Supporting Business Analysis Professionals In And Around The Greater Toronto Area

Volume 6  Issue 2  February 1, 2009

Newly Published Book By Carol Deutschlander Focuses on Surveying Techniques

Surveying Fundamentals for Business Analysts
An Easy Approach to Using Surveys to Elicit Requirements

Carol Deutschlander is a business analysis manager with Home Hardware Stores, Ltd., Canada. She is an active supporter of the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) and has served on various committees, including the IIBA’s International Board of Directors.

Surveying is an excellent way to elicit requirements, but reliable resources that examine survey methods are hard to find — until now. Surveying Fundamentals for Business Analysts presents the basics of developing and executing efficient and effective surveys. It offers detailed descriptions of the different types of surveys and guidance on how to choose the right survey for your task as well as how to identify stakeholders and participants. Surveying Fundamentals also presents specific instructions on writing effective questions and gearing them toward a particular audience.

This practical guide provides the fundamentals you need to conduct and present the results of surveys — in one simple source. Follow the author’s step-by-step approach to:

• Determine the scope of the survey
• Design questions that will capture specific data
• Analyze the data objectively and effectively
• Report the findings clearly

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This has to be the most common question we are asked. Currently, the IIBA^® does not provide a public listing of testing centres. Instead, when your application has been approved, they provide you with all the necessary information that will allow you to take the test locally. Here is an excerpt from the IIBA Central Website on this topic.

As with our current application process, applicants must submit their application package to IIBA^® and be approved prior to registering for the exam.  Please indicate CBT beside the Exam Location when completing the application form. For example, Exam Location:  Boston, MA, USA – CBT.  Within a month of receiving their approval email, the applicant will receive, via email from Castle Worldwide, an admission letter (i.e., Notice to Schedule CBAP^® Examination) which includes a User ID and Password to register online for the test center and test date of their choice. There will be a selection of dates and times to choose from at most dedicated test centers on a monthly basis. For test center locations in North America, up to 10 days notice from registration is required to take the exam. For all other locations, up to 90 days notice from registration may be required to take the exam.

After registering online for the exam, the applicant will receive, almost immediately, a confirmation email (i.e., IIBA^® – Scheduling Confirmation Notice) from Castle Worldwide. This email is the applicant’s admission letter and includes the exam logistics.

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We invite all members of the IIBA and of the Toronto Chapter to join our Linked In Professional Network. LinkedIn provides social and professional networking similar to Facebook, but geared towards the establishment and maintenance of professional contacts. To join the Chapter group, click here.

Important Note: We continue to receive dozens of inquiries a month to join this group by those who are neither members of the IIBA nor of the Toronto Chapter. We must decline these requests. There are thousands of linked in groups available for general usage and for special interest groups of all kinds. This group was established as a sharing space for our members.  In the past we have had specific requests from employers who have wished access to the group in order to post jobs. This was raised at a subsequent chapter event. Those in attendance saw no issue with this, but agreed that the group should not be accessible for employers who did not have a specific job posting, nor to employment agencies.

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