BCS-Business Analysis Practice (BAP) Sample Paper
BCS-Business Analysis Practice (BAP) Sample Paper
BCS-Business Analysis Practice (BAP) Sample Paper
NO.1 A company produces kitchens to order. Customers specify the design of the kitchen by using a
computer-aided design tool, provided on the company's website. The tool allows customers to select
products, such as cabinets and cookers, and place them into a floor plan of the kitchen that they have
specified.
Once the customer confirms the design, an order is placed and the customer is given a planned
installation date for the kitchen. The company orders the raw materials for the kitchen and the
kitchen is built by its skilled carpenters The customer can track the progress of the build on the
Internet. If the kitchen Is likely to be delivered later than originally promised, a control action is taken
to bring it back on schedule A Business Activity Model (BAM) developed for the company has 'sell
bespoke kitchens' as its doing activity.
Which of the following activities would be directly linked by a logical dependency arrow to or from
this doing activity?
A. Track build
B. Define carpentry skills
C. Determine range of products.
D. Take control action
Answer: B
NO.2 Marketing is primarily concerned with the 4Ps: product, promotion, price and price. The
institute of Analysis (IoA) offers qualification in system analysis. A number of interviews have been
held with senior stakeholders, including the marketing Manager. Here are two five of the activities
that have been identified by stakeholders:
a) Agree new qualifications.
b) Upgrade the website.
c) Recruit new examiners.
d) Register candidates.
e) Analyze website activity.
Which of these activities would reflect the business perspective of the Marketing Manager of the
loA?
A. b. d and e.
B. a. b and e
C. a, c and d
D. b, c and e
Answer: B
NO.3 Elizabenth is an external consultant who is helping a company streamline its process. She has
not worked for this company before.
The managing director (MD) has explained that some of the line managers feel that this work is
unnecessary, whilst others are concerned that their staff will be made redundant as a result of her
recommendations. He is keen for Elizabeth to get an understanding Elizabeth with an of organization
staff and for the involve line manager in formulating potential improvements. The MD has provided
Elizabeth with an organizational chart, detailing the business areas she needs to investigate, as well
as the names of the line managers involved.
To understand the concerns of operational staff and line managers, which pair of techniques SHOULD
she use first?
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NO.4 It services has commissioned a new desktop PC replacement project that has been funded and
running for three months, with a fully-engaged sponsor and programme manager appointed.
The head of IT service has not involve beyond the initial project start-up interviews and has not been
invited to any of the project meetings.
position on the power/interest grid does the head of IT services currently occupy?
A. High power or influence but low interest
B. Some power and influence and some interest
C. High power or influence and high interest
D. Low power and influence but high interest.
Answer: B
NO.5 EuroCoach is a holiday coach company that Is reviewing its internal business processes. The
following requirement for improvement has been logged as a business rule:
'EuroCoach Is now legally responsible for ensuring that passengers taking cross-border journeys have
valid passports and visas (If applicable) tor the countries to which, and through which, they will
travel' Which type of business rule is this?
A. Internal policy.
B. Internal processed
C. External requirement.
D. External constraint.
Answer: B
NO.6 A business case features a management summary, from which the below extract is taken:
'The new approach will incur significant investment in terms of software licenses and annual
maintenance fees, which will not be negotiable until year four of the proposal. We will research
competing suppliers in the marketplace at end of year three, the supplier will, therefore, be likely to
otter a reduced price for year five and beyond. However, we are convinced that the selected option is
the right one. It will give us a competitive edge as a result of improved management information, in
addition to the boost it will give to our image with our established customers." Which categories of
costs and benefits are described in this extract*?
A. Tangible costs, intangible benefits.
B. Tangible benefits, intangible costs
C. Intangible benefits, intangible costs
D. Intangible costs, tangible benefits
Answer: A
NO.7 George and Laura are responsible for the marking strategy in a company vinyl records and
cassette tapes online.
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George feels that the company should focus its marking solely on people aged over 50, who are
nostalgic for these older recording medi a. He also feels that the company should outsource all
marketing activity.
