Business Analyst Blog with tips, techniques and resources for every BA.
If you’re ready for socializing and networking or just looking for professional development opportunities, here are some business analysis events to get you started in 2018. So, go ahead and save the dates:
Read MoreWhen you are unable to speak your mind for fear of upsetting others or not playing along with the team, there are far ranging consequences.
Read MoreFailures can come from any aspect of an organization and they may be interconnected. A failed software implementation may have happened for multiple reasons. For example, bad project management, inaccurate requirements, poor training, etc
Read MoreWhen we have a strong belief about something or a bias towards a particular opinion, we consciously or unconsciously seek out evidence that validates what we already believe. When we come across contrary evidence, our default behaviour is to ignore it, diminish it or in some cases, conclude that it’s wrong prematurely without exploring its merits.
Read MoreHere is a list of the most popular 2017 posts, as determined by BAL readers. This list is based on the number of page views recorded for each post.
Read MoreIf you are meeting or contacting stakeholders for the first time and trying to understand their world, you need structure. By structure, I mean a framework of questions to channel the direction of the conversation or requirements elicitation.
Read MoreImagine a component in your car requires a fix. You approach your mechanic and he gives you a quote. This quote (assuming you’ve never had to pay for this part before and you have no prior knowledge of how much it costs) becomes the reference point from which you begin negotiation. This reference point is called an anchor and its effects can be seen in everyday situations.
Read MoreI particularly find the concept of feedback analysis quite versatile because it can be applied to one’s professional development as well as the concept of implementing business projects successfully over time. Feedback analysis can give insight into your performance, whether as an individual or as a team.
Read MoreIf you’re a manager in charge of a business analyst team or any team in charge of achieving key business objectives, this article discusses useful insights on how you can trigger and sustain critical thinking. Guest Post By Micheal Gilmore.
Read MoreIt’s common knowledge that people tend to resist change as much as they can. However, without change, there can’t be progress and BAs would certainly not have that much to do. When working on large projects, change requests from stakeholders are to be expected. Successful project managers and analysts know how to manage them without bringing the project to a standstill.
Read MoreHow can BAs ensure requirements are practical, achievable and in line with the strategy and capabilities of the business?
The Business Architecture offers a starting point.
Read MoreWhile there’s nothing like having some experience under your belt, Business Process Management (BPM) certifications can aid analysts in some key ways: they serve as concrete evidence of business process management knowledge; offer the opportunity to learn new concepts /best practices; and benefit from the experience of trainers/mentors.
Read MoreWhen elicitation focuses on identifying exceptions and failure points, it’s a form of risk management. The idea is to find potential solutions to these questions and include them as part of requirements to reduce the probability of missing out on critical requirements.
Read MoreThe relentless pace of technological progress drives businesses to work on increasingly more complex projects. With this increased complexity comes new challenges and roadblocks that business analysts must learn to overcome.
Read MoreBusiness Analysts play a pertinent role in determining what functionality a system should or should not have. If you can ask these questions of every requirement, the implemented solution will have a higher possibility of acceptance:
Read MoreAre you having a hard time influencing management or selling your business recommendations to the powers that be?
This article outlines 8 approaches to get management’s approval for just about any project:
Read MoreIn preparing a business case, the business analyst is often required to conduct some measure of cost analysis. When highlighting the benefits associated with an initiative, it is extremely important to also indicate the costs that will go along with implementing the initiative. Information regarding costs is particularly important in making go or no-go decisions when deciding which projects to implement. The business analyst should work with the project manager to identify these costs and arrive at realistic estimates.
Read MoreManaging stakeholder expectations is essential to business projects' success. If you know ahead what stakeholders “expect” the system to do, you can advise them of this well ahead of time to avoid disappointments further down the road.
Read MoreAccording to Stephen Ward & Chris Chapman in their piece, Stakeholders and uncertainty management in projects, “Stakeholders are a major source of uncertainty on projects and this uncertainty stems from whom these stakeholders are, their motives, and how they can influence a project.”
It is this uncertainty that constitutes risks to the project. BAs should relate with other project stakeholders to overcome this uncertainty by improving their ability to convince stakeholders to see things their way, thereby influencing the course of the project.
Read MoreBAs can learn a lot from UXers, that much is certain. But perhaps the most valuable thing the two disciplines can learn from each other is working together. Both roles have the same ultimate aim—to produce a product that has business value and meets users’ needs. The approaches may differ but are far from conflicting: BAs create value by delivering good features and functions, UXers by delivering good experiences. Guest Post by Cassandra Naji
Read MoreThis business analyst blog contains practical insights into business analysis, software testing and business process management. I will be sharing business analyst tips, CBAP Certification tips, lessons learnt and insights into all the things I've learnt during my BA career.
