BCS Business Analysis Practice
Level: Advanced, Intermediate
Develop Advanced Business Analysis Skills
Master Strategic Analysis, Business Modelling & Change
Gain an Industry-Recognised BCS Certification
BCS Course Materials & Examination Included
Welsh Government Funding Accepted
Course Overview
Duration:
3 Days (9:30am-5:00pm)
Accredited:
Yes
Exams:
Included
Funding:
ReAct
Type:
Classroom, Onsite, Virtual
Company group booking discount available
Course Overview
Duration:
3 Days (9:30am-5:00pm)
Accredited:
Yes
Exams:
Included
Funding:
ReAct
Type:
Classroom, Onsite, Virtual
Company group booking discount available
The BCS Business Analysis Practice course develops the practical skills required to investigate business situations, identify opportunities for improvement and recommend solutions that support organisational objectives. Business Analysis Practice focuses on applying business analysis techniques in real-world environments, helping learners evaluate business needs, assess organisational performance, and support successful business change. The course explores strategy analysis, stakeholder engagement, business modelling and business case development, providing a structured approach to identifying and delivering improvements. Through practical exercises, case studies, and examination preparation, delegates will build the confidence to analyse business problems, evaluate options, and contribute effectively to business change initiatives. The qualification is recognised across industries and forms part of the BCS Business Analysis certificate pathway.
Target Audience
- Business analysts and aspiring business analysts
- Project managers and project support staff
- Business change and transformation professionals
- Systems analysts and consultants
- Professionals responsible for process improvement and business strategy
- Individuals progressing through the BCS Business Analysis certification pathway
By the End of This Course, You Will Be Able To:
- Develop and evaluate business strategies
- Identify and measure key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Understand and assess stakeholder perspectives and interests
- Model and analyse business activities and processes
- Perform gap analysis to identify areas for improvement
- Identify opportunities for business improvement and change
- Manage and engage project stakeholders effectively
- Develop recommendations for change initiatives and projects
- Identify and assess the costs, benefits and impacts of proposed changes
- Prepare confidently for the BCS Business Analysis Practice examination
The BCS Business Analysis Practice course develops the practical skills required to investigate business situations, identify opportunities for improvement and recommend solutions that support organisational objectives. Business Analysis Practice focuses on applying business analysis techniques in real-world environments, helping learners evaluate business needs, assess organisational performance, and support successful business change. The course explores strategy analysis, stakeholder engagement, business modelling and business case development, providing a structured approach to identifying and delivering improvements. Through practical exercises, case studies, and examination preparation, delegates will build the confidence to analyse business problems, evaluate options, and contribute effectively to business change initiatives. The qualification is recognised across industries and forms part of the BCS Business Analysis certificate pathway.
Target Audience
- Business analysts and aspiring business analysts
- Project managers and project support staff
- Business change and transformation professionals
- Systems analysts and consultants
- Professionals responsible for process improvement and business strategy
- Individuals progressing through the BCS Business Analysis certification pathway
By the End of This Course, You Will Be Able To:
- Develop and evaluate business strategies
- Identify and measure key performance indicators (KPIs)
- Understand and assess stakeholder perspectives and interests
- Model and analyse business activities and processes
- Perform gap analysis to identify areas for improvement
- Identify opportunities for business improvement and change
- Manage and engage project stakeholders effectively
- Develop recommendations for change initiatives and projects
- Identify and assess the costs, benefits and impacts of proposed changes
- Prepare confidently for the BCS Business Analysis Practice examination
Business Analysis Practice
Business analysis rationale
- What is a business system?
- The place of business analysis.
- Business analysis versus systems analysis.
- Approaches to business analysis.
Strategic analysis in context
- Understanding the organisation’s strengths and weaknesses.
- External analysis – PESTLE.
- Internal analysis – Resource Audit.
A project approach to business analysis
- Business analysis studies as projects.
- Terms of reference and project initiation.
- Assuring business benefit.
Understanding the situation/issues
- Types of business ‘problem’.
