IIBA ECBA Exam - Topic 1 Question 118 Discussion

Actual exam question for IIBA's ECBA exam

Question #: 118
Topic #: 1

[All ECBA Questions]

Which type of stakeholder is responsible for initiating the effort to define a business need?

AProject manager

BRegulator

CBusiness analyst

DSponsor

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: D

In the context of business analysis, the sponsor is the type of stakeholder responsible for initiating the effort to define a business need. The sponsor is typically a senior executive or a key stakeholder who has the authority and responsibility to allocate resources and ensure that the project aligns with strategic business objectives. They play a critical role in the early stages of project development by defining the business need, which sets the direction for the project and guides the work of the business analyst.

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

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Nan

Definitely the Sponsor. They initiate the project based on business needs.

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Elly

5 days ago

Project Manager might also play a role, but not the main one.

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Nu

10 days ago

I disagree, I believe it's the Business Analyst. They identify the needs.

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Glenn

16 days ago

I think it's the Sponsor. They usually fund and support the project.

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My

21 days ago

Really? I thought regulators had a say in this kind of stuff.

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Hillary

26 days ago

I always thought it was the sponsor too, makes sense!

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Nichelle

1 month ago

Wait, isn't it the project manager who kicks things off?

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Arlyne

1 month ago

Nah, I believe the business analyst does that.

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Janet

1 month ago

I think it's definitely the sponsor.

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Valentin

2 months ago

C) Business analyst. They're the ones who get their hands dirty with the requirements, not the sponsor.

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Joseph

2 months ago

Wait, is the sponsor the one who actually defines the business need or the one who orders the business analyst to do it? I'm so confused!

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Art

2 months ago

D) Sponsor. Definitely the sponsor, they're the ones who drive the project forward.

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Dalene

3 months ago

A) Project manager. They are responsible for managing the project, including defining the business need.

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Jeffrey

3 months ago

C) Business analyst. They are responsible for gathering and analyzing the business requirements.

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Kristofer

3 months ago

D) Sponsor. The sponsor is the one who initiates the effort to define the business need.

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Teri

3 months ago

I’m torn between the business analyst and the sponsor. I know the analyst gathers requirements, but isn’t the sponsor the one who kicks things off?

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Valentin

3 months ago

I feel like the regulator has a role in oversight, but they wouldn't be the ones to define the business need. Could it really be the sponsor?

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Lenna

3 months ago

I remember a practice question about stakeholders, and I think the project manager usually executes rather than initiates. So maybe it's not A.

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Lino

4 months ago

I think the sponsor is the one who initiates the effort, but I'm not entirely sure. It could also be the business analyst, right?

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Heike

4 months ago

I'm pretty confident the answer is D) Sponsor. They're the ones who provide the funding and high-level direction for the project, so they would be the ones to kick off the process of defining the business need.

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Cherelle

4 months ago

The project manager seems like a logical choice, since they're responsible for managing the overall project. But the question is specifically asking about who initiates the effort, so I'm leaning more towards the business analyst or the sponsor.

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Nobuko

4 months ago

Hmm, I'm not totally sure about this one. I know the sponsor is usually the one who approves the project, but I'm not certain if they're the ones who initiate the definition of the business need. I'll have to think this through carefully.

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Jenelle

4 months ago

I think the business analyst is responsible for initiating the effort to define the business need. They're the ones who work closely with stakeholders to understand the requirements.

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