AssessmentTask

The assessment involves two tasks: (1) complete the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA)’s Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA) exam; and (2) reflect on the knowledge you acquired of the Business Analytics Body of Knowledge® (BABOK®) in BANASD600 Foundations in Business Analysis during a 3-minute in-class presentation.

Context

InAssessment 3,youmustfirst complete theECBA™examination by IIBA®.This industry certification assessesyourfoundationalbusinessanalysisknowledgebasedontheBABOK®guide.Gainingthis

industry certification will provide you with a competitive edge, by demonstrating that you can understand best practices of the business analysis profession. Completing the learning activities and seekingguidancefromtheLearningFacilitatorisessentialifyouareto achieve apositiveresultinthis subject and in the ECBA™ examination. Assessment 3 also requires you to conduct a 3-minute presentation during class time. The presentation provides you with an opportunity to communicate your understanding of business analysis and how it relates to your professional development. Think deeply about the experiences you gained while learning about BABOK® and completing the ECBA™ examination.

Instructions

Tobesuccessfulinthisassessment,youmustcompletethefollowingtasks:

Task1:CompletetheECBA™examinationremotely/onlineby11:55pmAEST/AEDT,Wednesday,in the middle of Module 6.1.

1. ConsolidatestudynotespreparedforeachofModules1.1to5.2inpreparationfortheECBA™ examination
2. Attempttheformative/non-gradedonlinepracticetestinBlackboardby11:55pm AEST/AEDT, Wednesday, in the middle of Module 5.2 (Week 10).
3. CompletetheECBA™examinationandobtainconfirmationofyourcompletion/resultsissued by IIBA®.

Task 2: Perform a 3-mintue presentation during the Module 6.2 class that addresses the following requirements:

TheGibbs’ReflectiveCycle1,whichconsistsofsix(6)steps(seeinFigure1)ispresentedasaguide for structuring your presentation. Specifically, please follow the headings and prompt questions listed below to guide your Reflection presentation for Assessment 3.

Figure1.Gibbs’reflectivecycle.

APAReferences

Gibbs,G.(1988).Learningbydoing:Aguidetoteachingandlearningmethods.FurtherEducation Unit, Oxford Polytechnic.

The University of Edinburgh. (2020, November 11). Gibbs' reflective cycle [Image]. https://www.ed.ac.uk/reflection/reflectors-toolkit/reflecting-on-experience/gibbs-reflective-cycle.

An adaptationof the six (6) steps inthe framework is described below to guide you in your reflective report writing.

Step 1: Description of your learnings of BABOK® and experiences completing the ECBA™ examination

For eachknowledge areaof BABOK®studied inthis subject, identify and describethe knowledge you acquired that you consider valuable to your career or professional development. Frame the description around facts. Consider the following questions: What prior knowledge or understanding of the topics and concepts did you have? What knowledge did you acquire? What tasks did you performtoacquirethisknowledge?Refertotheweeklystudynotesyoupreparedbeforeundertaking the formative/non-graded online practice test and proctored ECBA™ examination.

Listedbelowaresomeguidingquestionsthatmayassistyouindescribingyourpersonalreflection:

• BABOK®learnings

  • Whatwasyourpreviousunderstandingofthetopicsorconceptspresentedinthe subject?
  • WhatknowledgehaveyouacquiredfromreadingtheBABOK®resourcesprovidedin Modules 1.1 to 5.2?
  • Whatspecificexperience,events,situations,problems,issuesorexamplesinthepast relate to these learnings?
  • Whatexcitingdiscoverieshaveyoumadewhileaccessingthecontentandcompleting the weekly reflective journals for Modules 1.1 to 5.2?

• CompletingtheECBA™examination

  • Howdidyouprepareforthepracticetestandproctoredexamination?
  • Whatwastheoutcome?
  • Whatdidyouwantto happen?

Step2:FeelingsandthoughtsonBABOK®learningsandexperiencescompletingtheECBA™ examination

Building on the description from Step 1, in Step 2, describe some feelings and thoughts you experienced while learning the BABOK® and completing the ECBA™ examination. Frame the description around your feelings and thoughts. Examine how you felt (your emotions) and what you thought (your cognitions) while receiving new information and undertaking the practice test and proctored examination.

