The smart-BA Programme Modules
Details of all modules are below - scroll down or click on the module in the following list that interests you.
- Module 1: Objectives Analysis
- Module 2: Scope and Context Definition
- Module 3: Functional Requirements
- Module 4: Process Dependency Rules (process models)
- Module 5: Data Dependency Rules (data model)
- Module 6: Process Specification
- Module 7: Data Specification
Module 1: Objectives Analysis
Overview:
Only the most important module! If the objectives are wrong then every piece of work that follows based on those objectives will also be wrong - and that means all the requirements, process and data rules, design, coding (if applicable), tests, training and implementation!
This module gets you to analyse the drivers for the project and define SMART objectives - and prove they are correct.
You get:
- An introduction to the assignment
- Definition of terms
- Objectives and principles rules and guidance
- Suggested templates for documenting stakeholders
- Drivers
- Objectives
- Principles
You deliver:
- Stakeholders
- Objectives
- Principles
- Justification of the Objectives and Principles
…and relevant issues, risks, dependencies, constraints and assumptions you identify.
Module 2: Scope and Context Definition
Overview:
Scope and Context - not just of the solution, but the project as well. If you don't understand the scope you cannot control the project or the solution. If you don't understand the context you will fail to engage everyone who needs engaging. This module will see you define the scope and context of the solution and project using many dimensions such as processes, organisation units, locations, data, applications, technology, time, channels, customer/supplier segments, and so on.
You get:
- An introduction to the assignment
- Definition of terms
- Suggested templates for documenting
- solution and project scope
- solution and project context
You deliver:
- Context model for the project
- Context model of the solution
- Scope of the solution in all required dimensions
- Scope of the project in all required dimensions
- Out of scope elements, justification and impact
- Justification of the context and scope models and statements in terms of which objectives and/or principles they support and how much for solution and project
…and relevant issues, risks, dependencies, constraints and assumptions you identify.
Module 3: Functional Requirements
Overview:
What, exactly, do you want the solution to be able to do? Sounds easy, doesn't it? Just state what functionality (computerised or not) you want the solution to deliver.
You get:
- An introduction to the assignment
- Definition of terms
- Functional requirements definition rules and guidance
- Templates for documenting functional requirements
You deliver:
- Functional requirements
- Justification for the requirements
…and relevant issues, risks, dependencies, constraints and assumptions you identify.
Module 4: Process Dependency Rules (process models)
Overview:
Every functional requirement will have at least 1 process associated with it (i.e. how the function needs to be performed). There are dependencies between process steps (conditional, flow of control and/or passing data) that need to happen in order to deliver the functional requirements. We need to model these rules and produce a model of how the rules will control the routes through the processes.
You get:
- An introduction to the assignment
- Definition of terms
- Process modelling rules
- Suggested templates for documenting process models
You deliver:
- Process models
- Justification for the process models
…and relevant issues, risks, dependencies, constraints and assumptions you identify.
Module 5: Data Dependency Rules (data model)
Overview:
Processes manipulate data - if they are not doing that, they are not doing anything! Logically, what are the relationships between the elements of data the process models you have constructed need in order to operate? NB: This is not database design!
You get:
- An introduction to the assignment
- Definition of terms
- Data modelling rules
- Suggested templates for documenting data dependency rules
You deliver:
- Data model
- Justification for the data model
…and relevant issues, risks, dependencies, constraints and assumptions you identify.
Module 6: Process Specification
Overview:
Each process step will need to be defined in terms of the required logic it executes and any associated non-functional requirements (security, performance, resilience and so on).
You get:
- An introduction to the assignment
- Definition of terms
- Process specification rules
- Suggested templates for documenting
- process execution logic
- process non-functional requirements
You deliver:
- Process specifications
- Justification for the process specifications
…and relevant issues, risks, dependencies, constraints and assumptions you identify.
Module 7: Data Specification
Overview:
All the elements of data identified in your process model need to be fully specified in terms of what rules are to be enforced through restrictions imposed defining what is valid data (data rules). In addition to that there may well be other rules such as who is allowed to access which data, how long it is to be kept, what is to be migrated, where from, converted how and so on.
You get:
- An introduction to the assignment
- Definition of terms
- Data specifications rules and guidance
- Suggested templates for documenting the data specifications
You deliver:
- Data specifications
- Justification for the data specifications
…and relevant issues, risks, dependencies, constraints and assumptions you identify.
