Question 1

Which category of activities should be identified first when developing a 'Business Activity Model' (BAM)?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: The Business Activity Model (BAM) is constructed to represent the activities necessary to achieve a system's purpose, as defined in a root definition. The logical starting point is to identify the 'Doing' activities. These are the primary, operational activities that directly transform inputs into outputs and fulfill the core purpose of the business system. Once these fundamental value-creating activities are established, the other categories of activities—which plan for, provide resources for (enable), and measure the performance of the 'Doing' activities—can be logically derived. This ensures the model is built around the central function of the system.

Question 2

The Internal Rate of Return has been calculated for an option in a Business Case. Which ONE of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is a fundamental metric in financial analysis and capital budgeting. By definition, the IRR is the specific discount rate at which the Net Present Value (NPV) of a series of cash flows (both inflows and outflows) equals zero. When a business case states that the IRR has been calculated, it means this break-even discount rate has been identified. Therefore, the statement that the Net Present Value is zero is inherently true at the point of the IRR. This rate is then compared to a company's required rate of return or cost of capital to decide whether to accept or reject the project.

Question 3

Which of the following describes a 'rich picture'?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: A rich picture is a central technique within Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) used to explore and understand a complex or "messy" business problem. It is intentionally unstructured and free-form, resembling a cartoon or mind map. Its purpose is to capture not just processes and structures, but also the crucial human elements of a situation, such as relationships, conflicts, culture, concerns, and different viewpoints. This holistic, pictorial representation helps analysts and stakeholders gain a shared understanding of the problem context without being constrained by formal modeling notations, which might prematurely structure or oversimplify the situation.

Question 4

Which of the following may be used to document the outcomes of a workshop?

Accepted Answer

A

Explanation: A mind map is a visual diagram used to organize information around a central subject. It is an effective tool for documenting the outcomes of a workshop because it can capture and structure ideas, discussion points, decisions, and their relationships in a non-linear, graphical manner. This visual representation helps stakeholders understand the connections between different elements discussed and provides a clear, consolidated summary of the workshop's results, making it an excellent documentation technique for collaborative sessions.

Question 5

During which stage of the Business Analysis Process Model would a gap analysis be carried out?

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: Gap analysis is a technique used to compare the current state ("as-is") of a business process or system with the desired future state ("to-be"). This comparison identifies the differences, or "gaps," that need to be addressed. Within the standard Business Analysis Process Model, this activity is central to the 'Analyse needs' stage. It is during this stage that the business analyst moves from understanding the current situation to defining the core business needs that must be fulfilled to achieve the desired future state. The gap itself represents the business need.

Question 6

An analyst investigating a sales system wishes to ask questions about how a customer order form is completed in the current system. What investigation technique is the analyst using?

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: Protocol analysis is an investigation technique where an analyst observes a user performing a task and asks them to verbalize their thought process. The goal is to understand the user's cognitive process, including their reasoning, decisions, and any difficulties they encounter. By asking questions about how a customer order form is completed while the user is doing it or walking through it, the analyst is directly applying protocol analysis to understand the detailed steps and logic involved in the process.

Question 7

Which of the following investigation techniques involves following a user for one or two days in order to find out what a particular job entails?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: Shadowing is a direct observation technique used in business analysis and requirements elicitation. It involves an analyst closely following and observing a user in their natural work environment for a significant period, such as one or two days. The goal is to gain a deep, contextual understanding of the user's tasks, workflows, interactions, and the informal processes or challenges they encounter. This immersive method is particularly valuable for understanding complex roles and tacit knowledge that users might not articulate in interviews or workshops.

Question 8

Different reactions may be observed when a change to working methods is proposed. These
reactions include:
a. Enthusiasm for the change.
b. Fear of the change.
c. Reduced performance on the job.
d. Reluctant acceptance of the change.
Which of the following represents the typical sequence of these four reactions?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: The typical sequence of reactions to organizational change follows a predictable pattern often illustrated by the "Change Curve" model, which is adapted from the Kübler-Ross grief model. The process begins with an initial negative reaction, such as fear or shock (b). As individuals grapple with the change, a period of disruption, resistance, and uncertainty often leads to a temporary decline in morale and job performance (c). Following this low point, individuals begin to explore and test the new methods, leading to a gradual, often reluctant, acceptance (d). Finally, as the benefits of the change become clear and new skills are mastered, individuals integrate the change into their work, leading to commitment and enthusiasm (a).

