ISEB Certificate in Organisational Context (3 day)

Course Overview

In order to create beneficial change in today's dynamic business environment, it is necessary for business analysts to understand the organisational context in which they operate. Organisations are becoming increasingly dependent on information systems and the technology associated with them, but will fail to capitalise on them if business solutions developed do not relate closely to the business needs, legislative constraints and business structure. This course examines those aspects of commerce that directly affect the way any business operates, from initial start up through to maturity. Many delegates will come from large, well established organisations where procedures and processes exist to ensure that funds are available and are invested wisely. However, many of these aspects will not be appreciated or recognised and business solutions may not be as effective as they could be.

Audience

• Those wishing to acquire a basic level of understanding about business and its workings.
• Those wishing to attain the ISEB Certificate in the Organisational Context.

Skills Gained

• Describe the range and type of business organisations in the UK
• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of a range of management structures operated within organisations
• Describe the work carried out by key functions found within organisations
• Explain legislative issues affecting information systems
• Describe the range of activities carried out by financial and management accountants
• Interpret the contents of the balance sheet and profit and loss account
• Use investment appraisal, costing and cash flow forecasting techniques

Examinations

At the end of the course delegates may sit an examination to attain the ISEB Business Systems Development certificate in the Organisational Context. This course may be taken as part of the programme leading to the ISEB Diploma in Business Analysis.

Prerequisites

There are no specific pre-requisites for this course.

Course Outline

Types of Business Organisations

• Sole Traders
• Partnerships
• Private Sector
• Public Sector
• Not for Profit

Law and Government

• What is Law
• Criminal and Civil Law
• Legislative process in the UK

Structure and Management of Organisations

• Functional
• Project
• Matrix
• Virtual
• Depth of Structure
• Centralisation / Decentralisation

Professions and Professional Bodies

• Legal Status
• Reservation of Title and Function
• Professional bodies that influence the IT industry

Business Functions

• Sales
• Marketing
• Operations
• Procurement
• Finance
• Human Resources
• IT

Financing a Start-up Company

• Why capital is needed
• The Business Plan or strategy
• Sources of Finance

Legal Issues

• Anti-discrimination legislation
• Software Contracts and Liability
• Intellectual Property rights
• Data Protection
• Privacy and Freedom of Information
• Internet Issues
• Computer misuse

Investment Appraisal

• The justification process
• Business cases
• Costs
• Benefits
• Appraisal methods - payback, net present value, internal rate of return
• Discounting
• Example cost/benefit analysis

Financial Acounting

• Capital Expenditure
• Asset
• Liability
• Basic ledgers
• Profit and Loss Account
• Balance Sheet

Management Accounting

• Types of Costing - Standard, Variable, Marginal
• Overheads
• Principles of Budgeting
• Cashflow Forecasting

Performance Measurement

• Financial Ratios
• ROTA, ROCE, Liquidity, Gearing

Case Study

A case study is used throughout to provide continuity and working examples of the topic areas.