Solution Evaluation

V3Vn this chapter, we will cover the tasks that business analysts perform to analyze and assess a solution in terms of its ability to meet the business objectives in a way that delivers real business value to the organization. It also looks at the tasks a business analyst performs to formulate recommendations for removing barriers and constraints that inhibit the organization's ability to deliver the full business value.

This chapter will look at the BABOK® V3 Guide tasks—Measure Solution Performance, Analyze Performance Measures, Assess Solution Limitations, Assess Enterprise Limitations, and Recommend Actions to Increase the Solution Value—and will bring each into the real world with scenarios and examples.

By the end of this chapter, the reader will have knowledge about the following concepts and tasks:

• Purpose and context of solution...

What is Solution Evaluation?

Solution evaluation deals with the assessment and analysis of an actual solution that already exists within the organization. This knowledge area has some similarities to other knowledge areas, namely strategy analysis, requirement analysis, and design definition. The key distinction between these knowledge areas’ activities and solution evaluation is that solution evaluation involves working with an existing solution that is already operational within the organization. It is also important to note that this could also include a solution that has been in production for a while after being implemented by the organization. This solution could now be evaluated in terms of its performance in relation to meeting expected benefits.

Solution evaluation tasks are often performed on parts of the solution during different stages of their development....

Business Analysis Core Concept Model™

Before we delve into each of the specific tasks of solution evaluation, let's first understand how this knowledge area applies to the Business Analysis Core Concept Model with an example.

The six core concepts, which are described in the Business Analysis Core Concept Model, are as follows:

• Change
• Need
• Solution
• Stakeholder
• Value
• Context

In this section, we will consider how solution evaluation as a knowledge area applies to the Business Analysis Core Concept Model through the use of a practical example.

Change

The core concept of Change refers to a recommendation for a change to either a solution or the enterprise in order to realize the potential value of a solution....

Task: Measure Solution Performance

The first task that is described as part of solution evaluation is about determining what the measurements are for evaluating the performance of a solution.

In this section, we will cover the purpose of this task and the different aspects of measuring solution performance in the context of the task's core elements. For any solution to be a success, it is important to capture and track its performance using defined measures. In this section, we will discuss what considerations and elements a business analyst should apply when they measure a solution's performance.

Let's start by considering the purpose of this task.

Purpose

According to the BABOK® V3 Guide, the purpose...

Task: Analyzing Performance Measures

The second task described as part of the field of solution evaluation involves the business analyst providing insights and analysis of the results in terms of the business value being delivered by an existing implemented solution. We will discuss the key concepts around the desired value versus the actual value being delivered by the solution, the risks to consider, trends that may arise in our performance results, and the importance of considering the accuracy of our results.

During this section, we will cover the different aspects of providing these performance insights and outline some of the key considerations when performing this task. Let's now continue with the purpose of this task.

Purpose

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Task: Assessing Solution Limitations

We have just learned how to define performance measures and what to consider when we analyze the performance results. This section will help the business analyst to understand what the solution limitations could be that will have an effect on the performance results.

The third task described as part of solution evaluation is about investigating any internal solution factors that may impact the solution's ability to realize its full business value.

In this section, you will learn about the root causes of ineffective or underperformance in existing solutions. You will also learn that this type of assessment can be performed at any stage of the solution's life cycle, from development to being an operational implemented solution.

Let's now consider the purpose of the task: assessing solution limitations.

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Task: Assessing Enterprise Limitations

When we assess the enterprise limitations, we do this in the context of the performance results for the solution we are analyzing.

The fourth task described as part of the field of solution evaluation is to assess enterprise limitations. This task describes the activities involved in assessing the factors external to the solution that limit its potential to deliver its full business value.

In this section, you will learn about the nature of enterprise limitations and what to consider when performing an enterprise culture assessment, stakeholder impact analysis, and organizational structure change. You will also learn about what is included in an operational assessment.

Let's continue this section by learning about the overarching purpose of assessing enterprise limitations in the context of solution evaluation.

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Task: Recommending Actions to Increase the Solution Value

The fifth and final task described as part of solution evaluation is recommending actions to increase the solution value. This task describes the elements and considerations that a business analyst needs to include when preparing to recommend actions to the organization to ensure better solution value.

In this section, you will learn about the different types of recommendation that a business analyst could make when presenting the results of assessing the solution and enterprise in the context of analyzing a solution's value to the organization.

Let's continue this section by learning about the primary purpose of recommending actions to increase the solution value in the context of solution evaluation.

Purpose

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Summary

In this chapter, you learned about solution evaluation.

The following are the key concepts and tasks that we covered during this chapter:

• The purpose and context of this knowledge area
• Task: Measuring solution performance
• Task: Analyzing performance measures
• Task: Assessing solution limitations
• Task: Assessing enterprise limitations
• Task: Recommending actions to increase the solution value

In the next chapter, we will learn about the underlying competencies that every business analyst should develop and improve during the course of their professional business analysis careers.

Make sure that you revise these key pieces of information before completing the knowledge quiz at the end of this chapter.

You should now have an understanding of the importance and purpose of the field of solution evaluation and know the scope of performing analysis tasks from the perspective...

Knowledge quiz

Consider the following real-world scenario and complete the micro mock exam based on this chapter that follows.

Case study: Mobile pay

You are part of a project team working for the country's largest bank. Your team has just launched the first mobile phone payment application in partnership with the world's most advanced end-user technology company, Oranges Inc. The solution you implemented allows people to pay for everyday transactions using their mobile phones instead of plastic credit and debit cards. People simply need to pass their phone over the payment terminal and the transaction is completed. The bank's stakeholders expect that the number of transactions will increase dramatically and...