Fundamentals of the Business Analyst (BA) Role Training Course

Business analysis is the process of investigating, understanding, and defining business needs in order to develop solutions that meet those needs. It is a critical element in the organisational change management process and in designing new business solutions. The aim of business analysis is to ensure that technological, process-related, or organisational solutions align with business goals and requirements. It plays a vital role in ensuring the effectiveness of projects and organisational changes by guaranteeing that implemented solutions are appropriate, feasible, and fully aligned with business needs.

This workshop is tailored for experienced Business Analysts, Product Owners, and User Researchers aiming to master advanced techniques that deliver tangible business value. Through hands-on exercises and practical tools, participants will learn to analyse complex data, streamline processes, engage stakeholders effectively, and translate strategy into action using OKRs. By the end of the session, they'll have a clear toolkit to amplify their impact and achieve measurable results.

This course focuses on the business analyst role required to succeed on Agile projects. Course participants will learn how to collaborate effectively with the Team, Product Owner, Scrum Master, and the Customer to facilitate the development process. Participants will work through a mock project, practising common scenarios.

This instructor-led, live training in New Zealand (online or on-site) is designed for beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners who wish to use generative AI tools to support the daily work of a business analyst, including analysis, documentation, information structuring, and stakeholder communication.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the real capabilities and limitations of GenAI models (e.g., hallucinations, context windows).
• Use AI as an advanced tool to support thinking and analytical processes.
• Learn how to create precise requirement structures and technical documents using AI.
• Accelerate conceptual work, from hypothesis generation to drafting documentation.
• Consciously evaluate the quality and factual accuracy of AI-generated outputs.
• Gain knowledge on the safe and ethical use of AI tools in relation to corporate data.

Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is a structured method for comparing alternatives by examining the relationship between resources used and outcomes achieved.

This instructor-led, live training (available online or on-site) is designed for intermediate-level practitioners who wish to apply cost-effectiveness methods to support informed, rational, and evidence-based decision making across a range of sectors.

By the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define cost-effectiveness questions and establish evaluation criteria.
• Identify, classify, and quantify relevant costs and outcomes for diverse scenarios.
• Apply analytical frameworks to compare alternatives using cost-effectiveness ratios.
• Assess uncertainty, validate assumptions, and clearly communicate evaluation results.

Course Format

• Facilitated presentations supported by real-world examples.
• Practical exercises to reinforce analytical techniques.
• Interactive problem-solving in a guided workshop environment.

Course Customisation Options

• Customised versions of this training are available upon request.

This instructor-led, live training in New Zealand (online or onsite) is aimed at beginner-level, intermediate-level and advanced-level individuals who wish to integrate Strategic Agility and Quality Assurance, ensuring that quality becomes a catalyst for strategy rather than a hurdle, and that agility is grounded in repeatable, high-quality processes.

In modern business, organisations often face a "Trade-off Paradox": the faster they try to adapt to market changes, the more their quality standards tend to slip. Conversely, rigid quality processes often slow down innovation.

Strategic Agility addresses the problem of organisational "inertia"—the inability to react to environmental volatility. Quality Assurance addresses the risks of "process decay" during rapid scaling or pivoting.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand the concept of strategic agility.
• Connect strategy with operational activities.
• Identify areas requiring quality control.
• Apply basic quality assurance mechanisms.

Summary:

A business or systems analyst resolves business challenges by designing information systems that execute strategies defined by the organisation. These IT solutions typically achieve one of the following objectives: implementing a new business process, enhancing the efficiency and productivity of existing processes, or reducing operational costs of current processes.

This course is designed for Business Analysts, including those who wish to pursue IIBA certification (CCBA or CBAP), and aligns with the framework outlined in BABOK® Version 3.0.

Objectives:

• Identify the key principles, activities, tasks, and techniques set out in BABOK® V3.0
• Understand the core knowledge areas, activities, tasks, deliverables, and their interrelationships:

Key Definitions:

BABOK® (Business Analysis Body of Knowledge): The standard for business analysis practice, providing a framework that describes the tasks required to be performed.

CCBA® (Certification of Competency in Business Analysis): A certification offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), requiring successful completion of an exam based solely on BABOK®, following approval of an application grounded in education and experience.

CBAP® (Certified Business Analysis Professional): A certification offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), requiring successful completion of an exam based solely on BABOK®, following approval of an application grounded in education and experience.

