Free and Premium BCS BAPv5 Dumps Questions Answers

The Business Change Lifecycle in the documentation comprises five stages (shown in the lifecycle figure and described as the “key areas of activity” needed for successful business change). Business case work is not confined to a single moment; instead, it is revisited through the change effort at multiple decision points. The guidance illustrates this with “decision gates” where the business case is: produced initially, then confirmed after detailed requirements, confirmed once development costs are estimated, revisited before deployment, and later used to check benefits realisation once the new processes/systems are operating.

That pattern means business-case-related activity normally touches every stage of the lifecycle. Early on (Alignment and Definition), the business case is shaped and refined as understanding of problems, scope, and requirements improves. During Design and Implementation, the business case is validated and updated as costs, feasibility, and delivery plans become clearer and as the organisation prepares for change. In Realisation, the business case is used as the baseline for benefits review and to identify follow-up actions where benefits are not yet achieved. Therefore, “5” is the best answer.

The elements of PESTLE that are identified in this email are Economic, Environmental and Legal. Economic factors are related to the costs and prices of the business and its competitors. In this email, Nastya mentions that their competitors have lower costs and that they need to secure a better component price and negotiate with their energy supplier (B). Environmental factors are related to the natural resources and sustainability of the business and its impact on the environment. In this email, Nastya mentions that she wants a full review of the biodegradability of the packaging of all their products and that she is mindful of the costs of renewable power (E). Legal factors are related to the laws and regulations that affect the business and its operations. In this email, Nastya mentions that their employment regulations need revisiting due to changes in pension rules and paternity/maternity rights (L).

The event ‘amend KPI’ would affect the activity ‘define performance targets’, as the company would need to change its current performance target of gross profit margin to ROCE. The other activities would not be directly affected by this event, as they are either related to monitoring or defining other aspects of the business. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

The documentation defines gap analysis as exploring the differences between a current state (“as is”) and a desired future state (“to be”). The emphasis is on understanding where the organisation wants to be and, by comparing with the current situation, identifying what needs to change to reach that target state. It also states that the outcome of gap analysis is a list of business requirements to be delivered—typically phrased at the “what” level rather than prescribing detailed solutions.

In this scenario, the retailer’s desired future state includes a more capable online experience and integration with inventory and other applications—this is fundamentally a change in capability. Therefore, identifying new and improved business capabilities (and capturing them in a target view such as a Target Operating Model) is exactly the kind of work performed in gap analysis: it clarifies what the future business system must be able to do, so gaps against the current capabilities can be identified and addressed.

By contrast, a Gantt chart (A/B) is delivery planning, not gap analysis; a RACI matrix (C) is a responsibilities definition; and brainstorming (D) is an idea-generation technique that may help option creation but is not the core “compare as-is to to-be and identify gaps” activity.

 A stakeholder management strategy is a plan for how to engage and communicate with stakeholders based on their level of interest and influence in the organisation or project. A stakeholder management strategy can vary depending on the stakeholder’s position on the power/interest grid, which has four quadrants: high power, high interest; high power, low interest; low power, high interest; and low power, low interest. Therefore, option C is the correct answer, as it represents appropriate stakeholder management strategies for Harvey based on his position on the grid before and after his role change. Watch means to monitor the stakeholder’s level of interest and influence and keep them informed of relevant developments. This is suitable for when Harvey was in the low power, low interest quadrant, as he had little authority or concern over the project. Constant active management means to involve the stakeholder closely in the project and seek their input and feedback regularly. This is suitable for when Harvey moved to the high power, high interest quadrant, as he became the sponsor and owner of the project. Option A is not a correct answer, as keep informed means to provide the stakeholder with sufficient information and updates to maintain their interest and support. This is more suitable for when Harvey was in the low power, high interest quadrant, not the low power, low interest quadrant. Option B is not a correct answer, as ignore means to disregard the stakeholder’s views and needs and exclude them from communication. This is not a good strategy for any stakeholder, especially one who has some power or influence over the project. Option D is not a correct answer, as constant active management means to involve the stakeholder closely in the project and seek their input and feedback regularly. This is more suitable for when Harvey was in the high power, high interest quadrant, not the low power, low interest quadrant.

The statement commits to two outcomes: good quality accommodation and repairs addressed in a timely manner. The documentation emphasises that performance targets and measures must be chosen carefully and should reflect not only internal views but also customer expectations; otherwise performance may look “fine” internally while failing customers. It also stresses that KPIs/targets should be SMART and monitored regularly.

