Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (IIBA I) 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the context of the ECBA exam, what does 'elicitation' primarily involve?
- Documenting approved requirements in a formal specification
- Drawing out information from stakeholders and other sources (Correct answer)
- Reviewing and approving completed deliverables
- Developing test cases based on requirements
Correct answer: Drawing out information from stakeholders and other sources
Elicitation is the process of drawing out, exploring, and identifying information relevant to the business analysis initiative.
Question 2: A BA is working on an agile project. Which artifact is MOST commonly used to capture user requirements in agile environments?
- Business Requirements Document (BRD)
- User Story (Correct answer)
- System Requirements Specification (SRS)
- Request for Proposal (RFP)
Correct answer: User Story
User stories are short, simple descriptions of a feature told from the perspective of the end user, commonly used in agile methodologies.
Question 3: The 'current state' in business analysis refers to:
- The solution that will be implemented to fix a problem
- The existing situation, including problems and opportunities (Correct answer)
- The project's current status in the delivery lifecycle
- The most recently approved version of the requirements
Correct answer: The existing situation, including problems and opportunities
The current state describes the existing business environment, processes, systems, and problems that the change initiative aims to address.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of a TRANSITION requirement?
- The system must process 1,000 transactions per second
- All existing customer data must be migrated to the new system before go-live (Correct answer)
- Users must be able to reset their own passwords
- The application must comply with PCI-DSS security standards
Correct answer: All existing customer data must be migrated to the new system before go-live
Transition requirements describe temporary capabilities needed to move from the current state to the future state, such as data migration.
Question 5: A business analyst is identifying the underlying cause of a recurring operational problem. Which technique is MOST appropriate?
- SWOT Analysis
- Root Cause Analysis (Correct answer)
- Requirements Traceability
- Scope Modeling
Correct answer: Root Cause Analysis
Root Cause Analysis (e.g., using a fishbone diagram or 5 Whys) helps identify the fundamental cause of a problem rather than treating symptoms.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a RACI matrix in business analysis?
- To document business rules and their exceptions
- To clarify roles and responsibilities among project participants (Correct answer)
- To prioritize requirements by business value
- To trace requirements from business needs to solution components
Correct answer: To clarify roles and responsibilities among project participants
A RACI matrix defines who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed for each task, clarifying stakeholder involvement.
Question 7: When assessing solution performance after implementation, a BA is performing which BABOK® knowledge area activity?
- Requirements Life Cycle Management
- Elicitation and Collaboration
- Solution Evaluation (Correct answer)
- Strategy Analysis
Correct answer: Solution Evaluation
Solution Evaluation involves assessing the performance of an implemented solution to determine how well it meets business needs.
Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (IIBA I) 4
In the context of the ECBA exam, what does 'elicitation' primarily involve?