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New Post 3/9/2009 5:01 AM
User is offline jermaine
4 posts
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Beginner Process Analyst Questions 

I am a web programmer. I am trying to get started as a business process analyst so I have a few questions...

  1. What is the difference between a business analyst and a business process analyst.
  2. What is  the best method of business process modelling. I recently came accross the Integrated Modelling method on the net. It claims to be the fastest and most accurate way to model business processes. What do you think?
  3. What is  the best book/tutorial I can read in order to  get started quickly. Is it the BABOK..

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 
New Post 3/9/2009 5:17 AM
User is offline Guy Beauchamp
257 posts
www.smart-ba.com
5th Level Poster




Re: Beginner Process Analyst Questions 

Hi Jermaine,

  1. What is the difference between a business analyst and a business process analyst.
    1. depends to an extent on the organisation that defines the roles as there are no standard definitions for the roles but in general: a business process analyst just models business processes whereas a business analyst does that and define all the other components involved in business analysis.
  2. What is  the best method of business process modelling. I recently came accross the Integrated Modelling method on the net. It claims to be the fastest and most accurate way to model business processes. What do you think?
    1. "best" is defined by what you want to achieve by modelling business processes and what the method supports. The notiaonal standard for modelling business processes is Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN)
  3. What is  the best book/tutorial I can read in order to  get started quickly. Is it the BABOK..
    1. there are so many you could read! This website (ModernAnalyst.com) is publishing a reasonably comprehensive quick start guide next month - I happen to know this because I am writing it!

One other thought: why focus on becoming a business process analyst instead of becomming a business analyst? I have written another article on analysing what you wantfrom a possible career redirection/change here. You may already have done this exercise but you could analyse what you want from a career redirection/change and then see what role best suits what you are looking for...

Hope this helps!

Guy

 
New Post 3/9/2009 6:54 AM
User is offline jermaine
4 posts
No Ranking


Re: Beginner Process Analyst Questions 

Thanks Guy,

 

Your response was very helpful. I am glad that I stubmled upon this site and I will be looking out for your quick start guide.

I am really interested in formally starting a career as a BA. I have had 3 1/2 years unoffical experince working as an systems analyst on a ERP system implementation for a Supermarket chain. I was officially hired as a client exec, but I eased into an systems analyst role. The economic crisis caused the project to grind to a halt, so I had to take a job as a web programmer just to get by.

I recently got a job offer for a post as a process analyst, but that was put on hold because of the econ. crisis. That is the reason I was looking for training material on business process analysis.

What you said about being a BA makes sense. I want to start learning this craft from scratch just to make sure I have the foundation right, but I also want to do it quickly. Could you point me to some BA training material that follows a logical sequence.

A couple more questions...

  1. I have seen the book "Seven Steps in Mastering Business Analysis " mentioned here. Is this a good way to start out or should I just read the BABOK.

  2. Would my 3 1/2 experience qualify me to attempt the IIBA CBAPA certification exam.

  3. I would like to get some form of certification to add some weight to my resume. IBM offers the IBM Certified Business Process Analyst - WebSphere Business Modeler Advanced V6.1 cetification exam 992. Would it make sense to attempt this certification. I am just trying to create roadmap for where I want to go, but I want to get thinngs done quickly.

     

Thanks

 

 


 

 

 
New Post 3/9/2009 7:20 AM
User is offline Guy Beauchamp
257 posts
www.smart-ba.com
5th Level Poster




Re: Beginner Process Analyst Questions 

Hi,

glad the first reply was useful!

Re your questions...

Training that follows a logical sequence...? As I have a training company I suspect there might be a slight conflict of interest here! But look, the thing is business analysis is not very difficult in theory, just in practice. The theory (if you don't get side tracked by the latest methods and fashions) is simple and outlined in an article here. The practice is a bit harder because there is a good deal of resistance to analytical thinking for reasons I have discussed here (just my view of course). What is undeniable is that the practice is hard. Recommendation: don't sweat over the training, just learn the basics and then start trying to apply logical analysis to your BA work (in process modelling and everything else you do).

I haven't read Seven Steps so can't really comment...don't just read the BABOK: its not designed to be an instruction manual (as I understand it and if it is I don't rate it as a good one). What it is good at is being a repository for lots of BA thoughts and concepts that you can reference when you are not sure about something.

My understanding is you need 5 years documented experience for the IIBA CBAP exam. I don't rate that either as I have yet to see a job advert that references it directly. Some adverts reference professional qualifications in BA , but not many (in the UK anyway) and it is always optional not mandatory. Bear in mind that fundamentally the IIBA is a business making money out of certification. That's  not to say its no good, just to state the facts. 

The other major certification in the UK is the ISEB Diploma in Business Analysis. You don't have to have 5 years and it is more widely known than the IIBA (but that's not saying much and it too is a business making money out certification).

I haven't heard of the IBM qualification and so can't comment.

Still hoping this helps!

Guy

 
New Post 3/10/2009 7:05 AM
User is offline jermaine
4 posts
No Ranking


Re: Beginner Process Analyst Questions 

Thanks Guy,

 

I will start out with the basics as suggested then submit questions as they arise. This is a great site guys. Lots of info.

 

Regards

 

 
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