Pl te ga le de 0%tails. nd er 5 or de a 2 o v ge f er e pa st save back gi e Re andase s e Why should you attend? • Learn more about BA foundation skills including Requirements Analysis and Stakeholder Management • Share experiences and network with your peers from across New Zealand • Gain insights from speakers from GE Capital, Ministry of Social Development, ANZ, Statistics New Zealand, Westpac, PlaceMakers, Kiwibank & more • Want to learn more? Extend your conference experience with our half day workshops Supporting Organistions Day One: 23 July 2013 8.30 9.00 Registration and Coffee Opening remarks from the Chair Stephen Soanes, Business Change Consultant, Equinox 9.10 9.55 BUSINESS ANALYSIS SKILLS DEVELOPMENT • Considering becoming a Business Analyst? • Involved with project roles that include into BA skills? • Interested in refreshing your skills and connecting with peers? Quick-Fire: Stakeholder perspectives How does the rest of the business see the BA? In this quick fire series hear from the business, the developers and the tester perspective as to what they expect from a BA and their experiences with the BA role. Perspective 1: Project Manager Perspective 2: Developer Perspective 3: Tester 12.00 Quick-Fire Q&A After hearing the three perspectives, ask your questions to our quick fire speakers. 12.20 Lunch 1.20 Masterclass: Project initiation – starting on the right foot Business Analysis Skills Development Forum. Designed to examine some of the foundation skills of business analysis, this case studies from companies including 2.20 as expert presentations from Davanti Consulting, Optimation and Equinox. Sponsorship is now recognised as a highly effective marketing medium – make sure you gain competitive advantage in your markets by sponsoring this event. To discuss the range of opportunities available, contact: [email protected] or call our team on (09) 912 3616 Certain information is required in order to have a smooth start to the project. In many instances this role falls to the BA. In this masterclass, learn what you need to know and what you need to find out to give your project the best chance of succeeding. • Defining the problem and the affected stakeholders • Understanding the project scope, timeframes and the associated inherent risks • Producing the reference document to aid initial analysis • Plans and project check-lists Jennifer Wray, Senior Business Analyst, ANZ Process mapping – how, why and best practice A good process map should take into account the objectives or goals of the business, the actual work being accomplished, as well as the impact of processes on the stakeholders. Learn about how you can create a simple process map and what you should keep in mind when creating your own. • The four steps of process mapping: process identification, information gathering, interviewing and mapping, and analysis • Creating the process maps for the customer rather than the business • Keeping an eye out for potential pitfalls – tips and tricks to avoid common mistakes Elizabeth Rayner, Senior Business Analyst, Statistics New Zealand as PlaceMakers and Kiwibank, as well Exhibit at or sponsor this event: • Where does business analysis sit in the business? • Where is the value added? • Why BAs? The role of a business analyst in a software project Suzanne Burgess, Senior Business Analyst, Ministry of Social Development 11.00 Then you should be joining us at the event gives you the opportunity to hear Business Analysis in context – understanding the big picture Morning break and refreshments business analysis? • Looking to gain knowledge and insight What are the most desired skills for a BA to have? In this session we will discuss the skills needed to be successful as a BA. • What are the essential BA skills? • Traits and identities – the qualities that are in demand for BAs • Look to the future – what skills will help you on your BA career path? Richard Wood CBAP, Business Analyst Leader, GE Capital; President, IIBA New Zealand Chapter 10.40 Are you: • New to the Business Analyst role? The BA toolkit: Skills, traits and processes to keep in your back pocket 3.05 Afternoon break and refreshments Masterclass: Communication for Business Analysts 3.25 Communication makes up a large part of a Business Analyst’s day-to-day role. In this masterclass learn about the key communication skills for BAs and how you can make your interactions more effective. • Facilitation skills • Assessing the communication playing field • Interpersonal communication and personality traits • Getting the message across: Written, oral and pictorial communication Melanie Young, Manager Consultant, Davanti Consulting Carla Hosken, Senior Manager, Davanti Consulting Masterclass: Managing stakeholder relationships 4.25 The involvement of stakeholders in the development process is essential to ensure the end product is not only useful, but fulfils the requirements as set forth in the reference documents. • How are the different groups involved? • Identifying and talking with end users, subject matter experts, and other integral stakeholders • Prioritising time: balancing the most important requests for time and information from stakeholders • Best methods of communication Matt Jones, Senior Business Analyst, Westpac 5.25 Summary remarks from the Chair and close of day one 5.30 Business Analyst Networking Function 10.35 10.55 Day Two: 24 July 2013 9.00 Welcome back from the Chair Stephen Soanes, Business Change Consultant, Equinox 9.05 9.50 Case study: Ensuring everyone involved is on the right page and the project covers all in-scope items Frameworks such as RACI are useful tools to ensure the right stakeholders are given the right information, but for also setting out roles and responsibilities. In this case study, learn from Mark and Paeterasp as they discuss accountability for projects and who needs to be kept in the loop at all times. • Who is responsible for the project? • Disseminating the right information to the relevant stakeholders • Assessing the overall scope items for the project – Using a Context Model • Assessing the benefits derived from undertaking the project – Usage of a benefits map. Paeterasp Vevaina, Senior Business Analyst, & Mark Phillips, Manager: Non-Trade