BAPv5 BCS Practitioner Certificate in Business Analysis Practice v5.2 Questions and Answers

The documentation defines a workshop/meeting as a facilitated session with a prepared agenda, where the facilitator elicits information and views, and where actions and decisions are recorded. In addition, stakeholders with high power and high interest are described as key players who require positive, active management, including frequent meetings and discussions about the direction the project is taking.

Given that context, the most appropriate response is to allow the stakeholder to explain the proposed feature and its potential impact, while capturing the details. This ensures the facilitator is actively managing a high power/high interest stakeholder (rather than shutting them down), and it also supports good governance by making sure the idea is captured clearly enough to be assessed properly later (e.g., as a change request or option).

Option A is better than ignoring the point entirely, but it risks appearing dismissive and could undermine engagement with a key stakeholder. Option B captures notes but fails to explore impact, which may be critical when the request is “urgent.” Option D is inappropriate because it disregards input from a stakeholder who can significantly affect the project.

Therefore, C best balances facilitation discipline (capturing information and controlling the meeting) with effective stakeholder management for high influence stakeholders.

An enabling activity is an activity that supports or facilitates another activity within an organisation or project. It helps to ensure that another activity can be performed or delivered effectively and efficiently. Therefore, option B is the correct answer, as check adherence to regulation is an enabling activity that supports provide insolvency services, which is the primary doing activity of a BAM reflecting DeanLegal’s business perspective. Check adherence to regulation is an enabling activity, as it involves verifying that the insolvency services provided by DeanLegal comply with the rules and standards set by the Federation of Insolvency Practitioners (FIP). It helps to ensure that DeanLegal can perform its primary doing activity legally and ethically. Option A is not a correct answer, as provide comprehensive support to customers is not an enabling activity that supports provide insolvency services, but another doing activity within DeanLegal’s business perspective. Provide comprehensive support to customers is a doing activity, as it involves delivering value and satisfaction to customers who use DeanLegal’s insolvency services. It helps to achieve DeanLegal’s objectives and outcomes. Option C is not a correct answer, as extend range of services is not an enabling activity that supports provide insolvency services, but a potential change or improvement within DeanLegal’s business perspective. Extend range of services is a change or improvement, as it involves introducing new types of services, such as advice in funding the purchase of capital assets, that DeanLegal may offer to its customers in addition to its insolvency services. It helps to enhance DeanLegal’s performance and potential. Option D is not a correct answer, as recruit experienced negotiators is not an enabling activity that supports provide insolvency services, but a resource audit within DeanLegal’s business perspective. Recruit experienced negotiators is a resource audit, as it involves identifying and evaluating the human resources that DeanLegal has or needs to perform its insolvency services. It helps to assess the availability and quality of DeanLegal’s staff.

 A power/interest grid is a tool for analysing stakeholders based on their level of power or influence and their level of interest or involvement in the organisation or project. The grid has four quadrants: high power, high interest; high power, low interest; low power, high interest; and low power, low interest. The position of a stakeholder on the grid can help to determine the appropriate strategy for engaging and communicating with them. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as the head of IT services currently occupies the high power, low interest quadrant. This means that he has the authority or ability to affect the outcome of the project, but he does not show much concern or involvement in it. Option B is not correct, as some power and influence and some interest would place the head of IT services in the middle of the grid, which is not a distinct quadrant. Option C is not correct, as high power or influence and high interest would place the head of IT services in the top right quadrant, which is not consistent with his lack of involvement. Option D is not correct, as low power and influence but high interest would place the head of IT services in the bottom right quadrant, which is not consistent with his authority.

A Business Activity Model (BAM) is a high-level view of the business activities that take place within an organisation. It shows how activities are related to each other and how they contribute to achieving business objectives. A BAM consists of five types of high-level activities: directing, enabling, doing, monitoring and controlling. A BAM can also show dependencies between activities using arrows to indicate which activity depends on another activity to start or finish. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as it shows the dependencies between the four activities on the BAM correctly. Activity c (define lending policies) is a directing activity that sets the rules and guidelines for lending e-books to customers. It depends on no other activity and precedes all other activities. Activity b (establish licensing arrangements with publishers) is an enabling activity that secures the rights and permissions to lend e-books from different publishers. It depends on activity c and precedes activity a. Activity a (lend books) is a doing activity that provides e-books to customers according to their requests and preferences. It depends on activity b and precedes activity d. Activity d (monitor lending usage) is a monitoring activity that tracks and records how customers use and return e-books. It depends on activity a and follows all other activities.

