine which requirements are approved, deferred, or rejected. Moscow analysis is a method of categorizing requirements into four groups: must-have, should-have, could-have, and won’t-have. Must-have requirements are essential and non-negotiable for the project success. Should-have requirements are important but not critical for the project success. Could-have requirements are desirable but not necessary for the project success. Won’t-have requirements are out of scope or low priority for the current project. Moscow analysis can help to identify the most valuable and feasible requirements that can be delivered within the available time and budget. It can also help to manage stakeholder expectations and resolve conflicts or disagreements on the priority of the requirements. SMART goals is a tool or technique that can be used to define clear and measurable objectives for a project or a process, but it does not help to prioritize the requirements. SMART goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. SWOT analysis is a tool or technique that can be used to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a project or a process, but it does not help to prioritize the requirements. SWOT analysis can help to identify the internal and external factors that affect the project or process performance and quality. Timeboxing analysis is not a standard tool or technique in business analysis, but it may refer to a method of allocating a fixed amount of time for each task or activity in a project or a process, but it does not help to prioritize the requirements. Timeboxing analysis can help to manage time and resources efficiently and effectively. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 15; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 95.

 Solution scope is the set of features and functions that define the boundaries of the solution and align with the business requirements. Solution scope describes what will be included in and excluded from the new system, and helps to manage stakeholder expectations and avoid scope creep. The business analyst has defined the solution scope by working with project team members to define what will be included in and excluded from the new system. The other options are not correct. Solution design is the process of creating a detailed specification of how the solution will meet the requirements. Business requirements are the higher-level needs or goals of the organization or stakeholders that justify the project. Business case is a document that provides the justification for initiating a project based on its expected benefits, costs, and risks. References: PMI-PBA® Examination Content Outline, page 13; PMI-PBA® Reference List, page 1, BABOK® Guide v3, page 39.

To reduce the amount of time and effort needed to create a product specification for a project, the business analyst plans to reuse requirements. Requirements are statements that describe the needs, expectations, or capabilities of the stakeholders or the solution. Requirements can be reused from previous or similar projects, as long as they are relevant, consistent, and compatible with the current project context and objectives. Reusing requirements can help to save time and effort, avoid duplication or redundancy, leverage best practices, and ensure quality and compliance. Quantitative analysis is not something that the business analyst plans to reuse to reduce the amount of time and effort needed to create a product specification for a project. Quantitative analysis is a technique that involves using numerical data and methods to measure, compare, or evaluate the feasibility, value, or impact of a solution or an alternative. Quantitative analysis can be performed for different purposes and at different stages of the project, but it does not provide requirements for the product specification. Risk assessments are not something that the business analyst plans to reuse to reduce the amount of time and effort needed to create a product specification for a project. Risk assessments are techniques that involve identifying and analyzing potential threats or uncertainties that may affect the project or the solution. Risk assessments can help to prioritize, mitigate, or monitor risks, but they do not provide requirements for the product specification. Qualitative analysis is not something that the business analyst plans to reuse to reduce the amount of time and effort needed to create a product specification for a project. Qualitative analysis is a technique that involves using descriptive data and methods to understand, interpret, or evaluate the characteristics, behaviors, or perceptions of the stakeholders or the solution. Qualitative analysis can be performed for different purposes and at different stages of the project, but it does not provide requirements for the product specification. References: Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide 1, page 114-115; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline 2, page 17-18.

 A traceability matrix is a document that links requirements to their sources and traces them throughout the project life cycle. It helps to track changes in requirements, assess their impact, and ensure that they are met by the project deliverables. A traceability matrix is a useful tool for document control, as it records the version history of each requirement and the rationale for any changes. A statement of work, a project plan, and a problem or opportunity statement are not methods of document control, but rather documents that describe the project scope, objectives, activities, and justification. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 9 1; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 121 2

According to the PMI Professional in Business Analysis objectives and content, an impact analysis is a technique that is used to assess the effects and implications of a change request on the requirements, scope, schedule, cost, quality, and other aspects of a project or product. An impact analysis can help to determine the feasibility, desirability, and priority of the change request, as well as to identify the risks, issues, and dependencies associated with the change. An impact analysis can also help to communicate the impact of the change to the stakeholders, and to support the decision-making process for approving or rejecting the change request. References:

PMI Professional in Business Analysis objectives and content: PMI-PBA Certification

PMI Professional in Business Analysis reference list: PBA Reference List

PMI Professional in Business Analysis study guide: Study.com

The main reason for the business failure was a failure to establish measurable success criteria in the business case. The success criteria are the standards or indicators that are used to measure the achievement of the business objectives and the expected benefits of the project. The success criteria should be defined and agreed upon by the stakeholders in the business case, and they should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART). The success criteria can help the business analyst and the project team to evaluate the feasibility, viability, and desirability of the project, and to monitor and control the project performance and outcomes. The success criteria can also help to ensure the alignment of the project deliverables with the stakeholder expectations and the market needs. If the success criteria are not established or are poorly defined in the business case, the project may fail to deliver the desired value and return on investment, even if it meets the time, cost, scope, and quality constraints. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 16; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 86.

The requirements approval process is documented as a measure of effective decision making that allows the business analyst to finalize the process for requirement approval. The requirements approval process defines the roles, responsibilities, criteria, methods, and tools for approving the requirements and ensuring that they meet the stakeholder needs and expectations. The requirements approval process should be agreed upon by the stakeholders and the business analyst before the requirements are elicited, analyzed, and validated. The requirements verification process is not a measure of effective decision making, but a technique for ensuring that the requirements are complete, correct, consistent, and clear. The requirements elicitation process is not a measure of effective decision making, but a set of activities for discovering, gathering, and understanding the stakeholder needs and expectations. The requirements validation process is not a measure of effective decision making, but a technique for confirming that the requirements align with the business objectives and deliver value to the stakeholders. References: Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 113-114 1; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 17 2.

Managing solution scope is the task of ensuring that the solution meets the agreed-upon requirements and delivers the expected value to the stakeholders. Managing solution scope involves analyzing the impact of any changes to the scope, assessing the feasibility and risks of the changes, and obtaining approval from the stakeholders before implementing the changes. Managing solution scope can help the business analyst to identify the impacts, dependencies, or risks associated with the addition to the scope. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 14; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 83.

An entity relationship diagram (ERD) is a type of requirements document that would be most valuable to a database administrator. An ERD is a graphical representation of data entities and their relationships in a database. An ERD shows how data is organized, stored, accessed, and manipulated in a database. An ERD can help to design, document, and communicate a database schema. A data flow diagram (DFD) is a graphical representation of how data flows through a system or a process. A DFD shows where data comes from, where it goes, how it is transformed, and what it is used for. A DFD can help to analyze, design, or improve a system or a process. A business process diagram (BPD) is a graphical representation of how activities are performed by actors in a business process. A BPD shows who does what, when, where, why, and how in a business process. A BPD can help to model, document, or optimize a business process. An object diagram is a graphical representation of objects and their relationships in an object-oriented system. An object diagram shows how objects interact with each other through messages or operations. An object diagram can help to illustrate or test an object-oriented design. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 15; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 95.

A requirements management plan is a document that describes how the requirements will be elicited, analyzed, documented, validated, and managed throughout the project. It typically includes the following components12:

Requirements work plan: This component defines the activities, tasks, resources, schedule, and deliverables for the requirements process. It also identifies the roles and responsibilities of the requirements team and other stakeholders.

Prioritization process: This component describes the criteria and methods for prioritizing the requirements based on their value, urgency, risk, dependency, and other factors. It also defines the levels of priority and how they will be communicated and updated.

Traceability matrix template: This component provides a format for documenting the relationships and dependencies among the requirements, the sources of the requirements, and the project deliverables. It also helps to track the status, changes, and verification of the requirements.

