BA Techniques: Reviews

Purpose

Review are used to evaluate the content of a work product.

Business Analysis Body of Knowledge^® (BABOK^®)

A review is a structured audit within the business analysis process where participants ask questions, make suggestions, and improve the quality of the product being reviewed. When multiple people play a role in improving the quality of the product under review, we can produce a better product. Good requirements lay the foundation of success for the product. So, requirements review is very important for successful product development. The role of business analyst is vital in documenting the project requirements. It is the job of the business analyst to gather requirements from the stakeholders and ensure that the proposed business solution meets all the business needs. The review in business analysis enables the organizational change by defining the needs of stakeholders and proposing the business solutions that aim to deliver value to the business. The review in business analysis is delivered as business requirements documents and functional specification documents.   

The review is focused on the work product, not the skills and actions of the participants. The work product may be a package of several deliverable, a single deliverable, a portion of deliverable, or work in process. The objective of the review technique is usually to remove the defects or inform the reviewers about the content. Each review includes the business analyst as a participant. Reviewers may be peers, especially the stakeholders, who validate that the work product is complete and correct. By using the feedback from the reviewers, the business analyst updates the work product. Review technique also include,

• An overview of the work product and review objectives
• Checklists and reference materials that can be used by the reviewer
• Reviewing the work product and documenting the findings
• Verifying any rework

Some of the articles related to Review techniques are as follows,

• Reviewing Technique - https://www.improhealth.org/fileadmin/Documents/Improvement_Tools/PERT.pdf
• Evaluation in Review Technique - https://project.pm/program-evaluation-review-technique/
• Reviewing Methods - https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/125876/9/09_chapter%202.pdf
• Uses of Review Technique - http://um.ase.ro/no5S/1.pdf
• Guideline for Review Technique - http://ueberfachliche-kompetenzen.ethz.ch/dopraedi/pdfs/Mayer/guidelines_review_article.pd
• Review: Methods and Techniques - http://www2.hcmuaf.edu.vn/data/quoctuan/Research%20Methodology%20-%20Methods%20and%20Techniques%202004.pdf
• Review in Project Management - https://project-management-knowledge.com/definitions/p/program-evaluation-review-technique/
• Review Optimization Technique - https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/37341665.pdf
• Quality of Review Technique - https://community.simplilearn.com/threads/which-is-an-objective-of-the-quality-review-technique.41110/

A good review is a worthy response. Every business is different, and has its own approach, rules, and culture. Based on the requirements of the product, we will be designing the product and get the reviews from the stakeholders accordingly. Some of the important elements to be considered in review technique are,

• Objectives - They are clearly communicated to all participants prior to the review. It include some of the goals such as,to remove defects

• to ensure that the work product is complete and correct
• to answer the question, resolve an problem, and explore the alternatives
• to educate reviewers about the work product
• to measure work product quality
• Technique - The technique used during the review are selected to support the objectives of the review. Some of the techniques used by the business analysts are,
• Inspection - The focus of inspection is to remove the defects and create a high quality work product. It is usually performed by the peers, and it can also be used for the stakeholders review.
• Formal Walk through - A formal technique that uses the individual review and team consolidation activities in inspection. It is also known as team review.
• Single Issue Review - A formal technique focused on either one issue or a standard in which reviewers perform a careful examination of the work product. It is also known as technical review.
• Informal Walk through - An informal technique in which the business analysts runs through the work product in its draft state and solicits the feedback.
• Desk Check - An informal technique in which the reviewer who has not been involved in the creation of the work product provides verbal or written feedback.
• Pass Around - An informal technique in which a multiple reviewer provide verbal or written feedback.
• Ad hoc - An informal technique in which the business analysts seeks informal review or assistance from a peer.
• Participants - Participant role involved in any particular review depend on the objective of the review, the selected technique, and any organizational standards that may be in place. Some of the participants roles are,

• Author
• Reviewer
• Facilitator
• Scribe

Some of the books for Review techniques are,

• Business Review | Jonathan Todd Ross | https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Business-review-technique/dp/B086R580TT/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=business+analysis+review+books&qid=1562554196&sr=8-5
• Review and Analysis | Jonney M. Flood | https://www.amazon.com/t-Business-Review-Analysis-ebook/dp/B01PB950GC/ref=sr_1_32?dchild=1&keywords=business+analysis+review+books&qid=1598054560&sr=8-32