Scrum Fundamentals: Analyst to ‘Agilist’ By Louis Molnar (C) IAG Consulting 2009 The Agile Business Analyst By: Louis Molnar

2 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’

3 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

4 Agile Manifesto Manifesto for Agile Software Development We 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

5 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

6 Mythology Myth #2: We don’t need to do any documentation … Agile Value Statement: “Working software over comprehensive documentation ” © IAG Consulting 2009

7 Mythology Myth #3: We don’t need any customer sign-off.. Agile Value Statement: “Customer collaboration over contract negotiation ” © IAG Consulting 2009

8 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

9 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®)

10 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®)

11 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?

12 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'?

13 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?

14 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.

15 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’?

16 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?

17 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

18 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?

19 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?

20 Agile BA Traits Essential BA Skill Understand and manage organizational change Measure Your Agility 1.Are you an effective 'assimilator'?

21 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

22 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

23 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

24 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’

25 Objectives 12 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 Consulting Questions & Answers

26 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 Coach b.ScrumMaster Coach c.Scrum Implementation Coach a.Readiness Review b.Audit Review © IAG Consulting 2009

27 Garry Senior Vice President Eric Regional Manager IAG Consulting or THANK YOU Important Information Questions & Answers