Agile Business Analysis Initiative Horizon Planning Questions and Answers Flashcards

In initiative horizon planning, what is the primary purpose of a rolling wave approach?

Answer: To progressively elaborate details as the initiative moves closer to execution

Rolling wave planning progressively elaborates near-term work in detail while keeping future horizons at a higher level of abstraction.

Which horizon in a typical three-horizon model focuses on sustaining and optimizing current business capabilities?

Answer: Horizon 1

Horizon 1 addresses initiatives that maintain and incrementally improve existing products and services.

How should a business analyst handle conflicting initiative priorities across multiple planning horizons?

Answer: Facilitate a structured prioritization workshop with key stakeholders using agreed-upon criteria

A structured prioritization workshop ensures transparent, criteria-based decisions that align with organizational strategy.

What is a key risk when an organization over-invests in Horizon 3 initiatives at the expense of Horizon 1?

Answer: Core revenue-generating products may deteriorate due to lack of maintenance and improvement

Neglecting Horizon 1 can erode the stable revenue base that funds longer-term innovation efforts.

During initiative horizon planning, what artifact does the business analyst typically use to visualize initiative sequencing and dependencies?

Answer: A roadmap with time-based swim lanes showing initiative groupings per horizon

A roadmap with swim lanes per horizon provides a strategic view of how initiatives are sequenced and how they depend on each other.

Why is it important to define measurable outcomes for each planning horizon rather than just listing features?

Answer: Outcome-based planning allows teams to pivot on solutions while staying aligned to strategic goals

Outcome-based planning keeps teams focused on delivering value and allows flexibility in how that value is achieved.