Other components: Depending on the project context and complexity, the requirements management plan may also include other components, such as requirements definition, requirements attribute template, requirements change control process, requirements communication plan, requirements validation plan, and requirements metrics12. References: 1 PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 9; 2 Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 121-122

 The type of requirements that do not trace to a business need are out-of-scope requirements. Out-of-scope requirements are the requirements that are not related to the project scope, objectives, or deliverables, and that do not contribute to the solution of the business problem or opportunity. Out-of-scope requirements are usually identified and excluded during the requirements analysis and traceability processes, to avoid wasting time, resources, and effort on unnecessary or irrelevant features or functions. Out-of-scope requirements can be caused by various factors, such as unclear or changing business needs, conflicting or unrealistic stakeholder expectations, poor communication or elicitation techniques, or lack of validation or verification methods. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 18; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 92.

 A traceability matrix is a document that the business analyst can use to determine the relationship of each requirement to the business need when working on Project Y. A traceability matrix is a table that shows how each requirement relates to other project artifacts, such as business needs, objectives, deliverables, design elements, test cases, or risks. A traceability matrix can help to ensure that each requirement is aligned with and contributes to the business need that initiated the project. It can also help to verify that each requirement is necessary, feasible, testable, and traceable throughout the project life cycle. A traceability matrix can also help to manage changes and measure progress in relation to the business need. A requirements baseline document is a version of the requirements specification that has been reviewed, approved, and formally established as the basis for further development and delivery of the solution. A requirements baseline document defines the scope of the project and the expected value of the solution. It does not show how each requirement relates to the business need explicitly. A requirements management plan is a document that describes how requirements will be elicited, analyzed, documented, validated, and managed throughout the project. A requirements management plan defines the roles, responsibilities, processes, and tools for managing requirements. It does not indicate the relationship of each requirement to the business need specifically. A requirements package is a document that presents the requirements in a structured and organized way for communication and verification purposes. A requirements package may include different types of requirements, such as functional, non-functional, quality, or transition requirements. It does not demonstrate how each requirement relates to the business need directly. A reliability matrix is not a standard document in business analysis, but it may refer to a tool that measures the reliability or dependability of a system or a process. A reliability matrix evaluates the performance or quality of a solution. It does not determine the relationship of each requirement to the business need. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 15; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 95.

Requirements baseline is the approved version of the requirements document that serves as a reference point for further changes. Requirements can be changed after they are baselined through a defined process that involves submitting a change request, analyzing the impact of the change, obtaining approval from the stakeholders, updating the requirements document, and communicating the change to the project team and other affected parties. Requirements can be changed at any stage of the project life cycle as long as they follow the defined process. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 10; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 40.

A modeling tool integrated into a version control feature that ensures that team knowledge is captured is a tool that should be used to improve the communication of product needs with the stakeholders and to improve their understanding. A modeling tool is a tool that allows the business analyst to create visual representations of the product needs, such as diagrams, charts, graphs, or mockups. These models can help the stakeholders to comprehend and verify the requirements more easily than textual descriptions. A version control feature is a tool that allows the business analyst to track and manage changes to the models and ensure that they are consistent and accurate. A version control feature also enables collaboration and knowledge sharing among the team members and stakeholders. A requirements management tool that documents requirements and their properties and relationships is not a tool that should be used to improve the communication of product needs with the stakeholders and to improve their understanding, as it does not provide visual or graphical representations of the product needs. A document management system and a relationship matrix that groups all related documents is not a tool that should be used to improve the communication of product needs with the stakeholders and to improve their understanding, as it does not create or display models of the product needs. A workflow management tool that documents the flow of information is not a tool that should be used to improve the communication of product needs with the stakeholders and to improve their understanding, as it only focuses on one aspect of the product needs and does not capture other dimensions such as functionality, quality, or value. References: Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide 1, page 77-78; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline 2, page 16.

Persona analysis is a technique that involves creating fictional characters that represent different user groups within the company. Persona analysis can help the business analyst to evaluate the solution’s acceptance criteria by providing a detailed narrative of each user group’s needs, goals, preferences, and behaviors. Persona analysis can also help to prioritize the requirements and design features that best suit each user group. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 11; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 67.

The business analyst could use the expected vs. actual results technique to iteratively validate the solution. This technique involves comparing the expected results or outcomes of the solution with the actual results or outcomes that are observed or measured after the solution is implemented. This technique helps to verify that the solution meets the requirements and the acceptance criteria, and to identify any gaps, issues, or defects that need to be resolved or corrected. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 25; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 141.