Option A provides a clear, measurable proxy for property condition: if emergency repairs are needed in a high proportion of properties, that indicates poor underlying condition and reactive maintenance. Setting a target like “no more than 5%” directly measures progress toward “good quality accommodation.”

Option C translates tenant experience into a clear target: limiting complaints about condition/repairs to a defined maximum per month is specific and measurable, and it reflects the customer perspective that the press statement is trying to reassure.

Option B is a valid measure but it is not defined as a target (it has no threshold), so it is less aligned to the question asking for “targets to measure performance against.” Option D measures media coverage, which is indirect and can be influenced by factors outside operational performance; it is not a reliable operational KPI for accommodation quality or repair timeliness. Therefore, A and C are the best targets.

An enabling activity is an activity that supports or facilitates another activity within an organisation or project. It helps to ensure that another activity can be performed or delivered effectively and efficiently. Therefore, option B is the correct answer, as check adherence to regulation is an enabling activity that supports provide insolvency services, which is the primary doing activity of a BAM reflecting DeanLegal’s business perspective. Check adherence to regulation is an enabling activity, as it involves verifying that the insolvency services provided by DeanLegal comply with the rules and standards set by the Federation of Insolvency Practitioners (FIP). It helps to ensure that DeanLegal can perform its primary doing activity legally and ethically. Option A is not a correct answer, as provide comprehensive support to customers is not an enabling activity that supports provide insolvency services, but another doing activity within DeanLegal’s business perspective. Provide comprehensive support to customers is a doing activity, as it involves delivering value and satisfaction to customers who use DeanLegal’s insolvency services. It helps to achieve DeanLegal’s objectives and outcomes. Option C is not a correct answer, as extend range of services is not an enabling activity that supports provide insolvency services, but a potential change or improvement within DeanLegal’s business perspective. Extend range of services is a change or improvement, as it involves introducing new types of services, such as advice in funding the purchase of capital assets, that DeanLegal may offer to its customers in addition to its insolvency services. It helps to enhance DeanLegal’s performance and potential. Option D is not a correct answer, as recruit experienced negotiators is not an enabling activity that supports provide insolvency services, but a resource audit within DeanLegal’s business perspective. Recruit experienced negotiators is a resource audit, as it involves identifying and evaluating the human resources that DeanLegal has or needs to perform its insolvency services. It helps to assess the availability and quality of DeanLegal’s staff.

 A business case is a formal written proposal that details the costs and benefits of a proposed business change or solution. It helps to justify and secure the approval and funding for a proposed business change or solution. A business case typically consists of several elements, such as description of the current situation, analysis of costs and benefits, options considered, recommendations, impact assessment, risk assessment etc. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as it identifies which set of elements of a business case will cover all of these points respectively. Description of the current situation is an element that describes the problem or opportunity that exists in the current state and the need or rationale for a change or solution. It helps to explain what is wrong or missing in the current state and what are the objectives and outcomes of a change or solution. This element will cover the point that the threat posed to the organisation from cyber attack, and therefore the justification for the project, needs to be clearly articulated. Analysis of costs and benefits is an element that evaluates the financial and non-financial impacts of a proposed change or solution. It helps to compare and contrast the costs and benefits of different options or solutions and determine their feasibility and desirability. This element will cover the point that the benefits of cyber will be described in quantitative terms, so we will need to describe these qualitatively. Options considered is an element that identifies and describes the alternative ways of addressing a problem or opportunity. It helps to explore and analyse the pros and cons of different options or solutions and select the best one based on criteria and evidence. This element will cover the point that we need to make it clear that we have fully explored the solution market, and we have considered a range of approaches to meeting the objectives of this project. Option B is not a correct answer, as it does not identify which set of elements of a business case will cover all of these points respectively. Impact assessment is an element that assesses the effects or consequences of a proposed change or solution on people, processes, organisation and technology. It helps to identify who or what will be affected by a proposed change or solution and how they will be affected. This element will not cover any of these points. Recommendations is an element that proposes and justifies the preferred option or solution for addressing a problem or opportunity. It helps to persuade and convince decision makers or influencers to approve and fund a proposed change or solution. This element will not cover any of these points. Option C is not a correct answer, as it does not identify which set of elements of a business case will cover all of these points respectively. Recommendations is an element that proposes and justifies the preferred option or solution for addressing a problem or opportunity. It helps to persuade and convince decision makers or influencers to approve and fund a proposed change or solution. This element will not cover any of these points. Risk assessment is an element that identifies and evaluates the uncertainties or threats that may affect a proposed change or solution. It helps to estimate the likelihood and impact of risks and plan how to avoid or mitigate them. This element will not cover any of these points. Option D is not a correct answer, as it does not identify which set of elements of a business case will cover all of these points respectively. Description of the current situation is an element that describes the problem or opportunity that exists in the current state and the need or rationale for a change or solution. It helps to explain what is wrong or missing in the current state and what are the objectives and outcomes of a change or solution. This element will cover the point that the threat posed to the organisation from cyber attack, and therefore the justification for the project, needs to be clearly articulated. Impact assessment is an element that assesses the effects or consequences of a proposed change or solution on people, processes, organisation and technology. It helps to identify who or what will be affected by a proposed change or solution and how they will be affected. This element will not cover any of these points. Risk assessment is an element that identifies and evaluates the uncertainties or threats that may affect a proposed change or solution. It helps to estimate the likelihood and impact of risks and plan how to avoid or mitigate them. This element will not cover any of these points.

