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IIBA Informant
News from the Denver Chapter of the IIBA
July 17, 2017  
In This Issue
Next Chapter Meeting
President's Letter
Chapter Elections
View from the BABOK
New Certifications!
Recertification
Thank You Volunteers
Membership News
Upcoming Events
Join Our Mailing List!
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July Chapter Meeting - save the date!
Calendar
Wednesday July 19th:
5:30 - 6:00 - Check in, networking
6:00 - 6:30 - Announcements and Chapter business
6:30 - 7:30 - Presentation
7:30 - 8:00 - Group QA session 
 
 

Speaker: Heidi McLaughlin

Topic: 
Leadership and Management for Business Analysts
 
Location:
Business Tech Center
8301 East Prentice Avenue, #400
Greenwood Village, CO 80111


Book Swap: Don't forget about our ongoing book swap. Do you have any business-related books that you would like to donate? Maybe there is one you would like to read?

If you can't attend the meeting in person, you can call-in and listen to the meeting announcements and presentation at 1 (605) 472-5814 with ID 642-869-993. Connect to this meeting at this link.

If you have problems during the meeting and need help, contact the webinar coordinator using the in-meeting messaging tool.   
       

       


 
President's Letter
by Phil Baker, President
Chapter Elections
by Linda Meserve, VP Communications
ECS Team - Sponsor
ECS Team continues as an annual sponsor for 2017. ECS Team,  a national professional services firm, provides seasoned  consultants w ith deep expertise in a wide range of technologies to deliver  innov ative  solutions. We do this while leveraging your existing technology by working side-by-side with your staff. This approach shortens time-to-market, decreases costs and lowers project risks. For more information, please contact:
 
Chasity Rohl
Senior Staffing Manager
303-565-2785 
crohl@ECSTeam.com
The Business Tech Center Is Our Business Space Sponsor
We would like to the thank The Business Tech Center for their involvement with the IIBA Denver Chapter. The BTC currently has an exclusive offer for IIBA members - get 15% off the rental rate! 
 
To learn more, click here for a map and pictures of our meeting facility or contact Pam Brockhouse at 303-996-2849 or info@TheBusinessTechCenter.com.
View from the BABOK®
by Barbara Griffith, CCBA     
Section 7.5 Define Design Options

BABOK V3's 7.5, Define Design Options combines V 2's Determine Solution Approach (5.3), Assess Proposed Solution (7.1), and Allocation Requirements (7.2).

The purpose is to define the solution approach, identify opportunities for business improvement, allocate requirements across the solution components, and to represent design options that will achieve the desired future state.

The inputs are validated and prioritized requirements, a change strategy (6.4), and a requirements architecture (7.4). Because three sections of V2 are combined in V3's 7.5, the list of requirements for three sections is much longer and more detailed than what is seen in V3 7.5.
Developing a change strategy means considering alternatives. The current state description and the desired future state are compared to develop feasible alternatives.  A requirements architecture ensures that the requirements support each other, are relevant, and work together to achieve the desired future state. How the requirements interact is a major focus of this task.
Guidelines and tools listed for V3 7.5 include existing solutions, the future state description, traced requirements, and the solution scope.

Defining solution approaches may include creating a solution in-house, purchasing a solution, or some combination of each. Opportunities to improve the operation of the organization are identified and considered against constraints.

Requirements allocation involves mapping requirements to components and releases in order to maximize the solution's value. The timing of when a solution feature becomes available can greatly affect its value to the organization.

The techniques used for V3 7.5 include benchmarking and market analysis, brainstorming, document analysis, interviews, lessons learned, mind mapping, root cause analysis, surveys, vendor assessment, and workshops. The stakeholders include domain subject matter experts, implementation subject matter experts, operational support staff, project managers, and suppliers.

