# Planning analysis work across lifecycle phases

*Business Analyst Study Guide · Customer Discovery · Last updated October 15, 2026 · https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/business-analyst/customer-discovery/planning-analysis-work-across-lifecycle-phases*

How a business analyst sequences analysis work across the implementation lifecycle: discovery first, a business analysis plan per phase, high-level scope up front with just-in-time detail in iterative delivery, reuse of current-state maps, and routing newly found scope to the sponsor.

- Certification: Salesforce Business Analyst
- Exam section: Customer Discovery
- Study guide: https://www.certifyforce.com/study-guide/business-analyst

**Official exam objective:**

> Apply the implementation lifecycle for planning business analysis activities.

## What the exam expects

- Place discovery and current-state analysis early in the lifecycle, before design and build.
- Order BA activities so each one feeds the next: goals and current state, process mapping and elicitation, requirements, user stories with acceptance criteria, build support, UAT.
- Produce a business analysis plan that maps activities, deliverables and stakeholder involvement to each phase or region.
- Adjust the plan for iterative delivery: high-level scope up front, detail just in time.
- Know when to revisit current-state maps, and what to do with scope found during discovery or after sign-off.

Key terms: **implementation lifecycle** (plan, build, test, deploy and monitor phases a change moves through); **business analysis plan** (the list of all BA activities across the project); **waterfall** (all scope defined before work starts); **iterative or agile** (scope continuously defined and refined); **backlog refinement** (preparing upcoming backlog items so they are ready).

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ALM phases | Plan, build, test, deploy, monitor | [Learn About Salesforce Application Lifecycle Management](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/salesforce-application-lifecycle-management-quick-look/learn-about-salesforce-application-lifecycle-management) |
| Order | Analysis comes before architecture and before build | [Understand the Value of Business Analysis](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/business-process-mapping/understand-the-value-of-business-analysis) |
| Business analysis plan | Lists all BA activities that take place throughout the project | [Explore Documentation Types](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/business-analyst_skills-strategies/learn-documentation-types-importance-documentation) |
| Waterfall scope | Entire scope defined before the project begins | [Project Scope Management](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/best-practices-for-project-management/gather-requirements) |
| Agile scope | Requirements and scope continuously defined and refined | [Project Scope Management](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/best-practices-for-project-management/gather-requirements) |
| Backlog detail | Higher-priority items carry more detail so they are work-ready | [Learn the Elements of the Scrum Workflow](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/scrum-and-kanban-at-salesforce/learn-the-elements-of-the-scrum-workflow) |
| Refinement cadence | Every 2 weeks, a couple of sprints ahead (Salesforce's own Scrum practice) | [Implement Scrum](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/scrum-and-kanban-at-salesforce/implement-scrum) |
| Elicitation timing | Throughout the lifecycle, not a one-off | [Explore Techniques for Information Discovery](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/business-analyst_skills-strategies/explore-techniques--information-discovery) |
| UAT timing | Last stage before go-live, after QA, with written sign-off | [Learn About User Acceptance Testing](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/user-acceptance-testing-video/learn-about-user-acceptance-testing) |

## Check yourself

- Why is discovery planned before design and build?
- When does a backlog item get its detailed requirements in Scrum?
- What does a business analysis plan contain?
- Why can't overlooked requirements simply be added mid-project?

## Sources

- [Learn About Salesforce Application Lifecycle Management](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/salesforce-application-lifecycle-management-quick-look/learn-about-salesforce-application-lifecycle-management)
- [Explore Documentation Types](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/business-analyst_skills-strategies/learn-documentation-types-importance-documentation)
- [Understand the Value of Business Analysis](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/business-process-mapping/understand-the-value-of-business-analysis)
- [Explore Techniques for Information Discovery](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/business-analyst_skills-strategies/explore-techniques--information-discovery)
- [Project Scope Management](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/best-practices-for-project-management/gather-requirements)
- [Learn the Elements of the Scrum Workflow](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/scrum-and-kanban-at-salesforce/learn-the-elements-of-the-scrum-workflow)
- [Implement Scrum](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/scrum-and-kanban-at-salesforce/implement-scrum)
- [Learn the Customs of Your Customer](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/business-analyst-best-practices/learn-the-customs-of-your-customer)
- [Learn About User Acceptance Testing](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/user-acceptance-testing-video/learn-about-user-acceptance-testing)
- [Exploring the Salesforce BA Role](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/content/learn/modules/salesforce-business-analyst-quick-look/learn-about-the-salesforce-business-analyst-role)
- [Salesforce Certified Business Analyst Exam Guide](https://trailhead.salesforce.com/help?article=Salesforce-Certified-Business-Analyst-Exam-Guide)

## About the full unit

The "Core concepts", "Exam traps" and "Worked scenario" sections of this unit, its 8 linked practice questions, and unlimited timed mock exams are included with the Business Analyst pack (USD $19): https://www.certifyforce.com/practice-exams