According to the PMI Guide to Business Analysis, user acceptance testing is a technique that involves verifying and validating that the solution meets the business requirements and satisfies the stakeholder needs and expectations. User acceptance testing is usually performed by the end users or their representatives, who evaluate the solution against predefined acceptance criteria and provide feedback on its functionality, usability, performance, quality, etc. User acceptance testing can help to determine whether a solution satisfies business requirements, as it can demonstrate that the solution delivers the intended business value and benefits, and that it meets or exceeds the stakeholder satisfaction. By reviewing the results of user acceptance testing, a business analyst can assess how well the solution meets business requirements, and identify any gaps or issues that need to be addressed or resolved. Evaluating the solution against the project charter, conducting a brainstorming session with end users, or reviewing the traceability matrix are other ways to analyze and validate requirements, but they do not necessarily determine whether a solution satisfies business requirements, as they do not involve testing or evaluating the solution in real or simulated conditions. References: PMI Guide to Business Analysis, page 317-318.

 Plurality is the decision role that was used by the project team to decide which requirements will be included in the next release. Plurality means that the option with the most votes is selected, even if it does not have a majority (more than 50%) of the votes. Plurality is a decision role that can be used when there are more than two options and a quick decision is needed. References: PMI Guide to Business Analysis, Chapter 4, Section 4.3.2.4; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, Domain II: Planning, Task 3.

 A requirements traceability matrix (RTM) is a tool that helps to track the relationship between the requirements and the product features. It can be used to determine the scope of a change request by identifying which requirements and test cases are affected by the modification of an existing feature. A project schedule and cost baseline are not directly related to the product features, but rather to the project management aspects. A requirements attributes table is a tool that helps to classify and prioritize the requirements, but it does not show the link between the requirements and the product features. A sequence diagram is a tool that helps to illustrate the interactions between the components of the product, but it does not show the traceability of the requirements. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, PMI Guide to Business Analysis2, Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide

 The business analyst would use brainstorming to identify stakeholders. Brainstorming is a technique that involves generating ideas or solutions through a group discussion or a creative thinking process. Brainstorming can help the business analyst to identify potential stakeholders who have an interest, influence, or impact on the project or the solution, and to solicit their input and feedback on the project requirements and expectations. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 9; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 38.

A review of the solution prototype would be the most viable technique to use in this scenario for validating requirements through in-person sessions. A solution prototype is a simplified version of part or all of a solution that can be used to elicit feedback from stakeholders. A review of a solution prototype involves presenting or demonstrating it to stakeholders and asking them questions to assess their satisfaction, understanding, agreement, or concerns. A review of a solution prototype can help to validate that the solution meets the stakeholder requirements and delivers value to them. A brainstorming session is a technique for generating ideas or solutions by encouraging free and creative thinking from participants. A brainstorming session can help to elicit or analyze requirements but not validate them. A use-case development session is a technique for creating use cases that describe how actors interact with a system to achieve their goals. A use-case development session can help to elicit or specify requirements but not validate them. A review of the previous version is a technique for examining an existing solution or product to identify its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, or threats. A review of the previous version can help to elicit or analyze requirements but not validate them. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 13; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 76.

 Inspection is a technique or tool that is used to obtain acceptance of the delivered product. Inspection is a process that involves examining and measuring the product or its components against the predefined standards, criteria, or specifications, to determine its quality, completeness, and correctness. Inspection can help the business analyst and the project team to identify and correct any defects, errors, or deviations in the product, and to ensure that it meets the requirements and the stakeholder expectations. Inspection can also help to obtain the formal approval and acceptance of the product from the customer and other stakeholders, and to confirm that the product is ready for delivery or deployment. Inspection can be done using various methods, such as reviews, walkthroughs, audits, or tests. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 21; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 101.

Decomposition model is a technique that involves breaking down a complex entity into smaller and more manageable components. Decomposition model can help the business analyst to estimate the effort associated with project requirements by providing a hierarchical structure of the requirements, showing the dependencies and relationships among them, and allowing for more accurate and detailed estimation at lower levels. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 13; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 71.

