1. No category

BCS Professional Certificate
in Business Architecture
Syllabus
Version 1.0
May 2015
Change History
Any changes made to the syllabus shall be clearly documented with a change history log.
This shall include the latest version number, date of the amendment and changes made.
The purpose is to identify quickly what changes have been made.
Version Number
Changes Made
Version 1.0
May 2015
Syllabus created
Copyright © BCS 2015
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BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture Syllabus
Version 1.0 May 2015
BCS Professional Certificate in Business
Architecture Syllabus
Contents
Change History .................................................................................................................. 1
Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 4
Objectives .......................................................................................................................... 4
Target Audience................................................................................................................. 4
Eligibility for the Certification .............................................................................................. 4
Duration and Format of the Course .................................................................................... 5
Duration and Format of the Examination ............................................................................ 5
Additional time for candidates requiring Reasonable Adjustments ..................................... 5
Additional time for candidates whose native language is not that of the examination ......... 5
Excerpts from BCS Books .................................................................................................. 5
Syllabus ............................................................................................................................. 6
1.
The Business Architecture Domain (5%) .................................................................... 6
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
2.
Business Architecture frameworks (10%) .................................................................... 6
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
3.
6
6
6
6
6
Components of a business motivation model
OMG business motivation model
Business motivation analysis framework
6
6
6
Capability/Organisation View (20%) ............................................................................ 6
4.1
4.2
4.3
5.
Elements of a business architecture
Business views of a business architecture
Frameworks
Planning and implementing effective change
Business capability, competence and capacity
Business Motivation view (15%) ................................................................................. 6
3.1
3.2
3.3
4.
The rationale for Business Architecture
6
Business Architecture and strategy
6
Relationship of Business Architecture with other architectures
6
Business Architecture and business change
6
Roles in Business Architecture – business architect, executive managers,
programme managers, business analysts, business change managers, technical
architects, subject matter experts, 3rd party suppliers
6
Modelling the organisation
Business capability modelling
Organisational memory
6
6
6
Value/Process View (15%) ......................................................................................... 7
Copyright © BCS 2015
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BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture Syllabus
Version 1.0 May 2015
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
6.
RASCI charts
Defining competencies
Use of competency frameworks in business architecture
Management activities and performance analysis
Business culture
7
7
7
7
7
Information and Technology views (15%) ................................................................... 7
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
8.
7
7
7
7
7
7
Competency/People View (15%) ................................................................................. 7
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5
7.
Value propositions and value expectations
Porter’s value chain
Value stream analysis
Value network analysis
Business services
Relationships between capabilities, value streams and processes
Classifying organisational information
Information concept modelling
Information mapping
Tool support for business architecture
7
7
7
7
Business architecture and business change (5%) ...................................................... 7
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
Sources of change
Initiative analysis and mapping
Use of the business architecture to evaluate and manage change initiatives
Configuration management, version and change control
7
7
7
7
Levels of Knowledge / SFIA Levels / Blooms ..................................................................... 8
Format of the Examination ................................................................................................. 9
Trainer Criteria ................................................................................................................... 9
Classroom Size .................................................................................................................. 9
Invigilator to Candidate Ratio during examination .............................................................. 9
Recommended Reading List ............................................................................................ 10
Additional Reading ........................................................................................................... 11
Copyright © BCS 2015
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BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture Syllabus
Version 1.0 May 2015
Introduction
The BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture assesses competence with regard
to the philosophy, principles and techniques of Business Architecture, and its relevance to
business analysis within the context of business change programmes.
Objectives
The examination leading to the BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture has
the following assessment objectives.
Candidates must be able to demonstrate that they can:
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Explain the rationale for business architecture
Describe the relationship between business architecture and data, applications and
infrastructure architectures
Explain the roles involved in business architecture
Define the component elements of a business architecture
Identify the frameworks for business architecture defined in the syllabus
Describe the components of a business motivation model
Illustrate the use of business models and the business model canvas
Distinguish between the levels of capability definition
Distinguish between models of business value delivery
Illustrate the use of value streams and value networks
Illustrate the use of a RASCI chart
Explain the rationale for competency definition
Explain the performance analysis matrix
Describe the structure of the cultural web
Define the elements of an information concept model
Explain the mapping between the various elements of a business architecture
Describe the use of business architecture in assessing the impact of change and
ensuring the effectiveness of business change
Discuss the importance of configuration management and change control with
respect to business architecture
Target Audience
This certification is relevant for anyone wishing to gain an understanding of the principles,
rationale and techniques of the Business Architecture discipline, including business
architects, business analysts, project managers, business change managers and business
managers.
