Jeanette Venter is a Project Manager at Aurecon and a recent delegate on our Business Analysis Practice course.
On the training Jeanette learnt a holistic approach to better guide her business stakeholders to take the right decisions, and feels she has gained the strategic business analysis knowledge, skills and abilities needed to ensure her career stays relevant.
Here’s what Jeanette had to say about her training experience:
Tell us a bit about yourself, Jeanette.
I am a Project Manager at the Aurecon Group and I hold a Business Science degree, as well as PMP and CBAP certifications.
As part of my role, I also perform the Business Analyst function on projects.
Why did you decide to take the business analysis practice course?
Because it gave me a new challenge – to obtain an international qualification.
And much has changed since I completed my degree in 1989, and by attending the course I was able to observe latest theory and practices, measuring what I do against the norm, and improve my skills.
As I already have my CBAP, I should be able to obtain the International Diploma in Business Analysis without too much difficulty — but I will have to study before I do the final oral examination!
How will the course help you in your career?
The techniques I learnt will help me to provide clear guidance and feedback to my clients.
One of the senior managers at my client is at this stage proposing quite radical system changes, and I will be using the knowledge gained to better state the full picture, enabling the client to take the right decisions moving forward.
What was your biggest learning – did you have an AHA! Moment?
It was a great opportunity to attend the course and I learnt many things, but perhaps above all my biggest learning was to
… treat each business analysis feasibility study as a mini-project – to manage it better!
What did you enjoy most about your training experience?
All of it — the professionalism of course materials, course facilitation and course venue.
On projects I am often responsible for training our system users and I know from experience that it is not easy to focus on your trainees, work through the theory, respond to any questions, whilst guiding the course material, but I easily followed what the facilitator was saying while marking important information with my highlighter.
Plus, most importantly, the facilitator did not simply read the manual out loud, and when I worked through the manual afterwards I was able to follow the material easily on my own.
BCMG’s course instructor and course materials passed with flying colours!
What would you tell someone who is considering doing this course?
Everything covered in the course was thought provoking and very relevant.
The techniques covered, like POPIT, make you think about all aspects of business change, and anybody that is involved in a business systems project will benefit from completing this course.
Traditionally many projects are considered to be IT projects, but realising the true implications for the business environment goes a long way to making all stakeholders happy!
In the spirit of ‘keep growing’, what would you like to learn next?
I am definitely going to obtain my International Diploma in Business Analysis!
The business analysis courses count towards a globally recognised certification, and because of that it is much easier to get budget approval — plus, having seen how my news skills are making a positive difference, my company is assured that training money spent on Business Change Academy's courses is money well spent.
Later this year I am looking to complete my set of courses with the practitioner module – I’m still to decide between Modelling Business Processes, or Benefits Management and Business Acceptance – either will ensure that I keep learning and that my career stays relevant!
Jeanette took the steps to learn strategic business analysis skills that will keep her career relevant. Are you ready to keep up? Download the Business Analysis Practice course brochure now.