Becoming a BA

There are many opportunities for Business Analysts within an organization. These can range from entry-level positions for new graduates to senior roles requiring several years of experience within an industry.

“A business analyst works as a liaison among stakeholders in order to elicit, analyze, communicate, and validate requirements for changes to business processes, policies, and information systems.”

The role of Business Analyst is best filled by individuals with a broad skill set. Academic qualifications are important, but so are communication, leadership and the ability to see the big picture.

It is the job of the Business Analyst to bridge the gap of understanding between the business needs and the technology. For this reason, the successful Business Analyst needs to be business savvy and have a very good understanding of technology. While it is helpful for a Business Analyst to be familiar with the industry in which they are working, industry specific information can generally be acquired while working on a project.

Depending on their years of experience, Senior Business Analysts may play a lead role in the strategic evaluation of an organization’s current systems and processes. In addition, they work at a high level to analyze a client’s business, then recommend and develop solutions to address their business challenge.

This Business Analyst must be able to build a cohesive team and possess a strong customer focus. On a project, Business Analysts work closely with the Project Manager and assist with the project planning. They are responsible for the requirements planning and with the gathering and analysis of information. The Business Analyst documents the business requirements which express what actions the business must take in order to resolve a business issue and deliver work products through the project lifecycle.

The Business Analyst will collaborate with business stakeholders throughout the organization to ensure high quality, on-time deliverables and seamless communication. They usually work across a wide variety of roles, developing a diversified skill set which can lead to high level positions within a company.

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The Essential Business Analysis Skills

• Analyze and understand the business problems
• Identify and document requirements
• Communicate effectively (written and spoken)
• Manage client relationships
• Facilitate discussions
• Negotiate and build consensus
• Model data and processes
• Plan and manage activities
• Facilitate and develop business strategy
• Understand and manage organizational change