Business Analysis Terminology: Top 10 Best Points on Artifacts

Written by Venkadesh Narayanan | May 15, 2023 2:38:01 AM

Requirements Documentation: Artifacts in business analysis often revolve around requirements documentation. Business analysts create artifacts such as requirement specifications, use cases, user stories, and process models to capture and communicate the business needs and desired outcomes. 

Business Process Diagrams: Business process diagrams, also known as process flows or flowcharts, depict the sequence of activities, decisions, and interactions within a business process. These artifacts provide a visual representation of how tasks and information flow throughout the organization. 

Click here to download the presentation on Top Ten Facts on Business Analysis Techniques - Business Analysis Terminology: Top 10 Best Points on Agile

Wireframes and Mockups: Wireframes and mockups are visual representations of user interfaces, screens, and layouts. These artifacts help stakeholders and development teams visualize the desired look and feel of a software application or system, facilitating effective communication and alignment.   

Data Models: Data models illustrate the structure, relationships, and attributes of the data entities within a system. Business analysts create artifacts such as entity-relationship diagrams (ERDs) and data dictionaries to document and analyze data requirements, ensuring data integrity and consistency.   

Business Requirements Document (BRD): The BRD serves as a comprehensive artifact that captures the high-level business requirements, goals, and objectives of a project or initiative. It outlines the scope, assumptions, constraints, and success criteria, providing a shared understanding among stakeholders.   

Use Case Diagrams: Use case diagrams depict the interactions between actors (users, systems, or external entities) and a system under analysis. These artifacts help identify and document the functional requirements and system behavior from a user's perspective.   

User Stories: User stories are concise, customer-centric descriptions of desired system features or functionalities. These artifacts capture the requirements from an end-user perspective, emphasizing the "who," "what," and "why" of a specific requirement, enabling agile development and prioritization.   

Test Plans and Test Cases: Test plans and test cases are artifacts that outline the approach and methodology for testing a system or software. Business analysts collaborate with testing teams to create artifacts that ensure thorough test coverage and validate the system against the defined requirements.   

Decision Trees and Decision Tables: Decision trees and decision tables are artifacts used to model and document complex decision-making processes. These artifacts help analyze business rules and logic, ensuring consistency and accuracy in the decision-making process.  

Project Charters: Project charters provide a formal document that defines the objectives, scope, stakeholders, and high-level timelines of a project. Business analysts collaborate with project managers to create artifacts that serve as a foundation for project planning, execution, and control.   

In conclusion, artifacts play a crucial role in business analysis by documenting, visualizing, and communicating various aspects of a project or initiative. Business analysts leverage artifacts to capture requirements, model processes, depict user interfaces, and facilitate effective collaboration among stakeholders. These artifacts serve as a valuable reference and guide throughout the project lifecycle, enabling successful delivery and stakeholder satisfaction. 

Fhyzics Business Consultants specializes in business analysis consulting, training and certification. For more details please speak to our business consultant at +91-7200439865 or email at MalathiD@fhyzics.net. 

Fhyzics is an EEP of IIBA, Canada and REP of BCS, UK offering the following business analysis certifications:
Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA)
Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA)
Certified Enterprise Business Analyst (CEBA)
Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis
PMI Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA®)
Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering (CPRE-AL)
Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering (CPRE-EL)
Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering (CPRE-FL)