- Rich pictures.
- Defining the problem.
- Review of investigation techniques.
Business perspectives
- Business perspective – introduction.
- Defining the perspective – CATWOE.
Analysing and modelling the business activities
- Modelling business activities.
- Five types of business activity.
- Modelling multiple perspectives.
- Decomposing activities.
- Validating the business activity model.
- End-to-end process maps.
Creative problem solving
- Barriers to creativity.
- Brainstorming.
- Stimulating creative thinking.
Identifying potential solutions
- Exploring the gap between the current and desired situation.
- Areas for business improvement (structure, processes, people)
- Holistic approach to business solutions.
- Discussion of business change programmes.
Making the business case
- Contents of a business case.
- Options.
- Costs and benefits.
- Impacts and risks.
- Payback and discounted cash flow.
- Presenting the business case.
Course summary and review
- Review of concepts and approaches covered.
Business Analysis Practice
Business analysis rationale
- What is a business system?
- The place of business analysis.
- Business analysis versus systems analysis.
- Approaches to business analysis.
Strategic analysis in context
- Understanding the organisation’s strengths and weaknesses.
- External analysis – PESTLE.
- Internal analysis – Resource Audit.
A project approach to business analysis
- Business analysis studies as projects.
- Terms of reference and project initiation.
- Assuring business benefit.
Understanding the situation/issues
- Types of business ‘problem’.
- Rich pictures.
- Defining the problem.
- Review of investigation techniques.
Business perspectives
- Business perspective – introduction.
- Defining the perspective – CATWOE.
Analysing and modelling the business activities
- Modelling business activities.
- Five types of business activity.
- Modelling multiple perspectives.
- Decomposing activities.
- Validating the business activity model.
- End-to-end process maps.
Creative problem solving
- Barriers to creativity.
- Brainstorming.
- Stimulating creative thinking.
Identifying potential solutions
- Exploring the gap between the current and desired situation.
- Areas for business improvement (structure, processes, people)
- Holistic approach to business solutions.
- Discussion of business change programmes.
Making the business case
- Contents of a business case.
- Options.
- Costs and benefits.
- Impacts and risks.
- Payback and discounted cash flow.
- Presenting the business case.
Course summary and review
- Review of concepts and approaches covered.
- Exam time: 60 minutes
- Multiple-choice style: 40 questions
- Pass mark: (26/40) 60% or more
- Closed-book exam (i.e. no reference materials are allowed during the exam
Please note: The BCS Business Analysis Practice examination is included for most learners. However, funding restrictions may apply under certain funding schemes, such as ReAct or other government-funded programmes, which may require learners to self-fund the certification examination. Please contact us before booking if you are unsure of your eligibility.
- Exam time: 60 minutes
- Multiple-choice style: 40 questions
- Pass mark: (26/40) 60% or more
- Closed-book exam (i.e. no reference materials are allowed during the exam
Please note: The BCS Business Analysis Practice examination is included for most learners. However, funding restrictions may apply under certain funding schemes, such as ReAct or other government-funded programmes, which may require learners to self-fund the certification examination. Please contact us before booking if you are unsure of your eligibility.
- Three days of instructor-led training and exam preparation delivered by NILC’s accredited Business Analysis trainer
- Comprehensive course notes, presentation slides, business analysis diagrams and sample examination papers
- Official BCS Business Analysis publication
- BCS Business Analysis Practice examination included
- One year of BCS Associate Membership with The Chartered Institute for IT (subject to BCS terms and conditions)
- Official BCS Business Analysis Practice certification upon successful completion of the examination
- Three days of instructor-led training and exam preparation delivered by NILC’s accredited Business Analysis trainer
- Comprehensive course notes, presentation slides, business analysis diagrams and sample examination papers
- Official BCS Business Analysis publication
- BCS Business Analysis Practice examination included
- One year of BCS Associate Membership with The Chartered Institute for IT (subject to BCS terms and conditions)
- Official BCS Business Analysis Practice certification upon successful completion of the examination
Learners should hold the BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis or possess equivalent business analysis knowledge and experience. The course is suitable for professionals involved in business change, process improvement, project delivery and organisational development.
