The concepts of Happy, Alternate, and Exception Paths originated with Use Cases, but turn out to be applicable to any graphical modelling technique that depicts Flow. This article presents examples of Business Process, Activity, and State Transition diagrams with these concepts represented simply using the common “Traffic Light” colors green, amber, and red. The benefits to both business analysts and stakeholders are discussed.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has drastically changed the business world, allowing companies to get useful information from huge amounts of data. The job of business analysts is very important in this change because they connect raw data to strategy decisions. One new skill that can help them make a bigger difference is prompt engineering, which is the art and science of making exact inputs to get the best results from AI models. By acquiring this skill, business analysts get insights that have never been seen before, Utilize AI solutions to fit the needs of their organizations, and stay necessary in a time when technology is fast pacing.

This article delves into the functions, responsibilities, and expertise of systems analysts and business analysts in healthcare, clarifying the distinctions between the two and how they collaborate to enhance both technological and operational efficiencies.

Software consultant Tim Lister defined project success as “meeting the set of all requirements and constraints held as expectations by key stakeholders.” There’s a vast body of literature on software requirements. In contrast, little is written about the various kinds of constraints that stakeholders might impose on a software initiative. Identifying, communicating, and working within constraints are essential aspects of successful software development. Let’s begin with a definition:

“A constraint is a restriction that limits the choices available for a product’s specification, design, construction, configuration, or project management.”

A software initiative is subject to three major classes of constraints: product, project, and process.

In this series’ first article, Beyond Tools and Processes: Strategies for Successful Software Development Teams, we introduced the concept of reflective practices. Reflection aims to facilitate learning from experience. The essence of reflection is to actively engage in a process to gain perspective on one’s own actions and experiences. The aim of this process is to analyze those experiences rather than merely living through them. By cultivating curiosity and a willingness to explore our actions and experiences, we unlock the potential for intentional learning, not only as individuals but also as a team or even an organization. This learning stems not from books or experts but directly from our own work and lived experiences, successes, and failures.