IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis) has announced a strategic alliance with four leading, global organizations.
The four “leading, global, organisations” are:
- BCS The Chartered Institute for IT,
- BRM Institute,
- IREB, and
- Sparx Systems Pty Ltd.
In my opinion, this IIBA Alliance is a good thing.
Each of these organisations offer real value – often in ways that the IIBA can’t.
Map Makers
Let’s face it, IIBA does not pretend to be an expert in any one specific field.
The IIBA (according to themselves) assists business analysts by defining standards for business analysis, identify the skills necessary to be effective in the business analyst role and recognise BA competency through their CCBA and CBAP certification.
In fact, in an earlier post, (CBAP Certification as a Destination), I mentioned that “the BABOK was merely providing an extremely good high-level map of the BA world. One with signposts to areas that needed further exploring.”
Members of the IIBA Alliance
So what value do the parties of this alliance have to offer? Let’s have a look…
BCS
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, promotes good working practices, codes of conduct, skills frameworks and common standards. (In that respect, they are similar to the IIBA).
They provide rich, detailed, guidance, and certifications, for specific areas relating to Business Analysis. I have always been impressed with their in-depth material. In fact, one of the most valuable books that I have in my BA bookcase, is “Business Analysis Techniques”, it’s my go-to book when I want to understand specific BA techniques
I see the BCS as definitely complementing what the IIBA offers. (Check out their website, the qualifications, and certifications that they offer, and their list of excellent books).
Let’s face it, IIBA does not pretend to be an expert in any one specific field.
BRM Institute
The Business Relationship Management Institute advances the art and discipline of BRM. They offer training and varying degrees of certification in BRM. They also have their own BOK, the BRM Body of Knowledge.
Having the BRMI in a partnership with the IIBA is definitely a winner. It will definitely strengthen the discipline of Business Analysis.
You can read more about the BRM Institute on their website.
IREB
The International Requirements Engineering Board provides training and certification in the field of Requirements Engineering (naturally). Their certification is the Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering (CPRE), and is made up of three levels – Foundation, Advanced, Expert. (The Expert level is in the planning stages – so really it’s only two levels). The IREB publish an excellent (free) quarterly magazine – Requirements Engineering.
The IREB focuses in depth on software specific requirement elicitation, requirements documentation, requirements analysis, requirements modeling and requirements management. This will definitely be of value to a complete BA offering.
IREB’s website: https://www.ireb.org/en. Click here also to see an interesting comparison of the IIBA and IREB offering (from 2014).
Sparx Systems
Sparx Systems specialise in visual modelling tools. Their product Enterprise Architect is an exceptional tool for full life cycle modeling. It has a user base of over 350,000, and is used across the globe. Added to that Sparx offer a wealth of information including white papers, tutorials, e-books, etc.
Having Sparx Systems as a member of this alliance makes sense. Sparx Systems have very good credentials, and can offer a lot.
The Whole is Greater than the Sum the Parts
Each member of the Alliance brings something valuable to the BA discipline. The IIBA is very broad in what it offers, but not necessarily deep. The other partners all contribute something that bolsters out that depth. It is a very sensible alliance and one that I am excited about.
Another possibility…
As you might be aware, dear reader, recently there has been a new threat to the IIBA’s seat of power. The Project Management Institute (PMI) has developed it’s own Business Analysis certification. A lot of analysis has been performed on the validity of this threat.
Watermark Learning made some very interesting observations in a blog post.
The PMI’s perspective of a BA is is that the business analysts support the efforts of the program and project manager.
The IIBA perspective is that business analysts support the organization.
But,in most cases, who is the Business Analyst reporting to? The Project Manager.
So … it is also possible that this alliance came about as a way for the IIBA to fend off this new threat,
I’m curious what you think …
Other Links
- Announcement by IIBA
- Announcement by BRMI
- Announcement by BCS
Thanks Mark, I saw the announcement and was vaguely uneasy about the implications, primarily my squeamishly about IIBA becoming commercialised – maybe i’m being too naive? I was not aware of the competition from the new PMI BA certification and the difference, real or imagined, between a Project and an ‘organisational’ BA. Interesting I have just finished a contract in a company where I was branded a ‘Technical BA’ within a traditional IT/change project, with various groups of Business-facing BAs performing a hybrid business support/SME function. I think the IIBA and the scope of the BABOK reaches out to both groups with no real need for a Project BA distinction – not something I recognise in the IT Elementary School either. I will watch with interest how this unfolds! Tony
Hi Tony
I have to admit when I was writing the post, and researching what each partner would bring to the table, I was focussed on the positive things. However, there are others (on LinkedIn) who have also expressed concern about forming an alliance with a specific vendor. And, I gotta admit, these concerns do make sense…. (As with you, I’ll watch with interest.)
With regards your other comment, on the Business-facing BAs and Technical BA. You are right, the IIBA does cover both. The concerns I have heard, with regards the PMI BA cert. is that, it’s usually the Project Managers that pick the Business Analysts for projects, and it could be, the PMs will start having a preference with Business Analysts that are aligned more with their standards (PMI).
My opinion is that, because the IIBA certification, is broader than the PMI certification, then it is of more value to the BA themselves. Have a look at this post that I wrote: https://markjowen.com/2014/08/04/is-this-a-sign-that-the-pmis-ba-certification-is-of-more-value/
I am happy that IIBA has created an alliance with Sparx for their visual modeling product. Insurance Frameworks offers a NO COST version of their Panorama 360 Insurance and Wealth Management Enterprise Business Architecture Framework ported to Sparx EA format which add value to Sparx by providing an industry model already used globally.