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Exam Information
Official specifications published by BCS
Exam Format
60 min
40
26/40
Practitioner
Registration
BCS Online Proctored, Pearson VUE, or online proctoring
Validity
No expiry (certificate does not expire)
PC-BA-BAP Exam Topics and Domains
PC-BA-BAP is organized into 6 weighted domains.
1
Strategic Context for Business Analysis
20%
Explain the purpose of an organisation's vision
Defines target statePurpose and direction
- A vision is a statement that defines the ideal state for the organisation.
- The organisation's vision exists to provide clarity on their purpose and reason for existing.
- The mission provides guidance on how the organisation should run and can assist with current and future planning.
- Both should be used to inform project objectives and strategy.
Apply a suitable technique to analyse the internal environment of an organisation
VMOSTResource audit
- VMOST stands for Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategy and Tactics.
- Resource audit can be applied by considering and analysing resource types: Physical, Financial, Human, Know-how and Reputation.
- These techniques may be applied to analyse the strengths and weaknesses which exist internally in an organisation.
Apply a suitable technique to analyse the external environment of an organisation
Porter's Five ForcesPESTLE
- Porter's Five Forces and PESTLE can be used to analyse the opportunities and threats for an organisation.
- Porter's Five Forces: Threat of new entrants, bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, threat of substitute products, and industry competitors.
- PESTLE: Political, Economic, Socio-cultural, Technological, Legal and Environmental factors.
Analyse a given scenario and apply SWOT analysis
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threatsInternal and external analysis
- A SWOT analysis is used to analyse the current state of both the internal and external organisational environment.
- Identifying the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats helps the analyst understand the strategic context.
- Candidates should expect to prepare a SWOT analysis by identifying and allocating entries into appropriate fields on a two-by-two matrix.
Apply tools to measure performance
Balanced scorecard (BSC)Critical success factors (CSFs)Key performance indicators (KPIs)Targets
- Performance measurement tools are used to establish how an organisation is performing in its current state, against the organisation's objectives and strategy.
- Balanced scorecard (BSC) is made up of four performance areas: financial, internal business process, learning and growth, and customer.
2
Analysing and Managing Stakeholders
20%
Explain the activities required to engage stakeholders
Identify stakeholdersChallenge and inform stakeholdersNegotiate stakeholder conflictsEngage with stakeholdersWritten and verbal communicationSupport stakeholders and facilitate meetings and record outputs
- A Business Analyst can provide value by supporting business change through effective and sustainable stakeholder collaboration, communication, and effective stakeholder relationship management.
- Stakeholder engagement comprises collaboration, emotional intelligence and cultural awareness.
Analyse a given scenario and identify stakeholder categories using the stakeholder wheel
PartnersSuppliersRegulatorsEmployeesManagersOwnersCompetitorsCustomers
- Identifying stakeholders is a key first step in stakeholder management.
- The stakeholder wheel can be used to appropriately categorise stakeholders.
- Candidates should be able to recognise descriptions of stakeholders and the relevant categories.
Apply CATWOE to analyse stakeholder perspectives and identify similarities and differences
CustomersActorsTransformationWorld viewOwnerEnvironment
- When implementing change, the business analyst may understand stakeholder differences by defining and analysing each CATWOE element.
- Individual stakeholder perspectives may vary due to their world view.
- A CATWOE can be used to uncover areas of disagreement and encourage stakeholders to analyse their own differences.
Analyse a given scenario and map stakeholders using the power/interest grid
Power/interest grid
- The power/interest grid is a stakeholder analysis tool used to map stakeholders according to their level of interest and the amount of power or influence they have.
- Each stakeholder should be plotted using one of nine possible combinations of interest (low, some, high) and power (low, some, high).
Analyse a given scenario and apply appropriate stakeholder management strategies
Stakeholder management strategiesRACI
- Based on the Power and Interest grid, stakeholders require different management strategies.
- RACI charts may be used to understand how the level of involvement from a stakeholder differs at each project stage.
3
Analysing the Current State
15%
Analyse a given scenario and identify suitable methods to research the business situation
Background research
- To establish the current state, research should be completed into the organisation's performance, structure and ways of working.
- This information may be sourced from websites, company reports or internal documentation.
Analyse a given scenario and identify a suitable quantitative or qualitative investigation technique
InterviewsWorkshopsObservationDocument analysisScenario analysisSurveys/questionnairesData analysis
- All investigation techniques can be classed as either quantitative or qualitative.
- Candidates should recognise when a situation requires either or both types of technique.
- From this, be able to select a technique which is most suitable to a given circumstance.
Identify advantages and disadvantages of the different investigation techniques
Environment factorsProject factors
- There are advantages and disadvantages to using any given investigation technique.
- Advantages and disadvantages can be dependent on the size of domain, location, number of stakeholders, and nature of the information being investigated.
Apply tools to represent the current business situation
Customer journey mapsRich picturesEmpathy mapsMind maps
- Customer journey maps and empathy maps specifically show a process from the customer's perspective.
- Both can be used in conjunction with user roles and personas.
- Rich pictures and mind maps are useful in offering a visual representation of a whole solution.
- Candidates can expect to be examined on the application of these tools.
4
Establishing the Target State
15%
Analyse a given scenario and identify aspects of a business activity model
How to construct a BAMWhat, not how
- A business activity model (BAM) is used to model activity, from a specific stakeholder perspective.
- Multiple BAMs are likely to be created to represent all stakeholder perspectives.
- BAMs will be used alongside target operating models (TOMs) and gap analysis to establish a view of the target state.
Identify the five activities included in a BAM
PlanningEnablingDoingMonitoringControlling
- Within a BAM, there are five categories of activity: Planning, Enabling, Doing, Monitoring, and Controlling.
