Agile and Business Analysis (Girvan, L., Paul, D.) was published in 2017 by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. This book will be reviewed by two academics (Hind Zantout and Mohammad Hamdan) and the key strengths and weaknesses presented. It is anticipated that a reviewer from industry will join the presenters and contribute the view from industry.

1. Book Review Panel Session:
Agile & Business Analysis
Lynda Girvan and Debra Paul
(BCS Publishing, February 2017)

2. Participants and their interest
• Rene Rasmussen (Software Development?)
• Dr. Mohamed Salama (Project Management)
• Dr. Taha El-Hag (Construction Project Management)
• Dr. Hind Zantout (Software Development)

3. bcs The Chartered Institute for IT
Relevant Publications:
Agile Foundations
Agile Testing Foundations
Business Analysis
Business Analysis Techniques
Book claims to bridge the gap between Agile and
Business Analysis

4. General comments
• A very easy read, clearly written
• A good overview of topics
• Some repetition (but that is in fact good for readers
new to the topic, reinforcing concepts)
• Relevant short examples are worked through

5. General comments (cont’d)
• Lots of overlapping references for the chapters
• Addresses underlying Agile theory, but the
emphasis is on practical application (good for
practitioners)
• A summary of the many abbreviations used at the
beginning of the book would be good

6. From authors’ own presentation http://www.bcs.org/content/conEvent/11149
•Book Focus
•How can Business Analysis help agile
projects
•How can Agile help business analysts?

7. From authors’ own presentation http://www.bcs.org/content/conEvent/11149
An Agile Analyst must combine several
approaches

8. From authors’ own presentation http://www.bcs.org/content/conEvent/11149
Lots of Thinking in the Book:
Business Thinking
Systems Thinking ?
Service Thinking ?
Lean Thinking ?
But what about
Creative Thinking?
Innovative Thinking?

9. https://rachmat69.deviantart.com/art/Grafik-Fifth-Discipline-410406242
Systems Thinking
See the whole
See patterns of change
Understand
interconectedness

10. https://www.slideshare.net/AnaCristinaGarcia1/service-thinking-cases-consolidated-v6-24033149
Service Thinking
(to accommodate move to service-dominant economy)
Six Principles
Co-creation (empower employees)
Service System (new interactions)
Components (hotspots?)
Platform (Global, Mobile, Social)
Run-Transform-Innovate (Continuous improvement)
Multi-sided metrics (new KPIs)

11. https://www.pmtrainingclass.com/lean-thinking/
Lean Thinking

12. From authors’ own presentation http://www.bcs.org/content/conEvent/11149
Three Levels of Business Analysis
Enterprise
Programme
Project

13. From authors’ own presentation http://www.bcs.org/content/conEvent/11149
Enterprise Business Analysis Context

14. From authors’ own presentation http://www.bcs.org/content/conEvent/11149
Goal versus Functional Decomposition
“As an Entrepreneur I want to open a café so I can make
money” Which is which?

15. From authors’ own presentation http://www.bcs.org/content/conEvent/11149
Use Cockburn’s Level of Goals
Cloud (High Summary)
Kite (High Summary)
Sea (User Goal)
Fish (Sub-goal)

16. Authors’ Topics Summary
•The Agile philosophy
•Business analysis thinking
•Modelling the Business
•Prioritisation
•Goal decomposition
•Iterative and incremental
•System/user modelling

17. SPONSORS & PARTNERS