CBAF-001

The GAQM Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)® exam (CBAF-001 is an older code, the current code is likely different but refers to the same exam) focuses on the knowledge and skills required to be a successful business analyst. The main points covered fall under six domains:

1. Strategy Analysis: This section covers understanding organizational strategy and goals, aligning business analysis activities with strategic objectives, and contributing to strategic planning. Key concepts include:

• Strategic planning processes: Understanding how organizations set goals and define strategies.
• Stakeholder analysis: Identifying and analyzing stakeholders' needs and interests.
• Business case development: Justifying projects based on their value and feasibility.
• Risk management in strategic planning: Identifying and mitigating risks to strategic objectives

2. Requirements Elicitation and Collaboration: This domain emphasizes gathering information from various stakeholders and then turning that into structured requirements. Key concepts include:

• Requirement elicitation techniques: Using various methods (interviews, workshops, surveys, document analysis) to gather requirements.
• Stakeholder management: Effectively managing expectations and communication with stakeholders.
• Collaboration and communication: Working effectively with diverse teams and individuals.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements and conflicts among stakeholders.

3. Requirements Modeling and Documentation: This section covers transforming collected information into understandable and useful models and documentation. Key concepts include:

• Creating business process models: Visual representation of business processes.
• Data modeling: Understanding and representing data structures.
• Use case modeling: Describing user interactions with the system.
• Requirements specifications: Writing clear, concise, and unambiguous requirements documents.
• Various modeling notations: UML, BPMN, etc.

4. Solution Evaluation and Recommendation: This section focuses on evaluating potential solutions and recommending the best approach. Key concepts include:

• Solution assessment: Evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of different solutions.
• Cost-benefit analysis: Analyzing the costs and benefits of different solutions.
• Risk assessment: Identifying and assessing potential risks associated with different solutions.
• Recommendation justification: Providing clear and well-justified recommendations.

5. Solution Implementation and Monitoring: This area covers the implementation phase and ongoing monitoring. Key concepts include:

• Implementation planning: Developing and executing a plan for implementing the solution.
• Testing and validation: Ensuring that the solution meets the requirements.
• Change management: Managing the transition to the new solution.
• Monitoring and evaluation: Tracking the performance of the solution and making adjustments as needed.

6. Governance and Professionalism: This aspect emphasizes ethical conduct and adherence to standards. Key concepts include:

• Professional ethics: Adhering to professional codes of conduct.
• Project governance: Following established project management processes.
• Compliance: Meeting regulatory requirements.
• Continuous improvement: Continuously improving skills and knowledge.

The exam tests your understanding of these concepts through a mix of multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and scenario-based questions. Success requires a strong foundation in business analysis principles, techniques, and best practices. Remember to refer to the official GAQM CBAP exam guide for the most up-to-date details.