A consensus BAM is a conceptual model that depicts the agreed view of what the organisation does or should do. It shows the high-level activities and the logical dependencies between them. By comparing the consensus BAM with the current situation, a gap analysis can identify where the organisation is not performing as desired or where there are opportunities for improvement. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

 A vision statement is a concise and inspiring statement of what the organisation aspires to be in the future. It should reflect the organisation’s core values and purpose, and provide direction and motivation for its stakeholders. A vision statement should not be too specific or focused on the current state of the organisation, but rather on the desired future state. Therefore, option A is the best choice, as it expresses a clear and aspirational vision that aligns with the company’s mission of meeting or undercutting all its competitors’ prices. Option B is too narrow and does not capture the essence of the organisation’s purpose. Option C is too vague and does not indicate how the organisation will achieve its goal. Option D is too generic and does not differentiate the organisation from its competitors.

Design Thinking is an approach for solving complex problems by focusing on human needs and desires. It involves five stages: empathise, define, ideate, prototype and test. Therefore, options B, D and E are correct answers, as they suggest good techniques to help with the different stages of Design Thinking. Empathise is the stage where the problem is explored from the perspective of the users and their emotions, motivations and pain points are understood. A good technique to help with this stage is Customer Journey Map, which is a visual representation of the steps and emotions that a user goes through when interacting with a product or service. It helps to identify the pain points and opportunities for improvement in the user experience. Create is the stage where the users are represented by creating personas, which are fictional characters that embody the characteristics, goals and needs of a typical user group. Personas help to empathise with the users and design solutions that suit their preferences and expectations. Define is the stage where the problem is clearly defined and articulated based on the insights gained from the empathise stage. A good technique to help with this stage is Current user needs or problems, which is a statement that summarises what the users need or want to achieve and what prevents them from doing so. It helps to focus on the core problem and set the direction for ideation. Option A is not a correct answer, as Prototype is not a stage of Design Thinking, but a technique that can be used in the Prototype stage. Prototype is the stage where the ideas are turned into tangible and testable prototypes that can be used to demonstrate and evaluate the solutions. A good technique to help with this stage is Scenario Analysis, which is a technique that explores how different scenarios or situations could affect the outcomes of the solutions. It helps to test the feasibility and desirability of the prototypes. Option C is not a correct answer, as Evaluate is not a stage of Design Thinking, but a technique that can be used in the Test stage. Test is the stage where the prototypes are tested with real users and feedback is collected and analysed to refine and improve the solutions. A good technique to help with this stage is Mind Mapping, which is a technique that organises and visualises information in a hierarchical and associative way. It helps to capture and structure feedback and identify patterns and insights.

POPIT is a technique for taking a holistic view when investigating a business situation or problem. It helps to ensure that all aspects and dimensions of a business situation or problem are considered and addressed. POPIT consists of four elements: People, Processes, Organisation and Information and technology. Therefore, options C and D are correct answers, as they are the elements of POPIT that consider these issues respectively. Option C considers issue 1: The suggested changes to the business structure will affect our relationships with suppliers. Organisation is the element that describes how an organisation is structured and governed internally and externally. It helps to identify who are involved in decision making and authority within an organisation and how an organisation relates to its stakeholders outside its boundaries. Issue 1 relates to organisation, as it involves changes to the business structure that will affect how the organisation interacts with its suppliers, who are external stakeholders. Option D considers issue 2: The proposed electronic data sharing with our suppliers will raise legal accessibility issues. Information and technology is the element that describes how information and data are created, stored, accessed, used and communicated within an organisation using technology systems and tools. It helps to identify what information and data are needed and available for an organisation to perform its activities and processes effectively and efficiently using appropriate technology systems and tools. Issue 2 relates to information and technology, as it involves electronic data sharing with suppliers using technology systems that will raise legal accessibility issues regarding information security and privacy. Option A does not consider any issue in this scenario. People is the element that describes who are involved in performing or supporting the activities and processes within an organisation. It helps to identify what skills, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours are required and exhibited by people within an organisation to perform their roles and responsibilities effectively and efficiently. There is no issue in this scenario that relates to people. Option B does not consider any issue in this scenario. Processes is the element that describes what activities and tasks are performed within an organisation to achieve its objectives and outcomes. It helps to identify how activities and tasks are sequenced, coordinated, controlled and measured within an organisation to ensure quality and consistency. There is no issue in this scenario that relates to processes. Option E is not a valid element of POPIT. Procedures is not an element of POPIT, but a term that refers to the detailed steps or instructions for performing a specific activity or task within a process.

