CCBA IIBA Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA) Free Practice Exam Questions (2025 Updated)

According to the Capability in Business Analysis™ (CCBA®) Learning documents, a stakeholder is anyone who has an interest or influence in the project or its outcome1. Stakeholders can have different levels of power, interest, impact, and influence on the project, and they can be internal or external to the organization2. However, no stakeholder group is more important than another, as they all contribute to the project’s success in different ways. The project manager’s role is to identify, analyze, engage, and manage the stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle, and to balance their needs, expectations, and interests3. The project manager should also communicate effectively with the stakeholders, and ensure that their feedback, input, and approval are obtained at the appropriate stages of the project4.

References:

Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, section “BABOK® Guide v3”, chapter 2, section 2.1

Stakeholder in Project Management - Techcanvass, section “Types of Stakeholders”

Stakeholder Management | Its Importance | Institute of Project Management, section “What is Stakeholder Management?”

What Is a Stakeholder? Definitions, Types & Examples, section “How to Manage Stakeholders”

Who are Project Stakeholders and Why They are Important? - KnowledgeHut, section “How to manage project stakeholders?”

The business analysis planning approach process is the task of deciding how the business analysis work will be performed, including the activities, deliverables, roles, resources, tools, and techniques that will be used12. The three inputs to this process are3:

Business need: The problem or opportunity that the organization is facing and that requires a change in the current state.

Organizational process assets: The policies, procedures, standards, guidelines, and templates that the organization has established and that may influence the business analysis approach.

Expert judgment: The knowledge and experience of the business analyst and other stakeholders who can provide guidance and recommendations for the business analysis approach.

Risk and rewards analysis is not an input to the business analysis planning approach process, but rather a technique that can be used to evaluate the potential benefits and drawbacks of different business analysis approaches or solution options4. References:

1: Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®

2: Business Analysis Process Flow: Step by Step Tutorial - Guru99

3: Business Analysis Planning Sneak Peek - Project Management Institute

4: Business Analysis Techniques - ECBA, CCBA, CBAP Endorsed

 A change-driven business analysis approach is a type of approach that focuses on the rapid delivery of business value in short iterations. It is typically used in agile or adaptive projects that embrace change and uncertainty, and that require frequent feedback and collaboration from the stakeholders. A change-driven approach allows the business analyst to elicit, analyze, specify, and validate requirements in an incremental and iterative manner, and to respond to changing needs and priorities12. Risk-driven, profit-driven, and risk-laden are not types of business analysis approaches, but rather factors that may influence the selection of an approach3. References:

1: BABOK® Guide, Version 3.0, p. 34

2: Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®

3: The Ultimate Guide to Business Capability Analysis

A. Absolute reference: This is an incorrect answer, as it is not a requirement attribute, but a term used in spreadsheet software to refer to a cell address that does not change when copied or moved to another cell.

B. Ownership: This is a correct answer, as it is a requirement attribute that indicates who is responsible for the creation, approval, and maintenance of the requirement. Ownership helps to ensure the accountability, traceability, and quality of the requirement.

C. Requirements sponsor: This is an incorrect answer, as it is not a requirement attribute, but a role that provides the funding and support for the project or the solution. The requirements sponsor may or may not be the same person as the owner of the requirement.

D. Author of the requirement: This is a correct answer, as it is a requirement attribute that identifies the person who wrote the requirement. Authorship helps to provide the source and context of the requirement.

Constraint ranking is a type of requirements prioritization that considers the limitations or restrictions that affect the solution. Laws and regulations are examples of constraints that must be met by the solution. Therefore, ranking the requirements according to the relevant laws is a constraint ranking method.

