4.2 Stages of the business analysis process model

"The process model sets out the key stages for a business analysis project, with each stage representing the areas that need to be considered".

• Investigating the situation: 

is the first stage which is based on studying the business context and the project carefully and produce a relevant analysis which outlines business processes and issues. The business analyst will need to take a look to project deliverable (PID), interview business stakeholders by using investigation techniques and be able to design mind maps, rich pictures, Ishikawa diagrams.

• Considering the perspectives: 

this step is driven by stakeholders analysis. Indeed, define and understand the power and the influence of each stakeholder is vital in business analysis because it leads global business/project perspectives and it contributes in defining business activity models.

• Analysing the needs: 

is clearly possible by performing a detailed gap analysis between the current situation and the targeted situation. This step can be focused on a business activity or a global business process and the goal is to identify improvements.

• Evaluating the options: 

once the improvements have been identified in the previous step, this stage is based on identifying potential options which have the greatest success and benefits likelihood, assessing financial technical and business feasibility through a cost/benefits analysis, risks/impacts assessment. This stage is documented by the business case and the business options detailed in.

• Defining the requirements: 

within the business system (people/business/IT). This is done firstly by gathering requirements from each stakeholders, setting them out by respecting requirement engineering aspects and using modelling techniques and documenting/agreeing them officially thought a requirement document.

• Delivering changes: 

is the last stage and is traduced by the final implementation of the business requirements previously defined. This includes delivering requirements and implementing business changes (deliverable, procedures, systems, activities, job roles..). At this stage the impact and benefits review are also performed.