The guidance on prior research for business analysis work states that analysts should first study relevant background material to gain an “entry point” into the domain before undertaking deeper investigation. For projects focused on specific processes (such as re-engineering a customer-facing process with excessive handoffs), the documentation explicitly recommends studying procedure manuals and current system documentation to understand what the process is supposed to be and how it is documented. It also recommends studying the organisation chart to understand reporting lines, functional groupings, and where responsibilities and handoffs may occur—particularly important here because the goal is to reduce handoffs and support remote working practices.

Financial statements and annual reports can be useful for strategic or corporate-level analysis, but the scenario is operational and process-focused (re-engineering a process linked to declining customer satisfaction). The most direct “initial analysis” sources, aligned with the prescribed prior-research approach for process-oriented work, are therefore procedure manuals/documentation and organisation charts.

Crucially, the guidance cautions that documentation may become out of date and can reflect “what we thought it ought to have been,” so these sources support orientation and preparation, but they must be followed by proper investigation techniques (e.g., interviews, observation, workshops, and quantitative methods) to confirm what actually happens in practice.

A mind map is a technique for organising and visualising information in a hierarchical and associative way. It helps to generate, structure and classify ideas and concepts and show how they are related or connected. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as a mind map would enable Girby to model the arising themes and how they relate to each other. A mind map would help to identify the main theme or problem (declining production) and the sub-themes or causes (staff blaming each other, more parts being faulty etc.) and arrange them in a tree-like structure. A mind map would help to use colours, symbols, images and keywords to represent and emphasise the themes and their relationships. A mind map would help to analyse and evaluate the themes and their relationships and identify any patterns or gaps that may exist. Option B is not a correct answer, as a business activity model is not a technique for modelling the arising themes and how they relate to each other. A business activity model is a technique for modelling business activities within an organisation or project at a high level of abstraction. It helps to understand what an organisation does, how it does it, who does it, where it does it and why it does it. Option C is not a correct answer, as a rich picture is not a technique for modelling the arising themes and how they relate to each other. A rich picture is a technique for drawing a holistic view of a complex situation or problem using informal symbols and images. It helps to capture the main elements and aspects of a situation or problem and how they interact or influence each other. Option D is not a correct answer, as a business process model is not a technique for modelling the arising themes and how they relate to each other. A business process model is a technique for modelling business processes within an organisation or project at a low level of abstraction. It helps to understand how business processes are performed or delivered in terms of inputs, outputs, activities, tasks, roles, rules, events etc.

An external requirement is a business rule that is imposed by an external source, such as a law, regulation, or standard. The business rule in this question is a legal obligation that EuroCoach has to comply with, so it is an external requirement. Option C is the correct answer.

The business analysis guidance makes it clear that a business case is not a “one-and-done” document that stops being useful at implementation. Instead, it is revisited at multiple decision gates through the lifecycle, including points after development estimates are known, before deployment, and later during operation when benefits realisation is checked. This directly contradicts statement A, because the business case remains relevant beyond implementation to confirm assumptions and verify whether expected benefits were actually achieved.

Statement B is also incorrect. The guidance explicitly states that the “do nothing / maintain the status quo” option should always be considered and will usually appear in the business case. It may sometimes be rejected due to unacceptable consequences, but it should still be included so decision-makers understand the risks of inaction.

Statement C is correct because the business case should consider both tangible and intangible benefits. The documentation explains that many benefits (for example improved customer satisfaction or staff morale) can be intangible, meaning they cannot be credibly valued in advance. While organisations vary in how they treat intangibles, the framework recognises them as legitimate benefits (with the caution not to overstate them or assign “spurious” values).

The business analysis guidance notes that reviewing a company website can reveal useful inferences about the organisation’s branding, values, priorities, and strategic positioning, including how it balances cost versus perceived quality. In particular, the guidance contrasts “populist” signals (primary colours, flashing icons, exclamation marks, “Bargain!” language) with a quieter, more restrained design, which tends to imply a more premium / quality-focused positioning.