Applications, PlaceMakers WORKSHOPS All Purpose Process Modelling 25 July 2013, 9.00 – 12.30 Masterclass: Understanding and getting the best out of requirements Arguably the biggest responsibility for the business analyst, requirements gathering can provide invaluable information and direction for the project. This masterclass will go over some tried and true methods for requirement elicitation and the process for defining and prioritising. • Ensuring requirements gathered are relevant to the business and the end goals • Functional vs non-functional requirements and their different uses • Translating requirements into technical documentation Ainsley Haslett, Business Analyst, NZ Super Fund 12.25 Lunch 1.25 Software development lifecycles and the BA While the software development lifecycle can vary from company to company and from methodology to methodology, there are activities which bear similarities across the board. • What is the software development lifecycle? Examining the phases • Understanding the responsibilities of the BA in the development lifecycle • Methods of software development including Agile and Waterfall Blair Loveday, Business Design Practices Director, & David Morris, Agile Practices Director, Optimation 2.25 Afternoon break and refreshments 2.45 Masterclass: User Acceptance Testing Now that the requirements have been defined and the development is well underway, User Acceptance Testing or UAT, is conducted to ensure the specifications are reached and requirements covered. This masterclass will cover the process involved with this • Before UAT – fixing cosmetic and minor bugs prior to UAT • Preparing for UAT and deciding the structure for the process • Involving a subject matter expert to ensure requirements have been attained • Checking results against requirement documents Peter Smeaton, Principal Consultant, Equinox Case Study: Writing requirements that matter It’s easy to talk to stakeholders, fill in the requirements template and call it a job done; but it’s a lot more difficult to capture what’s important and write requirements which are easy to read. Using examples from working within a user centred design team developing both physical and digital deliverables this session takes you through identifying what’s important and how to present it. • Making the most of the time you have by going straight to the coal face using observations, prototyping, walkthroughs and discussion groups • Getting to why – techniques which help you dig out the good stuff, getting beyond the current world into what’s possible • Writing for your audience, how to identify what will work, with examples including writing for diverse groups Penny Buckmaster, Interaction Design Manager, Kiwibank Morning break and refreshments 4.15 Closing remarks from the Chair and close of Conference How to Make Requirements Work in Your Project 25 July 2013, 1.30 – 5.00 Regardless of which process methodology you use, process modelling is a key component of good requirements elicitation and analysis. This workshop will cover practical and effective uses of process modelling that support BA activities and will gain buy-in from your stakeholders. High quality requirements are the foundation of successful projects and conversely, poor requirements are the most commonly reported reason for project failure. This workshop will cover common challenges BAs face to producing quality requirements, how to overcome these and a multitude of practical, best practice advice for junior to intermediate BAs. • Where and when to use process modelling • Customising process modelling for your business / stakeholders • How to use process modelling to drive requirements elicitation and analysis • Process improvement – adding value to the project • How to influence project initiation for the benefit of requirements analysis • Requirements elicitation challenges and solutions • Analysis: How to do it and when to stop • Stakeholder management and communication • Producing analysis deliverables that will help the project succeed Facilitator: Andrew McNaughton Andrew is an independent Business Analyst, Facilitator and Consultant. Coming from a science background, he spent 10 years honing his skills in Telecommunications before going freelance. Andrew has worked with organisations large and small across sectors such as Telecommunications, Health Sector and Software Development. He is currently a Senior Business Analyst (contract) for Southern Cross Healthcare and a facilitator with Bright*Star developing and delivering Business Analysis training. Copyright Brochure Code: CG040 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 09 912 3616 www.conferenz.co.nz/ba [email protected] SUPERSAVER EARLYBIRD REGISTER & PAY BEFORE 5PM 21 May 2013 REGISTER & PAY BEFORE 5PM 25 June 2013 03 LAST MINUTE REGISTER & PAY AFTER 5PM 25 June 2013 Conference $2095 +GST SAVE $400 $2295 +GST SAVE $200 $2495 +GST Each Workshop $595 +GST SAVE $200 $695 +GST SAVE $100 $795 +GST Add a second delegate to the conference for only HOW TO PAY DIRECT CREDIT Direct credit to our bank account (please supply details of remittance) ACCOUNT NAME: Conferenz Ltd ACCOUNT NUMBER: 06-0273-0228588-25 CREDIT CARD We accept most major credit cards. Please contact our office directly on (09) 912 3616 if you wish to use this method of payment, or register online for this event at www.conferenz.co.nz A 2% surcharge will be added to credit card payments © 2013 Conferenz Ltd $995+GST Conference Only: Registrations must be from the same organisation, and made at the same time. WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE TO CANCEL? YOU HAVE SEVERAL OPTIONS: • Send a substitute delegate in your place • Confirm your cancellation in writing (letter, fax or email) at least ten working days prior to the event and receive a refund less a $300+GST service charge per registrant. Regrettably, no refunds can be made for cancellations received after this date. PLEASE NOTE: Conferenz Ltd reserves the right to make any amendments that we may deem to be in the best interest of the conference. GST.No. 66-938-654 CONTACT US Phone: (09) 912 3616 | Internet: www.conferenz.co.nz | Email: [email protected] Mail: Conferenz Ltd, Freepost 83430, PO Box 31 506 Auckland 0741