BCS - Practitioner Certificate Benefits Management and Business Acceptance

Curriculum

Module 1: Introduction (5%)

• Explain the rationale for Benefits Management during the Solution Development Lifecycle.
• Explain the rationale for Business Acceptance during the Solution Development Lifecycle.
• Describe the following stages of the Solution Development Lifecycle:
• Requirements Analysis.
• Solution Design.
• Solution Development/Procurement.
• Solution Testing and Assurance.

Module 2: Defining the Business Benefits (15%)

• Explain the rationale for developing a Business Case.
• Describe the contents of a Business Case.
• Identify benefits that align to the business strategy for a given scenario.
• Define Critical Success Factors and Key Performance Indicators.
• Explain the content and structure of Porter’s Value Chain.
• Identify the drivers for Business Change, within a given scenario.

Module 3: Benefits Classification and Networks (15%)

• Demonstrate an understanding of the Ward and Daniel classification scheme.
• Explain how anticipated benefits can be measured.
• Explain the following terms used in benefits management:
• Business benefits.
• Business changes.
• Enabling Changes.
• Construct a Benefits Dependency Network for a given scenario.

Module 4: Planning for Benefits Management (15%)

• Identify the different types of benefit owner involved in Benefits Management.
• Describe the role and responsibilities of the senior responsible owner.
• Define the contents of a benefits delivery plan.
• Identify the different types of stakeholder involved in benefits management.
• Identify the different types of costs relevant to benefits management for a given scenario.
• Describe the following investment appraisal techniques:
• Payback period.
• Discounted Cash Flow/ Net Present Value.
• Internal Rate of Return.

Module 5: Testing for Business Acceptance (5%)

• Explain the objectives of acceptance testing.
• Describe the principles of acceptance testing.
• Identify the key roles and responsibilities involved in acceptance testing, in a given scenario.
• Explain the use of acceptance testing in the System Development Lifecycle (SDLC).
• Describe functional and non-functional testing.

Module 6: Test Design Techniques (15%)

• Explain the terms ‘test conditions’ and ‘test cases’.
• Show understanding of the use of models to design tests and establish coverage.
• Construct models used to design tests and test coverage, which:
• Show clear traceability to the original requirement.
• Contain an expected result.
• Describe the function of a Test Procedure Specification for a given scenario.

Module 7: Test Planning, Management and Confirmation (5%)

• Explain the rationale for test progress monitoring and control, including:
• The importance of monitoring test progress.
• The importance of test reporting.
• The importance of control in testing.
• Apply the concept of incident management to a given scenario.
• Apply the concept of confirmation testing to a given scenario.

Module 8: Reviewing the Business Case (10%)

• Define the rationale for review gateways.
• Explain how the impact of changes can be assessed.
• Identify aspects of the business case that should be revised in light of changes to a given scenario.
• Describe the rationale and approach for reassessing benefits.

Module 9: Implementing the Business Change (5%)

• Explain the importance of planning when implementing change.
• Apply implementation strategies to a given scenario.
• Explain contingency planning within the context of a given scenario.
• Describe the rational and approach for stakeholder management.
• Identify areas of skills and knowledge to be developed by the business staff, in order to enable the implementation of a business change.

Module 10: Benefits Delivery (10%)

• Explain how business changes can be embedded.
• Explain the rationale of reviewing the achievement of predicted benefits.
• Define the actions and adjustments required to deliver the benefits identified for a given scenario.
• Explain the rationale for confirming the delivery of the benefits plan.
• Based on a given scenario, identify further benefits that may be realised.
• Explain the rationale for ‘signing off’ the business case