The described site is muted (greys/whites), uses “lots of white space,” and includes only a few carefully chosen images. Those choices align strongly with conclusion D: the company is positioning its offering as high quality rather than “cheap and cheerful.” The seamless movement through information and concise, well-structured sections also indicate attention to usability and information architecture—signals consistent with high technical and design standards (conclusion C).

However, nothing in the description proves the firm is “well established” (A), “market leading” (B), or “very profitable” (E). Those claims require external evidence (market share, history, financial performance), whereas the website evidence supports positioning and quality/technical execution, not market status or profitability.

A business rule is a statement that defines or constrains some aspect of a business situation or problem or its solution. It helps to ensure consistency and compliance with policies, regulations, standards or criteria within an organisation or project. Business rules can be classified into four types: external constraints, internal policies, external procedures and internal procedures. Therefore, option B is the correct answer, as it identifies which types(s) of business rule have been described in this extract respectively. External constraints are business rules that originate from outside an organisation or project and are beyond its control or influence. They help to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, standards or criteria imposed by external authorities or bodies. An example of external constraints in this extract is legislation ensuring protection for the most vulnerable people in our society can affect the criteria, as it originates from outside the local council and is beyond its control or influence. Internal policies are business rules that originate from within an organisation or project and are under its control or influence. They help to ensure alignment with objectives, strategies, values or principles established by internal decision makers or influencers. An example of internal policies in this extract is the criteria are agreed by the council housing committee, who meet on a regular basis and seek to ensure that the criteria continue to enable effective housing allocation, as it originates from within the local council and is under its control or influence. Option A is not a correct answer, as it does not identify which types(s) of business rule have been described in this extract respectively. Internal policies and internal procedures are not the types of business rule that have been described in this extract. Internal procedures are business rules that specify how an activity or task should be performed or delivered within an organisation or project. They help to ensure quality and consistency of performance or delivery within an organisation or project. There is no example of internal procedures in this extract. Option C is not a correct answer, as it does not identify which types(s) of business rule have been described in this extract respectively. External constraints and external procedures are not the types of business rule that have been described in this extract. External procedures are business rules that specify how an activity or task should be performed or delivered outside an organisation or project. They help to ensure compatibility and interoperability of performance or delivery with external parties or systems. There is no example of external procedures in this extract. Option D is not a correct answer, as it does not identify any type of business rule that has been described in this extract.

The documentation distinguishes clearly between mission/purpose, objectives, strategy, and tactics. A mission statement declares what business the organisation is in and what it is intending to achieve—it is the overarching purpose that provides direction and is meaningful to stakeholders such as employees and customers. In contrast, objectives are specific goals that can be measured, while strategy and tactics describe approaches and detailed means of execution.

Option C is the best “purpose/mission style” statement because it communicates a broad intent and aspiration in plain language that can be understood by both internal and external audiences. It expresses what the organisation aims to be known for and the overall value proposition it wants to deliver, which aligns with the role of a mission in providing clarity and direction.

Option A is a measurable target (an objective) tied to SLA performance, not a purpose statement. Option B describes an internal method/approach (closer to tactics or operational improvement activity) rather than the organisation’s reason for existence. Option D is a specific policy or initiative (sustainability sourcing), which can support purpose, but it is too narrow to represent the overall company mission.

The documentation explains that CSFs are the areas where things “must go right,” and KPIs are the measures that show whether progress is being made toward achieving a CSF. KPIs should focus on specific performance areas and should be defined so they are SMART and monitored regularly.

For a CSF of “excellent customer service,” appropriate KPIs should reflect customer experience outcomes and customer loyalty/retention. Option C (“number of customers who post negative feedback”) is directly linked to service quality: negative feedback is a clear indicator that customers perceive service failures. Tracking it (and ideally setting a target such as “no more than X per month”) provides a measurable signal of whether service is improving.

Option D (“percentage of customers who renew their annual subscription”) is also strongly linked to customer service because renewal rates are a widely used indicator of customer satisfaction and loyalty: customers who experience consistently good service are more likely to continue their membership. As a KPI, it is measurable, trendable over time, and can be given SMART targets.

The other options are not direct indicators of customer service quality: restaurant ordering (A) is sales/upsell behaviour, fitness improvement (B) is an outcome of training/programming rather than service, and payment method (E) is an administrative preference. Therefore, the best KPIs for this CSF are C and D.