The Double Diamond model uses two “diamonds” to show repeated cycles of divergent and convergent thinking: first to explore and narrow the problem, then to explore and narrow the solution. The Design Council (originator/populariser of the model) explains that the diamonds represent exploring an issue more widely or deeply (divergent thinking) and then taking focused action (convergent thinking). The four phases typically described are Discover and Define (problem space), followed by Develop and Deliver (solution space).

Looking at the answer options, timeboxes are not what the diamonds represent; the model is about the pattern of exploration and focus, not scheduling. Similarly, “identify one perspective” is not the purpose: the framework is intended to broaden understanding and then converge on a clear problem definition and a workable solution.

Therefore, among the provided options, the best match is D: Deliver the solution, because the second diamond culminates in “Deliver,” where solutions are tested, refined, and implemented.

 A Business Activity Model (BAM) is a technique for modelling business activities within an organisation or project at a high level of abstraction. It helps to understand what an organisation does, how it does it, who does it, where it does it and why it does it. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as a BAM would help the business analyst to identify underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. A BAM would help to analyse how different activities within an organisation contribute or relate to sales performance and identify any gaps or issues that may affect sales performance. A BAM would help to compare current and desired situations or problems and identify what changes or improvements are needed to achieve desired situations or problems. Option A is not a correct answer, as customer journey maps are not a technique for identifying underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. Customer journey maps are a technique for visualising customer experiences with an organisation or product across different touchpoints and stages. They help to understand customer needs, expectations and emotions and how they are met or influenced by an organisation or product. Option B is not a correct answer, as scenario analysis is not a technique for identifying underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. Scenario analysis is a technique for exploring how different scenarios or situations could affect outcomes or impacts of an organisation or project. They help to test feasibility and desirability of different options or solutions under various circumstances or assumptions. Option C is not a correct answer, as use case diagram is not a technique for identifying underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. Use case diagram is a technique for modelling functional requirements of a system or product at a high level of abstraction. They help to understand what functions or features are required or provided by a system or product and how they interact with actors or users.

The documentation defines Critical Success Factors (CSFs) as the few key areas where “things must go right” for the business to flourish and for managerial goals to be attained. The key points are that CSFs are few, they are key, and they are musts—not just “nice-to-have” activities.

Given the objectives, CSFs should be chosen that directly drive market share growth, customer loyalty, and expansion into new markets. Option A aligns strongly to “increase market share in key demographics” because pricing competitiveness is often a critical lever in apparel retail: if pricing drifts out of line with competitor positioning or customer value expectations, share and loyalty can rapidly erode. A CSF framed around continuously monitoring competitor pricing and responding in a controlled way supports both market share and profitability—key for sustained growth.

Option D aligns strongly to “expand product lines and reach new markets.” Establishing new distribution channels (marketplaces, stores, partnerships) is frequently a make-or-break capability for expansion: without the right channels, new product lines won’t reach target segments effectively. That makes it a credible “must go right” area.

Option E (follower count) is not necessarily critical—engagement can matter, but “follower count must remain high” is too narrow and can be a vanity metric. Options B and C may be important hygiene or internal factors, but they are not as directly tied to the stated objectives as A and D.

The documentation describes the power/interest grid as a technique for analysing stakeholders, then using the analysis to plan management actions. It states that it is important to plot stakeholders where they actually are (not where you would like them to be), and then to explore strategies for managing them in their current positions or for moving them to more advantageous positions. It also emphasises that stakeholder analysis must be a continuing activity throughout the project, with the team watching for changes and re-evaluating strategies accordingly—this supports regular review of the grid.

Where option D differs is that it describes implementation of engagement strateggement actions is part of stakeholder management execution, which follows from the analysis rather than being a step “in conducting the analysis” itself. The text makes this separation clear: after plotting positions, up for managing stakeholders and the approach to take; the subsequent engagement is what the team then does based on that plan.

So A and B are explicitly in the technique guidance, and C aligns with the “continuing activity” requirement. D is the step that moves beyond the analysis activity into carrying out the management actions, making it the best choice for “not typically involved in conducting the analysis.” ION NO: 65

A business case has been developed for the introduction of a new customer service platform. In the “Impact Assessment” section, which key factor should the business analyst highlight to communicate the potential organisational changes resulting from the platform’s implementation?iomer service efficiency and employee workflow.

