Includes Foundation & Practitioner combined option.

Introduction to Project Management

1-day workshop to learn the basics of project management.

Project Management Essentials
2-day workshop to learn how to manage projects without getting certified.
Writing Business Cases
Half-day workshop to learn to write robust business cases.
AI in Project Management

Business analyst certification: What it is and how to get certified

Learn the fundamentals of the PRINCE2 Agile method.

Practitioner Includes Foundation & Practitioner combined option.ScrumScrum Essentials

Self-paced training course to learn the essentials of Scrum.Scrum Master Choose Scrum Alliance or Scrum.org Scrum Master training courses.Scrum Product Owner Choose Scrum Alliance or Scrum.org Product Owner training courses.AgileBA® – Agile Business AnalysisFoundation Learn the fundamentals of Agile Business Analysis.Practitioner 4-day course including Foundation.Lean Six SigmaYellow Belt Self-paced training course to gain LSS Yellow Belt.PMI®

PMI-ACP

Self-paced course to prepare you for the exam (exam not included).

KanbanEstimating for Agile Foundation
Agile Learning Library (ALL)™BUSINESS ANALYSIS
BCS Business AnalysisBusiness Analysis Foundation Learn the fundamentals of business analysis.Modelling Business Processes
Gain practitioner certificate in modelling business processes.Business Analysis Practices
Gain practitioner certificate in business analysis practices.Requirements Engineering
Gain practitioner certificate in requirements engineering.Business Analysis International Diploma
All 4 courses bundled into this Diploma certification package.AgileBA

®

– Agile Business Analysis	Foundation training	Learn the fundamentals of Agile Business Analysis.	Practitioner	4-day course including Foundation.	PMI	®
PMI-PBA Self-paced course to prepare you for the exam (exam not included).	Business Analysis Learning Library (BALL)™	CHANGE MANAGEMENT	APMG Change Management	Foundation	Learn the fundamentals of enterprise change management.	Practitioner
Includes Foundation & Practitioner combined option.PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT	MSP	®	Foundation	Learn the fundamentals of programme management.	Practitioner	Includes Foundation & Practitioner combined option.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)ITIL	®	Foundation	Learn the fundamentals of ITIL service management.	Strategist DPI	3-day ITIL Strategist: Direct, Plan & Improve (DPI) course.	Specialist: DSV
3-day ITIL Specialist: Drive Stakeholder Value (DSV) course.Specialist: CDS	3-day ITIL Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support (CDS) course.	IT Learning Library (ITLL)™	BUSINESS LEARNING LIBRARY (BLL)™	Agile Learning Library (ALL)™	Business Analysis Learning Library (BALL)™	Compliance Learning Library (CLL)™
IT Learning Library (ITLL)™Business solutions	_blank	About	_blank	Blog
Waterfall methodology	:	A linear, phased project approach suitable for well-defined requirements	Choosing the right methodology depends on project size, risk, stakeholder needs, and desired adaptability.	Essential skills and competencies for business analysts	Analytical and critical thinking	Effective communication and stakeholder engagement
Attention to detail in requirements documentation	Problem-solving and solution assessment	Knowledge of business and technical requirements	Proficiency in process improvement and data analysis	Certification and career progression	BCS
offers globally recognised certifications, such as	Business Analysis Foundation	,	International Diploma in Business Analysis	, Practitioner certificates in	Requirements Engineering	,

Requirements engineering
Change managementQuality assuranceSystems analysisFAQs

What is business analysis?

Business analysis is the systematic investigation and evaluation of business needs to recommend solutions that achieve organisational objectives. It includes requirements gathering, stakeholder engagement, and process optimisation.What does a business analyst do?
A business analyst identifies business problems, elicits requirements, engages stakeholders, and ensures that proposed solutions align with business goals. They act as a bridge between business and IT functions.What are the key techniques in business analysis?
Common business analysis techniques
include SWOT analysis

, gap analysis, requirements elicitation, process mapping, use case modelling, and stakeholder analysis.

