This is for all those who want to explore the business analyst career path and are curious to know what a business analyst does, the role and importance in organization, why a business analyst is needed and how they can develop their skills to become a great business analyst

1. Business Analysis 101
Abhishek Navlakha Abhishek.Navlakha@gmail.com

2. Agenda
Business Analysis
•Definition
•Project requirements example
•Skills required for Business Analysis/Analyst
•Common challenges during Business Analysis
Business Analyst
•Organizational roles of a BA
•Role and Importance of BA
•What does a BA do?
•BA’s involvement in project lifecycle
Certification, Resources & References
•Certified Business Analysis professional
•BABOK Guide
•References

3. Business Analysis - Definition
 We will simplify the definition as a BA would do…
Source:
www.wikipedia.com
Business Analysis is the practice of enabling change in an
organizational context,
by defining needs and recommending solutions that
deliver value to stakeholders.
Facilitate
and
coordinate
Translate
and analyze
Simplify

4. Business Analysis – Project
Requirements (Example)
Who is
involved
Stages of
requirement
Budget = 100K
Website for selling
to customers
Website for
1. Responsive
site
2. Sell apple
products
3. iOS and
Android apps
Project charter
scope
1. Sell laptops
and tablets
2. Websites only
In scope
1. (H) Site for desktop,
tablets & mobiles
2. (H) Sell Macs
3. (M) Sell iPads
Out of scope
1. Selling iPhones,
apple tv,
accessories
2. iOS and Android
apps
How it is
done
1. Facilitate
• In person meetings
• Telephone conversations
• Questionnaire/ Surveys
2. Prioritize requirements
3. Align with scope
4. Add assumptions
5. Review documentation
Project
Sponsor
End users
Project
manager
Business
Analyst

5. Skills required for Business Analysis
Source:
http://intjbizanalystwanderlust.weebly.c
om

6. Skills needed for good/great
business analysis
Analytical
Chew on whatever comes your way
Communicative
Use pictures, be concise, to the point
Creative
Think out of the box
Listening ability
We have two ears, one mouth
Curiosity
Be a child…Ask questions all the time
GoodBA
GreatBA

7. Most common challenges in
Business Analysis
Not well defined
business
requirements
Changing
requirements
Development team
wants unending
level of details
Multiple document
reviews delay sign
offs
If they cannot be refined further, make
assumptions, and have detailed minutes of the
meeting for any further requirements discussions
Dev team will like to get all details and will likely
have many questions. Define a review process to #
of reviews, timelines for documentation review
Change is inevitable, you should document, team
should analyze impact and follow up on sign off
The team need details to design, they aren’t wrong
in asking. You are constrained by what business
can give. Assumptions needed, to communicate to
all and documented

8. Organization roles for a Business
Analyst
BA’s are generally
talked about as a
single role. In reality
there are many more
roles in an
organization that do
Business Analysis
Source: Business Analysis
Standardization A Strategic
Mandate by
John E. Park (CVO –
EnFocus Solutions)

9. Role and Importance of Business
Analyst
A business analyst is someone who analyzes an organization or
business domain (real or hypothetical) and documents its business or
processes or systems, assessing the business model or its integration
with technology
Source: www.wikipedia.com

10. What does a Business Analyst do?
Understand
business case and
objective
Analyze and Elicit
Requirements
Develop project scope and
define project boundaries
Develop business
requirements (use
cases/BRD)
Perform technical
analysis/
evaluations
Develop data
models and process
flows
Create mock ups and
interfaces
Perform technical
documentation
Facilitate
implementation
through training
Develop
requirements /
scope plan
Assist in testing and monitor
Quality control
Support change
management
Perform cost
benefit analysis
Suggest process
improvement/traini
ng
Constantly liaise with
stakeholder
Assist in estimating project
costs and time
Business
Technical
Manageria
l
Function
al

11. BA’s involvement in project life
cycle
Discovery
Requirement
s
Design
Build
Test
Warranty
What are your thoughts about BA’s in Agile projects?
**The bars do not indicate percentage, but show the relative involvement of a BA across the phases

12. Certifications and Resources
 Certified Business Analysis Professional™ (CBAP®) – Link
 BABOK- Business Analysis Body of Knowledge – Link
 PMI-PBA® certification – Link
Other resources
 Minto’s Pyramid Principle – Link
 Flat design philosophy – Link
 McKinsey Quarterly
 Harvard Business Review
 Knowledge at Wharton