Laura believes that the business should continue with its target of people aged 30-60. As this age
group are particularly enthusiastic about vinyl records. She believes that marketing is one of their
internal strengths and should remain in house Which specific areas of CATWOE are they considering?
A. Customer and Owner.
B. Actor and Transformation
C. Transformation and Environment
D. Customer and Actor
Answer: B
NO.9 The following is an excerpt from a job advert tor a Business Analyst
" We are seeking an experienced Business Analyst to assist us in the development of formal written
proposals. detailing the cost and benefit of proposed business initiatives. The successful candidate
should be able to use a variety of methods to explore and define complex situations Experience of
producing plueprints In terms of processes, management structures, culture and people would be
highly advantageous-Based on the extract, what are the competencies required for this role?
A. Subject matter expertise. Investigation techniques, Business architecture.
B. Domain knowledge. Business modeling. Gap analysis.
C. Business case development. Business modeling, Requirements engineering
D. Business case development. Investigation techniques. Business architecture
Answer: A
NO.10 A group of stakeholders at FlyMe travel operators are in a meeting to discus the Business
Activity Model (BAM) for a new subsidiary business. They are planning to launch a new offering,
which will offer flight bundle' packages for organization that regularly need to send their staff
overseas. The following activities have been identified so far:
a) Monitor flight bundle' sates
b) Sell "night bundles*
c) Determine demand amongst existing customers
d) Identify potential airline earners
e) Determine 'flight bundle' locations,
f) Define bundle pricing.
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Although the Operations Director for FlyMe is supportive of the new business proposition, she is not
entirely convinced there is a gap in the market, nor is she confident that the idea will be profitable.
With these concerns in mind, which planning activities will she be keen to ensure are discussed
before the meeting ends?
A. c and f
B. a. c and f
C. a, b. d and e.
D. b, d and e
Answer: D
NO.11 EcoBags is a company that designs and makes eco-friendly shopping bags foe various clients
An Internal analysis of the business has revealed the following information about the company.
a) Recent investment in new machinery will enable the company to continue its innovation
programme b) Feedback from customers and an Increase in sales suggests that Leo Bugs is
recognised as a quality brand c) The number of staff currently employed in the company is sufficient
to meet expected future growth d) The ability of EcoBags to respond quickly to new market demands
has earned it an innovation award.
e) The company has significant retained profits, which will help fund the innovation programme.
Which of these would be considered as 'tangible' resources in a resource audit?
A. a, b and d.
B. b, c, and e.
C. a, c and e.
D. c, d, and e
Answer: C
NO.12 A business analyst has been assigned to help develop a plan for expanding a business that
produces software for mobile phones and has interview he managing director to understand his
perspective regarding the expansion. The managing director's worldview is as follows:
''The purpose of our business is to develop and sell software for mobile phones. The expansion will
enable us to increase the amount of software we procedure, so we can keep pace with the growing
demand of the market for software that is easy to use.'' Which of the following is a 'transformation'
for this worldview?
A. Develop and sell software for mobile phones.
B. Ensure that software is easy to use
C. Keep pace with the growing demands of the market.
D. Increase the amount of software we produce.
Answer: D
NO.13 Ajay works I the payroll department of his organization. Payslips for every employee are
printed automatically at the each month. He is about to distribute the monthly for each employee
when he receives a notification from senior management explaining that the wish to give everyone a
10% bonus, for exceptional performance in the least quarter. Ajay is pleased with the bonus, but
annoyed that the needs to re-print the monthly payslips.
Which types of business events can be identified from this scenario?
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NO.14 The innovation center of accompany has created a new reporting tool. The senior
management initially supported its introduction into the business; however. End users in one
business area are unwilling to adopt the new tool, as they perceive that it is unnecessary.
One of the end users in this business area has been very vocal and has been rallying support from
others through a corporate social media tool. End users In other business are also beginning to
question whether they should adopt the tool and raising this issue with their managers.
