BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis

A structured, practical foundation in business analysis aligned to the BCS syllabus, designed to build core knowledge and prepare delegates for the BCS Foundation Exam

Overview

Business Analysts play a critical role in bridging the gap between the business and its customers, helping organisations understand change, define improvements, and maximise the value delivered through new initiatives.

This course provides a practical introduction to core business analysis principles, techniques, and models, aligned to the BCS Foundation Certificate syllabus. It is designed to help participants build confidence in business analysis thinking while preparing for the BCS Foundation Exam, the first step towards the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis.

The programme explores essential areas including business strategy, stakeholder analysis, business system modelling, gap analysis, and business case development, giving delegates a clear foundation that can be applied in real organisational environments.

Training materials include the BCS text Business Analysis, Third Edition by Debra Paul et al.

What You Will Learn

• Prepare for and pass the BCS Foundation Exam
• Analyse the development of a business strategy
• Perform business system modelling
• Identify costs, benefits, impacts, and risks when developing a business case
• Understand how business analysis supports the business change lifecycle
• Apply core techniques used in stakeholder analysis, business activity modelling, and gap analysis

How You Will Apply It

Throughout the course, delegates will build practical understanding that can be applied to real business analysis work, including:

• Understanding the strategic context for change
• Analysing the business environment using tools such as SWOT, CSFs, KPIs, and the Balanced Scorecard
• Identifying and assessing stakeholders, perspectives, and conflicting viewpoints
• Modelling business activities and exploring potential solutions
• Supporting investment decisions through a well-structured business case

Who Should Attend

• Aspiring Business Analysts
• Business Analysts who want a recognised foundation certification
• Professionals involved in change, improvement, or requirements work
• Project and change team members who need a stronger BA framework
• Anyone working towards the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis

Course Content

Module 1 – The Business Change Life Cycle

Focus: Understanding where business analysis fits within organisational change

• The role of the Business Analyst in the business change lifecycle
• Producing the business case
• Other roles involved in the business change lifecycle
• The framework for business analysis activities
• Relating business analysis to strategic analysis, definition, and IT systems analysis
• The holistic approach to business analysis

Module 2 – Understanding the Strategic Context

Focus: Analysing the business environment and defining measures for success

• Analysing the business environment
• Understanding internal and external environments
• Analysing the business using SWOT analysis
• Developing business metrics
• Identifying Critical Success Factors (CSFs)
• Creating Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Identifying success measures with the Balanced Business Scorecard

Module 3 – Project Discipline for Business Analysis Studies

Focus: Defining scope, objectives, and the structure for effective BA work

• Reading the Terms of Reference or Project Initiation Document
• Applying OSCAR — objectives, scope, constraints, authority, and resources
• Understanding what the business wishes to achieve and deliver
• Creating SMART objectives

Module 4 – Understanding the Business Situation

Focus: Investigating the current situation and building a holistic view of the business

• Stakeholder identification
• Using the Stakeholder Wheel
• Overview of investigative techniques
• Representing a holistic view of the business situation
• Generating Rich Pictures
• Creating Mind Maps

Module 5 – Analysing Stakeholder Perspectives

Focus: Understanding viewpoints, influence, and the causes of stakeholder conflict

• Stakeholder analysis and management
• The Power/Interest Grid
• Stakeholder management strategies
• Identifying and defining different perspectives
• Contrasting stakeholder viewpoints
• Analysing root cause using CATWOE

Module 6 – Analysing and Modelling Business Activities

Focus: Using business activity models to analyse processes, rules, and change needs

• Developing a Business Activity Model
• Depicting perspectives using a Business Activity Model (BAM)
• Understanding the BAM process and notation
• Identifying business events
• Analysing business rules
• Distinguishing between business rule types
• Recognising levels of constraint
• Building the Consensus Business Activity Model
• Identifying differences between models and negotiating to resolve conflicts

Module 7 – Identifying Potential Solutions

Focus: Moving from analysis into solution options and requirements identification

• Gap analysis — comparing the ideal and existing systems
• Outlining the gap analysis process
• Identifying inputs to and outputs from gap analysis
• Defining a new business model
• Exploring change across processes, people, technology, and organisation
• Identifying requirements using business activity and business process models
• Classifying models used to document and analyse requirements
• Recognising data and processing requirements

Module 8 – Making the Business Case

Focus: Evaluating options, appraising investment, and presenting the case for change

• The business case lifecycle
• Structuring the business case
• Identifying and shortlisting options for business change
• Identifying and categorising costs and benefits
• Classifying tangible and intangible costs and benefits
• Applying investment appraisal techniques
• Identifying and managing risks and impacts
• Assessing risk impact and probability
• Understanding risk management approaches

Course Summary

By the end of this programme, participants will understand how to:

• Apply core business analysis principles and techniques
• Analyse the strategic and operational context for change
• Work with stakeholders, models, and requirements in a more structured and confident way
• Contribute to the development of a credible and evidence-based business case
• Progress towards success in the BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis exam

Optional Next Step

For learners looking to continue their development, this course can be followed by:

• BCS Practitioner and Certificate-level business analysis courses
• Business process modelling and requirements workshops
• Private team sessions tailored to your organisation’s BA capability needs