Agile Business Analyst certification (AgileBA)

The AgileBA (Agile Business Analyst) certification scheme was developed by the Agile Business Consortium in partnership with APMG International to equip professionals with the skills needed for proficiency as a business analyst on agile projects.

Business analyst role

In the past, the typical responsibilities of a business analyst on projects included examining an organisation’s business requirements and designing remedies for business issues.

Business analysts usually function at various tiers within an organisation, with the potential to serve as a business architect at the strategic level, creating a vision, mission, and goals. They may also be involved at the operational level by contributing to the definition of work programs in which solution development initiatives are undertaken.

You will often find a business analyst involved in:

• Strategy analysis
• Modelling business capability
• Mapping processes to value streams
• Mapping skills to competencies
• Re-engineering business processes
• Data definition
• Liaising with stakeholders
• Requirements engineering
• Defining cost-effective business solutions.

Agile business analyst role

The adoption of Agile methodologies significantly alters the responsibilities of business analysts, necessitating a shift in both their skill set and work methods. While prior expertise remains useful, embracing the advantages of Agile methodologies demands the acquisition of novel proficiencies and techniques, including:

• Collaborating with customers in a cooperative manner.
• Prioritizing early delivery of incremental value.
• Recognizing that not all aspects can be comprehended from the outset but can be understood as work progresses.
• Defining specifics only when necessary.
• Empowering individuals to make decisions at the appropriate level.

AgileBA Handbook

AgileBA training programs rely on the AgileBA Handbook, which is published by the Agile Business Consortium, an independent professional association committed to enhancing business agility through a defined set of professional standards and methods.

Established in 1994, the Agile Business Consortium was established to foster innovative, new agile practices and played a key role in driving the expanding popularity of agile methods.

With a long-standing collaboration with APMG, the Consortium has certified over 200,000 agile practitioners globally in a variety of certifications, including DSDM, AgilePM®, AgilePgM®, AgileBA®, AgilePfM, and AgileDS™ and is recognized as one of the leading names in Agile certification.

Note: AgilePgM® and AgilePfM® are registered trademarks of Agile Business Consortium Limited. All rights reserved. AgileDS™ is a trademark of Agile Business Consortium Limited. All rights reserved.

Organisations

The adoption of Agile Business Analyst guidance yields several benefits, including:

1. Standardized execution of agile projects: AgileBA provides organisations with a uniform approach to implementing agile projects by aligning its methodology with Agile Project Management (AgilePM) and Agile Programme Management (AgilePgM).
2. Increased understanding of the agile business analyst role: Both traditional project managers (who also handle business analysis responsibilities) and Scrum developers gain an understanding of the agile business analyst role and methodologies through AgileBA training.
3. Fulfilling the business analyst gap in Scrum teams: AgileBA addresses the absence of a defined business analyst role on Scrum teams, providing a business analyst perspective to the team.
4. Enhancement of Scrum Product Owners’ skills: Scrum Product Owners can benefit from the Agile development skills that are taught on AgileBA courses.

Individuals

Applying the Agile Business Analyst guidance provides these benefits to individuals:

1. Equips agile business analysts with the necessary tools to implement Agile methodologies effectively.
2. Offers direction on prioritizing focus and value delivery, as well as guidelines for collaborating with business stakeholders, developers, testers, and outlining the necessary proficiencies to provide solutions incrementally.
3. Provides business analysts with techniques to integrate Agile methodologies into a programme and to align organizational objectives with the required changes.

The increasing adoption of Agile, particularly through frameworks such as AgilePM, has had a considerable impact on business operations. Its versatility in application to almost any project has contributed significantly to its widespread popularity.

However, implementing Agile practices for the first time poses specific challenges. Such difficulties are more prevalent in organizations that have exclusively relied on traditional methodologies or have never followed an established methodology.

New to Agile

For organisations new to Agile, the benefits that business analysis can offer may not be apparent. They may question whether their existing tools, best practices, and insights can still generate the same value in an Agile context.

Similarly, for business analysts who are new to Agile, adapting to their role in a constantly evolving Agile environment can be challenging.

To address both concerns, AgileBA certification examines the role of business analysts and how it can operate within Agile project contexts, providing a comprehensive understanding of how to deliver value in an Agile environment.

Proven framework

The Agile Business Analyst (AgileBA) framework offers a range of tried-and-tested tools that have been demonstrated to be effective by agile business analysts. Moreover, it provides a reliable reference point for organizations, outlining the role of the agile business analyst to ensure continued value creation in agile environments.

The Agile Business Consortium, in partnership with APMG, has certified over 200,000 agile practitioners worldwide. AgileBA certification is recognized as one of the leading Agile certifications available, further enhancing its reputation as a trusted and respected framework.

Agile Business Analyst certification can be achieved either at Foundation or Practitioner levels.

AgileBA Foundation

AgileBA Foundation certification is designed for:

• Business analysts with experience in traditional methodologies but are new to Agile.
• Individuals interested in starting a career in Agile business analysis.
• Senior staff members (such as product owners or line managers) who could benefit from a more comprehensive understanding of the Agile business analyst role.

AgileBA Foundation exam

• Style: Multiple-choice.
• Questions: 50.
• Pass mark: 50% (25/50).
• Duration: 40 minutes.
• Materials allowed: Closed book.
• Pre-requisites: None.
• Results: Same day.

AgileBA Practitioner

AgileBA Practitioner certification is intended for:

• Individuals who already hold an AgileBA Foundation certification.
• Business analysts who are currently working or planning to work in Agile projects and want to develop their skills and knowledge in this area.

To take the Agile Business Analyst Practitioner exam, students must first pass the Foundation exam.

AgileBA Practitioner exam

• Style: Objective testing.
• Questions: 80.
• Pass mark: 50% (40/80).
• Duration: 150 minutes.
• Materials allowed: Open book (AgileBA Handbook).
• Pre-requisites: AgileBA Foundation.
• Results: Same day.

How to earn your AgileBA certification

To get certified in Agile Business Analysis, you can enrol on an instructor-led AgileBA course, or self-paced online course. Instructor-led training courses take place either in a physical classroom or a classroom using advanced virtual learning technology.

A physical classroom course requires you to travel to the venue. In a virtual classroom course, you participate using a computer and headset (and optional video camera) over the internet.

Instructor-led courses

All instructor-led Agile Business Analyst training courses are taught by experienced trainers. Instructor-led courses are suitable if you can commit to a fixed classroom schedule.

To check whether there is an instructor-led AgileBA classroom course near you, or a virtual instructor-led course hosted on the internet, check the dates on the AgileBA Foundation or AgileBA Practitioner pages.

Self-paced online courses

If you cannot commit to a fixed classroom schedule, you can also gain your Agile Business Analyst certification by enrolling in a self-paced online AgileBA course.

Partnership

AgileBA is a certification program for Agile business analysts that was created through a partnership between the Agile Business Consortium and APMG International. The certification is designed to teach practical skills and address key concerns for Agile business analysis professionals.

Agile Business Consortium

The Agile Business Consortium was originally formed in 1994 as the DSDM Consortium, and it played a significant role in shaping the Manifesto for Agile Software Development. In 2016, the consortium was rebranded as the Agile Business Consortium, and it shifted its focus to address the wider context of business agility.

APMG International

APMG International is the primary partner of the Agile Business Consortium, and it specializes in creating applicable training schemes based on the principles, processes, and frameworks described in the AgileBA handbook and other bodies of knowledge. APMG accredits organizations to deliver training courses and consultancy services for a broad range of professional certification schemes.