Specifying, modeling, verifying, and validating requirements; defining architecture and design options; analyzing potential value.
This knowledge area is the largest on the CBAP exam and covers the core analytical work of business analysis. It includes specifying and modeling requirements using text, matrices, and diagrams, verifying requirements against quality standards (correctness, completeness, consistency, feasibility), validating that requirements deliver expected business value, defining requirements architecture to organize and structure complex requirement sets, defining and comparing design options, and analyzing potential value to recommend the optimal solution. This domain represents approximately 30% of the CBAP exam (~36 questions out of 120).
5 minutes
5 Questions
Requirements Analysis and Design Definition are two critical phases in the CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional) framework that bridge stakeholder needs with technical solutions.
Requirements Analysis is the process of gathering, documenting, and analyzing business and stakeholder needs to understand what a solution must accomplish. Business analysts work to elicit requirements from various stakeholders, including clients, end-users, and management. This involves conducting interviews, workshops, and surveys to identify functional and non-functional requirements. Analysts then organize, prioritize, and validate these requirements to ensure they are clear, complete, feasible, and aligned with business objectives. Requirements analysis also involves identifying constraints, dependencies, and potential conflicts between requirements. The output includes comprehensive documentation that serves as the foundation for solution design and development.
Design Definition involves translating validated requirements into detailed specifications that guide the development and implementation of the solution. Business analysts collaborate with architects, designers, and technical teams to create design documents, prototypes, and models that demonstrate how requirements will be met. This phase includes defining system architecture, data structures, user interfaces, and integration points. Design Definition ensures that the technical approach aligns with business requirements and organizational standards.
Together, these processes create a continuous flow: Requirements Analysis identifies what needs to be built, while Design Definition specifies how it will be built. Both phases require stakeholder engagement, documentation, and validation. Business analysts must ensure that design decisions trace back to original requirements and that any design changes are communicated to stakeholders. These interconnected phases minimize rework, reduce project risks, and ensure the final solution effectively addresses business needs while meeting quality standards and organizational constraints.Requirements Analysis and Design Definition are two critical phases in the CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional) framework that bridge stakeholder needs with technical solutions.
Requirements Analysis is the process of gathering, documenting, and analyzing business and stakeholder needs …