The sponsor has fully supported the decision to go ahead with the new loot, but senior management
is now questioning his decision, due to comments from the operational staff How would the end
users be classified on a power/interest grid?
A. High interest, low power
B. Some interest, high power
C. High interest, some power.
D. Low interest, some power
Answer: D
NO.15 An airline has agreed that the following Key performance indicator (KPI) will help measure
one of the airline's Critical Success Factors (CSFs) -customer service. The KPI is the percentage of
customers rating our service as excellent in an independently administrator customer survey.
In the current year, the performance objective associated with KPI is 70%. The airline, therefore, aims
for at least 70% of customers rating its service as excellent.
Which of the following activities in a Business Activity Model would establish whether the KPI and its
associated performance objective is being achieved?
A. Monitor customer satisfaction.
B. Define customer satisfaction.
C. Agree performance objective.
D. Deliver customer service.
Answer: D
NO.16 A company has decided to change one of its financial Key Performance indicators (KPIs). It has
traditionally measured profit through its gross profit margin, however, it now wishes to measure It
through it Return on Capital Employed (ROCE).
The following activities are on the consensus Business Activity Model (BAM) a) Take control action b)
Monitor performance targets c) Define performance targets.
d) Define target customers
Which of these would the event 'amend KPI' affect?
A. c only.
B. a only.
C. b, c and d.
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D. a. b and d.
Answer: C
NO.17 A business analyst working for a manufacturing company has been asked to support a new
initiative to review and redesign the company's Process, enabling it is increase its production and
expand into overseas markets. He is working in a team of business analytics and has been asked to do
the following:
a) Assist in the evaluation of the benefits defined in the benefits plan b) Lead requirements elicitation
and clarification activities c) Deliver coaching, training and ongoing support for any changes to
existing processes.
Once the business analyst has completed these activities, which parts of the Business Change
lifecycle will he have supported-?
A. Design. Alignment and Implementation
B. Implementation. Definition and Alignment
C. Design and Realisation
D. Realisation. Design and Implementation
Answer: D
NO.18 BuildCo is small building company with the stall. The owner to reduce time spent on
administration by simplifying the company's paperwork. This paperwork includes provides quotes
and invoices, as well as managing orders and receipts for building materials.
Most of the paperwork is completed manually and copies are stored in filing cabinets. However,
quotes and invoices are produced on a word processor and the stored on a computer, with printed
copies also stored in the filing cabinets. The owner is not sure that all the current paperwork is
necessary.
Which investigation technique would be MOST effective in establishing the need for item of
paperwork?
A. Questionnaire
B. Workshop
C. Interviews
D. Document Analysis
Answer: A
NO.19 End users in one business area are unwilling to adopt a new finance management system
(recently introduced by the innovation team), as they perceive that it is unnecessarily complicated
and not useful. One of the end users in this business area has been very vocal and has been relying
support from others since posting about it on the company's intranet homepage.
The introduction finance system was initially supported by senior managers, but now users in other
business area are also beginning to question whether they adopt the tool and are raising the issue
with their managers.
The sponsor fully supports the decision to go ahead with the now tool and has made il very cleat to
senior managers that ho expects them to support this Initiative.
Which stakeholder management strategy SHOULD be taken with the senior managers?
A. Keep onside.
B. Constant active management
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C. Watch
D. Keep informed
Answer: A
NO.20 Paula is a business analyst working for a small bespoke furniture manufacturing company.
The newly appointed chief executive, Beverly, has asked Paula to lead an initiative to refresh and
restate (where necessary) the organization's plan for the next financial year. Paula recently led a
planning worksope with senior managers and has made the following notes about issues raised in the
worshop:
The company....
a) Aims to supply 10% of the local bespoke furniture market by the end of the financial year.
b) Will Invest In local radio advertising and appoint a creative team to develop an appropriate
advertisement c) Will await the final draft of the annual accounts before considering investing in a
new range of high-tech chairs.
d) Will adopt new 3D printing technologies to gain an advantage when quoting for bespoke furniture
designs e) Recognises that bespoke furniture will always be more expensive than mass-produced,
standard furniture Which of these notes will go into her MOST analysis?
