After completing this course, you will be able to

• define the role of the facilitator, and how it is different from simply participating in, or even chairing a meeting.
• create a realistic workshop agenda that leads participants toward agreement.
• effectively indicate which role 'facilitator or participant' you are in at any time during the workshop.
• skillfully lead and manage the meeting process.
• recognize when you should intervene in the workshop proceedings, and when you should not.
• resolve disagreement or conflict between participants.
• use consensus-building tools such as voting, ranking and summarizing to improve stakeholder alignment.
• ask for agreement from participants and negotiate closure of issues
• Open, conduct and close a workshop session, and follow up on results.

Whether you're a Business Analyst or a Business Systems Analyst, this one-day course equips you with the skills you need to facilitate requirements workshops and model validation sessions.

Increasingly, IT staff are asked to facilitate meetings, yet few have the people or meeting skills needed to effectively guide the process and participants to their desired outcomes. This is particularly so when analysts and stakeholders from different areas of the enterprise meet to develop and refine business and software requirements. This course gives you an opportunity to build strong facilitation skills, as you're coached through a day-long series of practice exercises and instructor-led workshops.

Who should attend this course?

This course is intended for BAs, BSAs, Project Leaders and others who want to be more effective at facilitating requirements workshops, JADs and model validation sessions. This course is of value to anyone who wants to run effective meetings and ensure they run smoothly.

Any prerequisites?

A working knowledge of Business Analysis or Business Systems Analysis is a definite asset. You will be facilitating within practice workshops throughout the day and should be capable of speaking before a small group.