When preparing for elicitation, Business Analysts (BAs) gather various supporting materials to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the current state and to facilitate effective stakeholder engagement. These materials provide context, background, and constraints that influence the requirements gathering process.
Key Supporting Materials:
System Documents: Include existing documentation such as system architecture diagrams, data flow diagrams, and user manuals. These help BAs understand the current systems in place.
Business Rules: Define the operations, definitions, and constraints that apply to an organization. Understanding these rules is crucial for identifying requirements that align with business operations.
Organizational Policies: Internal guidelines that govern business processes and decision-making. They provide insight into the organization's priorities and constraints.
Regulations: External legal and regulatory requirements that the organization must comply with. These are essential for ensuring that any proposed solutions are legally compliant.
Reference from BABOK® Guide v3:
The BABOK® Guide v3 emphasizes the importance of securing supporting materials during the preparation for elicitation. It states that BAs should identify and gather relevant information sources, including system documentation, business rules, organizational policies, and regulations, to inform the elicitation process effectively.
