I would like to thank the following people:

BCS for commissioning this book, especially the head of publications at the time, Matthew Flynn, for his patience when we had to re-plan due to a series of life events arriving at my door during 2014.

For assisting with content, editorial and proof reading, Steve Smith, senior BA, Peter Durnford, Brian Wernham, Shelli Stone and Roy Cooper.

For discussions on agile methods in business analysis, Brian Wernham and Steve Messenger.

I am particularly grateful for contributions from business analyst (BA) colleagues and fellow NLP trainers: Richard Allen CBAP, currently principal BA in front office functions for one of the major banks, and Corrine Thomas, director of the IIBA’s UK chapter and director of the BA Manager Forum.

Thanks also to various NLP trainers and associates who have helped me on my journey to date in addition to those above, especially Joe Orchard, Roy Cooper, Michael Beale, John Seymore, Ariel Essex, Paul Mathews, Chuck Spezzano and the grand wizard himself, Anthony Robbins.

I am honoured to have a foreword provided by Dot Tudor, Fellow of the BCS, who has worked to develop the International Business Analysis Diploma and Solution Development Diploma and is an accredited examination provider for these.

Most of all I would like to thank the numerous people who have entrusted professional development to me and helped me to gain a deeper understanding of the topic and myself along the way.