BOOK REVIEW
Book Title: Agile Business Analysis: Enabling Continuous Improvement of Requirements, Project Scope, and Agile Project Results
Author: Kevin Aguanno and Ori Schibi
Publisher: J. Ross Publishing
List Price: US$44.95
Format: Hardcover, 344 pages
Publication Date: 2019
ISBN: 978-1-60427-148-5
Reviewer: Jennifer Arroyo, PMP
Review Date: Feb 2019
Introduction
Agile is an iterative approach to software development that has rapidly gained popularity in the IT industry as the preferred alternative to traditional project management. As the intro chapter of the book states “(Agile’s) growth and increasing rate of adoption introduce new challenges (and opportunities) on an ongoing basis. Agile is also not the solution for all problems, but it is an approach, an umbrella, and a state of mind that, if done properly, can yield significant benefits for the performing organization.”
Agile Business Analysis was written by Aguanno and Schibi, two well-known figures in the agile movement. This book offers an expert perspective of how the BA (Business Analyst) role can be relevant in the agile world. It provides practical tips, how-to’s, tools, downloadable agile triage checklist, spreadsheet templates and slides.
Overview of Book’s Structure
- Chapter 1 Introduction to Agile and Agile Processes – The BA, Efficiencies, and an Eye for Waste
- Chapter 2 Agile Challenges – Approach, Readiness, and Governance
- Chapter 3 Roles and Responsibilities – Traditional vs Agile and the Role Impact
- Chapter 4 Agile Requirements and User Stories – Visualizing User Stories, Agile Analysis Work Products and Use Cases
- Chapter 5 Agile Documentation – Agile Project Documentation and Reporting
- Chapter 6 The BA Role in Planning and Estimating – Same BA Skills-Different Application
- Chapter 7 Agile Events and Work Products – Handling Change
- Chapter 8 Testing and Solution Evaluation – Agile Testing Strategy
- Chapter 9 A Day in the Life of an Agile Business Analyst – Sample Case Scenario
- Chapter 10 Moving Forward – The Challenges & the BA Skills and Organizational Agility
Highlights
The purpose of the book is to identify many areas where a BA can complement the skills and experience of other team members to benefit the project. Peter Drucker is often quoted as saying that “you can’t manage what you can’t measure.” In my experience, BA professionals help support the product owner, the PM, individual team members, and the PMO in business intelligence projects.
This book collates important insights on everything you need to know in one place.
Each topic is organized sensibly with a detailed table of contents, infographics, and index.
More…
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About the Reviewer
Jennifer Arroyo, MBA, PMP
Texas, USA
For more than 10 years Ms. Arroyo has worked with individuals and teams in Fortune 500 financial services business environments. Her emphasis is in Data Audit in compliance, financial Data Analysis, CRM applications, meeting project requirements, achieving project goals and subsequently improving company operational performance.
During her recent PMO involvement she aligned her project management knowledge of current BI enterprise applications and solution-based analytic tools to bring optimal outcomes and overall marketing program/project success.
As a lifelong learner, she is currently pursuing a MS degree in Advanced Data Analytics with a focus in information systems for Healthcare Management. Ms. Arroyo has been a member of PMI Dallas Chapter since 2015.
Contact at jenniferarroyo@my.unt.edu
Editor’s note: This book review was the result of a partnership between the publisher, PM World and the PMI Dallas Chapter. Authors and publishers provide the books to PM World; books are delivered to the PMI Dallas Chapter, where they are offered free to PMI members to review; book reviews are published in the PM World Journal and PM World Library. If you are an author or publisher of a project management-related book, and would like the book reviewed through this program, please contact info@pmworldjournal.com.
