A must-read that’s not just for Business Analysts! The book takes you on a journey through Agile, showcasing how Business Analysis complements the Agile mindset. I particularly enjoyed the chapter on Estimating Agile Projects, always very topical.
Geraint Crocker, Business Analysis Lead, UK Home Office
This book provides valuable context, background, and insight into how we move from simply talking agile, to being agile. We can learn how business agility is linked to a clear organisational purpose, we understand how to adopt and encourage an agile mindset, have clarity on the various roles and expectations within an agile team, and ultimately ensure business requirements are prioritised to provide the best value. The modern BA simply cannot get by without it.
Mary Brown, Business Analysis Capability Lead, Virgin Media O2
An invaluable guide applying Agile to business analysis. Relevant for all agile professionals, it delves into history, roles, risks, and effective techniques of business analysis. Essential for Service/Product Development Teams seeking analytical excellence.
Selina Martinez Keogh, Agile Coach, BBC
Requirements practices are as important today as they were when I introduced Use Cases almost 40 years ago. This book shows how they integrate with agile practices and, as such, are essential for all business analysts and development teams.
Dr. Ivar Jacobson, creator of use cases and co-creator of CBSE (component-based software engineering), UML, RUP and Essence
This is a very complete book. I think it will help Business Analysts work with agile teams.
Alistair Cockburn, Co-author, the Agile Manifesto
Not every agile team includes a dedicated business analyst, but every team must perform business analysis well to succeed. Agile and Business Analysis shows in considerable detail how an agile team can incorporate a wide variety of established, effective BA practices and agile thought processes into their work.
Karl Wiegers PhD, Principal Consultant, Process Impact and Co-author of Software Requirements and Software Requirements Essentials
Agile and Business Analysis provides a comprehensive toolkit for the modern Business Analyst, empowering them as core members of cross-functional agile delivery teams in fast-paced business environments. It has everything you need to know about how to model business context, identify and prioritise business goals, and execute for business success.
Tim Clarke PMP POPM,BRMP, Senior Project Manager, Alfa Financial Software
The combined knowledge of both authors is phenomenal and in this completely reviewed edition they have combined the holistic approach of business analysis with the Agile mindset. They discuss different approaches and various ways how to apply your analysis skills in an agile environment. A must read for every business analyst.
Geertje Appel, Business Analysis Lead at Le Blanc Academy
Agile project delivery is about building collaborative relationships to achieve outstanding results. Business analysis plays a key role, wearing many hats, driving Agile ceremonies, managing, and translating requirements and building on those techniques to expect, adapt and respond to change, in the delivery environment. Agile and Business Analysis provides the BA with established techniques, along with the processes, practices, and principles to embrace the ever-changing technology and business worlds.
Sarah Bullen, Head of Business Analysis, BBC Technology and Media Operations.
This version continues to offer practical guidance to help BAs adapt their existing skills and techniques to agile methods. Case studies stress the importance of being “Agile enough”, providing cautionary tales to all Agile practitioners.
Michelle Shakesheff CITP, Head of Business Analysis at Close Brothers
From a solid grounding in the fundamentals of Agile, this book progresses into a well-structured and highly practical handbook for any business analyst navigating the agile world. This will be an invaluable guidebook for my team as we transition into agile working.
Rachel Drinkwater BSc MA MBCS, Senior Business Analyst sand Author of The Next Step: A Practical Guide to Your Business Analysis Career
'This book should be a very welcome addition to the intellectual arsenal of any Business Analyst. The Authors have attempted the difficult task of combining good Business Analysis thinking with the sometimes dogmatic world of Agile, providing not only a comprehensive and clear discussion of the Agile Methodology in all its forms but also an encyclopaedic view of existing analysis techniques which can be deployed within it. The emphasis of the book is on how to think your way through an agile environment rather than slavishly follow a prescribed method and the content is provocative and informative in equal measure whilst advocating a hybrid model that uses the best techniques from both the Agile and pre-Agile worlds. It encourages the Business Analyst to deploy their skills at exactly the right place; which is at the exact centre of change. As such, this book will inform the continuing evolution of Agile Business Analysis and will provide a firm foundation for any Business Analyst trying to find their feet in the new Agile friendly world.'
'I have never understood those in the Agile community that have insisted that there is no need for an analyst role in the context of Agile projects. The project team needs access to first-hand business knowledge, combined with empowered and timely decision making but if the business representatives don’t have the experience or skills to translate their contribution to the project team, then the project will suffer. With this book, Lynda and Debra bridge this gap and help not only the business but also the Agile community, to understand why the gap exists, what can be done to address it, which existing roles can help, and how existing Agile roles and practices contribute to the solution. I highly recommend it.'
'Business organisations must innovate to thrive. Continual analysis of alternatives, competition, and solutions based on lean thinking and agile development, has offered effective answers. The glue between innovation and operational performance is often a partnership between the business, the product owner and the Scrum team developers. The developers, often led by the business analyst, also have a deep knowledge of how the system or product can be used and made more valuable. The Scrum developers often have insights that the Product Owner may not have seen. With the growing automation of business functions through lean techniques, supply chain integration, and customer relationship systems, and AI prowling deep data, this relationship is critical and must be the best possible in the circumstances. The business functions are now automated products, frequently updated for competitive advantage. This book provides the guidance and insights that help you work within this context.'
'This book is invaluable to anyone undertaking agile analysis, illustrating that by using new techniques to supplement and extend the BA toolkit, and adopting a “just enough, just in time” philosophy, a truly agile delivery approach can be supported.'
'The complex world of Agile made relevant for BAs. Combines well-explained theory with wide-ranging practical application and offers an essential handbook for anyone involved in the Agile project world. A valuable addition to the BA toolkit.'