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PMI-PBA® — PMI PROFESSIONAL IN
BUSINESS ANALYSIS STUDY GUIDE | LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027 | PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW
Table of Contents
1. Needs Assessment
2. Business Analysis Planning
3. Requirements Elicitation and Analysis
4. Traceability and Monitoring
5. Solution Evaluation
6. Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
7. Tools, Techniques, and Professional Practices
, Page |2
Question 1: A business analyst is engaged to investigate a decline in customer retention for an
online retail company. The BA needs to understand the root cause before proposing any
solution. Which technique is most appropriate for this initial investigation?
A) SWOT analysis
B) Root cause analysis using the 5 Whys
C) Cost-benefit analysis
D) Kano model
Correct Answer: B) Root cause analysis using the 5 Whys
The 5 Whys technique is a structured root cause analysis method that iteratively asks "why"
to drill down to the underlying cause of a problem. This is appropriate during needs
assessment when the goal is to understand the business problem before jumping to solutions.
SWOT and Kano analysis are better suited for strategic assessment and feature prioritization,
respectively.
Question 2: During a needs assessment, the BA identifies several stakeholder groups. The BA
needs to understand which stakeholders have the authority to approve the solution scope.
Which tool is most appropriate?
A) RACI chart
B) Stakeholder power/interest grid
C) Empathy map
D) Persona development
Correct Answer: B) Stakeholder power/interest grid
The power/interest grid classifies stakeholders based on their level of authority (power) and
their level of concern (interest). Stakeholders with high power and high interest are key
decision-makers who must be managed closely. A RACI chart documents roles in tasks, while
empathy maps and personas focus on user understanding.
Question 3: A BA is developing a business case for a new CRM system. The sponsor wants to
know the expected financial return. Which valuation technique should the BA use?
A) Force field analysis
B) Cost-benefit analysis
C) Value stream mapping
D) Purpose alignment model
, Page |3
Correct Answer: B) Cost-benefit analysis
Cost-benefit analysis compares the expected costs of a solution against its anticipated
benefits to determine financial viability. It is a standard valuation technique used in business
cases. Force field analysis examines forces for and against change, while value stream
mapping identifies waste in processes.
Question 4: A BA is facilitating a workshop to define the solution scope for a process
improvement initiative. Participants have conflicting opinions about what should be included.
What is the most effective approach?
A) Allow the project sponsor to decide unilaterally
B) Use a consensus-building technique to align stakeholders
C) Defer the scope decision to the development team
D) Document all opinions and proceed without resolution
Correct Answer: B) Use a consensus-building technique to align stakeholders
Consensus building is a decision-making technique that seeks agreement from all parties
through discussion and negotiation. In scope definition, aligning stakeholders early prevents
costly changes later. Unilateral decisions or deferral can lead to resistance and scope creep.
Question 5: A BA has completed a preliminary needs assessment and identified a business
problem. What is the most appropriate next step?
A) Begin eliciting detailed requirements
B) Define the solution scope statement and provide input to the business case
C) Develop the project schedule
D) Assign tasks to the development team
Correct Answer: B) Define the solution scope statement and provide input to the
business case
According to the Needs Assessment domain, after identifying and analyzing the business
problem, the BA should define or review the solution scope statement and contribute to the
business case. Eliciting detailed requirements comes later in the Analysis domain, after
planning.
Question 6: A BA is creating a requirements management plan. Which element is essential to
include?
, Page |4
A) The project's Gantt chart
B) The strategy for requirements traceability
C) The team's velocity history
D) The marketing plan
Correct Answer: B) The strategy for requirements traceability
The requirements management plan defines how requirements will be elicited, analyzed,
documented, and managed. A key component is the strategy for traceability, which
establishes how requirements will be linked to their sources, design, and test cases. Gantt
charts and marketing plans are not part of this plan.
Question 7: A BA is working on an agile project and needs to define how requirements will
be prioritized. Which technique is most commonly used in agile environments?
A) MoSCoW
B) Weighted shortest job first (WSJF)
C) Both A and B
D) Critical path method
Correct Answer: C) Both A and B
Both MoSCoW (Must, Should, Could, Won't) and WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First) are
valid prioritization techniques used in agile projects. MoSCoW categorizes requirements by
necessity, while WSJF prioritizes by cost of delay relative to job size. Critical path method is
a scheduling technique, not a prioritization method.
Question 8: A BA is planning the business analysis approach for a project with high
uncertainty and frequent changes. Which approach is most appropriate?
A) Predictive with detailed upfront requirements
B) Adaptive with iterative requirements elaboration
C) Waterfall with frozen scope
D) Hybrid with no stakeholder involvement
Correct Answer: B) Adaptive with iterative requirements elaboration
Adaptive approaches, such as agile, are suited for projects with high uncertainty and
evolving requirements. They allow requirements to be elaborated iteratively based on
feedback. Predictive approaches with frozen scope are ineffective when change is expected.