A stakeholder management strategy is a plan for engaging and communicating with stakeholders based on their level of power and interest in an organisation or project. It helps to ensure that stakeholders are appropriately involved and informed throughout the organisation’s or project’s lifecycle. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as keep satisfied is the further strategy that is required for one of the three stakeholders in this scenario. Keep satisfied is the strategy for managing stakeholders who have high power but low interest in an organisation or project. It involves meeting their needs and expectations without over-communicating or over-involving them. The stakeholder who requires this strategy in this scenario is the financial accountant assigned to the project to monitor the financial benefits of the new system. This stakeholder has high power, as he is essential to the project and can influence its outcome. However, he has low interest, as he is not interested in the detail of the project. Option B is not a correct answer, as watch is not the further strategy that is required for any of the three stakeholders in this scenario. Watch is the strategy for managing stakeholders who have low power and low interest in an organisation or project. It involves monitoring their behaviour and attitude without engaging or communicating with them too much. None of the stakeholders in this scenario have low power and low interest, as they are all involved or affected by the project in some way. Option C is not a correct answer, as ignore is not a valid strategy for managing any stakeholder in an organisation or project. Ignore is the strategy of disregarding or neglecting stakeholders who have no power or interest in an organisation or project. It involves excluding them from any engagement or communication activities. This strategy is not advisable, as it may lead to stakeholder dissatisfaction, resentment or resistance. Option D is not a correct answer, as keep informed is not the further strategy that is required for any of the three stakeholders in this scenario. Keep informed is the strategy for managing stakeholders who have low power but high interest in an organisation or project. It involves providing them with regular and sufficient information and updates without overloading them with details. None of the stakeholders in this scenario have low power but high interest, as they are all involved or affected by the project in some way.

The business case guidance states that risk assessment should identify principal risks and—critically—define countermeasures: what can be done to reduce the likelihood of the risk occurring or lessen its impact. It notes that some risks can be transferred (e.g., via insurance), but the key is choosing countermeasures that actually address the cause.

Here, the risk is behavioural: managers may struggle to adopt a new management style required by the change. The book explicitly recognises that business change often requires changes to working practices and sometimes management style, especially where roles and authority shift. The most direct countermeasure is to build capability and readiness in the affected managers—through training, education, coaching, and support—so they understand the new behaviours, can practise them, and can be reinforced through agreed expectations. This reduces both the probability of failure (managers not changing) and the impact (inconsistent adoption harming productivity).

Option A (insurance) does not address behavioural adoption; it might transfer financial impact in some scenarios but won’t make managers change. Option C explicitly avoids change and therefore cannot mitigate the stated risk. Option B could work in extreme cases, but replacing the entire management team is a far more disruptive and costly response than necessary and is not the “most likely” effective countermeasure when the risk is capability/behaviour adoption. Therefore, training and educating the managers is the most appropriate countermeasure.

CATWOE is a technique that helps to understand different perspectives of a situation by analyzing six elements: Customers, Actors, Transformation process, Worldview, Owner, and Environmental constraints. Shelly could use CATWOE to improve her understanding of the IT and finance director’s views on the future direction of the business, by identifying who are the customers, actors, owners, and so on for each option (organic growth or acquisition), and how they differ. Option A is the correct answer.

The documentation defines Critical Success Factors (CSFs) as the few key areas where “things must go right” for the business to flourish and for managerial goals to be attained. The key points are that CSFs are few, they are key, and they are musts—not just “nice-to-have” activities.

Given the objectives, CSFs should be chosen that directly drive market share growth, customer loyalty, and expansion into new markets. Option A aligns strongly to “increase market share in key demographics” because pricing competitiveness is often a critical lever in apparel retail: if pricing drifts out of line with competitor positioning or customer value expectations, share and loyalty can rapidly erode. A CSF framed around continuously monitoring competitor pricing and responding in a controlled way supports both market share and profitability—key for sustained growth.

Option D aligns strongly to “expand product lines and reach new markets.” Establishing new distribution channels (marketplaces, stores, partnerships) is frequently a make-or-break capability for expansion: without the right channels, new product lines won’t reach target segments effectively. That makes it a credible “must go right” area.

Option E (follower count) is not necessarily critical—engagement can matter, but “follower count must remain high” is too narrow and can be a vanity metric. Options B and C may be important hygiene or internal factors, but they are not as directly tied to the stated objectives as A and D.

The documentation is explicit about how BAMs should be used when multiple stakeholder perspectives exist. It states that initially there will be one BAM for each distinct perspective, and later these models are examined to identify where there is agreement or conflict. The ultimate aim is to combine them and, through discussion with stakeholders, achieve a consensus BAM.