A. a, b and d.
B. a, b and c.
C. b, c and e.
D. a, d and e
Answer: B
NO.21 A division of a telecommunication company is reviewing its current product range. It has
decided to reposition itself by narrowing its product scope to 'deliver consultancy service'. The
activity is the primary doing activity doing on a business Activity Model (BAM) defined by the Chief
Executive Officer (CEO). A number of other activities have been identified, five of which are listed
below:
Determine which customer to target for
a) Determine which customers to target for our focused service.
b) Track the progress of consultancy contracts placed by customers.
c) Define the skills sets of the consultants supplying our service.
d) Agree on a marketing campaign to make people aware of our new product focus e) Run monthly
open days, showcasing our consultancy expertise.
Which of these would be categorized as planning activities on the CEO's BAM?
A. a. c and d
B. a, b and e.
C. b, c and e.
D. c. d and e
Answer: A
NO.22 Nastya is the CEO of a large technology firm, which develops new and innvolvative
nanotechnology. Below is an email she has sent to her management team:
Dear Team,
Recent media coverage has revealed that our competitors have lower costs. It is important that we
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get back to our suppliers to see il they can secure a better component pnce for the next version of
our NanoVac range Let's also consider the energy costs of our labs, I'm mindful that costs are rising
due to investment in renewable power-1 want us to negotiate with our energy supplier to get a
better deal.
I've also been reading reports on social responsibility and sustainability and I'd like a lull review of the
biodegradability of the packaging of all our products- we don't want media attention for being a
technology company that wastes natural resources.
Our employment regulations also need revisiting as there have been changes to pension rules and
paternity/maternity rights for workers and I want us to be aware of these Finally, regarding the staff
conference I want to launch a new staff development programme, which aims to identify and
develop the rising stars in our business People development should be a key priority in our next
annual plan.
Thanks. Nastya."
Which elements of PESTLE are identified in this email?
A. Environmental, Political. Socio-Cultural.
B. Economic, Environmental, Legal
C. Socio-Cultural. Technological. Economic
D. Political, Legal. Economic
Answer: A
NO.23 A local council wishes to improve its housing allocation process. The following notes were
made by the head of housing about the current process.
Housing application decision are made using a set of criteria based on a range of factors, including
the length of time application has been on the waiting list and the number of dependents they have.
The criteria by the council housing committee, who meet on a regular basis and seek to ensure that
the criteria continue to enable effective housing allocation.
Occasionally, legislation ensuring protection for the most vulnerable people in our society can affect
the criteria, as can changes issued by central government concerning practical issues, such as building
regulations?
Which of the following types(s) of business rule has been described in this extract?
A. Internal policies and internal procedures.
B. External constrains and internal policies.
C. External constraints and external procedures.
D. Internal procedures.
Answer: D
NO.24 An overseas bank is currently undertaking a feasibility study looking into the possible launch
of a new bank in the UK.
Preliminary findings suggest that the market is saturated, customers have a lot of choice and UK
legislation makes It easy for them to from one bank to another.
In which area of Porter's Five Forces model would these preliminary findings be documented?
A. Threat of now entrants.
B. Bargaining power of customers
C. Bargaining power of suppliers.
D. Threat of substitute products or services
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Answer: B
NO.25 The following statements have been made about the consensus Business Activity Model a)
Describes how a business process should operate.
b) Describes what a business system should be able to do.
c) A conceptual model.
d) Usually produced before requirements are defined.
e) Includes all stakeholders' perspectives
Which of the statements are TRUE?
A. a, b and c.
B. b, c and e.
C. b, c and d
D. a., d and e.
Answer: A
NO.26 A company is reviewing its critical success factors and key performance indicators So far. it
has key performance indicators for the following:
* The time to deliver orders for products
* Consumer satisfaction with products.
* Wastage in product production.
* The qualifications of production employees
Which area of Kaplan and Norton's balanced business scorecard has NOT been considered?
