What is business analysis?
It is a research discipline which helps in defining business needs, identifying all the business problems and creating a solution for it. Solutions may often include new software development or system configuration, creating or updating an existing business process. Professionals in this particular domain of work are known as Business Analysts, commonly referred to as BA’s.
Business analysts are not only committed to software solutions, but are also responsible for solutions which are leading towards the betterment of the organization. In today’s competitive world, the role of business analyst has become critical and vital in any industry. Let’s now focus on 3 essential elements of business analysis.
1. #BA is a Connector:
The communication gap which we usually see between the technologists and functional business professionals is bridged by business analysts. In the traditional sense, the #BA “interviews” business subject mater experts and stakeholders to elicit requirements on a particular problem which are then interpreted in such way that technology professionals can created solutions to meet those requirements. In essence, the #business analyst helps in collaboration among different divisions of an organisation.
2. #BA Understands:
There are four categories of understanding as listed below:
- Enterprise level understanding
- Business level understanding
- Process level understanding
- System level understanding
Few #BA’s focus on strategic business needs and few look at the entire business architecture.
3. #BA is a solution provider:
Whatever the situation, the #BA needs to undertake a detailed study of the problem first before proposing any solution to the problem. This detailed understanding helps #BA in suggesting the best solution.
Why business analysis is so important? Which is the biggest and most important factor of having a #BA in an organization?
In layman’s terms, business analysis helps businesses change and develop. Business analysis helps businesses do better business and Business analysts are an agent of change and an agent of growth.
Business analysis is a disciplined flow of bringing changes in an organization, whether they are for custome experience enhancment, for revenue growth, for compliance to a regulatory boby’s regulation or simply to remain competitive. Business analysis is used to recognize the need for change and how this change may be implemented in an organization. Business analysts identify problems and define solutions for them which are beneficial for employees, customers and shareholders. Business analysts are involved in every stage of the delivery lifecycle. Starting with eliciting requirements, analysing existing processes and workshopping the re-engineering thereof, scope decomosition, documenting specs for technology, support technology develop solutions, support testing create robust test scope and test cases, through to tech implmentation and business solution implementation and ultimately throughout solution adoption by users.
There has been a considerable increase in the value of business analysis and business analysts in the past few decades. Through the effective use of business analysis, it is possible for an organization to streamline and optimise productivity in their businesses. The implementation of agile delivery methods in the past decade has made the role of the busioness analyst even more critical to the success of the modern organisation.
Depending on the size and complexity of a project, a business analyst should consider the below-mentioned 6 step procedure for the betterment of the organization.
1. Disover the business objectives – business objectives vary from industry to industry and from company to company. It is the responsibility of a business analyst to liaise with business stakeholders and technology to understand these objective well and make sure the to-be solution be aligned with these objectives.
2. Define scope – Clearly defined scope at the start of any project is a necessary task for any business analyst. Scope makes the business needs clear in order for multiple people of a project to be clear on what is expected of them.
3. Proper planning – Your business analysis plan brings a clarity to the process which will help in successfully defining requirements for a project.
4. Determine the detailed requirements – As a business analyst, it is necessary to understand the requirement of a client, to note it down and finally prepare a document which will help consuming teams to understand what is expected and and set their timelines.
5. Give your support to technology team – Technology teams might not have the exact understanding business analyst has about how the business ought to function. So support at the right time to the technical team might help in avoiding unnecessary delays in the implementation and delivery of a project, quality issues and expensive rework.
6. Help business implement a better solution and verify the solution – Your technology teams make sure that they give a new and shiny solution to any problem. As a business analyst, it is necessary to assess whether the solution is aligned with the project requirement and are meeting all the business needs and standards. They also protect the business form over engineered solutions. They ensure that minimum viable product is implemented first before all the additional features can be added incrementally.
Nothing creates more positive environment within an organization than a track record of good and successful projects. But in order to create such momentum, you need a special team of business analysts who takes care of every single step taken during the implementation of the project. If each and every step mentioned above is followed, it is likely that you will open up more opportunities to improve your business which will ultimately lead you to close more business deals. And the whole cycle begins again with the profit in the pocket!
Author: Manpreet Kaur Sidhu – Liberty IT Data Analyst