The person identified in the RACI matrix as accountable for deployment approval is the one who should be contacted by the business analyst to review the testing results and get approval to proceed with deployment. The RACI matrix defines who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed for each task or deliverable in a project or a process. The accountable person has the authority and accountability to approve or reject the work. The tester identified in the testing strategy is not necessarily the one who can approve deployment, as they may only be responsible for conducting testing. The project manager identified in the project charter may not have the authority to approve deployment, as they may only be responsible for managing the project. The project sponsor identified in the scope document may not be involved in deployment approval, as they may only be informed of the project progress and outcomes.

A fishbone diagram, also known as a cause-and-effect diagram or an Ishikawa diagram, is a tool that helps to identify and analyze the possible causes of a problem or an effect. It can help the business analyst to perform a root cause analysis in order to analyze and resolve the discrepancy identified through user acceptance testing. A fishbone diagram has a structure that resembles a fish skeleton, with a head, a spine, and several branches. The head represents the problem or the effect, the spine represents the main cause categories, and the branches represent the sub-causes or factors that contribute to the problem or the effect. By creating a fishbone diagram, the business analyst can brainstorm and organize the potential causes of the software flaw, and then investigate and verify the most likely root cause. A fishbone diagram can also help to communicate the findings and recommendations to the stakeholders and the development team. An interface analysis is a tool that helps to identify and describe the interactions and dependencies between different components or systems. It does not help to perform a root cause analysis in order to analyze and resolve the discrepancy identified through user acceptance testing, as it does not focus on the causes and effects of the problem. A Delphi estimation is a tool that helps to obtain a consensus among a group of experts on a complex or uncertain issue. It does not help to perform a root cause analysis in order to analyze and resolve the discrepancy identified through user acceptance testing, as it does not provide a systematic and structured way to identify and analyze the causes of the problem. A functional decomposition is a tool that helps to break down a complex system or process into smaller and simpler components or functions. It does not help to perform a root cause analysis in order to analyze and resolve the discrepancy identified through user acceptance testing, as it does not show the relationships and influences between the components or functions. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, PMI Guide to Business Analysis2, Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide3, Root Cause Analysis: Definition, Examples & Methods | Tableau1

 A use case is a technique that describes how an actor interacts with a system to achieve a goal or perform a task. A use case consists of a main scenario and possible alternative scenarios that capture the normal, exceptional, and error flows of events. A use case can be used as a source for building tests of end-to-end business processes across business functions and systems, as it provides a comprehensive and realistic view of the expected behavior and outcomes of the solution. A use case can also help to verify and validate the functional requirements and acceptance criteria of the solution. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 20; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 99.

 The business analyst can determine the impact of a new requirement on existing requirements by reviewing the requirements traceability matrix. The requirements traceability matrix is a tool that tracks the relationships and dependencies among the requirements, as well as other project elements such as design, test cases, risks, or issues. By reviewing the requirements traceability matrix, the business analyst can identify which existing requirements are affected by the new requirement and assess the impact of the change on the scope, schedule, cost, or quality of the project. Performing a stakeholder analysis is not a way to determine the impact of a new requirement on existing requirements, as it focuses on identifying and understanding the needs, expectations, and influence of the stakeholders, not the requirements. Using time-boxing to defer the new requirement is not a way to determine the impact of a new requirement on existing requirements, as it postpones the analysis and implementation of the new requirement until a later iteration or phase of the project. Updating the use case documentation is not a way to determine the impact of a new requirement on existing requirements, as it only reflects how the new requirement affects one aspect of the solution functionality, not the entire project. References: Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide 1, page 161-162; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline 2, page 19.

 Interviewing stakeholders to clearly define the problem is the most important action to contribute to the success of the initial stage of the project. Interviewing is an elicitation technique that involves asking questions to stakeholders to gather information about their needs, expectations, issues, and goals. Defining the problem clearly helps to establish the business need, the project scope, and the solution approach. References: PMI Guide to Business Analysis, Chapter 6, Section 6.3.2.5; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, Domain I: Needs Assessment, Task 2.

