Scrum Fundamentals:Analyst to ‘Agilist’

• By Louis Molnar

(C) IAG Consulting 2009

The Agile Business Analyst By: Louis Molnar

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Learning Objectives

© IAG Consulting 2009

• Level Set

– Agile Manifesto

– Mythology

• IIBA Skill Set• Agile BA Traits

• Inhibitors to Agile Analysis

• Transition to Agile Coach

• Growing a More Agile ‘You’

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Webinar is NOT about

Definition/explanation of:

• Scrum/XP/FDD/Lean, etc• Roles within each Agile

approach• Most of tools/techniques• Terminology

© IAG Consulting 2009

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Agile Manifesto

Manifesto for Agile Software DevelopmentWe are uncovering better ways of developing

software by doing it and helping others do it. Through this work we have come to value:

Individuals and interactions over processes and tools

Working software over comprehensive documentation

Customer collaboration over contract negotiation

Responding to change over following a plan

© IAG Consulting 2009

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Mythology

Myth #1: We don’t need to follow any development process …

Agile Value Statement: “Individuals and interactions over processes and tools”

© IAG Consulting 2009

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Mythology

Myth #2: We don’t need to do any documentation …

Agile Value Statement: “Working software over comprehensive documentation ”

© IAG Consulting 2009

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Mythology

Myth #3: We don’t need any customer sign-off ..

Agile Value Statement: “Customer collaboration over contract negotiation ”

© IAG Consulting 2009

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Mythology

Myth #4: We don’t need to produce any kind of plan …

Agile Value Statement: “Responding to change over following a plan”

© IAG Consulting 2009

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IIBA defines a Business Analyst

• “A business analyst works as a liaison among stakeholders in order to elicit, analyze, communicate, and validate requirements for changes to business processes, policies, and information systems.”

Source: International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®)

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Natural Fit for a Business Analyst?

• “A business analyst works as a liaison among stakeholders in order to elicit, analyze, communicate, and validate requirements for changes to business processes, policies, and information systems.”

The Essential Business Analysis Skills• Analyze and understand the business

problems • Identify and document requirements • Communicate effectively (written and

spoken) • Manage client relationships • Facilitate discussions • Negotiate and build consensus • Model data and processes • Plan and manage activities • Facilitate and develop business

strategy • Understand and manage

organizational change

Source: International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®)

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Agile BA Traits

Essential BA Skill• Analyze and understand

the business problems

Measure Your Agility

1) Are you feedback driven?

2) Do you actively seek to learn?

3) Do you adapt your approach to problem solving?

4) Do you explore the problem space?

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Agile BA Traits

Essential BA Skill• Identify and document

requirements

Measure Your Agility

1) Do you continually estimate & prioritize requirements with your stakeholders?

2) Are you quality focused?

3) Are you communications focused?

4) Are you a documentation 'minimalist'?

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Agile BA Traits

Essential BA Skill• Communicate effectively

(written and spoken)

Measure Your Agility

1) Are you communications rich?

2) Are you iterative?

3) Are you using models as a communications vehicle?

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Agile BA Traits

Essential BA Skill• Manage client

relationships

Measure Your Agility

1. Do you integrate Stakeholders into your Team?

2. Are you 'change friendly'?

3. Do you demonstrate ‘servant leadership’ traits.

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Agile BA Traits

Essential BA Skill• Facilitate discussions

Measure Your Agility

1. Are you a 'facilitator' of discussions?

2. Are you an enabler of groups ‘performing’?

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Agile BA Traits

Essential BA Skill• Negotiate and build

consensus

Measure Your Agility

1) Do you work collaboratively & cooperatively with others?

2) Do you act as a mentor?

3) Are you evolutionary?

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Agile BA Traits

Essential BA Skill• Model data and processes

Measure Your Agility

1) Are you satisfied with artifacts that are 'just good enough'?

2) Do you use the right model for the right purpose?

• Activity Diagram • Class Diagram• Constraint Definition• CRC Model• Data Flow Diagram• Entity Relationship Diagram• Process Flow Charts• Robustness Diagram

• Sequence Diagram• State Transition Diagram• System Use Case• UI Prototype• User Stories• Usage Scenario• Use Case Diagram

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Agile BA Traits

Essential BA Skill• Plan and manage

activities

Measure Your Agility

1) Do you assist in the development of the Product backlog that utilize A.G.I.L.E. User Stories?

2) Do you help in the prioritization of the User Stories?

3) Do you assist/map out the release iterations?

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Agile BA Traits

Essential BA Skill• Facilitate and develop

business strategy

Measure Your Agility

1. Do you treat requirements like a prioritized stack?

2. Do you help develop alternate business strategies for the problem domain?

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Agile BA Traits

Essential BA Skill• Understand and manage

organizational change

Measure Your Agility

1. Are you an effective 'assimilator'?

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Inhibitors to Agile Analysis

• Viewing agile as a serial or mini-waterfall methodology

• Focusing on expanding artifacts that you specialize in

• Focusing on documentation rather than communication

• Viewing your role as the 'bridge' between the 'business morons' and the 'tech weenies’

• Protecting your territory "that's my job" & working to job title

• Getting stuck in the traditional BA paradigm

• Developing more documentation than is required

• Not realizing that models are disposable• Having only one-way of doing things• Unwilling to experience tasks outside of

your comfort zone• Not embracing changing requirements &

continuous improvement• Modeling in isolation• Resistance in using collaborative

techniques• Not accepting & adapting to the fluid

nature of the project

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Transitioning to Agile Coach

• Develop & foster a productive agile Team

• Leading by example

• Educate the Team

• Over come problems using the PrOpER cycle

• Build trust

• Role model

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Growing a more Agile “You”

• Covering the basics• Share with others• Get some training• Make a plan• Build your network• Attend conferences• User Groups• Find a coach/mentor

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Recap

© IAG Consulting 2009

• Level Set

– Agile Manifesto

– Mythology

• IIBA Skill Set• Agile BA Traits

• Inhibitors to Agile Analysis

• Transition to Agile Coach

• Growing a More Agile ‘You’

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Objectives12 Years of living requirements excellence:

Completed over 1,200 requirements projects

Worked with over 300 of the Fortune 500 companies

Trains over 1,200 business analysts annually

Somewhat in excess of 700 clients using our methods

50 staff members all 100% focused on excellence in business requirements

Annually invested 10% of our revenue in developing our methods, processes and techniques to assure that these are harmonized and industry best practices

About IAG ConsultingQuestions & Answers

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IAG Agile Scrum: Services

1. Training:

2. Coaching & Mentoring:

3. Scrum Readiness/Audit Reviews:

a. Certified Scrum Product Owner

b. Certified ScrumMaster

a. Product Owner Coachb. ScrumMaster Coachc. Scrum Implementation

Coach

a. Readiness Reviewb. Audit Review

© IAG Consulting 2009

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Garry McGouldrick (gm@iag.biz)Senior Vice President

Eric Mark (emark@iag.biz)Regional Manager

IAG Consulting905.842.0123 or 800.209.3616

THANK YOU

Important InformationQuestions & Answers