How do you conduct a business analysis session?

1 Define the purpose

Before you start a business analysis session, you need to have a clear and specific purpose for it. What are you trying to achieve? What questions do you want to answer? What outcomes do you expect? Having a well-defined purpose will help you plan the session, select the participants, prepare the agenda, and facilitate the discussion. It will also help you communicate the value and relevance of the session to the stakeholders and get their buy-in and support.

2 Plan the session

Once you have the purpose of the business analysis session, you need to plan the details of how to run it. This includes deciding on the format, duration, location, tools, and techniques of the session. You also need to identify and invite the right participants, who can provide the information, insights, and feedback you need. You should also prepare the agenda, which outlines the objectives, topics, activities, and timings of the session. The agenda should be clear, concise, and realistic, and it should be shared with the participants in advance.

3 Prepare the materials

Another important step in conducting a business analysis session is to prepare the materials you will use during the session. These may include documents, diagrams, models, prototypes, surveys, or other artifacts that can help you collect and present the information. You should also prepare the questions, prompts, or scenarios that will guide the discussion and elicit the information you need. The materials should be relevant, accurate, and easy to understand, and they should be aligned with the purpose and agenda of the session.

4 Facilitate the session

The next step is to facilitate the session, which means leading and managing the interaction among the participants and the materials. As a facilitator, you need to set the tone, rules, and expectations of the session, and ensure that everyone is engaged, respectful, and productive. You also need to monitor the progress, time, and quality of the session, and make adjustments as needed. You should use appropriate techniques, such as brainstorming, interviewing, observation, or testing, to gather and validate the information. You should also encourage feedback, questions, and suggestions from the participants.

6 Follow up the session

After documenting the results, you should follow up the session with the participants and other stakeholders, and communicate the next steps and actions. You should thank the participants for their time and contribution, and ask for their feedback and evaluation of the session. You should also share the results and the documentation with them, and solicit their comments and approval. You should also update the relevant project documents, such as the business case, the requirements, or the solution design, based on the results. You should also monitor and track the actions and deliverables that resulted from the session, and report on their status and progress.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?