BCS Practitioner Certificate in Business Analysis Practice v5.2 Questions and Answers
A proposed new business model requires the following:
• Changes in the style and structure of the organisation.
• Improvements in the accessibility of systems.
• Better alignment with the existing data architecture.
Which two elements of the POPIT™ model consider these requirements?
A company is reviewing its critical success factors and key performance indicators So far. it has key performance indicators for the following
The time to deliver orders for products Consumer satisfaction with products Wastage in product production The qualifications of production employees
Which area of Kaplan and Norton's balanced business scorecard has NOT been considered?
At a recent Board Meeting the Directors of an office fitting company ratified the company's mission as:
To meet or undercut all our competitors' prices'
Which of the following is MOST LIKELY to be the company's vision?
A Business Analyst and a project Manager are producing a business case for an initiative, which aims to improve the cyber defense of a large financial services provider.
They met recently to review progress, and made the following notes for the next draft:
The benefits of cyber will be describes in quantitative terms, so we will need to describe these
Qualitatively.
We need to make it clear that we have fully explored the solution market, and we have considered a range of approaches to meeting the objectives of this project.
The threat posed to the organization from cyber attack, and therefore the justification for the project, needs to be clearly articulated.
Which of the following sets of elements of a business case will cover ALL of these points?
A business case contains the following in its management summary:
'The recommended option meets the new regulatory requirements. It will ensure our products remain in the marketplace and be the first to receive compliance certification, which will enhance our reputation as the market leader
New business policies and processes will be introduced, which may temporarily reduce productivity. The action plan will be communicated to all staff at the next monthly meeting?
Which TWO categories of costs and benefits are described in this extract?
Fund42morrow Group is considering setting up a new company in the group to offer an innovative investment scheme aimed at encouraging people under 18 to save for their future. It has identified that the proposed new company must have regulatory approval and significant investment.
In which area of Porter’s Five Forces model would a competitor record this activity?
EcoBags is a company that designs and makes eco-friendly shopping bags foe various clients An Internal analysis of the business has revealed the following information about the company.
a) Recent investment in new machinery will enable the company to continue its innovation programme
b) Feedback from customers and an Increase in sales suggests that Leo Bugs is recognised as a quality brand
c) The number of staff currently employed in the company is sufficient to meet expected future growth
d) The ability of EcoBags to respond quickly to new market demands has earned it an innovation award.
e) The company has significant retained profits, which will help fund the innovation programme.
Which of these would be considered as 'tangible' resources in a resource audit?
Paul has been struggling to make his farm profitable for a number of years Recently, an energy firm has asked him if it can survey his land in order to determine if there is natural gas deep under his fields If there is. they will pay him for the extracted gas.
Paul has discussed this request with his business partner, explaining that he would like to explore the possibility as he feels that any subsequent extraction process is safe, will cause minimal damage to the farm, and will return the farm to profitability. Paul's business partner disagrees, believing that the process for extracting the gas is dangerous, that the machinery will spoil the landscape and that it would undermine the vision they had of living off the land.
On which element of CATWOE are Paul and his business partner in disagreement?
You are a business analyst for a start-up company that aims to disrupt the e-commerce industry. Your task is to develop a Business Activity Model (BAM) that will help define the company’s operations.
Which of the following approaches would be the most effective in developing the Business Activity Model (BAM)?
A business analyst and a project manager are producing a business case for an initiative, which aims to improve the cyber defences of a large financial services provider
They met recently to review progress and made the following notes for the next draft
1. The benefits of cyber security will be hard to describe in quantitative terms, so we will need to describe these qualitatively.
2 We need to make it clear that we have fully explored the solution market, and we have considered a range of approaches to meeting the
objectives of this project.
3. The threat posed to the organisation from cyber attack, and therefore the justification for this project, needs to be clearly articulated
Which THREE sections of a business case will cover these points'?
