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New Post 5/28/2012 10:22 AM
User is offline Karl Olson
1 posts
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Business Analysis - Slightly Confused 

 Dear all

I've been reading as much as i can about Business Analysis but from what i can gather the defining goal is software driven, a particular piece of accounting or a production line piece of sofware.

Would i be right in thinking that Business Analysis is all about designing UI and applications?

I have many projects on the go which revolve around existing software that we use, i have no way to change the UI but assist users in training, extracting data and providing some meaning to it in various formats, reports, alerts etc. I was kind of thinking that this was not a true Business Analyst's role but when that borrowed several BA aspects, but the more i read the more i'm not convinced.

A naive Business Systems Analyst
 

 
New Post 5/30/2012 7:31 AM
User is offline Tony Markos
493 posts
5th Level Poster


Re: Business Analysis - Slightly Confused 

Hi:

Business Analysis is about analyzing a business.   I repeat:   business analysis is about analyzing a business. 

If one goes to the public library, finds a dictionary, and looks up the word "analysis", chances are that the first listed definition will say something like:  "Analysis:  Partitioning an entity [such as a business system] into its component parts and then examining how the parts interrelate."   Especially for business systems, which tend to be complex and can neither be seen or felt, partitioning is the major thing that needs to be done.  

So, a business analyst is foremost a business partitioner.

Many BA's do non analysis activties such as desigining UI's and applications.   In fact,most cling to implementation activities, as they really find analysis distasteful.  This results in alot of confusion as to what a BA really does.

Tony

 

 
New Post 5/30/2012 12:23 PM
User is offline Jarett Hailes
155 posts
6th Level Poster




Re: Business Analysis - Slightly Confused 

Hi Karl,

Business Analysis is definitely not a software driven role. It is about being able to assess how systems (people, tools, processes and their relationships, not just software applications) work, understanding problems and challenges and learning how to leverage other experts in developing solutions that create value. Over the past 5 years in consulting as a BA these performing activities involved software solutions about 1/3 of the time; the rest has involved process redesign, organizational change and strategic planning.

UI design and application development is for programmers, Solution Architects, UX specialists, etc. In many software-focused firms or companies where BAs are placed only in IT departments the individual with the title Business Analyst will perform other tasks that are not related to Business Analysis.

If you're not sure what Business Analysis is all about the BA Body of Knowledge is as good a place as any to get an overview of what the profession is really about. Chapter 1 is a really good overview of Business Analysis that doesn't steer too heavily into a software-only mindset.

If you want more examples of what Business Analysis is about, find your local Management Consulting Institute. You will find that there is a lot of overlap in what a management consultant does and a BA does when they are not in a 'software solution only' mindset.

 
New Post 8/6/2012 5:20 AM
User is offline Ross Taylor
11 posts
10th Level Poster


Re: Business Analysis - Slightly Confused 

 The primary  responsibilities of   'Business analysts’   are communicating with stakeholders, gathering requirements, and making sense of these requirements in order to ensure that the end products will solve the business problems at hand. GUI Design Studio is a specialised software design tool for anyone involved in application user interface design, including User Experience Designers, Business Analysts, Developers, Project Managers and Consultants.

 
New Post 8/7/2012 4:49 PM
User is offline Anthony Chen
63 posts
8th Level Poster


Re: Business Analysis - Slightly Confused 

 Karl Olson wrote

 Dear all

I've been reading as much as i can about Business Analysis but from what i can gather the defining goal is software driven, a particular piece of accounting or a production line piece of sofware.

Would i be right in thinking that Business Analysis is all about designing UI and applications?

I have many projects on the go which revolve around existing software that we use, i have no way to change the UI but assist users in training, extracting data and providing some meaning to it in various formats, reports, alerts etc. I was kind of thinking that this was not a true Business Analyst's role but when that borrowed several BA aspects, but the more i read the more i'm not convinced.

A naive Business Systems Analyst
 

 

traditionally in many companies a business analyst is the job title for a junior role. Often times a project manager would be the next step. However, the IIBA is trying to change one common meaning of business analyst (just creating the requirements) to encompass other activities like deployment, training etc. I think it is an uphill battle. They have also defined a business architect which I think is a better name which sounds broader and more senior.

We call the role "IT product manager" as we manage the solution as if we were rolling out a product.

 
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