university of cape town

Business
Systems Analysis
short course

Information Pack
April 2015 Presentation

Business Systems Analysis

short course

Course Overview

Need for the course

According to The Business Analysis Benchmark Study, 70% of all project failures are due

This highly practical

systems analysts. IT systems have the potential to impact positively on both business

give you comprehensive

and processes that are based on poor requirements specifications, and these systems

the practical skills necessary

to poor requirements specifications one of the key competency areas of business

10-week short course will

and employee performance, yet in the past there has been a tendency to create systems

conceptual knowledge and

and processes ultimately fail.

to be able to perform effective

Organisations in all types of industries are in need of skilled and experienced business

within an organisation.

and current business processes, and who can elicit business and end-user requirements

Course duration:

systems are designed from a users perspective. This results in efficient, user-friendly

throughout South Africa.

end-users requirements.

Course APPROVAL:

Career Opportunities

by UCT. You will receive

business system analysis

systems analysts who understand the organisations business model, strategy, needs,
effectively and integrate and accommodate these to ensure that new and existing IT
systems that enhance the strategic objectives of a business, and that also meet the

10 weeks online, available

This course is approved

Business systems analysts are in increasingly high demand because of the vital role that

a certificate issued by the

a clearly defined profession with a professional body (the IIBA) that sets the international

successfully completed

they play in ensuring project success. In addition, business systems analysis is emerging as

university once you have

standard of business analysis. If you are already in the BSA profession, this course will give

the course.

skills and practical experience that you can apply immediately and with confidence.

Course starts:

you the opportunity to formalise your training, and will provide you with both technical
If you are someone wanting to transition into the role of a business systems analyst,
this course will act as the ideal starting point on your journey to becoming a BSA.

WEEKLY Course modules

Module 2:
Module 3:
Module 4:
Module 5:
Module 6:
Module 7:
Module 8:
Module 9:
Module 10:

Course fees:
R10,500

The following modules are covered during the course:

Module 1:

23 April 2015

CONTACT
Kyle

Contextualising business systems analysis

Analysing the current business system

021 447 7565

Eliciting and communicating requirements

[email protected]

Recommending an alternate business system

021 447 8344

Preparing to create a business requirements specification

Modelling business processes

Register Now

Modelling functional and systems architecture requirements

Modelling data and human-system interface design
Assuring quality

Facilitating change and innovation

Tel: +27 21 447 7565 | Fax: +27 21 447 8344

Website: www.getsmarter.co.za | Email: [email protected]

Page 2 of 6

Business Systems Analysis

short course

Module 1

Module 4

Contextualising business systems analysis

Eliciting and communicating requirements

In order to be an effective business systems analyst,

Most projects fail because of poorly documented requirements.

systems, stakeholders, the relationship between these elements,

essential to ensuring you can elicit requirements thoroughly and

you need to have a sound understanding of organisations,

This module covers key soft skills, tools and techniques that are

and the Business Systems Analyst (BSA). Module 1 places the role

of the BSA within the context of the organisation and the systems
development lifecycle, and provides an overview of the key
technical, industry and soft skills needed by a BSA.

effectively, as well as methods of communicating requirements

to stakeholders in a way that they can easily understand.

This module also introduces you to the different types of

requirements you will be working with as a BSA.

Module 2

Module 5

Analysing the current business system

Preparing to create a business requirements

Module 2 is the first of two modules on compiling the

specification

a brief overview of the business case and what its function is,

defined and documented requirements. The requirements that

business case for a possible solution. This module gives you

In order to be a success, a project needs to have clearly

and then moves on to conducting an analysis of the current

you elicit will be communicated in a variety of forms (models,

business system (the as-is analysis). This includes identifying

flow charts, diagrams and narratives) and collated into one large

the business need (defining business goals and objectives,

document the business requirements specification document.

identifying the business problem, and identifying stakeholders

and their requirements), as well as assessing the capability gap.

In this module, you will complete the first part of a business
case, which forms part of your ongoing project.

This module introduces you to the business requirements

specification, which you will be working on from Modules 5 to

9 as part of an ongoing project. This module outlines all the

different domains of requirements, as well as the different ways

these requirements are communicated. At the end of the module

you will specify the non-functional requirements for a project.

Module 3
Recommending an alternate business system

Module 6

This module continues on from Module 2, and covers how

to identify and recommend an alternate system solution.

Modelling business processes

well as the solution approach, and will also learn how to conduct

analysts need to have. Module 6 gives you an overview of

You will discover tools to help you define the solution scope as

Process modelling is an essential skill all business systems

a feasibility analysis in order to determine which solutions are

business process modelling, and the different types of process

the most feasible to recommend. At the end of this module

you will conduct your own feasibility study and complete the
business case you started in Module 2.

models a BSA might produce. It also introduces you to the

modelling notation you will be using to create your models and

flow charts BPMN At the end of this module you will create

your own business process models using Gliffy, a free online

diagram and flow chart editor.

Tel: +27 21 447 7565 | Fax: +27 21 447 8344

Website: www.getsmarter.co.za | Email: [email protected]

Page 3 of 6

Business Systems Analysis

short course

Module 9

Module 7

Assuring quality

Modelling functional and systems architecture

This module covers quality assurance and analysis. An important

requirements
Modelling is an essential skill for a business systems analyst

part of a BSAs role is ensuring that systems are tested to ensure

muscles, and will be creating a use-case model, a functional

will learn key quality assurance methods and techniques, and at

You will also learn how to formulate user stories and epics.

include test cases, input data and output data.

to possess. In Module 7 you will get to flex your modelling

that the solution is verified and validated before it goes live. You

decomposition diagram, and a system architecture model.

the end of the module, you will design a test scenario that will

All of these models will form part of your business requirements

specification document.