Question 9

An analyst has asked a user to describe each step in a task as they perform it. Which of the following investigation techniques is the analyst using?

Accepted Answer

D

Explanation: Protocol analysis is an investigation technique where an analyst observes a user performing a task and asks them to verbalize their thoughts, actions, and decisions in real-time. This method, often called the "think-aloud protocol," is used to understand the user's cognitive process, problem-solving strategies, and the specific steps they take to complete their work. The analyst's request for the user to "describe each step in a task as they perform it" is the defining characteristic of this technique.

Question 10

During a workshop, it is useful to ask participants to come up with ideas which are listed for later evaluation. What is this technique called?

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: Brainstorming is a fundamental group creativity technique used to generate a large number of ideas for the solution to a problem. The core principle, as described in the question, is to encourage participants to contribute ideas spontaneously without immediate criticism or evaluation. All ideas are captured and listed, with the analysis and evaluation phase deferred until after the idea generation session is complete. This separation of idea generation from evaluation is a key characteristic of brainstorming, designed to foster a more open and creative environment.

Question 11

The entity relationship model below shows the relationship between Customer and Order. Which of the following business rules is correct? https://kxbjsyuhceggsyvxdkof.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/file-images/GAQM__CBAF-001/page_43_img_1.jpg

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: The diagram uses Crow's Foot notation to represent the relationship between entities. The symbols at the end of the relationship line indicate cardinality and modality. The notation on the Order side is a circle followed by a crow's foot (O>--), which represents "zero or many". Reading the relationship from the Customer entity to the Order entity, this means a single Customer can be associated with zero or many Orders. Therefore, the statement "A customer may place many orders" correctly interprets this one-to-many relationship. The notation on the Customer side (||) indicates that an Order must be associated with "one and only one" Customer.

Question 12

What is stage 0 (zero) of the concerns-based adoption model?

Accepted Answer

D

Explanation: The Concerns-Based Adoption Model (CBAM) outlines seven developmental stages of concern that individuals experience when implementing an innovation. Stage 0, the initial and lowest level, is "Awareness." At this stage, the individual has little knowledge of or involvement with the innovation. Their concern is negligible because the change is not yet a personal reality or focus for them. They might have heard about it, but it holds no relevance to their current tasks or responsibilities. This stage is characterized by a general lack of engagement or expressed concern about the innovation.

Question 13

A software house is developing a software package specifically for hotel management. A business
analyst
has been employed because of her familiarity with the hotel industry. Which of the following
competencies has she been employed to bring to the project?

Accepted Answer

A

Explanation: The business analyst was hired specifically for her "familiarity with the hotel industry." This industry-specific expertise is defined as domain knowledge. In business analysis, domain knowledge refers to the understanding of a specific business area, including its processes, terminology, rules, and culture. This competency is critical for accurately identifying business needs, defining requirements, and ensuring the developed software solution is relevant and effective for its intended environment—in this case, hotel management. Her knowledge allows her to bridge the gap between the technical development team and the hotel industry stakeholders.

Question 14

In a business activity model, which of the following type of activities respond to deviations between actual and planned performance?

Accepted Answer

C

Explanation: In a Business Activity Model (BAM), activities are categorized based on their function within a system. Controlling activities are specifically defined as the management actions taken in response to information provided by monitoring activities. When monitoring reveals a deviation between the actual performance of "doing" activities and the targets set by "planning" activities, the controlling activities are triggered to implement corrective measures. This ensures the system adapts and steers back towards its intended objectives, forming a crucial part of the system's feedback loop.

Question 15

A requirement has been identified as beneficial. It will be included in the system if it does not take
too long to deliver or cost too much. How would this requirement be prioritised in the MoSCoW
classification?

Accepted Answer

B

Explanation: The MoSCoW method prioritizes requirements into four categories. The requirement described is "beneficial" but will only be included if it doesn't negatively impact the schedule or budget. This directly aligns with the definition of a 'Could Have' (C). 'Could Have' requirements are desirable but not necessary. They are often seen as "nice-to-haves" that will be included only if time and resources permit, without impacting the delivery of higher-priority items. They provide incremental value but are the first to be de-scoped if the project faces constraints.

Free GAQM CBAF-001 Actual Exam Questions