B. Discuss the usability of the recommended application and software requirements.

C. Review potential vendors including past experience in the industry and their financial stability.

D. Detail the operating system and solution architecture of the new platform.

Answer: A

The business case “Impact assessment” section is used to explain what will happen to the organisation if the proposed option is adopted—not just the financial costs and benefits. The documentation states that, in addition to costs and benefits, the business case should explore organisational impacts, some of which may have costs attached and some of which are simply consequences of change. It gives concrete examples such as changes to organisation structure (e.g., reorganising departments, creating new roles like a single customer point of contact, or moving from specialist to generalist roles) and the effects on interdepartmental relationships and working patterns.

Option A best mause “customer service efficiency and employee workflow” directly communicates the operational and people/process impacts that typically accompany a new customer service platform—how work will be performed, how staff will interact, and what the service outcomes may be. This is exactly the kihange decision-makers need surfaced in an impact assessment so they can plan mitigation and change management (e.g., handling disruption, new responsibilities, revised collaboration).

Options B and D focus on technical solution detail, and C focuses on vendor evaluation—none of these are the core purpose of an “impact assessment” section as defined in the business case guidance.

To understand gaps at a high level in the activities a business performs, the best way to document the desired state is a Business Activity Model (BAM). The documentation explains that gap analysis compares a current state with a desired future state and that a BAM provides a conceptual overview of the desired future business system—showing what activities should exist to fulfil a stakeholder perspective (or an agreed consensus perspective).

This makes the BAM ideal for identifying “activity gaps” because the analyst can examine each activity on the desired-state BAM and assess whether it exists today, whether it operates satisfactorily, whether it is inadequate, or whether it is missing completely. The text explicitly states that the conceptual nature of the BAM helps the analyst see where the current business system is lacking and that gaps can vary by activity (some may be fine, others weak, others absent).

Option B (“to be” process models) is useful, but it is a more detailed view that focuses on how work is carried out rather than providing a conceptual “what activities should exist” overview. CATWOE (C) helps capture and analyse stakeholder perspectives, but it is not, by itself, the best way to document the desired activity set at high level. A business case (D) justifies change; it doesn’t define the activity-based desired operating picture.

Design Thinking is an approach for solving complex problems by focusing on human needs and desires. It involves five stages: empathise, define, ideate, prototype and test. Therefore, options B, D and E are correct answers, as they suggest good techniques to help with the different stages of Design Thinking. Empathise is the stage where the problem is explored from the perspective of the users and their emotions, motivations and pain points are understood. A good technique to help with this stage is Customer Journey Map, which is a visual representation of the steps and emotions that a user goes through when interacting with a product or service. It helps to identify the pain points and opportunities for improvement in the user experience. Create is the stage where the users are represented by creating personas, which are fictional characters that embody the characteristics, goals and needs of a typical user group. Personas help to empathise with the users and design solutions that suit their preferences and expectations. Define is the stage where the problem is clearly defined and articulated based on the insights gained from the empathise stage. A good technique to help with this stage is Current user needs or problems, which is a statement that summarises what the users need or want to achieve and what prevents them from doing so. It helps to focus on the core problem and set the direction for ideation. Option A is not a correct answer, as Prototype is not a stage of Design Thinking, but a technique that can be used in the Prototype stage. Prototype is the stage where the ideas are turned into tangible and testable prototypes that can be used to demonstrate and evaluate the solutions. A good technique to help with this stage is Scenario Analysis, which is a technique that explores how different scenarios or situations could affect the outcomes of the solutions. It helps to test the feasibility and desirability of the prototypes. Option C is not a correct answer, as Evaluate is not a stage of Design Thinking, but a technique that can be used in the Test stage. Test is the stage where the prototypes are tested with real users and feedback is collected and analysed to refine and improve the solutions. A good technique to help with this stage is Mind Mapping, which is a technique that organises and visualises information in a hierarchical and associative way. It helps to capture and structure feedback and identify patterns and insights.

