Emily Walton's List: Business Analyst

• The IIBA describes the BA as: “a liaison among stakeholders in order to understand the structure, policies, and operations of an organization, and to recommend solutions that enable the organization to achieve its goals”.
• For example, in the banking industry, a Business Analyst may be tasked on the operations side to design, develop and implement complex financial products and services. Within the same industry, a BA on the policy side may be tasked with analyzing federal regulations as they apply to the organizations banking policy, recommending changes to remain compliant.
• In the software industry, where I’ve spent most of my career, the Business Analyst may be tasked, on the operations side, with helping define the Software Development LifeCycle (SDLC) as well as designing policy related to how the business creates software (A hybrid BA/PM is not uncommon). The BA may fulfill another role as a Subject Matter Expert that works closely with individual customers to design and document specific solutions to specific customer problems.

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• The Essential Business Analysis Skills

   

  The IIBA Competency Model identifies 53 performance or discipline competencies specific to the role of the business analyst. The underlying competencies represent the foundational skills, knowledge and personal characteristics necessary to support the effective performance of business analysis, and are essential for effective performance at any level of experience. They are:

   
   
  • Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving
   
  • Behavioural Characteristics
   
  • Business Knowledge
   
  • Communications Skills
   
  • Interaction Skills
   
  • Software Application

• He or she is a negotiator, a skilled listener, a motivational speaker, and a team leader.
• The business analyst is someone capable of troubleshooting.
• examine data and other information gathered to determine losses experienced by the company. The business analyst will be able to compare previous facts and figures to current numbers to deduce or predict where failure may occur. He or she will be able to examine information gathered by stakeholders to assess risks of certain project programs.
• objective listene
• He or she will be able to speak to stakeholders and hear the needs determined by the management.
• The business analyst will be able to ask questions which could lead to certain discoveries once overlooked. The qualified business analyst gain knowledge of a situation by listening to team leaders and end users. He or she will hear the underlying message of what is being developed versus what is needed.
• He or she will be able to involve themselves with departments and teams to allow the teams to work together.
• He or she will work side by side with each team to negotiate a compromise so the project is not jeopardized.
• The business analyst will motivate the teams to recognize their strength and weakness and allow them to excel and overcome.
• to centralize services for more efficient work environments.
• reduce duplication processes occurring between departments
• develop relations with external sources when necessary to deliver services needed for project completion

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