In which requirements analysis and design definition task does a business analyst (BA) consider the opportunity costs?

Question

Options

• AValidate requirements
• BDefine design options
• CDefine requirements architecture
• DAnalyze potential value and recommend solution

• A
  3% (1)
• C
  3% (1)
• D
  94% (31)

Explanation

Analyze Potential Value and Recommend Solution (D) is correct because this task requires the BA to weigh the expected benefits of a solution against all associated costs - including opportunity costs, which represent the value of alternatives foregone when one solution is chosen over another. Since the BA is recommending which solution to pursue, comparing what is gained versus what is given up is central to the task.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• A. Validate Requirements - Focuses on confirming that requirements meet stakeholder needs and are achievable; it does not involve financial or value trade-offs.
• B. Define Design Options - Identifies and describes possible solution approaches, but stops short of evaluating their relative costs or value.
• C. Define Requirements Architecture - Organizes and structures requirements into a coherent model; it's about relationships between requirements, not cost analysis.

Memory tip: Link "opportunity cost" to the word recommend - you can only recommend one option, which means sacrificing others. Whenever a BA makes a recommendation, they must account for what is being left on the table (opportunity cost). If the task name contains "Recommend Solution," opportunity costs belong there.

No community discussion yet for this question.