BCS BAPv5 Exam - Topic 3 Question 51 Discussion

Actual exam question for BCS's BAPv5 exam

Question #: 51
Topic #: 3

A large retail company has asked a business analyst to investigate a problem with declining sales

Which of the following techniques is the business analyst MOST LIKLEY to use to identify underlying causes of this problem?

ACustomer journey maps

BScenario analysis

CUse case diagram

DBusiness Activity Model
A Business Activity Model (BAM) is a technique for modelling business activities within an organisation or project at a high level of abstraction. It helps to understand what an organisation does, how it does it, who does it, where it does it and why it does it. Therefore, option D is the correct answer, as a BAM would help the business analyst to identify underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. A BAM would help to analyse how different activities within an organisation contribute or relate to sales performance and identify any gaps or issues that may affect sales performance. A BAM would help to compare current and desired situations or problems and identify what changes or improvements are needed to achieve desired situations or problems. Option A is not a correct answer, as customer journey maps are not a technique for identifying underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. Customer journey maps are a technique for visualising customer experiences with an organisation or product across different touchpoints and stages. They help to understand customer needs, expectations and emotions and how they are met or influenced by an organisation or product. Option B is not a correct answer, as scenario analysis is not a technique for identifying underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. Scenario analysis is a technique for exploring how different scenarios or situations could affect outcomes or impacts of an organisation or project. They help to test feasibility and desirability of different options or solutions under various circumstances or assumptions. Option C is not a correct answer, as use case diagram is not a technique for identifying underlying causes of a problem with declining sales. Use case diagram is a technique for modelling functional requirements of a system or product at a high level of abstraction. They help to understand what functions or features are required or provided by a system or product and how they interact with actors or users.

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: D

by Francesco at Jan 05, 2026, 05:16 AM

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Ressie

3 days ago

I remember we discussed how a Business Activity Model can really help in understanding the overall processes in a company. It seems like the right choice here.

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Noble

8 days ago

Haha, a use case diagram for a sales problem? That's like trying to fix a flat tire with a screwdriver. BAM is the tool for this job.

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Chandra

14 days ago

The BAM is the way to go, no doubt. It's like a business X-ray - you can see exactly what's going on under the hood.

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Jesus

19 days ago

Use case diagram? What is this, a software project? We need to understand the business, not just the system requirements. BAM all the way!

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Olive

24 days ago

Customer journey maps? Really? That's for understanding the customer experience, not the underlying business issues. This is clearly a BAM situation.

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Ashlyn

29 days ago

Hmm, I don't know. Scenario analysis could be useful too, to see how different factors might be affecting sales. But the BAM does sound like the most comprehensive approach.

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Merissa

1 month ago

I agree, the BAM is the best choice. It's like a roadmap for the business - you can see where the problems are and how to fix them.

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Claudio

1 month ago

The Business Activity Model seems like the way to go here. It'll give the analyst a clear picture of how the company's activities are impacting sales.

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Jules

1 month ago

I'm a little confused by the wording of this question. It's asking which technique the business analyst is "MOST LIKELY" to use, but I'm not sure how to determine that. I guess I'll have to rely on my understanding of each technique and how well it aligns with the problem at hand. The Business Activity Model does seem the most relevant, but I'll double-check the other options just to be sure.

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Rosio

2 months ago

Okay, I think I've got this. A Business Activity Model is designed to help understand an organization's activities and how they contribute to overall performance. That seems like exactly what the business analyst would need to identify the root causes of the declining sales issue. The other options, like customer journey maps and use case diagrams, are more focused on specific processes or user interactions, which wouldn't be as helpful here.

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Maile

2 months ago

Hmm, I'm a bit unsure about this one. The options seem pretty technical, and I'm not super familiar with all of these analysis techniques. I'll have to think carefully about how each one could be applied to the sales problem. Maybe I'll make some quick notes on the pros and cons of each before selecting my answer.

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Pearly

2 months ago

This seems like a straightforward question. The key is to identify the technique that would be most useful for investigating the underlying causes of the declining sales problem. A Business Activity Model seems like the best option since it provides a high-level view of the organization's activities and how they relate to sales performance.

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