References:

Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, section “CCBA Competencies”

Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) Handbook, page 5, section “4. Review the Exam Blueprint”

According to the BABOK® Guide, business goals and objectives are “the desired outcomes of a change initiative or the state of the enterprise after the successful implementation of a solution” (p. 35). They describe the ends that the organization is seeking to achieve, not the means or the activities to achieve them. Business goals and objectives provide the context and direction for the business analysis work, as well as the criteria for evaluating the value and benefits of the solution. The other options are not correct because:

A. They describe all of the required work the project will need to complete in order to reach its objectives is not a description of business goals and objectives, but rather of project scope or project deliverables.

C. They describe the processes the solution will need to improve for the project to be successful is not a description of business goals and objectives, but rather of solution requirements or solution design.

D. They describe all of the positive benefits in ratio to the risk and costs of the project is not a description of business goals and objectives, but rather of business case or value proposition. References:

BABOK® Guide, p. 35

Business Goals and Objectives - Modern Analyst, section “What are Business Goals and Objectives?”

 The term that is assigned to this measurement is key performance indicators. These are the metrics that are used to evaluate the performance and progress of the organization, the project, or the solution against the predefined goals and objectives12. Key performance indicators help to monitor and communicate the value and benefits of the solution, and to identify areas for improvement. Henry and Fred are using key performance indicators to compare the productivity before and after the implementation of the new software, and to see the real effect of the solution on the business need. The other options are not terms that are assigned to this measurement, but rather concepts or techniques that are related to the business analysis work, such as post implementation factor (A), which is a factor that affects the success of the solution after it has been deployed3, yield (B), which is a measure of the efficiency or effectiveness of a process or a solution4, or S-Curve (D), which is a graphical representation of the cumulative progress or performance of a project or a solution over time5. References: Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, Certification of Capability in Business Analysis™ (CCBA®), Business Analysis Certification Competencies, CCBA® | IIBA®, The Ultimate Guide to Business Capability Analysis, CBAP / CCBA Certified Business Analysis Study Guide, 2nd Edition

According to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide), structural rules and operative rules are two types of business rules that govern the behavior and structure of an organization. Structural rules are rules that define the policies, standards, and guidelines that the organization follows as a matter of choice. They are often derived from the vision, mission, values, and goals of the organization. Operative rules are rules that define the logic and criteria that are used to determinethe truth or falsity of a statement or the membership of an entity in a category. They are often derived from the requirements, specifications, and constraints of the solution.

References: The information is aligned with the competencies and knowledge areas defined in the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide) and the Certification of Capability in Business Analysis™ (CCBA®) as provided by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®). For detailed references, please consult the CCBA® guide1 and the BABOK® Guide2 available through the IIBA® website and bookstore3. You can also find some useful resources and sample questions from other sources4.

According to the BABOK® Guide, high quality requirements should have the following characteristics: atomic, complete, consistent, concise, feasible, unambiguous, testable, prioritized, and traceable. Cohesive, consistent, and complete are among these characteristics, while constrained is not. Constrained means that the requirements are limited by some factors, such as budget, time, or resources, which may affect their quality negatively. References: BABOK® Guide, section 4.2.5, page 98; CCBA Handbook, section 4.4, page 6.

The number of communication channels in a project is an indicator of the complexity and difficulty of managing the communication among the stakeholders. The more stakeholders there are, the more communication channels there are, and the more challenging it is to ensure effective and efficient communication. The number of communication channels in a project can be calculated using the following formula:

Number of communication channels=n×(n−1)/2

where n is the number of stakeholders. In this case, n=65, so the number of communication channels is:

Number of communication channels=65×(65−1)/2

Number of communication channels=65×64/2

Number of communication channels=4160

Therefore, the correct answer is A. 4160.References:

CCBA® Handbook, p. 15

Number of Communication Channels (+ PMP® Formula & Calculator), section “Formula to Calculate the Number of Communication Channels”

A plan-driven approach to business analysis is one that follows a predefined and detailed plan for the project or project phase. This approach typically involves more upfront business analysis work to elicit, analyze, and document the requirements before the solution development begins. A plan-driven approach is suitable for projects that have a clear and stable scope, low uncertainty, and high predictability. Examples of plan-driven approaches are waterfall, predictive, and sequential methods. References:

Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, section “The Experienced Business Analysis Professional”

CERTIFICATION OF CAPABILITY IN BUSINESS ANALYSIS, section “4. Review the Exam Blueprint”

According to the CCBA® Handbook, stakeholder impact analysis is “a technique used to identify the effects of a change on the stakeholders of a solution” (p. 22). Stakeholder impact analysis can help the business analyst understand the functions of stakeholders, the location of stakeholders, the tasks stakeholders complete, and the stakeholders’ concerns about the solution. Stakeholder impact analysis can also help the business analyst identify the stakeholder needs, expectations, preferences, and risks, as well as the communication and engagement strategies for each stakeholder group. The other options are not correct because:

A. Technical assessment is “a technique used to evaluate the technical feasibility and suitability of a solution” (p. 23). Technical assessment can help the business analyst understand the technical requirements, constraints, and capabilities of the solution, but not the stakeholder aspects.

C. Organizational assessment is “a technique used to evaluate the current state of an organization and its alignment with the desired future state” (p. 22). Organizational assessment can help the business analyst understand the organizational structure, culture, processes, and performance of the organization, but not the stakeholder aspects.

D. Operational analysis is “a technique used to analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of the current operations of an organization” (p. 22). Operational analysis can help the business analyst understand the operational requirements, problems, and opportunities of the organization, but not the stakeholder aspects. References:

CCBA® Handbook, p. 22-23

Stakeholder Impact Analysis - Modern Analyst, section “What is Stakeholder Impact Analysis?”

 Lean and Six Sigma are both documented approaches to the business analysis work, as they provide methods and tools for improving business processes and delivering value to customers. Lean focuses on eliminating waste and optimizing the flow of value, while Six Sigma focuses on reducing variation and defects and enhancing quality. Both approaches are aligned with the BABOK® Guide principles and practices12. Deming’s Quality Circle and the Waterfall approach are not documented approaches to the business analysis work, but rather quality management and software development methodologies, respectively34. References: Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, CBAP / CCBA Certified Business Analysis Study Guide, 2nd Edition, The Business Analysis Standard | KnowledgeHub IIBA®, CCBA: Certification of Capability in Business Analysis Study Guide

A change-driven approach to business analysis is an adaptive and iterative methodology that focuses on delivering business value in short cycles. This approach requires frequent and informal communication among stakeholders, team members, and customers. Face-to-face communication is preferred as it allows for immediate feedback, clarification, and collaboration12

A) Incorrect. Communications in a change-driven approach to business analysis focus more on the quality and effectiveness of communication, not just the frequency2 B) Incorrect. Communications in a change-driven approach are not all ad hoc. They are planned and structured according to the needs and preferences of the stakeholders and the project3 C) Incorrect. Communications in a change-driven approach focus more on informal communications, such as conversations, demonstrations, and working software. Formal communications, such as documents and reports, are minimized and used only when necessary

 Enterprise architecture is a description of the current and future state of an organization in terms of its business processes, information systems, and technology infrastructure. It defines the business requirements, solution scope, and solution requirements for achieving the organization’s vision, goals, and objectives. Enterprise architecture helps to align the business and IT strategies, optimize the use of resources, and enable effective change management12.

The other options are not correct because:

Option A is incorrect. Matrix structure is a type of organizational structure that combines functional and project-based units. It defines the roles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships of the staff members. Matrix structure does not describe the business requirements, solution scope, and solution requirements for an organization3.

Option C is incorrect. Organizational process asset is a term used in project management to refer to any process, policy, plan, procedure, or knowledge base that is specific to and used by an organization. Organizational process assets can help to guide, support, or influence the project activities and outcomes. Organizational process assets do not describe the business requirements, solution scope, and solution requirements for an organization4.