PMI-PBA® — PMI PROFESSIONAL IN
BUSINESS ANALYSIS STUDY GUIDE | LATEST
UPDATE 2026/2027 | PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | EXAM REVIEW
Table of Contents
1. Needs Assessment
2. Business Analysis Planning
3. Requirements Elicitation and Analysis
4. Traceability and Monitoring
5. Solution Evaluation
6. Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
7. Tools, Techniques, and Professional Practices
, Page |2
Question 1: A business analyst is engaged to investigate a decline in customer retention for an
online retail company. The BA needs to understand the root cause before proposing any
solution. Which technique is most appropriate for this initial investigation?
A) SWOT analysis
B) Root cause analysis using the 5 Whys
C) Cost-benefit analysis
D) Kano model
Correct Answer: B) Root cause analysis using the 5 Whys
The 5 Whys technique is a structured root cause analysis method that iteratively asks "why"
to drill down to the underlying cause of a problem. This is appropriate during needs
assessment when the goal is to understand the business problem before jumping to solutions.
SWOT and Kano analysis are better suited for strategic assessment and feature prioritization,
respectively.
Question 2: During a needs assessment, the BA identifies several stakeholder groups. The BA
needs to understand which stakeholders have the authority to approve the solution scope.
Which tool is most appropriate?
A) RACI chart
B) Stakeholder power/interest grid
C) Empathy map
D) Persona development
Correct Answer: B) Stakeholder power/interest grid
The power/interest grid classifies stakeholders based on their level of authority (power) and
their level of concern (interest). Stakeholders with high power and high interest are key
decision-makers who must be managed closely. A RACI chart documents roles in tasks, while
empathy maps and personas focus on user understanding.
Question 3: A BA is developing a business case for a new CRM system. The sponsor wants to
know the expected financial return. Which valuation technique should the BA use?
A) Force field analysis
B) Cost-benefit analysis
C) Value stream mapping
D) Purpose alignment model
, Page |3
Correct Answer: B) Cost-benefit analysis
Cost-benefit analysis compares the expected costs of a solution against its anticipated
benefits to determine financial viability. It is a standard valuation technique used in business
cases. Force field analysis examines forces for and against change, while value stream
mapping identifies waste in processes.
Question 4: A BA is facilitating a workshop to define the solution scope for a process
improvement initiative. Participants have conflicting opinions about what should be included.
What is the most effective approach?
A) Allow the project sponsor to decide unilaterally
B) Use a consensus-building technique to align stakeholders
C) Defer the scope decision to the development team
D) Document all opinions and proceed without resolution
Correct Answer: B) Use a consensus-building technique to align stakeholders
Consensus building is a decision-making technique that seeks agreement from all parties
through discussion and negotiation. In scope definition, aligning stakeholders early prevents
costly changes later. Unilateral decisions or deferral can lead to resistance and scope creep.
Question 5: A BA has completed a preliminary needs assessment and identified a business
problem. What is the most appropriate next step?
A) Begin eliciting detailed requirements
B) Define the solution scope statement and provide input to the business case
C) Develop the project schedule
D) Assign tasks to the development team
Correct Answer: B) Define the solution scope statement and provide input to the
business case
According to the Needs Assessment domain, after identifying and analyzing the business
problem, the BA should define or review the solution scope statement and contribute to the
business case. Eliciting detailed requirements comes later in the Analysis domain, after
planning.
Question 6: A BA is creating a requirements management plan. Which element is essential to
include?
, Page |4
A) The project's Gantt chart
B) The strategy for requirements traceability
C) The team's velocity history
D) The marketing plan
Correct Answer: B) The strategy for requirements traceability
The requirements management plan defines how requirements will be elicited, analyzed,
documented, and managed. A key component is the strategy for traceability, which
establishes how requirements will be linked to their sources, design, and test cases. Gantt
charts and marketing plans are not part of this plan.
Question 7: A BA is working on an agile project and needs to define how requirements will
be prioritized. Which technique is most commonly used in agile environments?
A) MoSCoW
B) Weighted shortest job first (WSJF)
C) Both A and B
D) Critical path method
Correct Answer: C) Both A and B
Both MoSCoW (Must, Should, Could, Won't) and WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First) are
valid prioritization techniques used in agile projects. MoSCoW categorizes requirements by
necessity, while WSJF prioritizes by cost of delay relative to job size. Critical path method is
a scheduling technique, not a prioritization method.
Question 8: A BA is planning the business analysis approach for a project with high
uncertainty and frequent changes. Which approach is most appropriate?
A) Predictive with detailed upfront requirements
B) Adaptive with iterative requirements elaboration
C) Waterfall with frozen scope
D) Hybrid with no stakeholder involvement
Correct Answer: B) Adaptive with iterative requirements elaboration
Adaptive approaches, such as agile, are suited for projects with high uncertainty and
evolving requirements. They allow requirements to be elaborated iteratively based on
feedback. Predictive approaches with frozen scope are ineffective when change is expected.
