Business Information Analyst

This course introduces the fundamental principles, terminology, and frameworks used in business analysis. Students learn about the analyst’s role within organizations, the business analysis lifecycle, and common tools and techniques. Topics include stakeholder analysis, requirement elicitation, feasibility assessment, and business needs evaluation. Emphasis is placed on the value of analytical thinking and structured problemsolving for identifying solutions to organizational challenges. By the end of the course, students will be able to interpret business needs, identify project goals, and support planning activities with clarity and precision.

Students learn how to document, evaluate, and enhance business processes using modeling techniques such as BPMN, swimlane diagrams, and value stream mapping. The course emphasizes identifying inefficiencies, gaps, and redundancies in current processes while proposing actionable improvements aligned with strategic goals. Through a variety of practical labs and case studies, students will model both current and future state processes, define key performance metrics, and analyze the impact of proposed changes on organizational effectiveness.

This course equips students with core data analysis techniques that support business decision-making. Students learn to organize, analyze, and interpret data using tools such as Excel, and apply descriptive statistics, trend analysis, and forecasting methods. Emphasis is placed on visualizing data and drawing meaningful conclusions to support operational and strategic recommendations. Students engage with real-world scenarios to build confidence in applying data insights to solve problems, identify risks, and seize opportunities.

Students gain practical experience writing SQL queries to extract, join, filter, and aggregate data from relational databases. Emphasis is placed on developing business queries that support operational reporting, performance monitoring, and exploratory analysis. Students will also build complex queries involving multiple tables and nested logic, and practice optimizing queries for performance. Realistic datasets and simulations reinforce skills essential for analysts working in data-driven environments.

This course trains students in the use of leading BI tools such as Power BI and Tableau to design dashboards, visualizations, and reports that inform business stakeholders. Students learn to connect to various data sources, transform raw data into usable formats, and create interactive visuals to support decision-making. The course covers best practices in layout, chart selection, and storytelling with data.

Students explore techniques for eliciting, documenting, and validating business and system requirements. Emphasis is placed on understanding stakeholder needs through interviews, surveys, workshops, and observation. Students will produce artifacts including stakeholder maps, use cases, user stories, Software Requirements Specifications (SRS), and traceability matrices. The course emphasizes clear, concise documentation and introduces tools that support collaborative requirements management throughout the project lifecycle.

Students are introduced to Agile values, principles, and practices, with a focus on the Scrum framework and the evolving role of the business analyst in Agile teams. Topics include backlog refinement, user story writing, sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives. Students practice Agile ceremonies and simulate working within cross-functional teams. The course highlights collaboration, iterative delivery, and the use of tools like Jira or Trello to manage Agile workflows effectively.

This course explores how business analysts evaluate technical solutions to meet business objectives. Students analyze system requirements and explore topics including system architecture, interface design, and software selection. Modeling tools such as use case diagrams, class diagrams, and process models are used to communicate and validate solution designs. The course also examines how analysts support vendor evaluation, solution testing, and technology change management.

Students develop advanced communication skills critical for analyst roles, focusing on techniques to engage stakeholders, facilitate discussions, and present analysis outcomes. The course covers written communication, visual presentations, meeting facilitation, and navigating challenging conversations. Students learn to tailor their message based on audience, purpose, and context, and will produce stakeholder engagement plans, reports, and executive briefings.

This course supports students preparing for certifications such as the IIBA Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA). Topics include exam structure, core business analysis domains, knowledge areas, and techniques. Students will review key concepts, complete practice quizzes, and engage in instructor-led discussions to reinforce learning. The course helps students gain confidence and structure their study efforts toward successful certification exam completion.

In this final applied project, students work in teams to tackle a realistic business challenge, applying the full range of skills developed throughout the program. They conduct stakeholder analysis, gather and document requirements, analyze data, develop dashboards, and deliver a comprehensive business analysis report. Teams present their findings and recommendations to a mock executive panel, simulating a real-world consulting engagement. The capstone provides students with an opportunity to demonstrate their problem-solving, communication, and analytical capabilities in an integrated and practical format.