Listed below are some guiding questions that may assist you in exploring your feelings and thoughts in your personal reflection:

• BABOK®learnings

  • What were you feeling before, during and after completing the subject in relation to specific experiences, events, situations, problems, issues or examples you have encounteredinthepast,are currentlydealingwithorare likely to faceinthefuture?
  • Areyourfeelingsorthoughtsaboutyourlearningspositiveornegative?
  • HowhaveyourBABOK®learningsaffectedyoucognitivelyandemotionallyduringthe learning process?

• CompletingtheECBA™examination

  • Whatwereyoufeelingbefore,duringandaftercompletingthepracticetestand proctored examination?
  • Whatwereyouthinkingbefore,duringandaftercompletingthe practicetestand proctored examination?

Step3:EvaluationofyourBABOK®learningsandexperiencescompletingtheECBA™examination

When evaluating your knowledge and experiences, consider how the facts and feelings described in Steps1and2haveinfluencedyourbehaviourandactions.Frameyourevaluationaroundpositiveand negative aspects of the learnings and experiences. Reflect on your BABOK® learnings and their personal effect, explaining their value (or lack thereof). Did you agree or disagree with a theory, a worldview or someone else’s perspective, and if so, why? Have previous opinions you held changed since completing the subject? Consider the advantages and disadvantages of the practice test and proctoredexamination.Howhavethesetaskshelpedyouappraisetheimportanceofbusinessanalysis in theory and practice? Was your experience completing these tasks good or bad? What did you do that was (in)effective?

Listed below are some guiding questions that may assist you in evaluating your learnings in your personal reflection:

• BABOK®learnings

  • DidyourpriorknowledgesupportorcontradictyourBABOK®learnings?
  • How have your BABOK® learnings transformed your perspective or improved your understanding of business analysis in theory and practice?
  • What experiences, events, situations, problems, issues or examples have you previously encountered that support your appraisal of the importance of business analysis in theory and practice?

• CompletingtheECBA™Examination

  • Whatlearningsandtechniquesdidyouusetocompletethepracticetestand proctored examination?
  • Whatlearningsandtechniquesyouusedtocompletethepracticetestandproctored exam were successful?
  • Whatlearningsandtechniquesyouusedtocompletethepracticetestandproctored exam were unsuccessful?

Step4:Analysisofnewinsights

Attempt to make sense of specific experiences, events, situations, problems, issues or examples by analysing your BABOK® learnings and experiences completing the ECBA™ examination. Link positive or negative results to decisions you made while learning about BABOK® or preparing for the practice test and proctored examination.

Listed below are some guiding questions that may assist you to analyse the new insights you gained in your personal reflection:

• LearningsofBABOK®

  • What actions did you take or decisions did you make that led to a successful or unsuccessful outcome?
  • Whydoyouthinkyouractionordecisionledtoasuccessfulorunsuccessfuloutcome?
  • What personal strengths or weaknesses or gaps in your expertise or skills can you identify that may have contributed to a successful or unsuccessful outcome because of your actions or decisions?
  • What knowledge—your own or others (e.g., academic literature)—could help with your analysis of your learnings of BABOK®?

• CompletingtheECBA™examination

  • Whywastheoutcomeofyourpracticetestandproctoredexaminationsuccessful/unsuccessful?
  • Whatsensecanyoumakeoftheresults?
  • Whatknowledgehelpswithunderstandingtheresults?

Step5:Conclusionandsummaryofyourlearningsandexperiences

Draw conclusions about your learnings of BABOK® and experiences completing the ECBA™ examination by summarising and highlighting any actions required to extend your learnings and improve your future experiences. Frame your conclusions around achieving higher-order learning outcomes (e.g., transferring the knowledge you have learnt to new situations and leveraging that knowledge to develop a business idea or refine current work processes) and improving examination results (e.g., passing the ECBA™ examination if a re-sit is required or improving your assessment results in professional certification examinations).

Listed below are some guiding questions that may assist you to reach a conclusion about the new insights you gained in your personal reflection:

• BABOK®learnings

  • Whatcouldyoudodifferentlytoachievebetterlearningoutcomes?
  • WhatskillsdoyourequiretoextendyourlearningsofBABOK®?