BuildCo is small building company with the stall. The owner to reduce time spent on administration by simplifying the company’s paperwork. This paperwork includes provides quotes and invoices, as well as managing orders and receipts for building materials.
Most of the paperwork is completed manually and copies are stored in filing cabinets. However, quotes and invoices are produced on a word processor and the stored on a computer, with printed copies also stored in the filing cabinets. The owner is not sure that all the current paperwork is necessary.
Which investigation technique would be MOST effective in establishing the need for item of paperwork?
Efua is planning to use Design Thinking to improve the m-store customer experience She has asked you to suggest good techniques to help with the different stages.
Looking at the list of techniques and stages below which THREE combinations SHOULD be of benefit to Efua?
During a project meeting, a key stakeholder with high interest and high power over the project proposes a new software feature that they would urgently like included in scope. This feature hasn’t been discussed before.
What is the most appropriate action to take as the meeting facilitator?
ForestRetreat organises events in national forests and woodland, including log cabin accommodation and transport. It has recently purchased a new woodland plot and plans to offer events there in the summer, but there is much to do in preparation. A local builder has been commissioned to construct the log cabins. A volunteer organisation will work with ForestRetreat to provide transport for customers who are attending the events. The senior officer for the south east region of ForestRetreat has been asked to oversee the development of the new woodland plot.
Which stakeholder group is not represented in this scenario?
Imani has been asked to prepare a SWOT analysis for her company, which sells van insurance Her investigation has revealed that
The company is a UK-based company which sells insurance in the UK and Ireland. The recent increase in home shopping has led to a corresponding increase in delivery drivers and vehicles across both markets However, the call centre, which serves both markets, has not been able to deal with the large influx of calls this has resulted in It is unclear whether in the longer term the call centre capacity needs to be expanded due to customers moving to digital channels and new regulatory hurdles, following Brexit. to trading in Ireland.
Which THREE of the following SHOULD be included in the SWOT analysis?
Paula is a business analyst working for a small bespoke furniture manufacturing company. The newly appointed chief executive, Beverly, has asked Paula to lead an initiative to refresh and restate (where necessary) the organization’s plan for the next financial year. Paula recently led a planning worksope with senior managers and has made the following notes about issues raised in the worshop:
The company….
a) Aims to supply 10% of the local bespoke furniture market by the end of the financial year.
b) Will Invest In local radio advertising and appoint a creative team to develop an appropriate advertisement
c) Will await the final draft of the annual accounts before considering investing in a new range of high-tech chairs.
d) Will adopt new 3D printing technologies to gain an advantage when quoting for bespoke furniture designs
e) Recognises that bespoke furniture will always be more expensive than mass-produced, standard furniture
Which of these notes will go into her MOST analysis?
A Housing Association has received press attention due to the poor state of its properties and the difficulties tenants experience in getting repairs done. It recently released the following press statement:
“It’s vital to us that our tenants live in good quality accommodation and that any problems are addressed in a timely manner. To this end we are launching an initiative to completely overhaul our maintenance strategy and operation.”
Which two of the following should the Housing Association consider as targets to measure their performance against this press statement?
Nastya is the CEO of a large technology firm, which develops new and innvolvative nanotechnology. Below is an email she has sent to her management team:
Dear Team,
Recent media coverage has revealed that our competitors have lower costs. It is important that we get back to our suppliers to see il they can secure a better component pnce for the next version of our NanoVac range Let's also consider the energy costs of our labs, I'm mindful that costs are rising due to investment in renewable power-1 want us to negotiate with our energy supplier to get a better deal.
I've also been reading reports on social responsibility and sustainability and I'd like a lull review of the biodegradability of the packaging of all our products- we don't want media attention for being a technology company that wastes natural resources.
Our employment regulations also need revisiting as there have been changes to pension rules and paternity/maternity rights for workers and I want us to be aware of these
Finally, regarding the staff conference I want to launch a new staff development programme, which aims to identify and develop the rising stars in our business People development should be a key priority in our next annual plan.