A key performance indicator (KPI) is a measurable value that demonstrates how effectively an organisation is achieving a key business objective or critical success factor (CSF). A KPI should be relevant, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound (SMART). Therefore, options C, D and E are appropriate KPIs for the CSF ‘provide excellent customer service’, as they measure aspects of customer satisfaction and loyalty that are directly related to the quality of service provided by the hotel chain. Option A is not an appropriate KPI, as it does not measure customer service, but rather customer consumption. Option B is not an appropriate KPI, as it does not measure customer service, but rather customer preference.

In Porter’s Five Forces, “Threat of new entrants” assesses how easy it is for new organisations to enter an industry and compete, and it focuses heavily on barriers to entry. The business analysis text explains that new entrants are more likely to move into a market if it looks attractive and the barriers to entry are low, and it lists typical barriers created by incumbents or inherent in the domain. These include (among others) substantial investment required and other structural constraints that make entry difficult.

In the scenario, Fund42morrow’s proposed new under-18 investment scheme requires regulatory approval and significant investment. Both are classic barriers to entry. Regulatory approval acts as a gatekeeper constraint: a new firm cannot legally operate until it satisfies the regulator’s requirements, which can slow entry, increase cost, and raise compliance risk. Significant investment is explicitly highlighted in the text as a barrier because a new entrant may struggle to obtain sufficient funds to compete effectively.

A competitor analysing this situation would therefore record Fund42morrow’s activity under Threat of new entrants, since it describes a potential new competitor entering the market and the barriers (approval and capital) that influence whether entry is feasible and how strong that competitive threat could become.

The business case guidance states that risk assessment should identify principal risks and—critically—define countermeasures: what can be done to reduce the likelihood of the risk occurring or lessen its impact. It notes that some risks can be transferred (e.g., via insurance), but the key is choosing countermeasures that actually address the cause.

Here, the risk is behavioural: managers may struggle to adopt a new management style required by the change. The book explicitly recognises that business change often requires changes to working practices and sometimes management style, especially where roles and authority shift. The most direct countermeasure is to build capability and readiness in the affected managers—through training, education, coaching, and support—so they understand the new behaviours, can practise them, and can be reinforced through agreed expectations. This reduces both the probability of failure (managers not changing) and the impact (inconsistent adoption harming productivity).

Option A (insurance) does not address behavioural adoption; it might transfer financial impact in some scenarios but won’t make managers change. Option C explicitly avoids change and therefore cannot mitigate the stated risk. Option B could work in extreme cases, but replacing the entire management team is a far more disruptive and costly response than necessary and is not the “most likely” effective countermeasure when the risk is capability/behaviour adoption. Therefore, training and educating the managers is the most appropriate countermeasure.

Findings (1)–(3) map directly to the Resource Audit, which analyses organisational capability across tangible and intangible resources. The glossary definition states that the resource audit considers tangible resources (physical, financial, human) and intangible resources such as know-how and reputation. The text also explicitly notes that intangible resources can include patents or trademarks and that another key intangible resource is reputation/brand beliefs about quality. Therefore: reputation for quality (1) and trademark registration (2) are intangible resources; approved budget for research (3) is a financial resource—together strongly indicating a resource audit.

Finding (4) about KPIs “created to monitor success factors” is most consistent with a VMOST/MOST-style review of mission/objectives and how success is measured. The text defines Mission and Objectives as the basis for what the organisation is trying to achieve, and performance measurement is commonly derived from objectives and critical success factors (CSFs), which are then monitored with KPIs. While SWOT, Stakeholder Wheel, and PESTLE can support broader analysis, they do not specifically generate findings about internal capability resources (reputation, trademarks, budget) and the creation of KPIs linked to success factors in the way Resource Audit plus VMOST/MOST review does.

An enabling activity is an activity that supports or facilitates another activity within a business activity model. It helps to ensure that another activity can be performed or delivered effectively and efficiently. Therefore, option B is the correct answer, as it is an enabling activity linked to this planning activity. Define sales targets is an enabling activity linked to this planning activity, as it supports or facilitates defining marketing strategy. It helps to ensure that marketing strategy can be aligned with sales objectives and outcomes. Option A is not a correct answer, as it is not an enabling activity linked to this planning activity, but a monitoring and control activity. Monitor sales is a monitoring and control activity that measures or evaluates another activity within a business activity model. It helps to ensure that another activity meets quality and performance standards and criteria. Option C is not a correct answer, as it is not an enabling activity linked to this planning activity, but a doing activity. Advertise clothes is a doing activity that produces or delivers value or satisfaction for customers within a business activity model. It helps to achieve customer demand and satisfaction for products or services. Option D is not a correct answer, as it is not an enabling activity linked to this planning activity, but a doing activity. Sell clothes is a doing activity that produces or delivers value or satisfaction for customers within a business activity model. It helps to achieve customer demand and satisfaction for products or services.