Module 10
Facilitating change and innovation

Module 8

A Business Systems Analyst is ultimately an agent of change.

Modelling data and human-system interface design

The solution they recommend, that is designed and developed

This module is split into two parts data modelling and

and then implemented, will ultimately result in some form of

who can ensure new and existing IT systems are designed

end-user. This change can be disruptive, and BSAs need to have

the strategic objectives of a business, are in high demand.

them facilitate change and innovation effectively. This module

of business systems analysis, ensuring you can design systems

types of change organisational change, system change, and

you will be creating part of an entity relationship diagram and a

are appropriate in which circumstances.

human-system interface design. Skilled business analysts,

change for the organisation, for the system itself, and for the

from a human perspective in addition to effectively enhancing

a cache of change management tools and techniques to help

This module covers the human system interface design element

provides you with tried and tested methods for facilitating various

that meet the needs of end-users. In the data components,

personal change as well as the skills to identify which methods

data flow diagram, as well as formulating data definitions.

Tel: +27 21 447 7565 | Fax: +27 21 447 8344

Website: www.getsmarter.co.za | Email: [email protected]

Page 4 of 6

Business Systems Analysis

short course

Who should attend

How to register

This short course is suitable for both experienced Business Systems Analysts who wish

Click here to register for

a Business Systems Analyst. Specifically, this course is aimed at business architects, data

Analysis short course.

to formalise their experience, as well as individuals who wish to transition into the role of
analysts, systems analysts, software auditors, system developers, IT and management

the UCT Business Systems

consultants, users, contractors, and aspiring business and systems analysts. Non-IT

Entry Requirements

delivery managers, public sector professionals) who wish to better understand and manage

this course is a desire to learn

professionals (business owners, business managers, project managers, engineers, service

The only entry requirement for

the requirements for IT-based projects would also benefit from doing this course, as well as

and advance your career; no

other business system owners who will be working closely with Business Systems Analysts.

Course delivery
The course is delivered through the unique GetSmarter Learning website. To help you

maintain a work-life balance during the course, the content is divided into manageable

weekly modules. Each Monday you will receive one module to complete in your own time
and at your own pace throughout the week. Modules are divided into distinct work units

based on core learning outcomes covering concise, meaningful units of the content, followed
by short activities to apply the concepts. Typical components include course notes; video
lectures; online multiple-choice practice quizzes; interactive video activities, and written

prior knowledge of Business

Systems Analysis is needed.

However, it is recommended
that you have some prior

experience in or exposure

to web development, IT, or

project management. In order

to do this course, you will need

to:

or practical activities for submission. Group work is a fundamental component of this

Have a current email account

and submissions. You will receive academic support from your Course Instructor, Brent

and the internet

course and you will be required to collaborate with other learners around key discussions
Combrink, and administrative support from a designated Course Coach.

Assessment and award of the certificate

The course is focused on teaching you practical, formal skills that you can apply in your

career and personal life. You are not required to write any exams. Assessment is based on a

series of practical weekly assignments completed online. You will need to achieve a combined
final mark of at least 50% to receive the certificate as issued by the University of Cape Town.

Course APPROVAL

Have access to a computer

Have access to sufficient
internet data

Be able to open and read PDF

documents

Be able to create documents

in Microsoft Word and Excel

Read, write and speak in the

English language

This course is approved by the University of Cape Town. You will receive a certificate

Any course requirements that

developed and presented by the University of Cape Town in partnership with GetSmarter.

must be completed in English.

issued by the university once you have successfully completed the course. The course is

GetSmarter is the first and only entirely online education company to be accredited by any
SETA (Sector Education and Training Authority) as a provider of education in South Africa.
Institutional accreditation number: 3692.

About GetSmarter
GetSmarter is a premier online education company that partners with prestigious universities
and leading organisations to offer continuing education short courses, undergraduate
programmes, postgraduate programmes and customised business solutions.
Tel: +27 21 447 7565 | Fax: +27 21 447 8344

Website: www.getsmarter.co.za | Email: [email protected]

Page 5 of 6

are for assessment purposes

Register Now

Business Systems Analysis

short course
During the course presentation

Payment details

you will be required to submit

Payment options:

a digital copy of formal

identification, which reflects

1. Once-off payment

the name you provided upon

R10,500 by 17 April 2015

registration.

2. Payment plan

Contact us:

R11,130, paid as follows:

Should you have any queries,

First instalment: R3,784 by 17 April 2015

please contact Kyle at

Second instalment: R3,673 by 22 May 2015

GetSmarter:

Third instalment: R3,673 by 12 June 2015

Contact:

Payment methods

Kyle

1. E
 LECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER (EFT)

021 447 7565

Please make use of your name and surname as a reference.

021 447 8344

[email protected]

2. C
 redit Card (MASTERCARD AND VISA)
Learners will be contacted by telephone to obtain details.

Register Now

Banking details
Account name:

GetSmarter

Branch:

Claremont

Bank:

Standard Bank

Branch code: 025109

ACCOUNT NUMBER: 07 251 0684

SWIFT Code:

SBZAZAJJ

Tel: +27 21 447 7565 | Fax: +27 21 447 8344

Website: www.getsmarter.co.za | Email: [email protected]

Page 6 of 6