This course will show you how to:

• Perform key functions of the business analyst by applying a solid business analysis framework
• Conduct a business needs analysis to elicit stakeholder requirements
• Apply business analysis techniques to identify key problems and potential opportunities in your enterprise
• Create effective requirements and communication plans
• Analyse and specify requirements using industry best practices
• Manage solution assessment and validation

Insurtech (also known as Digital Insurance) refers to the convergence of insurance and emerging technologies. In the Insurtech space, "digital insurers" apply technological innovations to their business and operating models to reduce costs, enhance customer experience, and improve operational agility.

In this instructor-led training, participants will gain a clear understanding of the technologies, methods, and mindset required to drive digital transformation within their organisations and across the wider industry. The training is designed for managers who need a high-level overview, wish to cut through the hype and jargon, and are ready to take the first steps toward developing an Insurtech strategy.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Discuss Insurtech and all its components intelligently and systematically
• Identify and demystify the role of each key technology within Insurtech.
• Draft a general strategy for implementing Insurtech within their organisation

Audience

• Insurers
• Technologists within the insurance industry
• Insurance stakeholders
• Consultants and business analysts

Format of the course

• Part lecture, part discussion, with exercises and case study group activities

In this live, instructor-led training in New Zealand, participants will gain a clear understanding of the technologies, methods, and mindset required to implement a Fintech strategy.

This course is designed for managers who need to develop a holistic view of Fintech, cut through the hype and jargon, and take concrete first steps toward adopting new technologies relevant to financial businesses and services.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to

• Present viable Fintech strategies tailored to their organisation.
• Understand and explain the role and functionality of key technologies.
• Develop an action plan for introducing new technologies in a structured, step-by-step manner.

Insurance in the Digital Era offers a practical overview of how digital transformation is reshaping products, operations, and customer engagement across the insurance sector.

This instructor-led, live training (delivered online or on-site) is designed for intermediate-level insurance professionals seeking to understand and apply digital technologies, data-driven strategies, and innovation frameworks to modernise insurance offerings and operations.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Explain the role of AI, Big Data, IoT, and automation in modern insurance workflows.
• Identify InsurTech trends and understand their impact on the broader insurance ecosystem.
• Design customer-centric strategies powered by digital tools and data-driven insights.
• Apply data-driven approaches to risk management and decision-making.
• Develop an innovation and change management approach tailored for insurers.
• Assess real-world case studies and translate key lessons into local initiatives.

Course Format

• Interactive lectures and discussions.
• Case study analysis and collaborative group workshops.
• Practical exercises and action planning tailored to participants' organisations.

Course Customisation Options

• To request a customised training session for this course, please contact us to arrange.

Requirements Engineering (RE) is a key discipline within software and systems development, focused on identifying, documenting, and managing the needs and constraints of stakeholders to ensure project success.

This instructor-led, live training (online or on-site) is aimed at intermediate-level professionals who wish to deepen their understanding of practical Requirements Engineering while preparing for the IREB CPRE – Foundation Level certification exam.

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

• Understand and apply the key concepts and terminology defined by the IREB CPRE Foundation syllabus.
• Identify and elicit requirements using effective and context-appropriate techniques.
• Model, document, and validate requirements for real-world projects.
• Manage requirements changes, traceability, and prioritisation throughout the project lifecycle.
• Use Requirements Engineering tools and best practices to enhance communication and project outcomes.
• Be fully prepared to sit and pass the IREB CPRE – Foundation Level certification exam.

Course Format

• Interactive lectures and discussions.
• Case-based exercises and collaborative workshops.
• Exam preparation sessions and practice questions.

Course Customisation Options

• Additional modules or industry-specific case studies can be added on request.

Model-Based Development (MBD) is a software development methodology that enables faster, more cost-effective development of dynamic systems such as control systems, signal processing, and communication systems. It relies on graphical modelling rather than traditional text-based programming.

In this instructor-led, live training, participants will learn how to apply MBD methodologies to reduce development costs and accelerate the time to market for their embedded software products.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to

• Select and utilise the right tools for implementing MBD.
• Use MBD to carry out rapid development in the early stages of their embedded software project.
• Shorten the time to market for their embedded software releases.

Course format

• Part lecture, part discussion, exercises and extensive hands-on practice

This instructor-led, live training in New Zealand (online or on-site) is designed for individuals who wish to understand requirements analysis and carry it out efficiently and accurately using proven analysis techniques for their projects.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Identify different types of requirements.
• Understand the overarching concepts and activities involved in requirements analysis.
• Gain familiarity with requirements analysis methodology.
• Leverage various requirements analysis techniques to their advantage.
• Structure requirements to communicate effectively with architects and developers through an iterative requirement gathering process.

This programme equips participants with the core principles and practical applications of software engineering, requirements engineering, and testing through immersive, hands-on learning experiences.