This is important because different stakeholders can hold different (yet valid) “world views” about the same organisation—what the book describes as “duck-rabbit” perspectives—so the analyst must understand and reconcile them to avoid building change based on a single partial view. Once the separate BAMs exist (Finance, Marketing, Logistics, Stores), the next logical step is therefore to facilitate negotiation and collaboration to create one agreed model that represents the idealised way forward and that stakeholders will “buy in” to.

Option A is unnecessary at this point because CATWOE is used to help derive activities and perspectives; the BAMs already exist. Option C (asking the Managing Director to pick) is specifically described as a fallback only if stakeholders cannot agree; it is less desirable than securing shared agreement because it risks lack of acceptance and weaker commitment to the final model.

 Porter’s Five Forces model is a technique for analysing the competitive forces that affect an organisation or industry. It helps to assess the attractiveness and profitability of an organisation or industry. Porter’s Five Forces model consists of five forces: threat of new entrants, bargaining power of customers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of substitute products and competitive rivalry. Therefore, option B is the correct answer, as these preliminary findings would be documented in the bargaining power of customers force of Porter’s Five Forces model. Bargaining power of customers is the force that measures the ability and influence of customers to affect the price, quality and quantity of products or services offered by an organisation or industry. It depends on factors such as customer concentration, switching costs, differentiation and loyalty. An example of bargaining power of customers in this scenario is the market is saturated, customers have a lot of choice and it is easy for them to switch from one bank to another, which implies that customers have high bargaining power and can demand lower prices or better services from banks. Option A is not a correct answer, as these preliminary findings would not be documented in the threat of new entrants force of Porter’s Five Forces model. Threat of new entrants is the force that measures the likelihood and impact of new competitors entering an organisation or industry. It depends on factors such as entry barriers, economies of scale, capital requirements and brand loyalty. An example of threat of new entrants in this scenario is an overseas bank launching a new bank in the UK, which implies that there is a potential threat of new entrants to the existing banks in the UK. Option C is not a correct answer, as these preliminary findings would not be documented in the bargaining power of suppliers force of Porter’s Five Forces model. Bargaining power of suppliers is the force that measures the ability and influence of suppliers to affect the price, quality and quantity of products or services supplied to an organisation or industry. It depends on factors such as supplier concentration, switching costs, differentiation and dependency. An example of bargaining power of suppliers in this scenario is the suggested changes to the business structure will affect our relationships with suppliers, which implies that suppliers may have some bargaining power over the organisation or industry. Option D is not a correct answer, as these preliminary findings would not be documented in the threat of substitute products force of Porter’s Five Forces model. Threat of substitute products is the force that measures the likelihood and impact of customers switching to alternative products or services that satisfy their needs or wants better than those offered by an organisation or industry. It depends on factors such as availability, price, quality and performance of substitute products or services. There is no example of threat of substitute products in this scenario.

The stakeholder management strategy for senior managers should be constant active management. Senior managers have high power and high interest in the project, as they are responsible for overseeing its implementation and ensuring its alignment with organizational goals. They also have influence over other stakeholders, such as end users and employees. Therefore, they need to be regularly engaged, consulted, informed, and involved in decision making throughout the project lifecycle. Option B is the correct answer.

A competency is a combination of skills, knowledge and behaviours that enable a person to perform a task or role effectively and efficiently. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as it describes the competencies required for this role based on the job advert. Business case development is a competency that involves creating and presenting a formal written proposal that details the costs and benefits of a proposed business change or solution. It helps to justify and secure the approval and funding for a proposed business change or solution. This competency is required for this role, as the job advert states that the business analyst will assist in the development of formal written proposals detailing the cost and benefit of proposed business initiatives. Investigation techniques is a competency that involves using a variety of methods to explore and define complex situations or problems within an organisation or project. It helps to elicit, analyse, validate and prioritise the views and needs of stakeholders and identify the root causes and effects of situations or problems. This competency is required for this role, as the job advert states that the business analyst should be able to use a variety of methods to explore and define complex situations. Business architecture is a competency that involves designing and modelling the structure and relationships of an organisation or project at a high level of abstraction. It helps to understand how an organisation or project operates, delivers value and achieves its objectives and outcomes. This competency is required for this role, as the job advert states that the business analyst should have experience of producing blueprints in terms of processes, management structures, culture and people. Option A is not a correct answer, as it does not describe all the competencies required for this role based on the job advert. Subject matter expertise is a competency that involves having in-depth knowledge and understanding of a specific domain or industry within an organisation or project. It helps to provide insights and guidance on the best practices and standards within a specific domain or industry. This competency is not required for this role, as the job advert does not state that the business analyst should have subject matter expertise in any specific domain or industry. Option B is not a correct answer, as it does not describe all the competencies required for this role based on the job advert. Domain knowledge is a competency that involves having general knowledge and understanding of a broad domain or industry within an organisation or project. It helps to provide context and background on the nature and scope of a domain or industry. This competency is not required for this role, as the job advert does not state that the business analyst should have domain knowledge in any broad domain or industry. Gap analysis is a competency that involves comparing current and desired situations or problems and identifying the differences or gaps between them. It helps to determine what changes or improvements are needed to bridge the gaps and achieve desired situations or problems. This competency is not required for this role, as the job advert does not state that the business analyst should have experience of gap analysis. Option C is not a correct answer, as it does not describe all the competencies required for this role based on the job advert. Requirements engineering is a competency that involves eliciting, analysing, specifying, validating and managing requirements for a system or product within an organisation or project. It helps to ensure that requirements are clear, complete, consistent, testable and traceable throughout the system or product lifecycle. This competency is not required for this role, as the job advert does not state that the business analyst should have experience of requirements engineering.

