All organisations need to respond to the challenges within today's highly competitive global economy. Business analysts are at the forefront of these responses, enabling the development of practical, creative and financially sound solutions that address business problems and grasp new opportunities. The fourth edition of this bestselling publication provides comprehensive guidance for business analysts, encompassing the essential concepts, frameworks and techniques needed to provide professional business analysis services. Key topics covered include the strategic context, investigating business situations, managing stakeholders, improving processes and defining requirements. New topics in this edition include the service view of business analysis, the strategic context and enterprise architecture, customer experience analysis and design thinking.

Business analysis is about identifying business needs and formulating workable solutions to business problems. It requires the widest possible array of tools and the professional ability to use each one when and where it is needed. This new edition provides a comprehensive single source of 123 business analysis techniques, offering practical guidance on how and when to apply them within a clear BA service framework. This book complements Business Analysis, also published by BCS.

All professionals need strong interpersonal skills as they are a fundamental requirement in any business environment. The importance of these skills cannot be overstated in today's business world particularly in the light of current economic conditions. Numerous books cover interpersonal skills, but none specifically address their application within professional job roles, in particular those within the IT industry. This book fills that gap, providing guidance on all of the key skills and forming a comprehensive reference manual that will be relevant to a huge variety of situations. Topics include: building rapport; team working; leadership; negotiation; written communication; managing conflict; presentation skills; coaching and mentoring; problem solving.

Business analysis (BA) is an important business operation, and with some coordinated effort, it can become an efficient and valuable business service. This book takes you through the creation and management of a BA service, from setting strategy to recruiting business analysts, to continuous improvement, through to useful supporting tools and technology. Top tips, case studies and worked examples are included throughout.

Systems development is the process of creating and maintaining information systems, including hardware, software, data, procedures and people. It combines technical expertise with business knowledge and management skill. This practical book provides a comprehensive introduction to the topic and can also be used as a handy reference guide. It discusses key elements of systems development and is the only textbook that supports the BCS Certificate in Systems Development.

Adopting an Agile approach can revolutionize the way business analysts work. It enables clearer vision and success measure definitions, better stakeholder engagement and a greater understanding of customer needs, amongst other benefits. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to Agile methodologies and explains these in the context of business analysis. It is ideal for business analysts wanting to learn Agile practices, working in an Agile environment, or undertaking Agile certifications.