Option D is incorrect. Business need is a problem or opportunity that the organization faces or wants to address. It provides the context and justification for initiating a project or a task. Business need does not describe the solution scope and solution requirements for an organization.

References:

Enterprise Architecture, section “Description of Change”

What is Enterprise Architecture? A Framework for Transformation, section “What is Enterprise Architecture?”

Matrix Structure, section “Description of Change”

Organizational Process Assets, section “Description of Change”

[Business Need], section “Description of Change”

A change-driven approach to business analysis and requirements management is an approach that embraces change and adapts to the evolving needs and expectations of the stakeholders1. A change-driven approach does not use a formal change control process, as it assumes that changes are inevitable and beneficial, and that they can be incorporated quickly and easily into the solution2. A change-driven approach relies on frequent feedback, collaboration, and validation to ensure that the solution delivers value and meets the stakeholder needs3. The other options are not true statements about changing requirements in a change-driven approach, as they describe aspects of a plan-driven approach, which is an approach that follows a predefined and structured process for managing changes and requires formal approval and documentation24. References: Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, Business Analysis Global Standards | IIBA®, Certification of Capability in Business Analysis™ (CCBA®), Business Analysis Certification Competencies, CCBA® | IIBA®

A change log is a tool that helps manage changes in a project by recording the details of each change request, such as the source, priority, impact, status, and resolution1. It also helps track the progress of change implementation and communicate the status of changes to stakeholders2. References:

1: BABOK® Guide, Version 3.0, p. 121

2: CCBA® Handbook, p. 18

According to the BABOK® Guide, one of the goals of business analysis is to enable successful change that delivers value for stakeholders. Value can be defined as the worth, importance, or usefulness of something to a stakeholder within a context1. One of the ways to deliver value is to improve the experience of the customer, which is the external stakeholder who consumes or benefits from the products or services provided by the enterprise2. Improving the purchasing process is an example of an improvement opportunity that aims to enhance the customer experience, as it can make it easier, faster, or more convenient for the customer to buy the productsor services they need or want3. References: 1: BABOK® Guide, version 3, section 1.2, page 52: BABOK® Guide, version 3, section 2.2.2, page 163: BABOK® Guide, version 3, section 6.1.4, page 184.

Because the stakeholders are dispersed, what are likely to increase in this endeavor as opposed to a collocated group of stakeholders are communication needs and risks. Communication needs are the requirements and expectations of the stakeholders regarding the frequency, format, content, and quality of the information exchange during the business analysis work12. Risks are the uncertain events or conditions that may have a positive or negative effect on the business analysis work or the solution34. When the stakeholders are dispersed, the communication needs and risks tend to increase, as there may be challenges or barriers related to the time zones, languages, cultures, technologies, or processes that affect the collaboration and coordination among the stakeholders. The other options are not likely to increase in this endeavor, as they depend on other factors, such as the project scope, budget, schedule, or quality, such as face-to-face meetings (A), which may not be feasible or necessary for dispersed stakeholders, or costs (D), which may not be directly related to the stakeholder dispersion. References: Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, Certification of Capability in Business Analysis™ (CCBA®), Business Analysis Certification Competencies, CCBA® | IIBA®, The Ultimate Guide to Business Capability Analysis, [Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Simplilearn]

 An organizational process asset is a term that describes the organizational policies, procedures, forms, and methodologies that the business analyst is to follow. These are the established practices and guidelines that the organization has developed and maintained over time, and they provide a framework for conducting business analysis activities. Organizational process assets may include templates, standards, checklists, tools, best practices, lessons learned, and other resources that can help the business analyst perform their tasks more efficiently and effectively.