A resource audit is a technique for identifying and evaluating the resources that an organisation has or needs to achieve its objectives. It helps to assess the availability and quality of an organisation’s resources, such as human, physical, financial and intangible resources. Therefore, options A, B and C are correct answers, as they should be included in the resource audit for Exquisite Analogue. They describe different types of resources that the organisation has and that contribute to its performance and potential. Option A describes a physical resource, which is a tangible asset that an organisation owns or uses, such as buildings, equipment or materials. Option B describes an intangible resource, which is a non-physical asset that an organisation owns or uses, such as intellectual property, brand or reputation. Option C describes a human resource, which is a person or group that an organisation employs or engages, such as staff, managers or customers. Option D is not a correct answer, as it should not be included in the resource audit for Exquisite Analogue. It describes a threat that affects the organisation externally, not a resource that the organisation has or needs internally. Option E is not a correct answer, as it should not be included in the resource audit for Exquisite Analogue. It describes a factor that affects the organisation externally, not a resource that the organisation has or needs internally.

The Operations Director for FlyMe is concerned about the market demand and profitability of the new business proposition. Therefore, she will be keen to ensure that the planning activities that address these concerns are discussed before the meeting ends. These activities are c and f, as they involve determining the demand amongst existing customers and defining the bundle pricing. These activities will help to assess the feasibility and viability of the new offering. Option A is the correct answer.

 An investment appraisal calculation is a technique for assessing whether a proposed business change or solution is financially viable and worthwhile. It helps to compare the costs and benefits of different options and select the best one based on objective criteria. There are different types of investment appraisal calculations, such as payback calculation, net present value, internal rate of return and discounted cash flow. Therefore, option A is the correct answer, as payback calculation is the simplest investment appraisal calculation that considers the tangible costs and benefits of a project, as well as showing when it will have saved as much money as it has cost. Payback calculation measures how long it will take for a project to recover its initial investment by comparing its cumulative cash inflows with its cumulative cash outflows over time. It helps to show how quickly a project will break even or generate profit. Option B is not a correct answer, as net present value is not the simplest investment appraisal calculation that considers only tangible costs and benefits. Net present value measures how much value a project will add or subtract from an organisation by comparing its present value of cash inflows with its present value of cash outflows over time. It helps to show how profitable a project will be in today’s terms. Net present value requires discounting future cash flows using an appropriate discount rate, which adds complexity to the calculation. Option C is not a correct answer, as internal rate of return is not the simplest investment appraisal calculation that considers only tangible costs and benefits. Internal rate of return measures how efficient a project is by calculating its annualised effective compounded return rate or rate of growth over time. It helps to show how attractive a project is compared to other investment opportunities. Internal rate of return requires finding an unknown discount rate that makes net present value equal to zero, which adds complexity to the calculation. Option D is not a correct answer, as discounted cash flow is not an investment appraisal calculation itself, but a method for estimating future cash flows by applying an appropriate discount rate to reflect their present value. Discounted cash flow can be used in other investment appraisal calculations, such as net present value or internal rate of return.

A key performance indicator (KPI) is a measurable value that demonstrates how effectively an organisation is achieving a key business objective or critical success factor (CSF). A KPI should be relevant, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound (SMART). Therefore, options C, D and E are appropriate KPIs for the CSF ‘provide excellent customer service’, as they measure aspects of customer satisfaction and loyalty that are directly related to the quality of service provided by the hotel chain. Option A is not an appropriate KPI, as it does not measure customer service, but rather customer consumption. Option B is not an appropriate KPI, as it does not measure customer service, but rather customer preference.