• CompletingtheECBA™examination

  • Whatalternativeactionswouldyouengageintoachievebetterresultsfromthe practice test and the proctored ECBA™ examination?

Step6:Actionplanforactingonyournewinsights

Building on responses from the five previous steps, plan a course of action in Step 6 to extend your learnings of BABOK® and ensure better results in the future. This step involves listing future actions you intend to perform to improve your career and professional development.

Listedbelowaresomeguidingquestions thatmayassistyoutocreateanactionplaninyourpersonal reflection:

• Whatmodificationswouldyoumake to your actionsor decisions ifencounteringthe sameor similar experiences, events, situations, problems, issues or examples in the future?
• How do you intend to address any gaps in your skills or transform your weaknesses into strengths to better prepare or equip yourself for similar experiences, events, situations, problems, issues or examples in the future?
• What will you do to improve your business analysis knowledge and practices (e.g., engaging with industry and undertaking additional study) and how will you determine whether improved outcomes have been achieved?

Completeanactionplandocumentingyourresponsetothesequestions.

Your Reflection presentation for Assessment 3 will be assessed against the criteria detailed in the marking rubric on pages 8 to 11 of this Assessment Brief.

You are required to upload your Reflection for Assessment 3 to the submission point in Blackboard. Please refer to the Submission Instructions on page 7 of this assessment brief for more details.

ReflectivePresentationFormat

Thepresentationslidesshouldadoptthefollowingstructure:

• Slide1

  • TitlePage—IncludecourseIDandname,studentID,emailandname,facilitator name, and date of submission.

• Slide2

  • Description—AdescriptionofyourlearningsofBABOK®andexperiencescompleting the ECBA™ examination.
  • FeelingsandThoughts—Detailyourfeelingsandthoughtsonthelearningsof BABOK® and your experiences in completing the ECBA™ examination.

• Slide3

  • Evaluation—EvaluateyourlearningsofBABOK®andexperiencesincompletingthe ECBA™ examination.
  • Analysis—AnalysewhatyourlearningsofBABOK®meanforyouandyourcareer.

• Slide4

  • Conclusion.
  • ActionPlan—Detailtheactionsyouwilltaketodevelopyourselfandyourcareer using the business analysis knowledge and skills that you have learnt.

• Slide5

  • ReferenceList.

• Appendices—TheAppendicesmustincludethefollowing(theseappendicescanbesubmitted as a separate word document and included when you submitted your slides for Assessment 3):
  • WeeklystudynotesgeneratedinpreparationfortheExamination;
  • Evidenceoflearningsgainedwhileattemptingtheformative/non-gradedonline practice test; and
  • EvidenceconfirmingyourattemptoftheECBA™onlinecertificationexamination.

Referencing

ItisessentialthatyouuseappropriateAPAstyle(version7)to citeandreferenceyourresearch.For more information on referencing, visit the Academic Skills webpage.

SubmissionInstructions

Submit all components of Assessment 3, such as your Weekly Study Notes, ECBA™ examination result document issued by IIBA® and Reflection presentation slides, in one PDF document via the Assessments link in the main navigation menu in BANASD600— Foundations in Business Analysis.

Pleaseadoptthefollowingfile-namingconvention:

BANASD600_FirstName_LastName_Assessment_3.pdf

(e.g.,BANASD600_James_Smith_Assessment_3.pdf)

Your learning facilitator will provide feedback via the Grade Centre in Blackboard. Feedback can be viewed in My Grades.

AcademicIntegrity

All students are responsible for ensuring that all work submitted is their own and is appropriately referencedandacademicallywrittenaccordingtotheAcademicWritingGuide.Studentsalsoneed tohavereadandbeawareofTorrensUniversityAustraliaAcademicIntegrityPolicyandProcedure and subsequent penalties for academic misconduct. These are viewable online.

Studentsmustalsokeepacopyofallsubmittedmaterialandanyassessmentdrafts.

SpecialConsideration

To apply for special consideration for a modification to an assessment or examination due to unexpectedorextenuatingcircumstances,pleaseconsult the AssessmentPolicyfor HigherEducationCoursework and ELICOSand, if applicable to your circumstances, submit a completed Application forAssessment Special Consideration Formto your learning facilitator.

AssessmentRubric

BANASD600_Assessment3_20240603

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