The ideal output is a description of one or more feasible solutions that provide alternatives for the organization to weigh and consider.
New Certifications
Congratulations to IIBA newly certified people in Colorado! Our own VP of Communications, Linda, is one of them.
  • Linda Meserve, ECBA®, Arvada, June 28, 2017
  • Laura Gapinski, CBAP, Boulder,  June 22, 2017
  • Sadesh Thatikonda, ECBA, May 2, 2017
  • Lori Quarnstrom, CBAP, Johnston, April 25, 2017
  • Carolyn Grubb, ECBA, Timnath, March 23, 2017
  • Paul Festa, CCBA®, Highlands Ranch, January 12, 2017
Re-certification - Start Now! 
by Susan Futey, CBAP  
Congratulations to you if you have obtained a Business Analysis
Susan Futey
Certification from IIBA! If you intend to maintain your certification status, start now on your RE-CERTIFICATION so that you are prepared when your application is due.

Why must we recertify?
IIBA requires recertification for several reasons including:
  • Ensure BA professionals are keeping up with changes in the profession of Business Analysis
  • Encourage the effort of recipients to give back to the BA profession
  • Sustain the global recognition and value of the certificate designation

How do we recertify?
Submit to IIBA before the end of your 3-year certification cycle:  

  • Recertification Application form
  • Recertification fee payment
  • CDU Reporting form
What is the CDU Reporting Form?
IIBA provides this form online for you to list your activities toward continuing your development in Business Analysis. 60 CDUs (Continuing Development Units) total are needed across 6 qualifying categories. Each category is limited to a maximum number of CDUs allowed. Listed below are the 6 categories with example activities.  
  1. Formal Academic Education - degree credit courses related to business analysis
  2. Professional Development - education at conferences, IIBA local chapter meetings, or sessions by Endorsed Education Providers (EEP)
  3. Professional Activities - speaking on business analysis at conferences or authoring published business analysis articles
  4. Self-directed Learning - informal study groups or coaching sessions relevant to business analysis
  5. Volunteer Service - serving as a board member or on a volunteer committee for a local IIBA chapter
  6. Professional Experience - actual business analysis work experience aligned to the BABOK Guide

Start now!
I used a spreadsheet to track my CDUs in each category over the three-year certification cycle. Using my tracking spreadsheet, it was easy to copy the qualifying activities to the CDU Reporting form. My three-year certification ends this July and my recertification application was recently approved. I encourage you to start now on the recertification process so that when the time comes you are ready to demonstrate your ongoing commitment to the business analysis profession.

 
Where can we find out more?
See the Recertification section on the IIBA website where you will find answers to frequently asked questions and a Recertification Handbook containing all the details you need to prepare you to recertify.

Thanking our Volunteers
by Phil Baker, Chapter President
This month, I would like to recognize Monte Malenke as our
Monte Malenke 
volunteer  of the month. As president, Monte provided leadership to our chapter during a pivotal time. His focus and positive energy empowered all those he served, especially the board. Monte, even though your run as president has concluded, you don't need that title to still serve as one of the most influential leaders within our chapter. We appreciate the many hours you have spent volunteering over the years and look forward to many more to come. Thanks for all of your efforts Monte!

Membership News
by Susan Futey, CBAP, VP Membership
Active Member Count: 79 

Not a member yet but interested in joining?
It's a great way to network, share business analysis knowledge and experience, and learn about new techniques and processes. Best of all, membership is just $25/year! Join now!
 
Benefits of being a local chapter member:
  • Attend chapter meetings free
  • Participate in Denver Chapter elections (as candidates or as voters)
  • Participate in members-only offers such as volunteer opportunities at BA World
  • Get to wear a snazzy name badge at the meetings
IIBA member, but not a Denver Chapter member, your cost = $10 per meeting. IIBA member and a Denver Chapter member (annual membership fee of $25) your cost = free.
Take advantage of this deal today!
 