 Porter’s Five Forces model is a technique for analysing the competitive forces that affect an organisation or industry. It helps to assess the attractiveness and profitability of an organisation or industry. Porter’s Five Forces model consists of five forces: threat of new entrants, bargaining power of customers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of substitute products and competitive rivalry. Therefore, option B is the correct answer, as these preliminary findings would be documented in the bargaining power of customers force of Porter’s Five Forces model. Bargaining power of customers is the force that measures the ability and influence of customers to affect the price, quality and quantity of products or services offered by an organisation or industry. It depends on factors such as customer concentration, switching costs, differentiation and loyalty. An example of bargaining power of customers in this scenario is the market is saturated, customers have a lot of choice and it is easy for them to switch from one bank to another, which implies that customers have high bargaining power and can demand lower prices or better services from banks. Option A is not a correct answer, as these preliminary findings would not be documented in the threat of new entrants force of Porter’s Five Forces model. Threat of new entrants is the force that measures the likelihood and impact of new competitors entering an organisation or industry. It depends on factors such as entry barriers, economies of scale, capital requirements and brand loyalty. An example of threat of new entrants in this scenario is an overseas bank launching a new bank in the UK, which implies that there is a potential threat of new entrants to the existing banks in the UK. Option C is not a correct answer, as these preliminary findings would not be documented in the bargaining power of suppliers force of Porter’s Five Forces model. Bargaining power of suppliers is the force that measures the ability and influence of suppliers to affect the price, quality and quantity of products or services supplied to an organisation or industry. It depends on factors such as supplier concentration, switching costs, differentiation and dependency. An example of bargaining power of suppliers in this scenario is the suggested changes to the business structure will affect our relationships with suppliers, which implies that suppliers may have some bargaining power over the organisation or industry. Option D is not a correct answer, as these preliminary findings would not be documented in the threat of substitute products force of Porter’s Five Forces model. Threat of substitute products is the force that measures the likelihood and impact of customers switching to alternative products or services that satisfy their needs or wants better than those offered by an organisation or industry. It depends on factors such as availability, price, quality and performance of substitute products or services. There is no example of threat of substitute products in this scenario.

The documentation explains that CSFs are the areas where things “must go right,” and KPIs are the measures that show whether progress is being made toward achieving a CSF. KPIs should focus on specific performance areas and should be defined so they are SMART and monitored regularly.

For a CSF of “excellent customer service,” appropriate KPIs should reflect customer experience outcomes and customer loyalty/retention. Option C (“number of customers who post negative feedback”) is directly linked to service quality: negative feedback is a clear indicator that customers perceive service failures. Tracking it (and ideally setting a target such as “no more than X per month”) provides a measurable signal of whether service is improving.

Option D (“percentage of customers who renew their annual subscription”) is also strongly linked to customer service because renewal rates are a widely used indicator of customer satisfaction and loyalty: customers who experience consistently good service are more likely to continue their membership. As a KPI, it is measurable, trendable over time, and can be given SMART targets.

The other options are not direct indicators of customer service quality: restaurant ordering (A) is sales/upsell behaviour, fitness improvement (B) is an outcome of training/programming rather than service, and payment method (E) is an administrative preference. Therefore, the best KPIs for this CSF are C and D.

The technique that best supports identifying root causes of problematic attitudes is the rich picture. The documentation explains that many problematic business situations have “human and cultural aspects” that traditional structured models (like process or data models) cannot capture well. These aspects include differing viewpoints, misunderstandings, stress, dissatisfaction with management, frustration at inadequate resources, and other “people” factors that can directly affect outcomes. A rich picture explicitly enables the analyst to document these human factors alongside information flows and other issues, because it is intentionally unstructured and allows a “brain dump” of what is happening and how people feel about it.