Eligibility for the Certification
There are no pre-requisites for sitting this examination although candidates should be
prepared to be assessed in line with the objectives listed in the previous section. While not
compulsory, it is recommended that candidates attend a BCS accredited training course.
Copyright © BCS 2015
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BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture Syllabus
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Duration and Format of the Course
An accredited training course will require a minimum of 18 hours of study run over a
minimum of three days.
Candidates can study for this certificate in a number of ways:
a) by attending a classroom based training course provided by an ATO
b)
by self-study
c)
by purchasing an accredited e-learning course
Duration and Format of the Examination
The format for the examination is a one-hour examination. It comprises three sections
containing ten multiple-choice questions, scenario based questions and ten true or false
questions. The examination is closed book i.e. no materials can be taken into the
examination room. The pass mark is 30/50 (60%).
Additional time for candidates requiring Reasonable
Adjustments
Candidates may request additional time if they require reasonable adjustments. Please refer
to the reasonable adjustments policy for detailed information on how and when to apply.
Additional time for candidates whose native language
is not that of the examination
If the examination is taken in a language that is not the candidate’s native / official language
then they are entitled to 25% extra time.
If the examination is taken in a language that is not the candidate’s native / official language
then they are entitled to use their own paper language dictionary (whose purpose is
translation between the examination language and another national language) during the
examination. Electronic versions of dictionaries will not be allowed into the examination
room.
Excerpts from BCS Books
There are restrictions on the use of excerpts from the BCS books as the Intellectual Property
Rights are not necessarily owned by BCS. Royalties may be due for certain excerpts so
please contact Head of Publishing at BCS outlining the material you wish to copy and the
use to which it will be put.
Copyright © BCS 2015
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BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture Syllabus
Version 1.0 May 2015
Syllabus
For each top-level area of the syllabus a percentage and K level is identified. The
percentage is the exam coverage of that area, and the K level identifies the maximum level
of knowledge that may be examined for that area.
1.
The Business Architecture Domain (5%)
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
The rationale for Business Architecture
Business Architecture and strategy
Relationship of Business Architecture with other architectures
Business Architecture and business change
Roles in Business Architecture – business architect, executive managers, programme
managers, business analysts, business change managers, technical architects, subject
matter experts, 3rd party suppliers
2.
Business Architecture frameworks (10%)
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
Elements of a business architecture
Business views of a business architecture
Frameworks
 Zachman
 OMG BAsig
 Business Architecture Guild
 Assist KD POPIT model
Planning and implementing effective change
Business capability, competence and capacity
3.
Business Motivation view (15%)
3.1
3.2
3.3
Components of a business motivation model
OMG business motivation model
Business motivation analysis framework
 Business environment
 Strategic direction and control
 Critical Success Factors, Key Performance Indicators and Balanced Score Cards
4.
Capability/Organisation View (20%)
4.1
Modelling the organisation
 Osterwalder’s business model canvas
 Organisation diagram
Business capability modelling
 Level 1 – Foundation
 Level 2 – Capability groups
 Level 3 – Business capabilities
 Business capability models
 Capability value contribution
Organisational memory
4.2
4.3
Copyright © BCS 2015
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BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture Syllabus
Version 1.0 May 2015
5.
Value/Process View (15%)
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
Value propositions and value expectations
Porter’s value chain
Value stream analysis
Value network analysis
Business services
Relationships between capabilities, value streams and processes
6.
Competency/People View (15%)
6.1
6.2
6.3
6.4
6.5


7.
7.1
7.2
7.3
7.4
8.
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
RASCI charts
Defining competencies
Use of competency frameworks in business architecture
Management activities and performance analysis
Business culture
The cultural web
Organisational culture (Handy and Hofstede)
Information and Technology views (15%)
Classifying organisational information
Information concept modelling
Information mapping
Tool support for business architecture
Business architecture and business change (5%)
Sources of change
Initiative analysis and mapping
Use of the business architecture to evaluate and manage change initiatives
Configuration management, version and change control
Copyright © BCS 2015
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BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture Syllabus
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Levels of Knowledge / SFIA Levels / Blooms
This course will provide candidates with the levels of difficulty / knowledge skill highlighted
within the following table, enabling them to develop the skills to operate at the levels of
responsibility indicated.