You do have to be a member of the IIBA International Organization in order to join the IIBA Denver Chapter. Join IIBA through their website at www.iiba.org . IIBA Membership benefits include:
If you have any questions about membership or renewal, please feel free to send an email using the Contact Us link on the IIBA Denver Chapter website.   
Get involved! 
by Stephanie Vinton, Volunteer Coordinator
Do you want to support local Business Analysts, the profession, increase visibility to your company, or gain recertification credits? The Denver chapter is looking for help in this manner:

Chapter Meeting Coordinator  
Do you like taking care of logistics? Use your skills to organize the details of our bi-monthly chapter meetings, such as making sure the food is ordered, picked up, and cleaned up for our meetings. And send out meeting notices. This role is not responsible for finding speakers or meeting rooms. If you would like learn more about possibly becoming our next Chapter Meeting Coordinator, please contact Stephanie or Monte.

Certification Study Group Coordinator  
The Denver Chapter is looking for a volunteer to coordinate a new study group for certification. Past study groups have been remote using conference calls and webinar technology. The group participants took turns presenting the subject matter so the volunteer coordinator is not responsible for all the material. IIBA has published exam blueprint information.

Facilitator for Mentorship Program
Are you good at coordinating people? We could use a dedicate resource to help match prospective mentees and mentors. Contact Heidi McLaughlin. 
Denver Chapter Education News
by Heidi McLaughlin, CBAP, PMP, VP Education
Chapter Mentor Program 
The Denver IIBA Chapter is dedicated to providing members with various resources to enhance their knowledge and expertise. One resource is our mentor program, which allows individual members to partner with each other with the goal of sharing ideas on strategies, techniques, issues, or anything else that influences their roles as Business Analysts. 

We can each benefit from collaboration and sharing with other members. If you would like more information on how to participate, please contact Heidi for more details.

Call for Speakers 
We are looking for speakers to speak at our chapter meetings on topics relevant to business analysts. If you have an interest in being a speaker, being part of a panel of speakers, or if you know someone who would make a great speaker, please contact Heidi for more details. Some topics that have been suggested are listed below, but of course our interests are not limited to this list.  
  • BABOK Review
  • Agile Extension to the BABOK
  • Process Mapping
  • BA Diagramming & Modeling
  • Elicitation 
  • Enterprise Analysis
Upcoming Chapter Meetings / Events
July Chapter Meeting - Wednesday July 19th.
September Chapter Meeting - Wednesday September 20th.
Fall Networking Event - To be announced.
November Chapter Meeting -Wednesday November 15th. 


Newsletter Editor: Debbie Rasor, CBAP ®
Associate Editor: Barbara Griffith, CCBA ®
  
If you have a contribution to make to the IIBA Informant, please email us at editor@denver.iiba.org

If you are interested in advertising BA-related services in the IIBA Informant, please email us at info@denver.iiba.org.

Produced by the Denver Chapter of the IIBA
President (president@denver.iiba.org)
Phil Baker
 
Finance Committee (finance@denver.iiba.org)
VP-Finance and Treasurer: James Allison 

Education Committee (education@denver.iiba.org)
VP-Education: Heidi McLaughlin, CBAP, PMP
 
Marketing Committee (marketing@denver.iiba.org)
VP-Marketing: Sandi Byron

Membership Committee (membership@denver.iiba.org)  
VP-Membership Services: Susan Futey, CBAP
Volunteer Coordinator: Stephanie Vinton (volunteercoordinator@denver.iiba.org)

Communications Committee (communications@denver.iiba.org)
VP-Communications: Linda Meserve    

Webmaster ( webmaster@denver.iiba.org)
Edgar Montes

Events Committee (events@denver.iiba.org)  
VP-Events: Phillip Baker  (interim) 
Meeting Coordinator: open
The International Institute of Business Analysis is a non-profit organization for Business Analyst professionals.  The goal of the local Denver Chapter is to support IIBA by (1) advancing the role of the Business Analyst as a recognized profession, (2) support opportunities for members to network with, and gain knowledge from, seasoned BA practitioners as well as industry and government leaders, (3) provide access for members to a formal "knowledge base" as well as forums for sharing expertise, expressing professional opinions and building a reputation within the industry, (4) provide pathways to learn about business analysis best practices, and (5) obtain and sustain a level of financial security, sustainability, and autonomy at the local level.