Starting Out in Business Analysis? Dive Into These Helpful Resources
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect the perspectives of IIBA.
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If you’re new to business analysis or just need some help on a given topic, IIBA’s KnowledgeHub is a valuable resource to guide you on your career journey. It’s your one-stop shop for how-to business analysis content created and curated by IIBA and experienced practitioners.
Exclusively for IIBA members, the KnowledgeHub is an online platform that offers actionable business analysis content. It provides access to essential resources like A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK Guide), The Business Analysis Standard, and the Agile Extension to the BABOK Guide.
The platform includes community-driven content such as "how do I" scenarios, videos, tips, tools, and templates that are relevant to your everyday business analysis practices. It also features predictive search functionality so you can quickly find downloadable tools, templates, and task cards.
If this all sounds new to you, don't worry! In this article we’ll explore all the ways the KnowledgeHub helps you thrive as a business analysis professional—and how you can start taking advantage today.
A Mountain of Resources
We get it. You thought your days of scouring textbooks (or PDFs) for information were over after school, and they should be. That’s why we wanted to put all the resources you need as a professional in one easy-to-access location. With the KnowledgeHub, those days are well and truly behind you. Get access to the BABOK Guide—the global standard for the practice of business analysis—in seconds, simply by typing in the term or technique you want to learn more about. There’s also the Glossary section of the website, for when you need a quick refresher on a concept or technique.
Need to find something in The Business Analysis Standard or the Agile Extension to the BABOK Guide? No sweat. Both (and more) are searchable with a single click, as you can filter your search by resource type, topic, or guide. Below you can see filter options for a search of “requirements engineering,” for example:
If you’re the type of person who prefers a handy checklist, a dazzling infographic, or informative task cards, we have those too! Download them to your computer for easy reference the next time you need them.
Learn in a way that suits you best with a wide variety of downloadable tools and templates. These include how to run a customer journey workshop virtually, a fillable persona template, a roles and permission matrix, and much, much more.
All these features aim to empower you as a business analysis professional to advance your career and contribute to the field in your own unique way. Save time and effort while becoming better at what you do. It’s a win-win (and a no-brainer).
Learn from Experts in Real Time
The KnowledgeHub contains valuable community-driven content, such as “how do I” scenarios contributed by leading business analysis professionals. These include capturing key requirements, understanding business processes, identifying needs, and describing user-system interactions.Let’s say you’d like to know when to verify requirements and when to validate them. Rather than poring over several different PDFs and combining your notes, go to the KnowledgeHub where you’ll find everything you need on the topic.
All you have to do is type “verify requirements” into the platform’s search bar and you’ll see several search results, one of which is under the heading “Scenarios.” This leads to the “How Do I” page below, which contains a 15-minute video along with several tips, tools, and templates related to the topic:
Here, experienced business analysis professional George Sioutzos walks you through the process, explaining the different criteria distinguishing the two techniques. On the sidebar, you’ll also find various resources on related topics.
But there’s also an entire section of the platform devoted to scenarios that you can search through, in addition to sections for glossary and tasks. Each entry offers one or more videos on the topic, in addition to related tips, tools, and templates.
The content in the KnowledgeHub is driven by a community of business analysis professionals who want to support professionals like you on their career journey. Best of all, it’s knowledge you can apply directly to your work.
AI-Powered Navigation
The great news is that accessing everything the KnowledgeHub has to offer just got easier, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI).New to the platform is an AI assistant, designed to provide quick, relevant responses to business analysis queries. The assistant is a chat interface specifically trained on business analysis content developed by IIBA and community subject matter experts.
The AI assistant aims to improve your efficiency and decision-making by providing quick and accurate information. Here’s what it brings to the platform:
- Trusted expertise. The AI assistant’s knowledge base is sourced directly from IIBA standards and curated assets, ensuring responses align with best practices.
- An intuitive interface. The citations section, links to sources, glossary definitions, and a user-friendly interface make it easy for members to get the information they need quickly.
- Continuous learning. The AI assistant is designed to evolve and adapt alongside business analysis. Regular updates to the KnowledgeHub will ensure it remains a reliable and up-to-date resource for business analysis professionals.
What Are You Waiting for?
Don’t wait a minute more to start beefing up your business analysis skills. Get going today with a few clicks and see what the KnowledgeHub can do for your career.The KnowledgeHub was created to make your life easier, allowing you to focus much of your business analysis work where it matters most: driving better business outcomes and using your analysis skills to deliver value to organizations and enable change.
On your path to becoming a successful business analysis professional, the KnowledgeHub is your valuable compass. Don’t move forward without it.
For a limited time, enjoy a free seven-day trial of the KnowledgeHub. To gain exclusive access, join IIBA today and start experiencing all the benefits.
About the Author
Tiffani Iacolino is a Senior Manager, Product Marketing at IIBA and has 15+ years of marketing experience across the legal, technology, telecommunications, publishing, media, and professional services industries. She’s passionate about delivering meaningful products and solutions to the business analysis community. Hailing from the Greater Toronto Area, she enjoys an amazing cup of coffee, running, and yoga—between chasing her two adorable children!