- Candidates should expect to be examined on the use of these five categories by identifying which activities align with which category.
Explain the need for a consensus BAM
Stakeholder buy-inAgreed perspective
- Multiple BAMs are created initially, with the objective being to create one consensus BAM which all stakeholders find agreeable.
- This consensus BAM is a single model of what the business activity should look like and is a key part of stakeholder buy-in and engagement.
Explain the three types of business event
Internal eventsExternal eventsTime-based events
- When modelling a business process, three types of event should be recorded: internal, external, and time-based.
- Internal: things which happen inside the business. External: things which happen outside. Time-based: events which occur with advance warning or regular frequency.
Explain the use of a target operating model (TOM)
POPIT modelGap analysis with TOM
- A target operating model (TOM) is created to show how a business should be operating to achieve their target state.
- The POPIT model (People, Organisation, Process, Information and Technology) is often used as a basis for creating a TOM.
- By establishing the TOM, gap analysis can then be used to compare the current and target state.
5
Designing and Defining the Solution
15%
Analyse a given scenario and identify the stages of Design Thinking
EmpathiseDefineIdeatePrototypeEvaluateCreate
- Design Thinking is an iterative way of identifying, exploring and testing solutions, while focusing on the customer need.
- Candidates should expect to be examined on the stages of Design Thinking and the techniques used within them.
Describe the use of divergent and convergent thinking
Double Diamond model
- The Double Diamond model of 'discover, define, develop, deliver' uses the concepts of divergent and convergent thinking.
- Divergent thinking: all ideas are considered. Convergent thinking: ideas are refined.
- The model represents divergent and convergent thinking at two key points: when defining the challenge and when developing the solution.
Explain the process of gap analysis
Comparing current and target stateDeveloping options and process
- Gap analysis is used to identify differences between the current and target state.
- Comparing tools and models such as rich pictures (current state) and TOM (target state).
- Where gaps are identified, the analyst should explore options to address these gaps.
Analyse a given scenario and identify the different areas of feasibility
Business feasibilityTechnical feasibilityFinancial feasibility
- Feasibility is important when considering a solution, with three key areas: Business, Technical, and Financial.
- Business: does the proposed solution align with the business strategy and objectives?
- Technical: does the technology exist and is it available?
- Financial: can the organisation afford to fund the solution?
6
Developing a Business Case
15%
Explain the rationale for the development of a business case
Purpose and use
- A business case is created only after investigation into potential solutions has taken place, but before any commitment is made to a solution.
- The purpose of a business case is to present multiple courses of action to the decision maker and make recommendations.
Analyse a given scenario and identify the contents of a business case
IntroductionManagement summaryDescription of current stateOptions consideredRecommendation
- A business case should contain: Introduction, Management summary, Description of current state, Options considered (with cost-benefit analysis, impact assessment, risk assessment), and Recommendation.
- A project sponsor will often appear on a business case to support the project.
Identify tangible and intangible costs and benefits
Cost benefit analysis
- The costs and benefits of a solution can be categorised as tangible or intangible.
- Tangible means measurable or verifiable.
- Candidates can expect to be examined on the types of costs and benefits and whether they would be categorised as tangible or otherwise.
Identify risks and their potential impact
Types of riskRisk analysisRisk management strategies
- Risks must be included for options presented in the business case.
- These risks should be analysed with probability, impact, countermeasures and owner recorded as part of the risk assessment.
Analyse a given scenario and explain the use of appraisal techniques
PaybackDiscounted cash flow and net present value
- A payback calculation shows the costs of the solution and the financial benefits over time.
- Discounted cash flow addresses the time value of money.
- Net present value uses discounted cash flow to discount future monies back to today's values.
Relate the business case to the business change lifecycle
The business change lifecycle
- The business case is central in the business change lifecycle.
- The five stages: alignment, definition, design and development, implementation, and realisation all feed into the business case.
- The contents of the business case will impact the activity at each stage.
How do I earn this certification?
Passing PC-BA-BAP earns the BCS Practitioner Certificate in Business Analysis Practice certification. It sits in the Business Analysis track.
Current Level Exams
- PC-BA-RE - Practitioner Certificate in Requirements Engineering
- PC-BA-MBP - Practitioner Certificate in Modelling Business Processes
- PC-BA-BMBA - Practitioner Certificate in Benefits Management and Business Acceptance
- PC-BA-DME - Practitioner Certificate in Data Management Essentials
- PC-SD-SMT - Practitioner Certificate in Systems Modelling Techniques
- PC-SD-SDE - Practitioner Certificate in Systems Development Essentials
Next Level Options
Alternative Paths
- PC-BA-ABA - BCS Professional Certificate in Agile Business AnalysisFor analysts working in Agile environments
- PC-BA-BASD - BCS Professional Certificate in Business Analysis Service Delivery For service delivery focused business analysts
- PC-BA-ARE - BCS Professional Certificate in Advanced Requirements EngineeringFor advanced requirements engineering skills
- PC-BA-BArch - BCS Professional Certificate in Business Architecture For enterprise and business architecture focus
- PC-BA-DA - BCS Professional Certificate in Data Analysis For data analysis specialisation
Practice with Precision
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The most effective way to prepare for PC-BA-BAP is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2024-05-01
Updates
- Design Thinking Design Thinking stages (Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Evaluate, Create) are tested in Domain 5
- Double Diamond Model Divergent and convergent thinking concepts tested in Domain 5
- Customer Journey Mapping Added as a tool for representing the current business situation in Domain 3
- Empathy Maps Added as a tool for customer perspective analysis in Domain 3
Who should take this exam?
This exam is typically taken by Business Analyst and Business Architect.
- Practical experience of business analysis
- Understanding of chapters 1 and 2 of Business Analysis 4th Edition
- BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis (recommended but not required)
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