The levels of knowledge and SFIA levels are explained in on the website
www.bcs.org/levels
The levels of knowledge above will enable candidates to develop the following levels of skill
to be able to operate at the following levels of responsibility (as defined within the SFIA
framework) within their workplace:
The question styles used throughout the examination assess competency at levels 2 and 3
of Bloom’s Taxonomy of Cognitive Domains.
Level
K7
K6
K5
K4
K3
K2
K1
Levels of Knowledge
Levels of Skill and Responsibility (SFIA)
Evaluate
Synthesise
Analyse
Apply
Understand
Remember
Set strategy, inspire and mobilise
Initiate and influence
Ensure and advise
Enable
Apply
Assist
Follow
Copyright © BCS 2015
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BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture Syllabus
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Format of the Examination
Type
Three sections containing multiple-choice questions, scenario-based
questions and ten true/false questions
Duration
1 Hour. Candidates are entitled to an additional 15 minutes if they
are sitting an examination in a language that is not their
native/official language.
Pre-requisites
Accredited training is strongly recommended but is not a prerequisite
Supervised
Yes
Open Book
No
Pass Mark
30/50 (60%)
Distinction Mark
None
Calculators
Calculators cannot be used during this examination
Delivery
Paper-based examination
Trainer Criteria
Criteria
 Hold the BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture qualification
 Have 10 days training experience or a train the trainer qualification
 Have a minimum of 2 years practical business analysis experience
Classroom Size
Trainer to candidate ratio
1:12
Invigilator to Candidate Ratio during examination
Trainer to candidate ratio
1:25
Copyright © BCS 2015
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BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture Syllabus
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Recommended Reading List
Title
Author
Publication Date
Publisher
ISBN
URL
A Pragmatic Guide to Competency
John Holt and Simon A Perry
April 2011
BCS
978 1906124700
http://shop.bcs.org
Title
Author
Body of Knowledge Handbook Version 3.0
Business Architecture Guild 2013
Title
Author
Publisher
Publication Date
ISBN
URL
Business Analysis Techniques: 72 Essential Tools for Success
James Cadle, Debbie Paul and Paul Turner
BCS
February 2010
9781906124236
http://shop.bcs.org
Title
Author
Publisher
Publication Date
ISBN
Business Model Generation
Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur
John Wiley and Sons
August 2010
978 0470876411
Title
Author
Publisher
Publication Date
ISBN
Business Process Change: A Manager's Guide to improving, redesigning and
automating processes
Paul Harmon and Morgan Kaufmann
Morgan Kaufmann
January 2003
978 1558607583
Title
Author
Publisher
Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance
Michael E. Porter
Free Press
Title
Author
Publisher
Publication Date
ISBN
Exploring Corporate Strategy: Text and Cases
Gerry Johnson, Kevan Scholes and Richard Whittington
Pearson
December 2013
978 1292002545
Title
Author
Publisher
Publication Date
ISBN
Organizational Behaviour
David A Buchanan and Andrzej A Huczynski
Pearson
July 2013
978 0273774815
Title
Author
Publisher
Publication Date
ISBN
The Art of Enterprise Architecture for Business Architects
CJ Cooney
Real Engine
June 2010
978 0986508752
Title
Author
Publisher
Publication Date
The Balanced Scorecard
Robert S. Kaplan and David P. Norton
HBS Press
August 1996
Title
Author
The Future of Knowledge: Increasing Prosperity through Value Networks
Verna Allee
Copyright © BCS 2015
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BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture Syllabus
Version 1.0 May 2015
Publisher
Publication Date
ISBN
Butterworth-Heinemann
September 2002
978 0750675918
Additional Reading
Business Architecture: A key enabler for sustainable strategy development and
implementation, STA Group, February 2010
TOGAF 9 - The Open Group Architecture Framework TOGAF Forum, The Open Group,
ISBN 978-9087532307 and downloadable for licensed, free, individual use
UML Resource Page, Object Modelling Group, http://www.uml.org/
Zachman Framework - Official Concise Definition,, John Zachman, Zachman International,
Online at: zachmaninternational.com/index.php/the-zachman-framework
Skills Framework for the Information Age www.sfia.org.uk
OMG Business Architecture Specialist Interest Group (BAsig) website, Object Management
Group, online resources at: http://bawg.omg.org/
Copyright © BCS 2015
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BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture Syllabus
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