A. Learning and growth
B. Internal business process.
C. Customer.
D. Financial
Answer: B
NO.27 Bessant Co.manufactures and sells clothing. The company is every profitable and the IT
director would like to invest some of these profits into improving the technical infrastructure of the
company, which would help the organic growth of the company. However, the finance director
would like to use the profits to acquire one of its competitors.
Shelly is the business analyst on this project and she recognises that the IT and finance director do
not agree on the future direction of the business. Once prefers organic growth and the other, growth
by acquisition.
What technique COULD Shelly use to improve her understating ot these two different perspectives?
A. CATWOE.
B. The power/ interest grid
C. SWOT analysis
D. POPIT model.
Answer: D
NO.28 The management of a chain of hotels has decided that one of its Critical Success Factors (CSF)
is to provide excellent customer service'. The following measures have been suggested:
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a) The number of customers who make use of their m-room mini bar
b) The percentage of customers who use the leisure facilities
c) The number of customers who complain.
d) The percentage of customers who join the hotel loyalty scheme
e) The percentage of customers who return
Which of these are appropriate Key Performance indicators (KPIs) for the GSF 'provide excellent
customer service?
A. a, b and e.
B. b. c and d.
C. c. d and e
D. a. c and e.
Answer: A
NO.29 Alana has identified the several issues in a process redesign project she is working on,
including the following:
1) The suggested changes will require a re-definition of the organisation's Key Performance Indicators
(KPI)
2) The suggested changes to the business structure will affect our relationships with suppliers.
3) The proposed sharing of data with our suppliers will raise legal accessibility issues Which elements
of POPIT consider these issues?
A. Processes and Information & Technology.
B. People and Processes.
C. People and Organisation.
D. Information A Technology. Organisation
Answer: B
NO.30 Bluesky Travel is an independent travel agency specialising in luxury bespoke holidays, which
is introducing a new booking process. So far, the following key changes have been made:
1) The new Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) software package for making bookings has been
installed and is working
2) Data is being migrated from the old computer system to the COTS software package
3) The IT department has documented the configuration of the COTS system
4) The legal department has confirmed that the new COTS system is compliant with company
policies.
In taking a holistic approach, which of the following areas of the POPII Model have NOT yet been
addressed by the changes identified?
A. Organisation and process.
B. Process and people
C. People and technology
D. Organisation and information.
Answer: A
NO.31 A business case is being created for a new, automated auditing system that will improve the
IT department's ability to record and monitor all the computing devices used across the organisation.
The sponsor of the project is keen to get a better idea of the financial implications of the project and
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has asked for the simplest calculation possible. This calculation should consider the tangible costs and
tangible benefits of the project, as well as showing when it will have saved the department as much
as it has cost.
Which of the following investment appraisal calculations has the sponsor asked for?
A. Payback calculation.
B. Net present value.
C. Internal rate of return.
D. Discounted cash flow.
Answer: A
NO.32 A Business Analyst is reviewing the stakeholder management strategy for a high profile I
Human Resources (HR) protect.
Following an organizational restructure, Harvey's role has changed from Director of Operations to
Director of HR and he has Inherited sponsorship of the project. Harvey was previously involved in the
project, but had little interest because his focus was on the Operational Projects that he sponsored.
Which of the following sets of stakeholder management strategies represent appropriate approaches
for Harvey; firstly for when the project started and secondly now that his role has changed?
A. Keep watch; Constant active management
B. Ignore; Constant active management
C. Keep on side; Constant active management
D. Ignore; Keep informed.
Answer: B
NO.33 Imran is the chief executive of FairCrops, a producer of ethically and sustainably sourced
coffee and cocoa products. He is a true advocate of the FairCrops brand and has seen the positive
impact of its approach in the South American regions in which It operates. He believed that there is a
market for customers who want to ensure the products they consume have been purchased for a fair
price and where the producer has not been unfairly treated.
FairCrops provide their products via an exclusive contract with Donald, the owner of Rest House; a
small chain of coffee shops.
