Adaptive approach An approach where the solution evolves based on a cycle of learning and discovery, with feedback loops which encourage making decisions as late as possible.1
Agile A set of adaptive approaches often aligned with the principles of the Agile Manifesto (Beck et al. 2001).
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT BCS is the leading international professional body for the IT industry with over 70,000 members. BCS is responsible for setting standards for the IT profession and advises and informs industry and government on successful IT implementation.2
Business analysis An advisory role which has the responsibility for investigating and analysing business situations, identifying and evaluating options for improving business systems, elaborating and defining requirements, and ensuring the effective implementation and use of information systems in line with the needs of the business.2
Business analyst A practitioner who specialises in undertaking business analysis.
Business case A document that describes the findings from a business analysis study and presents a recommended course of action for senior management to consider.2
Business process A linked set of tasks performed by a business in response to a business event. The business process receives, manipulates and transfers information or physical items, in order to produce an output of value to a customer.2
Curriculum vitae A succinct document detailing an individual’s work experience, qualifications, certifications and other relevant information. Typically used when applying for a job.
Elicitation Iterative derivation and extraction of information from stakeholders or other sources.1
Holistic approach The consideration of all aspects of a business system and their interactions. This incorporates the people, process and organisational areas, in addition to the information and technology used to support the business system.2
Information system (IS) A system or systems, whether automated or manual, which is concerned with the storage, retrieval or other processing of information.
International Institute of Business Analysis™ (IIBA®) A global professional association with over 29,000 members that represents the business analysis profession. IIBA®’s global core purpose is ‘to unite a community of professionals to create better business outcomes’ (International Institute of Business Analysis n.d.).
Predictive approach An approach where planning and baselines are established early in the lifecycle of the initiative in order to maximise control and minimise risk.1
Requirement A usable representation of a need.1
Requirements management The ongoing management, maintenance and tracing of requirements from the moment the requirement is elicited until the solution(s) that fulfil the requirement are retired or decommissioned and the requirement is no longer needed.
Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) The Skills Framework for the Information Age describes skills required by professionals in roles involved in information and communication technologies, digital transformation and software engineering.3
Stakeholder A group or individual with a relationship to the change, the need, or the solution.1
Subject matter expertise Detailed specialist knowledge of specific subject matter within a domain. This can include functional and technical knowledge.
T-shaped Describes individuals who possess not only deep expertise in their specialist area but also a broad appreciation of other disciplines, allowing them to collaborate well with other specialists across functional boundaries.
Waterfall A specific type of predictive approach.
1 Definitions quoted from International Institute of Business Analysis (2015).
2 Definitions quoted from Paul, Cadle and Yeates (2014).
3 Definitions quoted from SFIA Foundation (2018).