The guidance also positions rich pictures as particularly useful in messy situations with multiple causes, helping the analyst see connections between issues and progressively enrich understanding as new information emerges. This matters in the scenario: complaints about the UI may reflect deeper causes such as poor navigation, unclear content, inconsistent interaction patterns, internal constraints, or misalignment between user expectations and design choices—plus stakeholder tensions about priorities. A rich picture is designed to surface and connect these causes and perceptions early in investigation.

A mind map can help structure information, but the rich picture is explicitly highlighted as the technique that captures the essence of the whole situation, especially where attitudes and cultural factors are significant.

The notes that will go into the MOST analysis are a, b and d, as they correspond to the elements of Mission, Strategy and Tactics. The mission is to supply 10% of the local bespoke furniture market by the end of the financial year (a). The strategy is to adopt new 3D printing technologies to gain an advantage when quoting for bespoke furniture designs (d). The tactics are to invest in local radio advertising and appoint a creative team to develop an appropriate advertisement (b). Note c is not part of the MOST analysis, as it is not related to any of the elements.

A stakeholder management strategy is a plan for engaging and communicating with stakeholders based on their level of power and interest in an organisation or project. It helps to ensure that stakeholders are appropriately involved and informed throughout the organisation’s or project’s lifecycle. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as keep satisfied is the further strategy that is required for one of the three stakeholders in this scenario. Keep satisfied is the strategy for managing stakeholders who have high power but low interest in an organisation or project. It involves meeting their needs and expectations without over-communicating or over-involving them. The stakeholder who requires this strategy in this scenario is the financial accountant assigned to the project to monitor the financial benefits of the new system. This stakeholder has high power, as he is essential to the project and can influence its outcome. However, he has low interest, as he is not interested in the detail of the project. Option B is not a correct answer, as watch is not the further strategy that is required for any of the three stakeholders in this scenario. Watch is the strategy for managing stakeholders who have low power and low interest in an organisation or project. It involves monitoring their behaviour and attitude without engaging or communicating with them too much. None of the stakeholders in this scenario have low power and low interest, as they are all involved or affected by the project in some way. Option C is not a correct answer, as ignore is not a valid strategy for managing any stakeholder in an organisation or project. Ignore is the strategy of disregarding or neglecting stakeholders who have no power or interest in an organisation or project. It involves excluding them from any engagement or communication activities. This strategy is not advisable, as it may lead to stakeholder dissatisfaction, resentment or resistance. Option D is not a correct answer, as keep informed is not the further strategy that is required for any of the three stakeholders in this scenario. Keep informed is the strategy for managing stakeholders who have low power but high interest in an organisation or project. It involves providing them with regular and sufficient information and updates without overloading them with details. None of the stakeholders in this scenario have low power but high interest, as they are all involved or affected by the project in some way.

The documentation categorises costs and benefits using two dimensions: whether they are tangible (a credible, usually monetary, value can be predicted) or intangible (a credible value cannot be predicted). It also notes that benefits are often a mix of tangible and intangible, and gives examples of intangible benefits such as improved job satisfaction, improved customer satisfaction, and related “people” outcomes that are difficult to value in advance.

In the extract, the £1600 per calendar month rental rate is explicitly a tangible cost because it is a direct monetary figure. The “loss of productivity” during the phased move is a cost of the change; while it might be measurable in some cases, the extract does not quantify it, and it is presented qualitatively as an accepted impact—this aligns with an intangible cost as described in the framework.

The statements about staff feeling “in a stable environment,” having “greater flexibility,” and more opportunities to communicate are clearly intangible benefits: they are positive outcomes, but no credible monetary value is given or implied.

What is not described anywhere in the extract is a tangible benefit—there is no quantified saving, revenue increase, headcount reduction, or other measurable financial gain stated. Therefore, option C is correct.

CATWOE is a technique that helps to understand different perspectives of a situation by analyzing six elements: Customers, Actors, Transformation process, Worldview, Owner, and Environmental constraints. Shelly could use CATWOE to improve her understanding of the IT and finance director’s views on the future direction of the business, by identifying who are the customers, actors, owners, and so on for each option (organic growth or acquisition), and how they differ. Option A is the correct answer.