Ronaldo is a supplier to FairCrops. The prices he receives means he can provide for Ins family and
enhance his crop yield through the advice and training provided by Alan, the FairCrops local
representative and support officer From Imran's perspective, which of the following is a CORRECT
partial CATWOE analysis of this situation?
A. Customer = Donald, Actor = Alan. Owner = Imran
B. Customer - Alan, Actor = Donald. Actor = Ronaldo
C. Owner = Ronaldo. Actor = Donald. Customer = Imran
D. Customer = Alan. Actor = Ronaldo. Owner = Imran.
Answer: C
NO.34 Why would a Business Analyst use a consensus Business Activity Model (BAM) in gap
analysis?
A. To assess how tar the organisation's current activities support the desired situation
B. To identify how the organisation should structure itself to support the desired situation
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C. To determine which activities in the desired situation are not financially feasible
D. To establish which stakeholder views will not be reflected in the desired situation
Answer: C
NO.35 The following planning activity has been identified in a consensus BAM for a company that
makes clothes:
'P4 - Define marketing strategy'
Which of the following is an enabling activity linked to this planning activity?
A. Monitor sales.
B. Define sales targets
C. Advertise clothes
D. Sell clothes
Answer: C
NO.36 AlpineTrails is a company that specialises In off en rig tailored waking holidays. The company
was set up by John and Michael, who each own f50% of the business Alpine Trails books hotels,
transport and equipment to create bespoke holidays tot AlpineTrails customers.
An agreement was recently reached with WalkNalion, a national walking organisation, tor
AlpineTraile to provide a number or special holidays for Its members. These will be branded as
WalkNation Holidays AlpineTrails will be responsible for organising the holidays, but WalkNalion will
undertake the marketing and booking of these special holidays tor us members.
As well as customers, which stakeholder groups are- represented in this scenario?
A. Manager, Employee. Supplier.
B. Regulator. Owner, Partner.
C. Partner, Manager. Employee
D. Owner. Partner. Supplier
Answer: C
NO.37 A Business Analyst and a project Manager are producing a business case for an initiative,
which aims to improve the cyber defense of a large financial services provider.
They met recently to review progress, and made the following notes for the next draft:
The benefits of cyber will be describes in quantitative terms, so we will need to describe these
Qualitatively.
We need to make it clear that we have fully explored the solution market, and we have considered a
range of approaches to meeting the objectives of this project.
The threat posed to the organization from cyber attack, and therefore the justification for the
project, needs to be clearly articulated.
Which of the following sets of elements of a business case will cover ALL of these points?
A. Description of the current situation. analysis of costs and benefits, options considered
B. Impact assessment, analysis of costs and benefits, recommendations
C. Recommendations, risk assessment, options considered
D. Description of the current situation, impact assessment, risk assessment
Answer: C
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NO.38 ParcelGo is a distribution company. Parcels arrive at its warehouse, where the inbound team
use handheld barecode scanners to acknowledge their receipt. Parcels are then loaded onto pallets
for onward distribution.
A project as been commissioned to replace the labour-intensive process and introduce a fully-
automated system ha reads he barecodes pf parcels as they pass along a coveryor belt, automatically
delivering to the correct area of the warehouse for onward distribution.
Staff from the inbound have informed their manager that about 30% of parcels either do not have
barcodes, or the barcodes are obscured. The team currently resolves this issue manually. But the
concerned that the new automated system will be able to do this. The staff members are also
worried the system will make their roles redundant.
Using a holist approach, which element of the POPIT model need further investigation in order to
address the team's concerns?
A. Process and technology
B. Information and technology
C. People and process
D. People and organisation
Answer: B
NO.40 A local council has decided to completely redesign the way it provides library lending
services: it plans to stop lending books and move towards an entirety online e-book lending model
Four activities to be included in the Business Activity Model (BAM) are given below:
a) Lend books
b) Establish licensing arrangements with publishers.
c) Define lending policies
d) Monitor lending usage
What will be the dependencies between these activities on the BAM?
A. c - b - a - d
B. d - c - a - b
C. c - d - a - b
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D. c -- a - b - d
Answer: A
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