Course Duration: 1 Day
In a fast paced, business-led environment, even the most experienced BAs can find themselves operating reactively and dealing with predefined solutions rather than investigating the true business problem. To maximise their impact, it’s advantageous for experienced BAs to think and act like internal consultants.
This highly interactive, practical, one day workshop is designed for BA practitioners and teams who want to increase their influence and shape work before it becomes a formal project. This course draws on consulting practices to help BAs position their services, navigate organisational politics, and build credibility with senior decision-makers.
Rather than teaching core BA techniques that practitioners already know, this course focuses on the application of a consulting mindset. Delegates will explore how to build visibility, conduct early fact finding, and reframe traditional ‘work packages’ into outcome focused proposals.
Who Should Attend
This course will be of interest to business analysts and other change practitioners looking to strengthen stakeholder relationships and become involved earlier in change initiatives.
Entry Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements. It is assumed that attendees will have experience of business analysis or another change related role.
Delivery and Assessment
The course is highly interactive, with participants encouraged to think about how they will apply the ideas and concepts to their organisation. Exercises and group discussions are included throughout, with questions and interaction actively encouraged.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this one day course, delegates will be able to:
- Contrast traditional project delivery BA activities with the mindset and techniques of an internal BA consultant.
- Articulate a clear BA value proposition that resonates with the strategic goals of senior decision-makers and sponsors/SROs.
- Apply internal sales and early fact finding techniques to uncover true business problems and constructively challenge stakeholders when necessary.
- Evaluate the internal competitive landscape to identify opportunities for earlier engagement and collaboration.
- Frame and present BA work packages as compelling, outcome focused proposals rather than lists of tasks.
- Develop practical strategies for maintaining visibility, reporting on successes, and building advocacy throughout the change lifecycle.
Course Content
| 1. Introduction |
| ✔️ What is ‘internal consultancy’ ✔️ Delivery BA vs BA as an internal consultant ✔️ Introduction to an internal consultancy lifecycle ✔️ A BA consultancy ‘mindset’ |
| 2. Visibility & Positioning |
| The Value Proposition for BAs as Internal Consultants ✔️ BA Role: Breadth vs depth ✔️ Value Expectation vs Value Proposition: - Understanding what drives decision-makers - The importance of ‘zooming out’ and considering wider strategy and perspectives Internal Competitive Landscape ✔️ Understanding the competitive landscape: - Who else might undertake this work? - Competitors’ strengths and weaknesses - Our unique strengths as BAs - Collaboration points Shaping Internal Demand ✔️ What is ‘internal sales’ - Assessing engagement levels (from transactional to trusted partner) - Assessing gaps in perception of business analysis, where a stakeholder may currently be engaging tactically rather than strategically ✔️ Credibility through delivery - Opportunities for highlighting BA work throughout the consulting/change lifecycle ✔️ Building advocacy and ‘shouting about our successes’ |
| 3. Initial Contact & “Contracting” |
| Initial Contact & “Contracting” ✔️ Early fact-finding - Defining desired analysis outcomes - Avoiding a premature solution-focus - Navigating power & politics ✔️ Work packages as proposals - Purpose and contents of a typical proposal-based work package ✔️ Planning the BA approach - The importance of requirements architecture - Brief intro/refresher of estimation techniques ✔️ Shaping Work Before It Becomes a Project |
| 4. Ongoing Visibility, Engagement and Communications |
| ✔️ Ensuring key decision-makers are kept informed - Reporting / regular communications planning - Informal opportunities for staying visible ✔️ Course re-cap & reflection |
Endorsement
We are an IIBA® Premium Training Partner
Next Steps
Want to run the course for your team?
For more information and to book this course for your organisation please contact us:
References cited on this page:
Hodges, J. (2017). Consultancy, Organizational Development and Change: A Practical Guide to Delivering Value. (1st ed.). Kogan Page.