20.1.4 - BA Activities
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Introduction to BA Activities in E-commerce
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Today, we're exploring the specific activities of Business Analysts (BAs) in the e-commerce domain. For our case study, we're going to look at a shopping cart system. Who can remind us of the main goal of this project?
The objective is to design a shopping cart feature that allows users to add, update, and purchase items online.
Exactly! Now, what are some key requirements we need to consider for this system?
Users should be able to add multiple products and save their cart across sessions.
Great point! Also, we want to ensure that discounts can be applied and that the checkout integrates with a payment gateway. Let's remember these with the acronym 'SAD VC' which stands for: Save cart, Add products, Discounts, Verify checkout.
What about the stakeholders involved in this project?
Good question! Stakeholders include the Product Owner, Marketing Team, Customers, and the Logistics Team. Keep those in mind as they are critical for feedback and requirements. Letβs summarize: In e-commerce, BAs focus on functional requirements, stakeholder communication, and user journey mapping.
BA Activities in Healthcare
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Next, letβs transition to the healthcare domain. Can someone explain the objective of the healthcare appointment system we studied?
The aim is to allow patients to book, reschedule, or cancel appointments with doctors.
Exactly! And what activities do you think BAs would perform in this scenario?
They would gather functional requirements and create activity diagrams for the patient-doctor workflows.
Precisely! Also, defining privacy requirements for storing patient data securely is critical due to HIPAA compliance. A good mnemonic to remember is 'SAFE PATIENT'βSafeguarding All Functional Elements, Privacy And Testing Integrating User Needs and Timing.
Whatβs the significance of collaboration in this case?
Excellent point! BAs must collaborate closely with Regulatory teams, doctors, and patients to align scheduling and privacy rules. Remember to summarize: BAs in healthcare must ensure compliance, facilitate scheduling, and secure patient data.
BA Activities in Banking
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Finally, letβs discuss the banking case study focused on a loan application portal. What was the primary objective here?
To build a digital portal that streamlines the process of applying, verifying, and disbursing personal loans.
Correct! As BAs, we need to gather requirements for different user personas, like salaried versus self-employed. What activities do we perform next?
You write user stories and define integrations with credit bureaus.
Yes! A helpful acronym here is 'LEGAL REC,' standing for Loan Eligibility Gathering And Legal Risk Evaluations and Compliance. Essential to keep regulatory frameworks in mind. Letβs wrap up by emphasizing the need for rigorous risk checks and integration with third-party systems.
Introduction & Overview
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Quick Overview
Standard
Business Analysts play a crucial role in various industries. This section highlights their activities through case studies in e-commerce, healthcare, and banking, illustrating key requirements and collaboration with stakeholders. It reinforces the importance of understanding the business context for successful project execution.
Detailed
BA Activities
The activities of Business Analysts (BAs) are pivotal to the successful design and implementation of business systems across different domains. This section explores BA activities through three practical case studies: an e-commerce cart system, a healthcare appointment system, and a banking loan application portal. Each case study outlines its respective project objectives, key business requirements, stakeholders involved, and the specific BA activities conducted throughout the project.
Case Study Summaries
- E-commerce Cart System: The objective is to design a shopping cart feature for online retail, enabling users to manage their purchases seamlessly. Key activities include gathering user stories, creating wireframes, defining business rules, and conducting user acceptance testing (UAT).
- Healthcare Appointment System: This project focuses on allowing patients to book and manage appointments efficiently. BA activities involve eliciting requirements, creating diagrams for workflows, defining privacy needs, and assisting with UAT.
- Banking Loan Application: Aimed at streamlining personal loan applications, BAs conduct activities such as gathering business requirements, writing user stories, coordinating test scenarios, and preparing for training and compliance.
The takeaways emphasize the need for BAs to understand both functional and non-functional requirements while also being Agile in their approach. The chapter reinforces that BAs achieve success when they grasp not just the functional aspects of business requirements but also the broader business context.