Learners should hold the BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis or possess equivalent business analysis knowledge and experience. The course is suitable for professionals involved in business change, process improvement, project delivery and organisational development.
Who is the BCS Business Analysis Practice course suitable for?
The course is suitable for business analysts, business change professionals, project professionals and anyone involved in investigating business problems and identifying potential improvements. It is particularly useful for those who want to develop more advanced and structured business analysis techniques.
Do I need previous business analysis experience?
There are no formal prerequisites, although some previous knowledge or experience of business analysis is beneficial. The course covers Intermediate to Advanced concepts and is particularly suitable for learners who already understand the basic role of a business analyst.
What will I learn on the BCS Business Analysis Practice course?
You will learn how to analyse an organisation and its business environment, investigate business problems, understand different stakeholder perspectives, model business activities, identify potential improvements and develop a business case for change.
Who is the BCS Business Analysis Practice course suitable for?
The course is suitable for business analysts, business change professionals, project professionals and anyone involved in investigating business problems and identifying potential improvements. It is particularly useful for those who want to develop more advanced and structured business analysis techniques.
Do I need previous business analysis experience?
There are no formal prerequisites, although some previous knowledge or experience of business analysis is beneficial. The course covers Intermediate to Advanced concepts and is particularly suitable for learners who already understand the basic role of a business analyst.
What will I learn on the BCS Business Analysis Practice course?
You will learn how to analyse an organisation and its business environment, investigate business problems, understand different stakeholder perspectives, model business activities, identify potential improvements and develop a business case for change.
Dates & Prices
Upcoming Courses
Live Instructor-Led Virtual
Spaces: Available
Start Date: Mon 14 September 2026
Live Instructor-Led Virtual
Spaces: Available
Start Date: Mon 09 November 2026
Can't find the course dates, location or delivery type you are looking for?
Fill out the request dates form above and we'll try our best to accommodate or contact us directly.
"*" indicates required fields
How we deliver our courses
Virtual
Our virtual courses allow you to access live instructor-led training from the same expert instructors that deliver our classroom courses, without leaving the comfort of your home or office. All virtual courses are fully interactive, and learners can communicate with their trainer and peers at any time.
Many of our virtual courses are also recorded, so you can recap over the content you learnt as many time as you wish.
Classroom
Our classroom courses allow you to learn and interact face-to-face with our expert instructors in a comfortable and modern training environment. All of our classroom based courses take place at NILC centers, or high quality training facilities, and include all required IT and physical equipment.
We also limit our class sizes to help promote better discussions and to ensure your learning experience is comfortable as possible.
Onsite
Save time and hassle by arranging for one of our expert instructors to come to you. Our onsite courses allow you to learn in a location of your choosing, and you can train as many or as few people as you want – from a single person or team to whole departments. We can also fully customize the course content to the specific requirements of your business or project.
We offer onsite courses throughout the UK and it can be a great team building opportunity for colleagues to come together, bond and discuss.
Online
Our Online Self Paced courses allow you to learn new skills from our expert instructors, in your own time and at your own pace. Our flexible online learning platform allows you to access content on your computer, tablet or mobile device, whether you’re on the move or at home. All our online courses come with immediate access and you can start learning straight away, from any internet enabled compatible device.
We also offer online email support from our expert instructors, so they’re always on hand and happy to help you with any questions which may arise.
Why choose NILC for your training?
Award-Winning Training with Industry-Leading Customer Satisfaction
Trusted Training Partner by Colleges, Government Organisations and Businesses
UK-Based Trainers with Real-World Industry Experience
Family-Run Business with Customer Service at Its Core
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot with 950+ Customer Reviews
Our learners rate us 'Excellent' on Trustpilot
Frequently Asked Questions
The course is suitable for business analysts, business change professionals, project professionals and anyone involved in investigating business problems and identifying potential improvements. It is particularly useful for those who want to develop more advanced and structured business analysis techniques.