 The role of a business analyst (BA) is to analyse business situations and problems, identify and evaluate potential solutions, and facilitate change within an organisation or project. A BA works with stakeholders at different levels and with different interests and perspectives to understand their needs and expectations and ensure they are met by suitable solutions. Therefore, option C is not likely to be used by George’s manager in describing his role as a BA in resolving this problem. To negotiate with stakeholders to reach resolution implies that George has to persuade or compromise with stakeholders to agree on one solution or approach. This is not part of the BA’s role, as the BA does not have the authority or responsibility to make decisions or impose solutions on stakeholders. The BA’s role is to analyse and evaluate different solutions or approaches objectively and present the findings and recommendations to stakeholders for their consideration and approval. Option A is likely to be used by George’s manager in describing his role as a BA in resolving this problem. To understand and challenge the stakeholders means that George has to elicit and validate the stakeholders’ views and needs and question their assumptions and rationale. This is part of the BA’s role, as the BA has to ensure that the stakeholders’ views and needs are clear, consistent, realistic and aligned with the organisation’s strategy and objectives. Option B is likely to be used by George’s manager in describing his role as a BA in resolving this problem. To facilitate the discussion to allow the stakeholders to find a way forward means that George has to organise and conduct meetings or workshops with stakeholders to explore and evaluate different solutions or approaches and help them reach a consensus or agreement. This is part of the BA’s role, as the BA has to enable effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders and help them resolve conflicts or issues. Option D is likely to be used by George’s manager in describing his role as a BA in resolving this problem. To record the meeting and the resulting decision means that George has to document and communicate the outcomes and actions of the meeting or workshop with stakeholders and ensure they are understood and accepted by all parties. This is part of the BA’s role, as the BA has to ensure that there is a clear and accurate record of what has been discussed and decided by stakeholders and that there is a shared understanding and commitment among them.

On a power/interest grid, stakeholders must be plotted where they actually are now, not where we wish they were or where they may be in the future. In this scenario, the employees are currently outside the business area and project scope and have no interest in the project. They also have no stated ability to influence decisions or outcomes. This places them in the “no or low interest and no or low power/influence” position (low interest, low power). The documented management guidance for this group is that, for day-to-day project work, they can largely be ignored because they have neither a direct interest nor the power to affect the project.

However, the documentation also stresses that stakeholder positions can change over time, so stakeholder analysis should be a continuing activity, with the project team watching for shifts and adapting strategies accordingly. Since some employees will move into the business area in about six months, they may later gain interest (and possibly influence). Therefore, while you still plot them in the low/low quadrant now, you should monitor them and provide occasional, light-touch communications (e.g., newsletters/updates) so they are not surprised when they become more directly affected.

The documentation distinguishes clearly between mission/purpose, objectives, strategy, and tactics. A mission statement declares what business the organisation is in and what it is intending to achieve—it is the overarching purpose that provides direction and is meaningful to stakeholders such as employees and customers. In contrast, objectives are specific goals that can be measured, while strategy and tactics describe approaches and detailed means of execution.

Option C is the best “purpose/mission style” statement because it communicates a broad intent and aspiration in plain language that can be understood by both internal and external audiences. It expresses what the organisation aims to be known for and the overall value proposition it wants to deliver, which aligns with the role of a mission in providing clarity and direction.

Option A is a measurable target (an objective) tied to SLA performance, not a purpose statement. Option B describes an internal method/approach (closer to tactics or operational improvement activity) rather than the organisation’s reason for existence. Option D is a specific policy or initiative (sustainability sourcing), which can support purpose, but it is too narrow to represent the overall company mission.

Divergent and convergent thinking are most valuable when a team is generating options and then narrowing them down to the most promising set. In the business analysis guidance, this pattern appears in the creative problem-solving material: once ideas have been stimulated using creative thinking techniques (idea generation), they are then evaluated so the team can focus on ideas that could provide solutions (selection and refinement). This explicit “generate many ideas → evaluate and focus” flow is the essence of divergent (expanding possibilities) followed by convergent thinking (reducing and choosing).

Mapped to the Design Thinking Process, this aligns most directly to the Ideate stage. Ideation is where teams deliberately explore alternatives, challenge assumptions, and use creativity tools to produce a wide range of concepts before assessing them. The guidance also cautions against moving into solution selection too early and highlights that solution finding comes later, after other aspects have been considered—reinforcing that ideation should first widen thinking before converging on the best options.

By contrast, Empathise focuses on understanding users and their context, and Define focuses on clarifying the problem statement. Those stages can involve analysis and synthesis, but the documented “creative ideas then evaluate and focus” approach is most characteristically the work of Ideate.

