A Brief Overview of the Job of a Business Analyst
The business analyst plays an important role in the successful delivery of IT projects. This person gathers requirements and organizes them for analysis. Moreover, he or she is responsible for managing the project from start to finish, including identifying the most appropriate system and identifying the best business process for the given project. In short, this person is a bridge between stakeholders and IT teams, facilitating communication. This article aims to provide a brief overview of the job of a business analyst.
Business analyst is a liaison between stakeholders
A business analyst is responsible for translating complex technical information into stakeholder-friendly terms. This role requires a broad knowledge base and a diverse range of skills. In addition to interpreting data, a business analyst must process large amounts of information and maintain collaboration among technical team members and stakeholders. They also have a responsibility to oversee budgets and priorities and ensure that all team members are working towards a common goal.
The role of a business analyst is continually changing and evolving as companies become more data-driven and rely on analytics and analysis to guide business decisions. The issues that a business analyst faces vary from organization to organization, from outdated legacy systems to complex and largely siloed large organizations. These challenges are all challenges that can be met by a business analyst. However, many of the same skills are needed in both roles.
He or she collects requirements
The first step of a business analysis engagement is the requirement discovery stage. During this phase, a business analyst uses various elicitation techniques to gather requirements and details about the business problem. Once the analyst has gathered information, the team will analyze the data and document the recommendations for software solutions. This is also known as requirement elicitation. Listed below are some of the essential requirements-gathering techniques used by a business analyst.
The second step involves collecting requirements from stakeholders and analyzing them. The requirements management activities include collecting and documenting requirements, analyzing feasibility, tracing them to their sources, and documenting facts. The requirements analysis team will need this information to prioritize the requirements and perform trade-off analysis. Once requirements are prioritized, the team will move on to the documentation phase, which takes a considerable amount of time. In addition, requirements may have conflicting viewpoints and may need to be analyzed from multiple perspectives.
He or she analyzes them
The analyst analyzes information systems to determine which ones will benefit an organization most. This person also interacts with departmental managers and customers to determine what each one needs. He or she looks at new technologies, analyzes current systems, and examines the effectiveness of each. A business analyst looks at the practical operations of a company, evaluating whether they are efficient or not, and identifies how these systems can be improved.
He or she prepares them for implementation
Project managers are essential to the success of a project, and they must have the authority to make important decisions. The project manager must also have the support of the company, especially the executive team. Often, implementation partners will help guide a company through the process. Implementation timelines vary based on the project’s complexity and the readiness of the company’s workforce, hardware, and software. This article explores some common implementation risks and strategies.
He or she prepares them for IIBA certification
A BA’s role is varied, and the person preparing them for the IIBA certification exam may have a wide range of experience. This person also helps them decide which certification path to pursue, based on their experience and the areas of specialization that interest them. IIBA members can also join a study group for the certification to maximize their learning experience. Study groups are a great way to meet other BA’s, move through the materials more quickly, and interact with one another.
Before registering for the IIBA CBAP exam, candidates must complete an application, meet 35 hours of documented professional development (PD) hours, and provide two references. IIBA’s official website provides more information on the requirements and eligibility process. Applicants can also attend IIBA-sponsored conferences and participate in online learning opportunities, such as CBAP prep courses. The manager must approve the request, but the benefit of earning certification is mutual.