What are the main types of requirements in business analysis?Business analysts work with
business requirements (organisational goals),
stakeholder requirements, and
technical requirements (system or IT needs).

What is the BABOK?

Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) is a method that focuses on resource-based scheduling. It considers both task dependencies and resource constraints to optimise project schedules.

Both methods can provide useful insights for optimising project schedules and enhancing overall project management efficiency.If you’re going to be doing project scheduling on a regular basis, you might find it useful to consider using specialist software to help you with this. A quick search online will pull up a range of tools. Some popular options include:

Project management software options

Jira: Agile project management

software with customisable workflows and reporting.Microsoft Project: Software for creating detailed project schedules and resource management.

Other popular options

: Trello, Asana, Basecamp, etc. All these offer various levels of functionality and can accommodate a range of project sizes.

Key features to look for in scheduling softwareWhen it comes to choosing a scheduling software, there are some key features that you should ensure it has. Here are some of the most critical ones:Gantt chart creation and customisation

Resource management

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Real-time collaboration

Reporting and analytics.

If you can find a tool that covers all these bases, you’ll be well on your way to more streamlined and effective project scheduling.

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Self-pacedAPM PFQ blended online

£749 +vat

How BCS Business Analysis qualifications can help your career

Get your team involved in the scheduling process. Their input can be invaluable in terms of providing more accurate estimates for task durations and helping you to identify potential issues. This approach can also be helpful in terms of getting your team to

buy-in to the schedule.

Break large tasks into smaller, manageable pieces

Break complex tasks into smaller and more manageable subtasks. This method, called

Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), makes it easier to estimate the time, track progress, and allocate resources.Consider dependencies and constraints

Identify and document all task dependencies and project constraints. This will help you to avoid scheduling conflicts and ensure that activities are logically sequenced.

How to become a business analyst with no experience?

Include

in your schedule to account for potential delays and unforeseen events. This will give you more flexibility in your schedule and help to avoid missed deadlines.

Regularly update and communicate schedule changes

Update your schedule regularly and communicate any changes to stakeholders. Schedule reviews

are a critical part of the overall scheduling process and can help you to identify potential problems early on.

Following these best practices will help you to create better project schedules and ultimately lead to better project outcomes.

Common challenges in project schedulingNo matter how hard we try, it’s unlikely that we won’t encounter a few bumps when planning and managing a schedule. By being aware of the following common issues that typically affect project schedules, we will be more prepared and able to identify and address any we might encounter along the way.Inaccurate time estimates

The biggest and most common cause for schedule slippage is making incorrect estimates, both too optimistically and too conservatively. As with all estimates, we should refer to

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, as well as include the team and subject matter experts to provide an input on time estimates.

Scope creep

Scope creep can easily affect the schedule by adding new requirements into a project that are not fully evaluated and understood, that require uncommitted resources, or that are not approved.Resource conflicts

Resource allocation problems are common on projects where the same resources are shared among multiple projects and activities. To resolve resource overallocation or conflicts, we can use

resource levelling

techniques to smoothen the demand for resources.Unexpected risks and issuesIssues can unexpectedly appear despite your best-planned schedules. Prepare a detailed

risk management plan

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If you identify these issues and incorporate the ways to mitigate them into your project management process, you will become a better scheduler, and your projects will reach completion more successfully.

Project scheduling

is a vital aspect of successful

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AgilePM Practitioner (with Foundation) self-paced online

£1,299 +vatFAQs

How often should I update my project schedule?

Your schedule should be updated on a regular basis, ideally weekly or after major milestones or changes.

What’s the difference between a milestone and a task in project scheduling?A task is a specific work item, while a milestone is a significant point or event in the project.How can I handle unexpected delays in my project schedule?

Reassess priorities, reallocate resources if necessary and communicate changes to stakeholders as soon as possible.

Software is usually more efficient and accurate, particularly for complex projects.

Consider dependencies, resource availability and overall impact on project objectives.

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