ICT2641
EXAM
PACK 2023
QUESTIONS
WITH
COMPLETE
ANSWERS
,ICT2641‐2020 ‐ASS1 MEMO
‐ STUDENTS
‐
PROF JH KROEZE – UNISA
TOTAL: 100
QUESTION 1 (10)
Discuss the scope of a business analyst’s work and the skills needed for this work. Also indicate how
this role differs from that of a systems analyst. (10)
SEE CHAPTER 1 OF PAUL, CADLE & YEATES (2014) FOR MORE INFORMATION/ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS.
ANSWER:
• BA ensures alignment between business needs and business change solutions
(which include IT systems and information systems)
• Strategic analysis falls mostly outside the remit of BA, but the business analyst must
have access to the information in order to recommend and design suitable tactics and IT
systems
• BA ensures business representation during the development and
implementation of IT systems
• Business analysts also act as internal consultants: ensures accountability and
transfer of skills with lower cost
• The business analyst should have a detailed understanding and experience in IT
systems analysis, as well as a business background and business understanding
• The BA must be able to bridge strategic analysis and IT systems analysis
• The business analyst role requires strategic level thinking
• The business analyst must have a detailed understanding of data modelling and
function modelling
• The business analyst considers a wider range of options while the systems analyst
focus on a defined scope and considers IT options for a specific solution/Systems analysis is
more technical: specifying IT system requirements
• In order to straddle the gap between strategic analysis and systems analysis, the
business analyst also needs skills such as stakeholder analysis, business process modelling
and requirements engineering
1
,QUESTION 2 (5)
List and explain five business knowledge competencies that a business analyst must have in order to
perform his/her job effectively. (5)
ANSWER: See slides 7 & 8 of chapter 2. Any five of:
• Business finance: balance sheet and income statement, ratio analysis, budgeting,
cash flow, profit, surplus, costing
• Business case development: must understand investment appraisal techniques
to assess costs and benefits of delivering a project
• Domain knowledge: understand general and specific business sector, e.g.
retail and supermarket
• Subject matter expertise: understand specific product line or service to establish
credibility
• Principles of IT: understand hardware and software development approaches
• Organisation structures: understand strengths and weaknesses of various
structures to restructure teams to improve service
• Supplier management: understand different contractual arrangements,
procurement and management to ensure suppliers deliver services effectively
• Business architecture: understand big picture of organization’s systems,
processes, management structures, culture and people
2
, QUESTION 3 (5)
Discuss SWOT analysis as a technique that can be used by a business analyst to get a holistic picture
of a business’s external and internal environment (5).
Answer: See slide 11 of chapter 3. Students should define/discuss each of the elements in the figure
below. Max. 5 marks.
3
EXAM
PACK 2023
QUESTIONS
WITH
COMPLETE
ANSWERS
,ICT2641‐2020 ‐ASS1 MEMO
‐ STUDENTS
‐
PROF JH KROEZE – UNISA
TOTAL: 100
QUESTION 1 (10)
Discuss the scope of a business analyst’s work and the skills needed for this work. Also indicate how
this role differs from that of a systems analyst. (10)
SEE CHAPTER 1 OF PAUL, CADLE & YEATES (2014) FOR MORE INFORMATION/ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS.
ANSWER:
• BA ensures alignment between business needs and business change solutions
(which include IT systems and information systems)
• Strategic analysis falls mostly outside the remit of BA, but the business analyst must
have access to the information in order to recommend and design suitable tactics and IT
systems
• BA ensures business representation during the development and
implementation of IT systems
• Business analysts also act as internal consultants: ensures accountability and
transfer of skills with lower cost
• The business analyst should have a detailed understanding and experience in IT
systems analysis, as well as a business background and business understanding
• The BA must be able to bridge strategic analysis and IT systems analysis
• The business analyst role requires strategic level thinking
• The business analyst must have a detailed understanding of data modelling and
function modelling
• The business analyst considers a wider range of options while the systems analyst
focus on a defined scope and considers IT options for a specific solution/Systems analysis is
more technical: specifying IT system requirements
• In order to straddle the gap between strategic analysis and systems analysis, the
business analyst also needs skills such as stakeholder analysis, business process modelling
and requirements engineering
1
,QUESTION 2 (5)
List and explain five business knowledge competencies that a business analyst must have in order to
perform his/her job effectively. (5)
ANSWER: See slides 7 & 8 of chapter 2. Any five of:
• Business finance: balance sheet and income statement, ratio analysis, budgeting,
cash flow, profit, surplus, costing
• Business case development: must understand investment appraisal techniques
to assess costs and benefits of delivering a project
• Domain knowledge: understand general and specific business sector, e.g.
retail and supermarket
• Subject matter expertise: understand specific product line or service to establish
credibility
• Principles of IT: understand hardware and software development approaches
• Organisation structures: understand strengths and weaknesses of various
structures to restructure teams to improve service
• Supplier management: understand different contractual arrangements,
procurement and management to ensure suppliers deliver services effectively
• Business architecture: understand big picture of organization’s systems,
processes, management structures, culture and people
2
, QUESTION 3 (5)
Discuss SWOT analysis as a technique that can be used by a business analyst to get a holistic picture
of a business’s external and internal environment (5).
Answer: See slide 11 of chapter 3. Students should define/discuss each of the elements in the figure
below. Max. 5 marks.
3