 A partial CATWOE analysis of this situation from Imran’s perspective would identify Donald as the customer, Alan as the actor, and Imran as the owner. Donald is the customer because he is the beneficiary of FairCrops’ products and services. Alan is the actor because he is the one who implements FairCrops’ approach in the South American regions. Imran is the owner because he is the chief executive of FairCrops and has the authority to make decisions about its direction and purpose. Option A is the correct answer.

A high level Business Case is a document that provides a preliminary rationale and justification for a proposed business change or solution. It helps to establish the feasibility and desirability of the project and secure initial approval and funding for further investigation and development. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as creating a high level Business Case would be the best activity to undertake at this point for introducing a new procurement system. A high level Business Case would help to define the problem or opportunity that motivates the project, identify and compare different procurement solutions based on their expected benefits, costs, risks and impacts, and recommend the preferred option for further analysis and evaluation. A high level Business Case would provide a solid foundation for proceeding with the project and preparing a detailed Business Case later on. Option B is not a correct answer, as creating a detailed Business Case would not be an appropriate activity to undertake at this point for introducing a new procurement system. A detailed Business Case is a document that provides a comprehensive rationale and justification for a proposed business change or solution. It helps to confirm the viability and worthiness of the project and secure final approval and funding for implementation and delivery. A detailed Business Case would require conducting extensive research and analysis on the preferred procurement solution and presenting its definitive benefits, costs, risks and impacts. A detailed Business Case would be premature and unnecessary at this point, as it would depend on the outcome of the high level Business Case first. Option C is not a correct answer, as it is too early to work on the Business Case would not be an appropriate activity to undertake at this point for introducing a new procurement system. Working on the Business Case is an essential activity for any project that involves significant business change or investment. It helps to provide evidence and support for the project and ensure its alignment with the organisation’s strategy and objectives. Working on the Business Case would not be too early at this point, as it would help to establish the feasibility and desirability of the project and secure initial approval and funding for further investigation and development. Option D is not a correct answer, as confirming with the directors the costs and benefits would not be an appropriate activity to undertake at this point for introducing a new procurement system. Confirming with the directors the costs and benefits would require preparing a high level Business Case first to estimate and compare the financial implications of different options and recommend the best one for further development and implementation. Confirming with the directors the costs and benefits without preparing a high level Business Case first would risk providing inaccurate or incomplete information that may not reflect the value or feasibility of the project.

A business case is a formal written proposal that details the costs and benefits of a proposed business change or solution. It helps to justify and secure the approval and funding for a proposed business change or solution. Costs and benefits can be classified into two types: tangible and intangible. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as it identifies which categories of costs and benefits are described in this extract respectively. Intangible costs are costs that have no physical existence and cannot be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Examples of intangible costs are reputation, image, morale etc. An example of intangible costs in this extract is significant investment in terms of software licenses and annual maintenance fees, which will not be negotiable until year four of the proposal, as it has no physical existence and cannot be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Tangible benefits are benefits that have physical existence and can be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Examples of tangible benefits are revenue, profit, market share etc. An example of tangible benefits in this extract is improved management information, in addition to the boost it will give to our image with our established customers, as it has physical existence and can be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Option A is not a correct answer, as it does not identify which categories of costs and benefits are described in this extract respectively. Tangible costs are costs that have physical existence and can be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Examples of tangible costs are equipment, materials, labour etc. There is no example of tangible costs in this extract. Intangible benefits are benefits that have no physical existence and cannot be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Examples of intangible benefits are satisfaction, loyalty, quality etc. There is no example of intangible benefits in this extract (although image could be considered as an intangible benefit). Option B is not a correct answer, as it does not identify which categories of costs and benefits are described in this extract respectively. Tangible benefits are benefits that have physical existence and can be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Examples of tangible benefits are revenue, profit, market share etc. An example of tangible benefits in this extract is improved management information, in addition to the boost it will give to our image with our established customers, as it has physical existence and can be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Intangible costs are costs that have no physical existence and cannot be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Examples of intangible costs are reputation, image, morale etc. An example of intangible costs in this extract is significant investment in terms of software licenses and annual maintenance fees, which will not be negotiable until year four of the proposal, as it has no physical existence and cannot be measured or quantified easily by human senses. Option C is not a correct answer, as it does not identify any category of cost or benefit that has been described in this extract.