I wanted to thank all those who came out earlier in May to the Seminar put on with BPE and Will Holmes. Visit BPB's Homepage to download a copy of the presentation. Stay tuned for more information sessions and the upcoming training series.
Frank
Monday, May 25, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
How to Kickstart a Business Analysis Career !
Hello, This is a guest Blog from my associate Walidah Yaminah who has created a successful career in BA and this is how she did it!
Ever wonder what exactly a Business Analyst does? How can i get started down that career path to perform tasks that have a big impact across many industries!
If you research the phenomenon of growth in this field there is no one way someone has become a business analyst.
My path towards business analysis began with my inquisitive nature in how "stuff" works in information technology within the banking industry. I wanted to know how our Asset/Liability manager pulled stock information from Bloomberg terminal onto an excel spreadsheet to then determine what was a good mix of investments for the bank.
With just a click of a button, he would then push those figures to a database used for further executive level reporting.
I fearlessly asked why whenever I could to question if we were doing things because that's how they've always been done and was there a better more efficient way to complete a task.
I started as an Administrative Assistant to the Treasurer at the bank, then I jumped over to the Help Desk to really get into IT. From there I wanted to know all things technology related from how the applications we supported worked to the installation of desktops/servers/network printers etc.
While learning how software/hardware worked I also learned that the projects had to be approved and a plan had to be discussed with many departments before we could move forward. With learning project planning I learned there were many moving pieces that had to be scrutinized to be sure they make fiscal sense and the least amount of disruption to the company to be beneficial.
This is when I learned of the career path to Business Analysis. I learned how to perform cost/benefit analysis when selecting software for conversions or upgrades. I learned how to get buyin and executive sponsorship for a projects success.
I attended college and continued educating myself on the tools needed to move into this role. Learning the principles of project management through company sponsored training courses and reading up on PM book of knowledge best practices helped tremendously with moving into my next position as an Application Support Analyst and eventual promotion to Business Analyst at a large Asset/Wealth Management and brokerage firm.
Along the way I had great examples to follow of more experienced colleagues who made themselves available to help me with learning the skills to be a successful Business Analyst and offered the needed tools to help me build a body of knowledge to assist clients no matter the industry. I've supported small business owners with the knowledge I've gained from supporting large corporate firms.
The path to being a Business Analyst can begin wherever you are today. Start researching by googling job postings to get an idea of how your work experience may fall into step with what's required.
Also sites like ModernAnalyst.com can be a valuable resource on the latest trends and best practices for BA's.
Walidah Yaminah
akilahyaminah@yahoo.com
Ever wonder what exactly a Business Analyst does? How can i get started down that career path to perform tasks that have a big impact across many industries!
If you research the phenomenon of growth in this field there is no one way someone has become a business analyst.
My path towards business analysis began with my inquisitive nature in how "stuff" works in information technology within the banking industry. I wanted to know how our Asset/Liability manager pulled stock information from Bloomberg terminal onto an excel spreadsheet to then determine what was a good mix of investments for the bank.
With just a click of a button, he would then push those figures to a database used for further executive level reporting.
I fearlessly asked why whenever I could to question if we were doing things because that's how they've always been done and was there a better more efficient way to complete a task.
I started as an Administrative Assistant to the Treasurer at the bank, then I jumped over to the Help Desk to really get into IT. From there I wanted to know all things technology related from how the applications we supported worked to the installation of desktops/servers/network printers etc.
While learning how software/hardware worked I also learned that the projects had to be approved and a plan had to be discussed with many departments before we could move forward. With learning project planning I learned there were many moving pieces that had to be scrutinized to be sure they make fiscal sense and the least amount of disruption to the company to be beneficial.
This is when I learned of the career path to Business Analysis. I learned how to perform cost/benefit analysis when selecting software for conversions or upgrades. I learned how to get buyin and executive sponsorship for a projects success.
I attended college and continued educating myself on the tools needed to move into this role. Learning the principles of project management through company sponsored training courses and reading up on PM book of knowledge best practices helped tremendously with moving into my next position as an Application Support Analyst and eventual promotion to Business Analyst at a large Asset/Wealth Management and brokerage firm.
Along the way I had great examples to follow of more experienced colleagues who made themselves available to help me with learning the skills to be a successful Business Analyst and offered the needed tools to help me build a body of knowledge to assist clients no matter the industry. I've supported small business owners with the knowledge I've gained from supporting large corporate firms.
The path to being a Business Analyst can begin wherever you are today. Start researching by googling job postings to get an idea of how your work experience may fall into step with what's required.
Also sites like ModernAnalyst.com can be a valuable resource on the latest trends and best practices for BA's.
Walidah Yaminah
akilahyaminah@yahoo.com
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
PM Web Resources
Here is a short list of some helpful web resources related to the PMP certification and PM information in general:
PMI
PMI about PMP
PMI about CAPM
PMI PDU
Baltimore PMI Chapter
General PMP Study tips
PM terms and definitions
More terms and definitions
PMP sample exam 1
sample exam 2
sample exam 3
PMP Discussion Forum
Free PM Podcasts for PDUs
MS Project Quick Reference
Trello
Link to my website
Friday, January 9, 2015
Project Management Certifications and Education
I was putting together an informational session that included a section on getting certified in Project Management. I thought I would post the relevant details here for reference. The information contained herein was mainly sourced from the Project Management Institute's website and that should be considered your source for the official details and requirements (www.pmi.org).
BPB LLC is now offering mentoring and tutoring for professionals interested in furthering their careers and skill sets. Contact us for more information.
Project Management Certifications and Education
a. Project Management Professional Certification (PMP)
A professional certification issued by the Project Management Institute after passing an examination and related requirements
The test is based on the principles and concepts contained in the Project Management Book of Knowledge (PMBOK)
b. First step is to get and study the PMBOK
c. Requirements to sit for the PMP Exam:
• Secondary degree (high school diploma, associate's degree or global equivalent)
• Minimum five years/60 months unique non-overlapping professional project management experience during which at least 7,500 hours were spent leading and directing the project
• 35 contact hours of formal education
OR
• Four-year degree (bachelor's degree or global equivalent)
• Minimum three years/36 months unique non-overlapping professional project management experience during which at least 4,500 hours were spent leading and directing the project
• 35 contact hours of formal education
d. Requirements for Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM):
• A secondary degree (high school diploma or the global equivalent)
And
• At least 1,500 hours of project experience
OR
• 23 hours of project management education by the time you sit for the exam
e. Further certifications available from the PMI
- PgMP Program Management
- PfMP Portfolio Management
- PMI-ACP Agile
- PMI-PBA Business Analysis
- PMI-RMP Risk Management
- PMI-SP Schedule Management
f. Professional Development Units or PDUs required to keep your certification
"Maintain Your PMP Certification
As part of PMI's Continuing Certification Requirements program, a PMP credential holder will need to earn 60 PDUs per three-year cycle. To learn more about the program, what are PDUs, how to earn and claim them, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to renew your certification, watch the CCR video. You can also reference the latest PMP Handbook found on PMI.org"
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