References: The information is verified as per the BABOK® Guide and related IIBA resources, which outline the standards and practices for business analysis. The BABOK® Guide is a key resource forunderstanding business analysis inputs and outputs123. You can also find some useful resources and sample questions from other sources

According to the BABOK® Guide, implementation subject matter experts are “stakeholders who have specialized knowledge of the technologies, tools, or techniques that will be used to implement the solution” (p. 15). They need detailed technical interface requirements to understand how the solution components will interact with each other and with external systems. Technical interface requirements specify the characteristics, formats, protocols, and standards of the data exchange between the solution and other systems (p. 36). The other options are not correct because:

Project manager is “the stakeholder who is accountable for the delivery of a specific project” (p. 14). They need high-level information about the requirements, such as scope, schedule, budget, and risks, but not detailed technical interface requirements.

Testers are “stakeholders who are responsible for verifying that the solution meets the specified requirements and quality standards” (p. 15). They need testable and measurable requirements, such as functional, non-functional, and quality requirements, but not detailed technical interface requirements.

Regulators are “stakeholders who have the authority to impose rules or standards on the solution or the domain” (p. 15). They need compliance and regulatory requirements, such aslegal, ethical, and social requirements, but not detailed technical interface requirements. References:

BABOK® Guide, p. 14-15, 36

Everything You Wanted to Know About Interface Requirements, section “What is an Interface Requirement?”

The technique that you can use to track problems with the requirements is issue tracking. This is a technique for identifying, documenting, monitoring, and resolving issues that arise during the business analysis work12. Issue tracking helps to ensure that the requirements are of high quality, aligned with the stakeholder needs, and delivered on time. The other options are not techniques for tracking problems with the requirements, but rather techniques for managing or verifying the requirements, such as RTM (B), which is a technique for tracing the relationships among requirements and other deliverables3, problem tracking ©, which is a technique for identifying and resolving problems with the solution4, or baselining (D), which is a technique for establishing an approved version of the requirements5. References: Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, Certification of Capability in Business Analysis™ (CCBA®), Business Analysis Certification Competencies, CCBA® | IIBA®, The Ultimate Guide to Business Capability Analysis, CBAP / CCBA Certified Business Analysis Study Guide, 2nd Edition

According to the BABOK® Guide, a requirements trace matrix is a table that links requirements to their origin and traces them throughout the project life cycle. A requirements trace matrix is useful for tracking the status, priority, and satisfaction of requirements, as well as identifying dependencies, gaps, and overlaps. A requirements trace matrix is suitable for smaller projects where there are few requirements, as it can provide a simple and effective way to trace the few requirements for the project1. References: 1: BABOK® Guide, version 3, section 10.32, page 344.

The implementation subject matter expert is not a stakeholder who participates in the prioritization of requirements, because they are not directly affected by the business need or the solution. The project team, the domain subject matter expert, and the project manager are all stakeholders who have a vested interest in the outcome of the project and the value of the solution, and therefore they should be involved in the prioritization of requirements. References:

Business Analysis Expert Certification, CCBA® | IIBA®, section “Who can Become a CCBA?”

A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK® Guide), section 4.2.5 “Prioritize Requirements”

Brainstorming is a technique that involves generating a large number of ideas from a group of participants in a creative and spontaneous manner. The purpose of brainstorming is to explore different perspectives, stimulate innovation, and identify potential solutions. One of the rules for brainstorming is to allow any ideas for possible solutions, even if they are not in the defined area of interest. This rule encourages participants to think outside the box, avoid criticism or judgment, and build on each other’s ideas. This rule can help to generate more diverse and original ideas, and to discover new opportunities or connections12

Option A is incorrect because creating a goal for the number of ideas the group should generate is not a rule for brainstorming. While having a goal can help to motivate and focus the group, it can also limit the creativity and quality of the ideas. The goal should be flexible and realistic, and not compromise the purpose of brainstorming3

Option C is incorrect because setting a time limit for the session is not a rule for brainstorming. While having a time limit can help to manage the session and avoid wasting time, it can also pressure the group and hinder the flow of ideas. The time limit should be appropriate and adjustable, and not interfere with the process of brainstorming4

