The role of the Business Analyst
The role of the business analyst is one of the most difficult to define in business. Many companies have given this title to those who do different tasks that are or are not part of what the IIBA defined. When the IIBA defines the role of business analysis in BABOK®, it does so by taking into account the context of the projects as generally recognized in particular by using the PMI PMBOK.
In the projects, the role of the business analyst is to identify and track project requirements when developing or updating solutions. The BABOK® defines business analysis as:
"A set of tasks, knowledge, and techniques used to identify business needs and find solutions to business problems".
TASKS:
The tasks of the business analyst are detailed in the BABOK® but can be summarized as follows:
Discover the needs
1.1. Define and analyze business needs
Identify needs
2.1. Identify and document the business processes affected by changes to the business needs
2.2. Identify, analyze, and communicate gaps between business requirements and solutions
Document
3.1. Document the project scope, objectives, added value or benefits expected
3.2. Document business needs
Validate
4.1. Verify, validate, and communicate business needs to the parties involved,
Bear
5.1. Monitor during testing and during the implementation
Contribute
6.1. Contribute to the strategic planning of information systems thanks to his knowledge systems
6.2. Improve the practice of business analysis by applying the principles of continuous improvement to his own work
The Knowledge:
The knowledge of the business analyst are detailed in the BABOK® and are divided into six areas of knowledge, the more support skills:
Planning and monitoring.
1.1. Describes how to set up the necessary activities to complete business analysis, including:
1.1.1. the identification of parties-stakeholder,
1.1.2. the choice of techniques to use,
1.1.3. identification of requirements management process and progress measures.
Discovery needs.
2.1. Describes how the business analyst working with interested parties, identify the real underlying needs for business problems expressed needs and opportunities.
Requirements management and communication.
3.1. Describes how the business analyst manages conflicts, problems and changes to ensure that the project team has a common understanding of the scope of the solution.
3.2. This area also describes how the requirements are communicated to stakeholders and how the knowledge gained is documented for the future.
Business analysis.
4.1. Describes how the business analyst:
4.1.1. identifies business needs,
4.1.2. precise business needs,
4.1.3. defines the scope of the solution.
4.2. This area also describes how to:
4.2.1. define a problem,
4.2.2. develop a cost-benefit analysis,
4.2.3. develop a feasibility study.
Requirements analysis.
5.1. Describes how the business analyst:
5.1.1. develops and prioritizes requirements of the solution,
5.1.2. takes stock of the situation.
Evaluation and validation of the solution.
6.1. How to determine which solution is suitable for business needs.
6.2. Identify gaps between the solution and needs.
6.3. Identify opportunities or changes to the solution.
6.4. Evaluate the performance of the deployed solution.
And support skills are:
The capacity analysis.
Appropriate behavior.
Communication skills and interaction.
The ability to use specialized software for business analysis.
Techniques:
The BABOK® describes 42 different techniques needed to work the business analyst.
They can be grouped as follows:
Group management techniques and activities
Documentation techniques
Modeling Techniques
Analysis techniques
