This document provides an introduction to business data analytics (BDA) and the corresponding certification (CBDA) from the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). The session will define BDA, explore BDA perspectives and the BDA cycle, discuss the objectives of BDA and how it compares to business analysis, and cover IIBA's six BDA domains and tasks. Information on the CBDA certification can be found in IIBA's Guide to BDA.

2. BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS
IIBA UK Study Group
Sam Merrick CBAP, AAC, CBDA, CCA
Lead Business Analyst, Shell Energy
Director, IIBA UK
18 May 2020

3. To provide you with an introduction to IIBA’s Business Data Analytics (BDA)
and the corresponding certification (CBDA).
This session will be fast-paced, collaborative and cover the following areas:
- BDA Definition
- BDA Perspectives
- The BDA Cycle
- Objectives of BDA
- BDA vs Business Analysis
- IIBA’s 6 BDA Domains & their corresponding tasks
- CBDA information and where to find the IIBA’s Guide to BDA
OBJECTIVES

4. WHAT IS BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS?
Business data analytics is a specific set of
techniques, competencies, and practices
applied to perform
continuous exploration, investigation, and visualization
of business data.
The desired outcome of a business data analytics initiative is to
obtain insights that can lead to improved decision-making.
Business data analytics can be applied
to investigate a proposed business decision, action, or a hypothesis,
or
to discover new insights from business data that may result in improved
decision-making.

5. HOW CAN BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS BE APPLIED?
Business data analytics can be defined more specifically through
several perspectives. These perspectives include, but are not limited
to, business data analytics as a:
• movement,
• capability,
• data-centric activity set,
• decision-making paradigm, and
• set of practices and technologies.

6. WHAT IS THE BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS CYCLE?
The business data analytics cycle represents the research aspects of
business analytics. It is an iterative cycle initiated through the
development of a well-formed research question and then explored
through targeted but thorough data analysis.

7. WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS?
The objective of business data analytics is to explore and investigate
business problems or opportunities through a course of scientific inquiry.
The specific outcomes of business data analytics are dependent on the type
of analysis and inquiry that is being performed.
There are four types of analytics methods:
• DESCRIPTIVE
• DIAGNOSTIC
• PREDICTIVE
• PRESCRIPTIVE

8. BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS OR BUSINESS ANALYSIS?
As data and analytics disciplines, such as business intelligence, data
analysis, data science, and business analytics, evolved they have all
leveraged business analysis practices. However, significant differences exist
between business analysis and analytics disciplines in terms of objective
and overall approach.

9. HOW IS BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS PRACTISED?
Business Data Analytics Domains and Tasks presents the practices and activities that are commonly
considered business data analytics work. Emphasis is placed on identifying areas where business
analysis skills are important to perform the business data analytics tasks and not on identifying the
job title that would take responsibility for performing the work.
Business data analytics responsibilities can be assigned in a variety of ways and should be delegated
to the resources having the best skill set to complete the work, regardless of their job title. While
many of the tasks can be performed by those with the title business analyst, on an analytics
initiative, anyone with business analysis skills from business analysts, data analysts, data scientists,
business architects, and business subject matter experts (SMEs) may complete the work.
The tasks are grouped and presented in the context of six business data analytics domains:
1. Identify the Research Questions,
2. Source Data,
3. Analyze Data,
4. Interpret and Report Results,
5. Use Results to Influence Business Decision-Making, and
6. Guide Organizational-Level Strategy for Business Data Analytics.

10. WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
IIBA has published a “Guide to Business Data Analytics” which covers some elements of this session as
an introduction and explores the tasks within each domain, along with case studies and techniques
for Business Data Analytics. It’s available via their store or through membership at iiba.org
This content forms the basis, along with active experience, for IIBA’s Certification in Business Data
Analytics. Information, handbooks and FAQs for this certification can be found at iiba.org

11. To provide you with an introduction to IIBA’s Business Data Analytics (BDA)
and the corresponding certification (CBDA).
This session will be fast-paced, collaborative and cover the following areas:
- BDA Definition
- BDA Perspectives
- The BDA Cycle
- Objectives of BDA
- BDA vs Business Analysis
- IIBA’s 6 BDA Domains & their corresponding tasks
- CBDA information and where to find the IIBA’s Guide to BDA
RECAP

12. BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS
IIBA UK Study Group
Sam Merrick CBAP, AAC, CBDA, CCA
Lead Business Analyst, Shell Energy
Director, IIBA UK
18 May 2020