5 Mistakes Bas
make Successful Business Analysts:
How They Avoid the Five Most Common BA Mistakes
Dana Brownlee, PMP
Professionalism Matters, Inc.
1-800-843-8733 www.learningtree.ca ©2008 Learning Tree International. All Rights Reserved.
LEARNING TREE INTERNATIONAL
White Paper
CONTENTS
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Introduction
Mistake #1 – Not Clarifying the Role of the Business Analyst. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Over the past several years, the job title of Business
Analyst has become more and more prevalent. Currently, the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) defines business analysis as “the set of tasks, knowledge, and techniques required to identify business needs and determine solutions to business problems. Solutions often include a systems development component, but may also consist of process improvement or organizational change.”1
T hus, business analysts are often the liaisons between business and solution development (oftentimes IT), canvassing the enterprise to understand business needs, issues and opportunities in order to recommend solutions that address those needs most effectively and efficiently.
Avoiding Mistake #1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Mistake #2 – Rushing Through Detailed
Requirements Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Avoiding Mistake #2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Mistake #3 – Failing to Balance Task and Relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Avoiding Mistake #3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Mistake #4 – Confusing Users’ Stated
Needs with Real Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Avoiding Mistake #4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Mistake #5 –
Not Quantifying Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Avoiding Mistake #5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How They Avoid the Five Most Common BA Mistakes
Dana Brownlee, PMP
Professionalism Matters, Inc.
1-800-843-8733 www.learningtree.ca ©2008 Learning Tree International. All Rights Reserved.
LEARNING TREE INTERNATIONAL
White Paper
CONTENTS
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Introduction
Mistake #1 – Not Clarifying the Role of the Business Analyst. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Over the past several years, the job title of Business
Analyst has become more and more prevalent. Currently, the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) defines business analysis as “the set of tasks, knowledge, and techniques required to identify business needs and determine solutions to business problems. Solutions often include a systems development component, but may also consist of process improvement or organizational change.”1
T hus, business analysts are often the liaisons between business and solution development (oftentimes IT), canvassing the enterprise to understand business needs, issues and opportunities in order to recommend solutions that address those needs most effectively and efficiently.
Avoiding Mistake #1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Mistake #2 – Rushing Through Detailed
Requirements Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Avoiding Mistake #2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Mistake #3 – Failing to Balance Task and Relationships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Avoiding Mistake #3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Mistake #4 – Confusing Users’ Stated
Needs with Real Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Avoiding Mistake #4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Mistake #5 –
Not Quantifying Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Avoiding Mistake #5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
References: Release 1.6. International Institute of Business Analysis, 2006. p.8 Available at w ww.theiiba.org