Lean Business Analysis

Jake Calabrese CBAP, PMP, CSP

Agenda

• Business analysis• Lean overview• Software development wastes• Removing wastes

Business Analysis“The set of tasks and techniques used by clueless knuckleheads to generate as much waste, documentation, confusion, “system shall” statements, and other assorted useless trash … which are generated by meeting with various people who may or may not know what the organization needs and writing down whatever they say they want while not ever wondering what they need… then giving this pile‐o‐fun to some developers and saying “code it” and assuming everything will be fine” – Attributed to someone who never met a great business analyst

Business Analysis“The set of tasks and techniques used to work as a liaison among stakeholders in order to understand the structure, policies and operations of an organization, and to recommend solutions that enable the organization to achieve its goals.” ‐ IIBA BABOK 2.0

Lean

“Provide the most value with the least waste”

Lean Foundations

• TPS (Toyota Production System)• Eliminate:

– Waste (Muda)– Overburdening (Muri)– Unevenness (Mura)

7 Wastes

1. Inventory2. Over Production 3. Over Processing4. Defects5. Waiting6. Transportation7. Motion

- Taiichi Ohno- Shigeo Shingo

Overburdening

• Pushing people or equipment beyond their limits

• Introduces safety issues, burnout, breakdowns, and quality problems (defects)

Unevenness

• Work volumes fluctuate • Requires being able to handle the largest

volume• Average flow is much lower• Can be very challenging to solve

Software Development Wastes

• Mapping production wastes to software development wastes

• Business analysis wastes

Waste: Inventory

• Software in progress• Software that is under utilized or under deployed• Requirements documents sitting around waiting to

be developed• Software that has not been tested• Incomplete training/code documentation (if

needed)

100 At OnceHow many projects are you currently working on?- Website- ecommerce- Business intelligence- ERP systems- Custom Software- Commercial “Off The Shelf” Software (COTS)- Enhancements and updates- New release integrations- Infrastructure- Hardware- Audits- Data-Telecom- Data Migration- Acquisitions-Mergers

Waste: Over Production

• Extra features – Anyone can introduce them• YAGNI• Results of filling the feature bus

– Code base expands– Costs increase– Leads to more related features– Will change anyway – real needs are not clear yet– Prevents work on valuable features

What Can the BA Do?

• Train stakeholders and developers• No silver bullet• Start with yourself!• Perseverance

Removing Common Wastes

• Leverage scope – Focus your efforts

• Defer elicitation and analysis until the last responsible moment

• Question everything – even the questions!

• Pareto Principle • “Feature Scooter”

In Practice

• Business intelligence• Some requirements really aren’t• Annuity product

Being Lean

• Focus on providing the most value• Understand your process• Eliminate the wastes

Questions?

How to Claim Your PDU

• Go to ccrs.pmi.org/• Search for ASPE as a Registered Education

Provider. Our number is 2161• At the bottom of our details page, select “See

Provider’s Activities”• Find the activity code stated by the moderator

during the presentation: WS020811 • The seminars are Category 3 for one PDU