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Hi all,
I'm just starting to get into the Business Analysis domain. I was wondering what (if anything) is the standard software for business analysis? I've noticed when I got to the IIBA website, they heavily promote VISIO. Is that what most people use?
I'm coming from the Project Management side, and we usually use (not always) MS Project.
Thanks
MS Visio is a drawing tool only. Does the job in that respect. You need the professional version so you get the software extensions.
Better products are model based with a respository. There are quite a few on the market including some free ones I think. There are some very good ones for less than the cost of MS Visio. I expect that Visio is heavily promoted on the IIBA website because they pay to be promoted.
I use Enterprise Architect from sparx systems. It is cheaper than Visio and a much better product for BAs than Visio. Others here will have their favourites too I'm sure. Expect Adrian has a paper or some resource somewhere with a list of tools.
Kimbo
I've used Enterprise Architect and Visual Paradigm's various tools (http://www.visual-paradigm.com/) for requirements management and current/future state modeling, as well as have had a team build a custom requirements management tool in SharePoint (which I do not recommend). I've also used BizAgi (http://www.bizagi.com/) for process modeling. There are many more out there (Borland CaliberRM, Rally Dev, etc. - this site has a good list).
So far I haven't found a comprehensive tool that I would wholeheartedly recommend in any circumstance; each tool has their respective pros and cons depending on the size of your team, the business analysis activities you are performing and the anticipated life span of your output.
We just released a free version of our Visio Add in called ProcessView Essential. It adds the ability to analyze process maps defined in Microsoft Visio. Check it out, I'd love to get feedback on the product. http://bluespringsoftware.com/products/bpa-products/processview/processview-essential/
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