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CBAP · Question #425

A popular department store chain wants to make computer upgrades as well as conduct a major remodeling effort to increase revenue to all their 100 stores over the next 2 years. The remodeling will…

The correct answer is A. Perform document analysis for stores annual records. Document analysis of annual store records is the best elicitation technique because it provides objective, existing quantitative data needed to schedule phased remodeling across 100 stores.

Elicitation and Collaboration

Question

A popular department store chain wants to make computer upgrades as well as conduct a major remodeling effort to increase revenue to all their 100 stores over the next 2 years. The remodeling will occur in two phases. The two phases are required at each store and can be completed in any order, but each phase must be fully completed before the next phase can begin. Phase 1 will take approximately 32 weeks and will not require a store to be temporarily closed. Phase 2 will take approximately 20 weeks and will require a store to be temporarily closed. In order to keep inventory level and total revenue for the department store chain at an operational level, 75% of the stores must remain open to the public at all times. Against the board of director's advice, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) made a decision to start and complete the top 25 revenue-producing stores in the first year to get those stores remodeled and fully operational. A business analyst (BA) has been brought in to help with planning the project and gathering requirements. What activity should the BA do to determine which stores will be the first to start the renovations?

Options

  • APerform document analysis for stores annual records
  • BSurvey store managers for number of customers per day
  • CConduct a focus group with store managers to determine which should be first
  • DBrainstorm with store managers on the current state of each store

How the community answered

(25 responses)
  • A
    72% (18)
  • B
    16% (4)
  • C
    8% (2)
  • D
    4% (1)

Why each option

Document analysis of annual store records is the best elicitation technique because it provides objective, existing quantitative data needed to schedule phased remodeling across 100 stores.

APerform document analysis for stores annual recordsCorrect

Document analysis allows the BA to review verified historical records - including revenue, traffic, and operational metrics - for each store without introducing respondent bias. This technique provides the structured baseline data required to determine phasing order while satisfying the constraint that 75% of stores remain open at all times throughout the two-year initiative.

BSurvey store managers for number of customers per day

Surveying store managers for daily customer counts introduces subjectivity and delivers only a narrow operational metric rather than the comprehensive quantitative data needed for project scheduling decisions.

CConduct a focus group with store managers to determine which should be first

A focus group with managers to determine phase order produces opinion-based, consensus-driven input rather than objective evidence, making it unsuitable for a data-driven scheduling plan.

DBrainstorm with store managers on the current state of each store

Brainstorming addresses perceived current-state issues and generates ideas rather than supplying the structured historical data needed to plan a phased remodel across 100 locations.

Concept tested: Elicitation technique selection - document analysis for scheduling

Source: https://www.iiba.org/career-resources/a-business-analysis-body-of-knowledge/

Topics

#document analysis#elicitation techniques#current state assessment#store performance data

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