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Industry Events
PMI Madison - Professional Development Day
May 19 -
Madison, WI
Presentation by Elizabeth Larson, PMP, CBAP. CSM
Topic: Agile: Is Your Organization Ready to Take It to the End Zone?
IIBA Nashville Chapter Meeting
May 20 -
Nashville, TN
Presentation by
Richard Larson, PMP, CBAP
Topic: Creating Bullet-Proof Business Cases
IIBA NE Wisconsin Chapter Meeting
May 24 -
Oshkosh, WI
Presentation by Richard Larson, PMP, CBAP
Topic: Creating Bullet-Proof Business Cases
IIBA Chicagoland Chapter Meeting
June 1 -
Chicago, IL
Presentation by Elizabeth Larson, PMP, CBAP, CSM
Topic: Partnering For Project Success: PM and BA Collaboration
BA World Minneapolis
June 13 and 14 -
Minneapolis, MN
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| Featured Article |  | |
The BA/PM Partnership
by Elizabeth Larson PMP, CBAP, CSM
At a conference several months ago I sat next to a project manager who observed, "My organization has changed the way we do things. Now it's the business analysts who do a lot of the work that I used to do, such as meeting with the sponsor to uncover the business problems, and determining what we're going to do on the project...I can't believe it. I feel like I'm being treated like a second-class citizen!"
Read This Article |
GUEST ARTICLE How CBAP Helps You Become a Better Consultant
By Brian Hunt, BSc, MSc, I.Eng, MIET, MInstLM, CBAP,
6 Sigma Black Belt
My introduction to business analysis and process improvement was over twenty years ago when, as an electronics engineer in a GE plant, I received training in the Workout™ process improvement methodology.
When I found the IIBA® (http://www.theiiba.org) a couple of years ago, I realized that the skills, experience and knowledge required by a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP®) broadly described the point I had reached in my career. After joining the IIBA® and reading the BABOK® I was introduced to a consolidated set of tools, techniques and methodologies that would support my consultancy work.
Read More |
 Recent Webinar
Presented by Bob Prentiss, CBAP
If you missed Bob's April 19th webinar, Pulp Fiction: BA Theory vs. Real Life, don't despair! You can still join Bob for a seriously humorous look at where business analysis theory both fails and succeeds in real life. Just like Pulp Fiction, your life as a BA can be crazy, off-center, and full of curve balls. Learn how to recognize when your real-life project is about to turn into a B-movie plot and what you can do to prevent it. This webinar will give you new insights into your BA acting career!
We have two webinar recordings available, and will be adding others soon. To view the webinars you need to be a member of our learning network, requiring a quick, one-time registration.
View Webinar Recordings |
 It's a bird!
It's a plane!
It's Superman?
By Andrea Brockmeier, PMP, CSM
Not exactly. It's an agile project manager.
They may not be superhuman, but they are super popular right now. Anything agile is hot, and although not the right fit for every project or every organization, its popularity is not likely to wane anytime soon.
PMI is introducing an agile certification in the third quarter of 2011, and there's an opportunity to participate in the certification pilot. Applications for the PMI Agile Certification will be available at the end of May to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria. Pilot candidates will submit their applications and then be the first to take the exam when it becomes available in September.
Learn More |
 Illicit Requirements
By Bob Pretiss, CBAP
Sometimes we can be inspired by the littlest things like a bee, a mosquito, or a play on words. Such was the case for me last month in all three examples, where the last of which I was inspired by one of my students who accidentally substituted "illiciting" for "eliciting" during a class exercise. We all knew what was meant and in class spelling does not count (which is the beauty of it happening during training - a safe environment!). However, in that moment I was immediately drawn to the concept of illicit requirements and what that might mean. Illicit is an adjective meaning "contrary to accepted morality or convention". Is it possible to have requirements that do not fit accepted convention, i.e. "illicit" requirements? Absolutely!
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 Watermark Learning
19th Birthday
Scholarships
In honor of our 19th birthday this year, Watermark Learning is giving out 19 scholarship seats to our public classes the remainder of the year. Candidates must be currently in job transition and submit a short application. To enroll for consideration, please email your interest to marketinginfo@watermarklearning.com. Tell us how you would benefit by a Watermark Learning class and how it will help you land your next job. Contact us for further details and an application. |
Enter to Win a Complimentary Registration to the May 24th IIBA Northeast WI Chapter Meeting!
Richard Larson, CBAP, PMP will be presenting "Creating Bullet-Proof Business Cases". Click here for further details about this event. Watermark Learning is giving away 2 free registrations and the winner will be drawn May 20th, 2011.
Email info@watermarklearning.com to enter today! |
Winners of Registrations for the 2011 Iowa Business Analyst Development Day!
Congratulations! Deede Heard and Liz Moore won the drawing for free registrations to this event.
IBADD was held in Des Moines, IA on May 13, 2011 |
 New Offerings
We are pleased to announce our newest virtual course, Data Modeling. It has helped many people learn to structure, analyze, and document data requirements, and now you can attend virtually!
Offered in a series of four modular sessions, you can learn from the convenience of your office or home. We use the same course outline that we teach in-person classes, modified for online delivery. Class sessions run June 20, 21, 27, and 29. Cost is $880.00. Check out our outline and register today! |
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Minneapolis/St. Paul IIBA Hosts Second Annual Professional Development Day
The IIBA Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter held its second annual Professional Development Day on April 27 2011. More than 350 Business Analysis Professionals were in attendance for the full day of stimulating presentations, networking, and sponsor exhibits. Watermark Learning was again a Heritage Sponsor (founding sponsor of the chapter). Elizabeth Larson presented "The Business Analyst and Project Manager Partnership" twice to accommodate the many attendees who were interested in the subject. Rich Larson's presentation on "Creating Bulletproof Business Cases" entertained and informed a "standing room only" audience. Capping off the day as closing speaker was Watermark's own Bob Prentiss, who gave a moving presentation on "The Benevolent BA - A New Kind of Leader." The event was a huge success, with more than double last year's attendance, and points the way to an even more successful Professional Development Day next year.
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Cincinnati, Ohio IIBA Chapter Hosts First Southern Ohio
Business Analysis Development Conference
The Cincinnati, Ohio IIBA Chapter held its first Business Analysis Development Conference on April 29th, 2011. More than 160 Business Analysis Professionals were in attendance for the full day of diverse presentations, networking opportunities, and sponsor exhibits. Watermark Learning was a Gold sponsor of the event which included presentations from CEO Elizabeth Larson, President Rich Larson and Client Solutions Director of Business Analysis Bob Prentiss. Elizabeth presented "BA And PM: Are They One Or Two Roles?" Rich presented on "Creating Bulletproof Business Cases," and Bob presented "From Deep Freeze To Defrost (A Business Analysis Mid-Life Career Crisis)." All three presentations were entertaining, informative and well received by conference attendees. The event was a very successful first outing for the Cincinnati chapter and all look forward to watching the chapter grow throughout the coming year.
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Registration Discount Available for Minneapolis Project Summit & Business Analysis World Conference
A "Friends of Speaker/Advisory Board" Discount of up to $265 on registration charges is available for the Project Summit & Business Analyst World Conference in Minneapolis June 13-16. Elizabeth Larson, Watermark Learning CEO, and Bob Prentiss, Watermark Learning Client Solutions Director - Business Analysis, are both scheduled to present at this event. To receive the discount, simply enter "SPKAB" in the Discount Code field during registration. For more information on the conference and to register, click here. |
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