WHAT Analysis means

In the Analysis phase, your team is earnestly working to understand the current state of things. You’ll be outlining the as-is both within the company and in the markets outside of the company.

WHEN Analysis Happens

The Analysis phase will always happen after you’ve defined the problem. Quite often you will start this phase in the first few weeks of the 90A semester. Remember, problem identification is an iterative process, as mentioned previously, the capstone project is an agile project which entails multiple iterations of problem identification and solutioning. However, as the project moves along, the problems/issues should be clearer and the focus will be more on the forming a solution.

WHO Analysis Involves

Involved in this phase will be your team, of course, and any stakeholder who will be able to provide you with client related data. You will also be indirectly interacting with third parties external to your client while doing research (ex- Industry, market, news research, etc.).

WHY The Analysis Phase Is Important

Capstone students and working professionals alike, often try to jump to a solution before they’ve understood all of the variables. We’ve all been there before, a best friend groans about a problem they’re having and we silently (or sometimes verbally) run through an easy fix to the issue even before they’re finished explaining the whole story.

Solutions to a business or even a personal problem is rarely an easy fix. Rushing through a solution just to close the gap (or quiet a friend) may bring quick benefits, but most likely these are just band-aid solutions that don’t have staying power. Why? Because you didn’t understand all of the factors at play. Knowing what’s currently happening and why can have huge implications on the solution you choose.

HOW to Navigate Through Analysis

Let the following guide you throughout the analysis phase. You will have already answered the first two questions by this point, but remind yourself that the focus of your project is not just on finding a problem, but the critical work is to search for WHY the problem is happening.

The analysis phase may be the largest aspect of your Capstone project (along with solution phase). The objective of it is to conduct adequate research, bring all of your data together, and analyze the findings so that you can begin working towards a suitable solution.

As part of this phase, your team will perform all preliminary research activities and leverage resources available (ex. textbooks and library/online resources, case studies, etc.). Get insights on both direct and indirect competitors using strategies and techniques you’ve learned throughout the BTM program. Get a clear understanding of the industry, the trends, and where your client falls within the market.

Examples of assessments your team might find helpful are:

• Current process analysis
• SWOT analysis
• Market/industry analysis
• Process design
• Content audit
• Process diagramming  (BPMN diagram)
• Gap analysis

To gain further insights and data, several approaches can be used such as:

• Stakeholder interviews with management
• Process user interviews
• Questionnaires or surveys
• Onsite visits and ethnographic observations
• Documentation reviews
• User scenarios (stories about how various users navigate through the process)
• Business requirements checklist with key stakeholders
• Technical requirements checklist

Leverage the relationship you’ve built with your client and know that at this stage, you’ll have loads of interaction with them. It’s important to, as early as possible, determine the individuals you’ll need information from, the people you’ll need to interview, the types of data you’ll need in order to do a proper analysis. Essentially, you’ll need to have a clear understanding almost right away of the what (types of information) and the who (the people who can get you that information).

During the Analysis phase, it’s critical to keep focused and deep-dive into the problem and keep strong boundaries to stay within scope during the eight month course. Don’t be surprised or intimidated if you have to go back to the client on several occasions to truly understand their organization and business problems.

It’s important to be thorough with your analysis since it is the foundation to the solution, but don’t get bogged down in analysis paralysis. Pick the right areas to explore and be cautious of your client’s time (typically a consulting project is an addition to their day-to-day activities). Determine what data is relevant and what isn’t. Keep the client informed (see Chapters 15-17 for ways to do this) of your progress and your general findings, this will build that relationship and trust, and better prepare you and them for the solution and presentation discussions.