There are no formal prerequisites, although some previous knowledge or experience of business analysis is beneficial. The course covers Intermediate to Advanced concepts and is particularly suitable for learners who already understand the basic role of a business analyst.
You will learn how to analyse an organisation and its business environment, investigate business problems, understand different stakeholder perspectives, model business activities, identify potential improvements and develop a business case for change.
Yes. You will explore strategic analysis techniques to understand an organisation and its environment, including PESTLE analysis to examine external factors and a resource audit to analyse internal capabilities.
Yes. Understanding different business perspectives is an important part of the course. You will learn how techniques such as CATWOE can help you explore different stakeholder viewpoints and develop a broader understanding of a business situation.
Yes. You will learn to model business activities, work from multiple perspectives, decompose activities, and validate business activity models. The course also explores end-to-end process mapping.
Yes. You will learn how to explore the gap between an organisation’s current and desired situation and identify potential improvements across areas such as people, processes and organisational structure.
Yes. The course covers the key components of a business case, including options, costs and benefits, impacts, risks, payback and discounted cash flow. You will also explore how to present a business case effectively to stakeholders.
Yes. The BCS Business Analysis Practice examination is included with the course. The exam is 60 minutes long and contains 40 multiple-choice questions. It is a closed-book examination. Please note: The BCS Requirements Engineering examination is included for most learners. However, funding restrictions may apply under certain funding schemes, such as ReAct or other government-funded programmes, which may require learners to self-fund the certification examination. Please contact us before booking if you are unsure of your eligibility.
The course includes three days of training and exam preparation with an accredited Business Analysis trainer, course notes, presentation slides, diagrams, sample examination papers, a BCS Business Analysis book, the examination and official certification upon successful completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
The course is suitable for business analysts, business change professionals, project professionals and anyone involved in investigating business problems and identifying potential improvements. It is particularly useful for those who want to develop more advanced and structured business analysis techniques.
There are no formal prerequisites, although some previous knowledge or experience of business analysis is beneficial. The course covers Intermediate to Advanced concepts and is particularly suitable for learners who already understand the basic role of a business analyst.
You will learn how to analyse an organisation and its business environment, investigate business problems, understand different stakeholder perspectives, model business activities, identify potential improvements and develop a business case for change.
Yes. You will explore strategic analysis techniques to understand an organisation and its environment, including PESTLE analysis to examine external factors and a resource audit to analyse internal capabilities.
Yes. Understanding different business perspectives is an important part of the course. You will learn how techniques such as CATWOE can help you explore different stakeholder viewpoints and develop a broader understanding of a business situation.
Yes. You will learn to model business activities, work from multiple perspectives, decompose activities, and validate business activity models. The course also explores end-to-end process mapping.
Yes. You will learn how to explore the gap between an organisation’s current and desired situation and identify potential improvements across areas such as people, processes and organisational structure.
Yes. The course covers the key components of a business case, including options, costs and benefits, impacts, risks, payback and discounted cash flow. You will also explore how to present a business case effectively to stakeholders.
Yes. The BCS Business Analysis Practice examination is included with the course. The exam is 60 minutes long and contains 40 multiple-choice questions. It is a closed-book examination. Please note: The BCS Requirements Engineering examination is included for most learners. However, funding restrictions may apply under certain funding schemes, such as ReAct or other government-funded programmes, which may require learners to self-fund the certification examination. Please contact us before booking if you are unsure of your eligibility.
The course includes three days of training and exam preparation with an accredited Business Analysis trainer, course notes, presentation slides, diagrams, sample examination papers, a BCS Business Analysis book, the examination and official certification upon successful completion.
Trusted By
Related Courses
BCS Foundation in Business Analysis
Level: Foundation
3 Days (9:30am-5:00pm)
Accredited: Yes
Funding: ReAct
BCS Requirements Engineering
Level: Intermediate
3 Days (9:30am-5:00pm)
Accredited: Yes
Funding: ReAct