Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although business analysis has been around for a number of years, it is still seen as an emerging
field. There are various efforts underway to formalise the business analysis practice. For example,
the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®) is widely accepted as setting the standards
for the business analysis practice as well as raising the profile of the role. The IIBA first published
their Business Analysis Body of Knowledge guide (BABOK®) in 2006 and extensively revised it in
2009. The IIBA offer two certifications based on this guide. Besides the IIBA certifications, there
are also other business analysis and requirements engineering certifications available to South
Africans. However, these are not all that well known locally and collectively the number of certified
business analysts is very low.
The success rate of software projects to date has been relatively poor to say the least. Business
analysis is a critical component to the success of software development. One would expect that
business analysts would welcome the opportunity to be certified in their profession and contribute
to increasing the overall project success rate. However, in South Africa the low number of IIBA
certified business analysts suggests otherwise. There also appears to be very little pressure or
even encouragement from employers of business analysts to pursue certification.
Besides improving software project success, there is growing opinion and literature asserting the
view that business analysts will be playing an ever-increasing strategic role from what should be a
professional function. To enable this strategic role, business analysts are required to have the
necessary experience, skill and ideally certification.
This research report sought to uncover the reasons behind so few business analysts taking up
certification. Over and above the reasons for the low uptake, this research report also aimed to
assess the business analyst’s and the employer’s attitude towards certification and the business
analysis profession. Collectively this led to a high-level assessment of the maturity of business
analysis from a practitioner’s point of view.
As part of this research report, a survey was conducted amongst practicing business analysts
across industries within South Africa. Additional research was undertaken with a select number of
senior leaders and executives in business to understand the organisational view of business
analysis certification.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/97345 |
| Date | 04 1900 |
| Creators | Maritz, Eugene |
| Contributors | Burger, A., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Graduate School of Business. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xi, 94 pages |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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