- (Topic 1)
A Data Dictionary is being developed for an employee database. When reviewing the data dictionary, the analyst recommends adding another primitive data element. Which element would be suggested?
Correct Answer:A
A street address is a primitive data element, because it is a basic unit of data that cannot be further decomposed into smaller components. A primitive data element has a distinct name, definition, format, and value domain. A street address can be used to identify the location of an employee or a customer, and it can be stored as a string or a combination of numbers and characters. Options B, C, and D are not primitive data elements, because they can be further broken down into smaller components. For example, a first name can be divided into a prefix, a given name, and a suffix. A customer name can be composed of a first name and a last name. A work phone number can be split into a country code, an area code, and a local number. References:
•Business Analysis Certification in Data Analytics, CBDA | IIBA®, CBDA Competencies, Domain 2: Source Data
•Business analysis data dictionary – The Functional BA
•CERTIFICATION IN BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS HANDBOOK - IIBA®, page 8, CBDA Exam Sample Questions and Self-Assessment, Question 15
- (Topic 1)
An analytics team has been asked to answer the following question: "Given that you're a customer, would you work at our company?" The team is concerned about answering this question because it is:
Correct Answer:D
The question ??Given that you??re a customer, would you work at our company??? is unclear, because it is a hypothetical and subjective question that does not specify the purpose, scope, or context of the analysis. The question also does not define what constitutes a customer, or how the customer??s experience or satisfaction relates to the employee??s motivation or performance. The question needs to be refined and clarified to make it more focused, relevant, and feasible for the analytics team to answer. For example, the question could be rephrased as ??How does the customer satisfaction score affect the employee retention rate in our company??? References:
•Business Analysis Certification in Data Analytics, CBDA | IIBA®, CBDA Competencies, Domain 1: Identify the Research Questions
•Understanding the Guide to Business Data Analytics, page 10-11
•CERTIFICATION IN BUSINESS DATA ANALYTICS HANDBOOK - IIBA®, page 8, CBDA Exam Sample Questions and Self-Assessment, Question 16
- (Topic 1)
A large car manufacturer is interested in comparing the number of sales for a specific model of electric car across all 50 US states.
The data analytics team sourced and acquired the data, and the business analyst created the model to compare sales across states.
In a meeting to review the results, the feedback received included several complaints concerning an inability to distinguish the number of sales per state. What model would result in such confusion?
Correct Answer:D
A pie chart is a circular chart that shows the proportion of each category in a whole by dividing the circle into slices. A pie chart would result in confusion when comparing the number of sales for a specific model of electric car across all 50 US states, because it is difficult to compare the angles and areas of the slices, especially when there are many categories with similar values. A pie chart also does not show the absolute values of each category, unless they are labeled or annotated12. A better alternative would be a bar chart, which can show the number of sales for each state along a common axis, making it easier to compare and rank the values3. References: 1: Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 652: Storytelling with Data, Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, 2015, p. 673: The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Edward R. Tufte, 2001, p. 178.
- (Topic 1)
An analyst at a phone manufacturing company is preparing a dashboard for Senior Executives that will cover past year's performance. It will be used in the upcoming senior leadership team meeting to make strategic decisions for the new year. While analyzing the data, the analyst found a lot of interesting revelations related to performance. What should the analyst keep in mind when preparing the Executive dashboard?
Correct Answer:C
When preparing an executive dashboard, the analyst should keep in mind that the purpose of the dashboard is to provide a quick and clear overview of the past year??s performance and to support strategic decision making for the new year. Therefore, the analyst should keep the dashboard high-level, summarizing the key insights and metrics that are relevant and meaningful for the senior executives. The analyst should avoid cluttering the dashboard with too much detail or information that is not essential for the executives. The analyst should also use visual features, such as charts, graphs, and colors, to display the data in an organized and appealing way12 References: 1:Executive Dashboards: 10 Reporting Tips and Examples [2023] • Asana 2: How to Create Executive Dashboard & Reports - Ubiq BI
- (Topic 2)
The analytics team has completed their analytics work and have agreed on a set of five key recommendations. They are now discussing how best to communicate these recommendations to the finance, customer service, and marketing teams. Recognizing that this is a diverse set of stakeholders, the business analysis professional reminds the team:
Correct Answer:D
According to the Guide to Business Data Analytics, the recommendation is the output of the data analysis that provides suggestions or guidance for actions or decisions based on the data insights. The recommendation should be communicated in different ways for different stakeholders, depending on their needs, preferences, and expectations. The communication should consider the following factors:
✑ The level of detail and complexity: Some stakeholders may require more or less detail and complexity in the recommendation, depending on their role, responsibility, and involvement in the data analysis project. For example, the finance team may need more detail and complexity than the customer service team, as they are more concerned with the financial implications and feasibility of the recommendation.
✑ The format and medium: Some stakeholders may prefer different formats and mediums for receiving the recommendation, depending on their availability, accessibility, and learning style. For example, the marketing team may prefer a visual and interactive format, such as a dashboard or a presentation, than a textual and static format, such as a report or a document.
✑ The tone and language: Some stakeholders may respond better to different tones and languages for the recommendation, depending on their culture, background, and personality. For example, some stakeholders may appreciate a formal and professional tone and language, while others may prefer a casual and friendly tone and language.
The communication should also follow the principles of clarity, accuracy, relevance, and timeliness, as well as adhere to the ethical and legal standards for data privacy and security.
References: Guide to Business Data Analytics, page 50-51; CBDA Exam Blueprint, page 7; [Introduction toBusiness Data Analytics: A Practitioner View], page 16.
- (Topic 2)
The data analysis completed by the analytics team points to three potential options that could be recommended by the team each of which will help their organization meet their desired goal. Given that there is no significant difference in the results that each option would provide, the team will reach a final recommendation by determining value to be delivered to specific parts of the organization and:
Correct Answer:C
According to the IIBA??s Guide to Business Data Analytics, one of the steps in the data analysis process is to use the results to influence business decision making. This involves evaluating the feasibility, viability, and desirability of the potential options or solutions that are derived from the data analysis, and recommending the best option or solution that aligns with the business goals and objectives1. To evaluate the feasibility, viability, and desirability of the options or solutions, the data analysis team should consider the value to be delivered to specific parts of the organization and the impact of change for each one. The value to be delivered refers to the benefits, outcomes, or improvements that the option or solution will provide to the stakeholders, customers, or processes of the organization. The impact of change refers to the costs, risks, or challenges that the option or solution will entail for the implementation, adoption, or maintenance of the organization. By assessing the value and the impact of each option or solution, the data analysis team can compare and contrast the trade-offs, pros and cons, and strengths and weaknesses of each option or solution, and select the one that maximizes the value and minimizes the impact for the organization2.
The other options are not correct criteria for reaching a final recommendation. The functional unit with the most staff, the manager who wants the change the most, and the senior management are not relevant factors for evaluating the options or solutions, as they do not reflect the value or the impact of the options or solutions. The functional unit with the most staff may not be the most affected or the most important part of the organization for the data analysis project. The manager who wants the change the most may not have the authority, influence, or expertise to make the best decision for the organization. The senior management may not be the only or the final decision makers for the data analysis project, as they may delegate, consult, or collaborate with other stakeholders or experts. References:1: Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 572: Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 58. : Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 57. : Guide to Business Data Analytics, IIBA, 2020, p. 58.