Thanks. Nastya."
Which elements of PESTLE are identified in this email?
Casper Trading have identified the need for a change in management style within their business case to enhance team productivity. They have identified a risk that managers may struggle to adopt the new behaviours.
Which is most likely to be an effective countermeasure?
A business case is being created for a new. automated auditing system that will improve the IT department's ability to record and monitor all the computing devices used across the organisation
The sponsor of the project is keen to get a better idea of the financial implications of the project and has asked for the simplest calculation possible This calculation should consider the tangible costs and tangible benefits of the project, as well as showing when it will have saved the department as much money as it has cost.
Which of the following investment appraisal calculations has the sponsor asked for?
The Directors of Pigeon Parcels are keen to clearly set out the company’s purpose so that both their employees and customers understand it.
Which of the following statements would be the best statement to adopt?
The following planning activity has been identified in a consensus BAM for a company that makes clothes:
'P4 - Define marketing strategy'
Which of the following is an enabling activity linked to this planning activity?
A retail store is looking to build an enhanced online presence. They currently have a limited e-commerce capability, with products listed online but no integration with their inventory system. They want to improve their online shopping experience and fully integrate their other applications with the website.
Which of the following actions would be performed as part of a gap analysis?
A business analyst working for a manufacturing company has been asked to support a new initiative to review and redesign the company’s
Process, enabling it is increase its production and expand into overseas markets. He is working in a team of business analytics and has been asked to do the following:
a) Assist in the evaluation of the benefits defined in the benefits plan
b) Lead requirements elicitation and clarification activities
c) Deliver coaching, training and ongoing support for any changes to existing processes.
Once the business analyst has completed these activities, which parts of the Business Change lifecycle will he have supported-?
The diamonds in the Double Diamond model represent the use of Divergent and Convergent thinking to do which one of the following?
The innovation center of accompany has created a new reporting tool. The senior management initially supported its introduction into the business; however. End users in one business area are unwilling to adopt the new tool, as they perceive that it is unnecessary.
One of the end users in this business area has been very vocal and has been rallying support from others through a corporate social media tool. End users In other business are also beginning to question whether they should adopt the tool and raising this issue with their managers.
The sponsor has fully supported the decision to go ahead with the new loot, but senior management is now questioning his decision, due to comments from the operational staff
How would the end users be classified on a power/interest grid?
A group of Business Analysts in a large enterprise are defining best practice guidance for various governance related artefacts. When writing about the business case, they have made the statements listed below. Which of these statements is correct?
A local council has decided to completely redesign the way it provides library lending services it plans to stop lending books and move towards an entirely online e-book lending model
Four activities to be included in the Business Activity Model (BAM) are given below
a) Lend books
b) Establish licensing arrangements with publishers
c) Define lending policies
d) Monitor lending usage
What will be the dependencies between these activities on the BAM?
A local bakery, “Sweet Delights,” is assessing its current situation using a SWOT analysis. After careful examination, the bakery has identified the following:
Ingredients are high quality and sourced locally.
The bakery has been asked to collaborate with local businesses on distribution.
There is a large chain bakery looking to move into the area next year.
The bakery employs locals but morale is lower than usual.Which of the following indicates an external threat to the bakery?
The below statements have been made about the consensus Business Activity Model (BAM) Which THREE of the statements are TRUE?
How would a business analyst use a Target Operating Model (TOM) in gap analysis?
An airline has agreed that the following Key performance indicator (KPI) will help measure one of the airline’s Critical Success Factors (CSFs) –customer service. The KPI is the percentage of customers rating our service as excellent in an independently administrator customer survey.
In the current year, the performance objective associated with KPI is 70%. The airline, therefore, aims for at least 70% of customers rating its service as excellent.
Which of the following activities in a Business Activity Model would establish whether the KPI and its associated performance objective is being achieved?