Business Analyst: What is the Job?
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Business Analysts are asked to do many things: elicit, document, and manage requirements; facilitate meetings; fit/gap and feasibility studies, and act as a bridge or liaison between functional and technical groups. We often look at this mix of activities and think “This is my job”. However, I’m going to talk about the things that a BA needs to do as part of their “Real Job”. Not just the skills and activities we practice on a day to day basis nor the tasks that we are assigned and complete from project to project basis, but the reasons behind those skills and activities; the what and why of delivering value to the business via IT projects.
Charles Kettering said “A problem well stated is a problem half solved” more than half a century ago, and it is still true today. Helping the customer come to an understanding of what they want to do and why is the crucial first step to getting a project going. Without this understanding, the project is off on the wrong foot. Sometimes, though, reaching this understanding is not easy.
In this article, I address the perception common among BAs that “I [help] solve problems”. While this is partly true, I think that the Real Job of the BA is to help the customer accurately and succinctly define problems (or issues, the preferred term for business-side people).
How many times have you started a project where the customer asks you to implement something, and you realize it is really a solution? Do you forge ahead, holding requirements workshops and putting the documents together? Or do you stop and ask them why they want the project, only to have them say “Because I said so, that’s why!”?
Be careful. Either approach could get you in trouble, and knowing when and how to do both as appropriate is one of the things that identifies a real BA. Which brings us back to this part of the BA’s “Real Job”: defining the problem or clarifying the issue.
Clarifying the issue involves working closely with the customer to understand the rationale for the project and how it fits in to the business. Whatever level you are working at in a given project, from high-level strategy to enhancement of an existing system, help the customer articulate the business value of the project by showing how it will address an issue (solve an existing problem).
There are as many levels of business issues as there are types of requirements, and in fact we can map them nicely. I’ve created a modified version of the venerable V-diagram to show how business issues map to requirements.
You‘ll notice the two-headed arrows on the slide; this is because requirements don’t exist in a vacuum. In examining a requirement at any level you can turn it on its head and look at what issue that requirement is intended to address. As you dig in, be sure to ask “are we solving the right problem?” This may lead you to uncover issues at other levels; issues that, when addressed, may make the problem you are currently examining simply disappear.
Carefully articulating the issues or problems when documenting requirements can lead to improved traceability and provide a common language when discussing matters of scope. It can also help with the all-important prioritization of requirements, that often onerous job of separating the ‘must haves’ from the ‘should haves’ and the ‘like to haves’. Clearly, if a requirement is related to a core problem that the system is intended to address it is a must-have, while those requirements that don’t actually address an issue probably are not.
CONCLUSION: There is little business value in a solution in search of a problem, sometimes known as “build it and they will come”. On the other hand, even an average solution to a problem shared by many people will be embraced and used. Keep in mind that problems and requirements go hand in hand. Make sure that you work with the customer to understand and clarify the right problem, and you’ll be well on your way to doing your “Real Job”.
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18 Responses to “Business Analyst: What is the Job?”
April 14, 2012 at 10:56 am
Hello, I am a Project Manager in a Automotive MNC. I have a keen interest to become a business Analyst.Please guide me what are the extra skills and knowledge required to become a BA .Also please send me some good job openings also.
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December 26, 2012 at 11:29 am
get in touch with me Mr Vinod Kumar, i can help you out for your path towards BA
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December 26, 2012 at 11:30 am
KAUSHIK_DEL@YAHOO.COM IS MY ID
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April 19, 2012 at 4:37 am
This is a good recap of the role of the business analyst
Reply
July 11, 2012 at 3:42 am
Hello,
I am working as a tester, I am a fresher. As I came to know that, it is easy for tester to became business analyst.I am more interested in that, can u suggest me what are the way. I am more passionate to work as a BA.
Reply
July 19, 2012 at 7:20 am
This is a good starting point for all those who want to start the career as BA or to those who wish to have career change to BA.
Reply
July 27, 2012 at 9:39 am
hi
my age is 45,working exp 18 years in non banking and insurance i want to become a BA then what i hv to do plz guide me
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July 28, 2012 at 5:48 am
I am working as a technical writer. Is it easy for a technical writer to handle BA’s role? How would you relate BA and Technical writer.
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August 8, 2012 at 11:50 am
I worked for six months as Business Analyst with my previous company. The profile in India is just someone who can manage the office when actually every other superior is already present but they are not willing to work, LOL ! To be true that is what my experience was however bidding, project management, FRS, SRS, further documentation, financial prospects and many more. It cannot be put in words.
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August 17, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Hello,
I am working as a Financial Analyst. I want to be a BA. Kindly Suggest…. Thanks!!
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August 29, 2012 at 7:08 am
I am working as Technical Writer. In fact I have been asked to take up the role of BA to ensure the implementation of functionality in development and testing areas. Pl suggest doing proper training and getting Certification adds value or just go with expertise I get through here.
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September 23, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Is business analyst’s role restricted only to the software companies ?
As per my knowledge, even other sectors also require some one to analyze their business. But why is the role of BA being spoken only in the terms of IT sector ?
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April 11, 2013 at 12:24 am
Superb ! Thanks a lot !
what you describe really matters a lot to me as a fresher in BA
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October 3, 2013 at 2:31 am
I’m pursuing MBA. I want to become an BUSSINESS ANALYST. I need support in buliding my carrer for that what should i do ??????
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December 4, 2013 at 7:33 am
Business Analyst should eventually be the brain and answer to all business related practices.
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June 4, 2014 at 12:59 pm
Again, a BA shapes the project and acts as a go between from technical to client. Acts as product owner and should ultimately have the full holistic product knowledge.
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August 4, 2014 at 4:00 am
The BA is really the product owner and director of the project
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August 7, 2014 at 8:35 pm
In my career I’ve noticed that the scope of work a BA can do is large, and most BA’s tend to focus on the areas that they are strongest.
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