Option D is incorrect because rating each idea that is generated is not a rule for brainstorming. Rating ideas is a part of the evaluation and selection process, which should be done after the brainstorming session. Rating ideas during the session can discourage the group and reduce the quantity and diversity of the ideas. The rule is to defer judgment and evaluation until all the ideas are generated12 References: Business Analysis Techniques - ECBA, CCBA, CBAP Endorsed, Section 7.1: Brainstorming; Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Simplilearn, Module 6: Elicitation and Collaboration, Lesson 6.2: Prepare for Elicitation; Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK® Guide), Section 10.1: Brainstorming, 10.1.3.2: Time Limit; Doing Better Brainstorming: A Business Analyst’s Guide.

 Brainstorming is an elicitation technique that involves generating a large number of ideas or options for solutions in a creative and collaborative way. Brainstorming is suitable for eliciting requirements from a large group of stakeholders, as it allows them to share their perspectives, opinions, and suggestions without any judgment or criticism. Brainstorming also helps to produce a broad set of options for solutions, as it encourages the participants to think outside the box and to build on each other’s ideas. Brainstorming can be done in various formats, such as face-to-face, online, or hybrid, and can be facilitated by a business analyst or a neutral moderator. The other options are not elicitation techniques that can achieve the same goal as brainstorming. Business rules analysis is a technique for identifying, documenting, and validating the rules that govern the behavior and operation of a business or a system. Benchmarking is a technique for comparing the performance, processes, orpractices of an organization or a system with those of other organizations or systems that are considered to be the best in the industry or the domain. Data flow diagrams are a technique for modeling the movement and transformation of data within a system or a process. References:

9 Elicitation Techniques Used by Business Analysts – Tips and Guidance

CBAP/CCBA preparation questions - The Functional BA

Business Analysis: The Elicitation Process - UniversalClass

Elicitation techniques in business analysis - PMWorld 360 Magazine

 According to the web search results12, problem tracking is a process of identifying and managing the causes of incidents on an IT service, and it is a core component of ITSM frameworks. Problem tracking is not the same as issue tracking, which is a way of recording and tracking the status of customer cases, tickets, or concerns3. Problem tracking is also not the same as bug tracking, which is the process of logging and monitoring bugs or errors during software testing4.

A stakeholder matrix is a diagram that helps to identify and analyze the stakeholders involved in a project or initiative. It can show the level of interest, influence, power, and attitude of each stakeholder group towards the proposed solution. It can also help to prioritize the communication and engagement strategies for different stakeholder groups12. A stakeholder matrix can help Audrey to visualize the people that are for and against the solution, as well as their relative importance and impact on the project. References:

1: BABOK® Guide, Version 3.0, p. 51

2: Stakeholder Analysis | IIBA® BABOK Extended

 Requirements coverage is not one of the three reasons why trace requirements are useful. Requirements coverage is a measure of how well the requirements address the needs and objectives of the stakeholders and the project. Trace requirements are useful for the following three reasons:

Requirements allocation: This is the process of assigning requirements to the components or deliverables that will satisfy them. Trace requirements help to ensure that each requirement is allocated to the appropriate component or deliverable, and that no requirement is left unallocated or over-allocated.

Quality control: This is the process of verifying that the requirements and the deliverables meet the quality standards and criteria. Trace requirements help to ensure that the quality of the requirements and the deliverables can be assessed and validated, and that any defects or issues can be identified and resolved.

Impact analysis: This is the process of assessing the potential effects of a change request or a problem on the requirements and the deliverables. Trace requirements help to determine the scope and magnitude of the impact, and the actions needed to address the change or the problem. References: Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Simplilearn, Module 5: Planning and Monitoring, Lesson 5.3: Estimation; Business Analysis Techniques - ECBA, CCBA, CBAP Endorsed, Section 8.3: Requirements Traceability; Intro to the Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA®) - Pluralsight, Course Overview, 2:00-2:20.