Courses to take if you are a business analyst:

• ISEB Certificate in Business Analysis Essentials
• Association for Project Management (APM) Introductory Certificate in Project Management

ISEB Certificate in Business Analysis Essentials

This course takes a holistic approach to the investigation and improvement of business situations with a view to developing effective, feasible business solutions. The two key elements to the course are:

• Development of a business strategy, delegates are taught to understand a range of strategic analysis and performance management techniques
• Exploration of a business issue, whether a problem or opportunity, delegates are taught to apply business analysis techniques under a defined framework.

This course helps analysts understand the context in a business operates in order to model and analyse its activities. The techniques include the analysis of stakeholders' perspectives to identify and suggest solutions to an organisation's problems. The analyst then works on the business case to identify the most appropriate of these solutions.

This course can lead and contribute to the ISEB Diploma in Business Analysis or the ISEB Diploma in Systems Development.

Association for Project Management (APM) Introductory Certificate in Project Management

This course gives delegates an introductory knowledge of project management. It is suited to professionals who wish to know the basics of organisational and people management skills so they can participate effectively in project teams.

The APM Introductory Certificate in Project Management is awarded by the Association for Project Management (APM), the UK professional project management association. The syllabus is based on the 5th edition of the APM Body of Knowledge (not required for this course). The course was developed in association with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

The course is suited to those who have had no formal introduction or experience in project management. The exam is sat at the end of the course. It is practical and consists of classroom lectures, discussions, individual exercises, group exercises and sample examination papers.