Audio Book
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Gathering User Stories
Chapter 1 of 5
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Chapter Content
- Gather user stories (e.g., βAs a shopper, I want to remove an item from my cartβ)
Detailed Explanation
Gathering user stories involves collecting requirements directly from users about what they want from the system. Each story typically follows a format that describes who the user is, what they want, and why itβs important. For example, in an e-commerce setting, a user story might express a shopper's desire to easily manage their shopping cart.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine you're planning a party and asking your friends what snacks they would like. Each request represents a 'user story' that helps you understand how to create a menu that everyone will enjoy.
Creating Wireframes
Chapter 2 of 5
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Chapter Content
- Create wireframes for cart UI
Detailed Explanation
Creating wireframes is the process of designing a visual guide that represents the skeletal structure of a webpage or application. These wireframes indicate how users will interact with different elements of the cart's user interface, including buttons, product displays, and checkout options.
Examples & Analogies
Think of wireframes like blueprints for a house. They show where everything should go, including rooms, doors, and windows, before construction starts, allowing for modifications and plans before the actual building takes place.
Defining Business Rules
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Chapter Content
- Define business rules (e.g., max quantity per product, cart expiration)
Detailed Explanation
Defining business rules means establishing the guidelines that govern how the business operates within the system. For instance, setting a maximum allowed quantity for each product ensures that inventory management is efficient, and defining cart expiration helps manage customer expectations and inventory turnover.
Examples & Analogies
Consider business rules like the rules in a board game. They are essential for ensuring fairness and proper gameplay. If everyone knows the rules, the game runs smoothly without confusion.
Documenting Requirements
Chapter 4 of 5
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Chapter Content
- Document functional & non-functional requirements
Detailed Explanation
Documenting requirements involves detailing what the system must accomplish (functional requirements) and how it should perform (non-functional requirements). Functional requirements might include allowing users to add items to the cart, while non-functional requirements could specify that the system should load the cart in under 2 seconds.
Examples & Analogies
Creating a restaurant menu can be compared to documenting requirements. The menu outlines what dishes are available (functional) and their price points or dietary options (non-functional) to cater to customers.
Conducting UAT
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Chapter Content
- Conduct UAT for checkout and promo logic
Detailed Explanation
User Acceptance Testing (UAT) involves verifying that the functionalities work as intended from the userβs perspective. During UAT, users test the checkout process and apply promo codes to ensure everything operates smoothly and as expected before the system goes live.
Examples & Analogies
Think of UAT like a dress rehearsal for a play. Actors practice in front of an audience to ensure everything runs flawlessly before the big opening night.
Key Concepts
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User Stories: Essential for understanding user requirements.
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Stakeholders: Critical for gathering diverse perspectives.
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Privacy Compliance: Especially crucial in healthcare.
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UAT: Key for validating system functionality with real users.
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Wireframes: Important for visualizing user interface design.
Examples & Applications
Creating a wireframe for an e-commerce shopping cart as a visual guide for developers.
Collecting user stories like 'As a patient, I want to cancel an appointment so that I can reschedule it for a more convenient time.'
Memory Aids
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Rhymes
When you shop, donβt forget, items saved across, no regret!
Stories
Imagine a shopper named Tina, always forgetting whatβs in her cart. With the e-commerce platform, her items are saved β she can return anytime without the stress!
Memory Tools
Remember 'SAD VC' - Save items, Add products, Discounts, Validate checkout for e-commerce.
Acronyms
SAFE PATIENT - Safeguarding All Functional Elements, Privacy And Testing Integrating User Needs and Timing for healthcare projects.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- BA (Business Analyst)
A professional responsible for analyzing business requirements and bridging the gap between stakeholders.
- User Stories
Requirements written from the perspective of the user, typically following the format 'As a [type of user], I want [goal] so that [reason]'.
- Stakeholders
Individuals or groups that have an interest in the outcome of a project.
- UAT (User Acceptance Testing)
The final testing phase where real users validate the system's functionality before implementation.
- HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a US law designed to provide privacy standards to protect patients' medical records.
- Wireframes
Visual representations of a user interface, outlining structure and functionality.
Reference links
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