PMI Professional in Business Analysis PMI-PBA Passing Score

A cost-benefit analysis is a tool or technique that compares the expected costs and benefits of a project or an investment. It helps to determine the value of a business case by estimating the net present value (NPV) of the project, which is the difference between the present value of the benefits and the present value of the costs. A positive NPV indicates that the project is worth pursuing, while a negative NPV suggests that the project should be rejected. A cost-benefit analysis can also calculate the return on investment (ROI) of the project, which is the ratio of the net benefits to the net costs. A higher ROI implies a higher value of the business case. A cost-benefit analysis can also consider the qualitative aspects of the project, such as the risks, assumptions, constraints, and opportunities12.

A variance analysis is a tool or technique that compares the actual performance of a project with the planned or expected performance. It helps to identify and explain the deviations or differences between the actual and planned results, such as costs, schedule, scope, quality, and benefits. A variance analysis can also provide corrective actions or recommendations to improve the project performance and align it with the business case13.

A SWOT analysis is a tool or technique that evaluates the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a project, a business, or a situation. It helps to identify the internal and external factors that can affect the success or failure of the project or the business. A SWOT analysis can also provide strategies or actions to leverage the strengths and opportunities, and to overcome or mitigate the weaknesses and threats14.

A feasibility analysis is a tool or technique that assesses the viability and practicality of a project or a solution. It helps to determine if the project or the solution can be implemented within the available resources, time, budget, and technology. A feasibility analysis can also evaluate the potential benefits and risks of the project or the solution, and compare it with other alternatives15.

References: 1 PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline, page 10-11; 2 Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 123-124; 3 Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 125-126; 4 Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 127-128; 5 Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide, page 129-130

Persona analysis is a technique that involves creating fictional characters that represent different user groups within the company. Persona analysis can help the business analyst to evaluate the solution’s acceptance criteria by providing a detailed narrative of each user group’s needs, goals, preferences, and behaviors. Persona analysis can also help to prioritize the requirements and design features that best suit each user group. References: = PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline (2019), page 11; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide (2015), page 67.

 A user survey is a technique that can be used to determine how well the solution meets the business case. A user survey is a method of collecting feedback from the end users of the solution about their satisfaction, preferences, expectations, needs, problems, or suggestions. A user survey can help to measure the performance, quality, usability, and value of the solution and compare it with the expected benefits and outcomes defined in the business case. A user survey can also help to identify areas for improvement or enhancement of the solution. Asking the sponsor for feedback is not sufficient to determine how well the solution meets the business case, as it does not capture the perspective of the end users who are directly affected by the solution. Surveying the project is not relevant to this scenario, as it does not focus on the solution but rather on the project management processes and practices. Comparing the results of day-in-the-life (DITL) testing and integration testing is not effective, as it does not reflect the actual usage and experience of the solution by the end users after deployment. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 14; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 80.

 The type of requirements that do not trace to a business need are out-of-scope requirements. Out-of-scope requirements are the requirements that are not related to the project scope, objectives, or deliverables, and that do not contribute to the solution of the business problem or opportunity. Out-of-scope requirements are usually identified and excluded during the requirements analysis and traceability processes, to avoid wasting time, resources, and effort on unnecessary or irrelevant features or functions. Out-of-scope requirements can be caused by various factors, such as unclear or changing business needs, conflicting or unrealistic stakeholder expectations, poor communication or elicitation techniques, or lack of validation or verification methods. References: PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)® Examination Content Outline1, page 18; Business Analysis for Practitioners: A Practice Guide2, page 92.