External dependencies are the factors or conditions that are outside the control of the project, but may affect its scope, schedule, cost, quality, or risks. External dependencies may include legal, regulatory, cultural, environmental, political, economic, or technological factors. An organization that is evaluating the possibility of conducting business internationally should investigate these factors at the onset of the initiative, as they may have significant impacts on the feasibility, viability, and desirability of the project. The other options are not factors that should be investigated at the onset of the initiative. Deliverables to be produced are the outputs or results of the project that meet the stakeholder requirements. Impacts on requirements baseline are the changes or deviations from the approved set of requirements that define the solution scope. Change control processes are the procedures and tools that manage how changes to the project scope, schedule, cost, quality, or risks are identified, evaluated, approved, implemented, and communicated. These factors are determined or addressed during the planning or execution phases of the project, not at the onset of the initiative. References: PMI-PBA® Examination Content Outline, page 13; PMI-PBA® Reference List, page 1, BABOK® Guide v3, page 39; 4.

 A change control process is a set of procedures that defines how changes to the requirements are identified, assessed, approved, implemented, and communicated. A change control process helps to ensure that changes are aligned with the business objectives, do not introduce unnecessary risks, and do not adversely affect the quality of the solution. A change control process also helps to manage stakeholder expectations and avoid scope creep. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 13; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 77.

The next step that the business analyst should take after comparing the requirements to internal and external quality standards is to ensure that the requirements are validated. Validation is a process that confirms that the requirements align with the business objectives, stakeholder needs, and expected value of the project. Validation also ensures that the requirements are feasible, acceptable, and testable. Validation can be performed by using techniques such as reviews, walkthroughs, inspections, or demonstrations. Validation can help to identify and resolve any errors, gaps, or conflicts in the requirements before they are approved and implemented. Setting the priority of the requirements is not the next step that the business analyst should take after comparing the requirements to internal and external quality standards, as it is a process that determines the order and importance of the requirements based on their value, risk, urgency, or dependency. Priority can be set before or after comparing the requirements to quality standards, but it does not verify or confirm that the requirements meet the stakeholder expectations or project goals. Communicating the requirements to stakeholders is not the next step that the business analyst should take after comparing the requirements to internal and external quality standards, as it is a process that involves sharing and presenting the requirements to relevant stakeholders for feedback, approval, or implementation. Communication can be done before or after comparing the requirements to quality standards, but it does not check or ensure that the requirements are aligned with the business objectives or deliver value to the stakeholders. Baselineing the requirements is not the next step that the business analyst should take after comparing the requirements to internal and external quality standards, as it is a process that establishes an agreed-upon version of the requirements as a reference point for further changes or development. Baselineing can be done only after validating and approving the requirements, as it implies that they are complete, correct, clear, and consistent. References: Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide 1, page 113-114; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline 2, page 17.

The next step that the business analyst should take after incorporating all the relevant feedback from stakeholders in the business analysis plan is to obtain approval on the plan. The business analysis plan is a document that describes how the business analysis activities will be performed, managed, and controlled throughout the project. It should be approved by the key stakeholders before the business analyst starts documenting or implementing the requirements. The approval process ensures that the stakeholders agree on the scope, approach, deliverables, roles, and responsibilities of the business analysis work. Starting documenting requirements without obtaining approval on the plan is not advisable, as it may lead to confusion, rework, or conflicts among the stakeholders. Storing the document for safe keeping is not a productive step, as it does not communicate or validate the plan with the stakeholders. Starting implementing the project without obtaining approval on the plan is not feasible, as it may result in wasted resources, missed expectations, or failed outcomes. References: Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide 1, page 29-30; PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline 2, page 13.

The requirements sign-off is a process that involves obtaining the formal approval and acceptance of the requirements from the customer and other stakeholders. The requirements sign-off confirms that the requirements are clear, complete, correct, and consistent, and that they meet the customer’s needs and expectations. The requirements sign-off also establishes a baseline for the development and testing of the solution, and serves as a reference point for managing changes and resolving issues. The business analyst should first facilitate the requirements sign-off with the customer before the developers start development, to ensure that the requirements are agreed upon and validated by all parties, and to avoid rework, delays, and conflicts later in the project. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 18; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 92.

A requirements traceability matrix is a tool that links the requirements to their sources, objectives, and deliverables. It helps to track the status, changes, and verification of each requirement throughout the project life cycle. If the requirements traceability matrix was not updated with the change, it could result in a key requirement being missed or overlooked in the implementation. The other options are not likely to cause this problem. The requirements management plan is a document that describes how the requirements will be elicited, analyzed, documented, validated, and managed. The scope management plan is a document that describes how the project scope will be defined, controlled, and verified. The schedule management plan is a document that describes how the project schedule will be developed, monitored, and controlled. References: PMI-PBA® Examination Content Outline, page 13; PMI-PBA® Reference List, page 1, BABOK® Guide v3, page 39; 6.

The customer and the business analyst are collaborating in the development of a solution scope, which is a description of the boundaries, assumptions, and deliverables of the solution that will address the business need. It is important for the customer to spend the time required to provide, clarify, and elaborate requirements, because requirements are the basis for defining the solution scope. Requirements are the capabilities, features, functions, and qualities that the solution must have or meet to satisfy the customer and the stakeholders. By providing, clarifying, and elaborating requirements, the customer can help the business analyst to understand the problem, the needs, the expectations, and the value proposition of the solution. This will enable the business analyst to define a solution scope that is aligned with the customer’s vision and goals, and that is feasible, viable, and desirable. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 15.

Competitive analysis is a technique to compare the strengths and weaknesses of similar products or services offered by competitors in the same market. Competitive analysis can help to identify opportunities, threats, and gaps in the market, and to develop strategies to increase sales and customer satisfaction. Competitive analysis can be used to identify solutions for the startup company that sells organic vegetable and fruit smoothies by comparing their best-selling juice with similar products offered by competitors. The other techniques are not suitable for this purpose. Benchmarking is a technique to compare the performance of a product, service, or process with a standard or best practice. Trend analysis is a technique to analyze historical data or patterns to forecast future outcomes or behaviors. Focus group is a technique to elicit opinions, preferences, or feedback from a representative group of customers or users. References: PMI-PBA® Examination Content Outline, page 11; PMI-PBA® Reference List, page 1, BABOK® Guide v3, page 51.

 According to the PMI Guide to Business Analysis, a requirements review is a formal meeting where the requirements are presented and evaluated by the stakeholders, subject matter experts, and other relevant parties. The purpose of the review is to ensure that the requirements are clear, complete, consistent, feasible, testable, and aligned with the business needs and objectives. To prepare for the review, it would be best for the team to evaluate the requirements and highlight those that cannot be met or need to be deferred, as this would help to identify any gaps, risks, issues, or dependencies that need to be addressed or resolved before proceeding to the design phase. Preparing a test procedure, starting the design, or requesting a contract amendment are not appropriate actions to take before the review, as they could introduce errors, biases, or conflicts in the requirements. References: PMI Guide to Business Analysis, page 181-182.

 A properly written requirement statement should be clear, concise, consistent, complete, and testable. It should specify what the product or service should do, not how it should do it. It should also avoid using ambiguous or vague words that could be interpreted differently by different stakeholders. Among the four options, only option C meets these criteria. Option C is a properly written requirement statement because it clearly and precisely defines the attribute of the pot (the colors) and the possible values for that attribute (yellow, red, brown, blue). It is also consistent with the standard terminology and format for requirement statements, and it is complete and testable, as it can be verified by inspection or measurement. Option A is not a properly written requirement statement because it uses ambiguous and vague words such as “lightweight” and “heat up quickly”. These words do not specify the exact or measurable criteria for the pot’s weight and heating time, and they could mean different things to different stakeholders. Option B is not a properly written requirement statement because it does not specify the conditions or constraints for the pot’s usability in the oven or on the stove. For example, it does not state the maximum temperature or duration that the pot can withstand, or the type of oven or stove that the pot can be used on. Option D is not a properly written requirement statement because it does not specify the requirement for the pot itself, but rather for the company brand. The company brand is not a feature or function of the pot, but rather a marketing or branding strategy. The requirement statement should focus on the pot’s characteristics and capabilities, not on the company’s image or reputation. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, PMI Guide to Business Analysis2, Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide3, How To Write Good Requirements (With Example) - TestLodge Blog