types of business analyst via case study

Its been a while since i posted so went for a short post ….

Its hard to define the types of business analysts but i have come up with 2 types based on my reading and observation

1) software business analyst

2) functional business analyst

the main differentiating  factor in both would be the where the fall in the software life cycle ,

refer to the diagram  and case .

Case

A small X company needs a website to give its customers an overview of its products .

Solution

It has 3 options  :

1.Company X  Build the web site themselves

2. Bring in a consultant

3.Contact a vendor

i would not go in to the benefits , but explain in each of the 3 options how a business analyst would come in the picture

Option 1.

Option 2.

Option 3.

The ABAA competency model

Came across the Australian Business Analysis Association (ABAA ) have publishedthe following context diagram which captures the competency areas.

the diagram below is pretty much comprehensive and self explanatory , more can be obtained from the website  (http://www.abaa.org.au )

Diagram 1: Initial model

Diagram 2: Detailed model

Both above diagrams can be obtained from the website  (www.abaa.org.au )

Another Business Analyst competency model

This model i read in an a chapter 2 of book titled ‘Business Analysis’ published by BCS .  This chapter was written by Craig Rollason.

Craig defines a Competency as something that a business analyst needs in order to perform his or her job effectively . He further divides  his Competency model divides , it in to 3 groups :

1. Behavioral Skills & Personal Qualities
2. Business Knowledge
3. Techniques

The above are explained below  ;

Behavioral Skills & Personal Qualities , these are concerned with how you think and interact with people around you. They are not  specific to business analysis but are general skills are important to developing and progressing in any business environment
Business Knowledge, This helps him/her get good knowledge of the oragnisation and sector or domain within which the organisation works. This would help in given insights and advice .

Techniques , these are the skills that differntiate a business analyst role from other IT roles

Diagram : Competencies of  a business analyst

Reference : Craig Rollason, Chapter 2 , Business Analysis , BCS,1st edition,UK ,2008

AIBA-Business Analyst Competency Model

The Australian Institute of Business Analysis have the below competency model, they use it as a framework for their competency certification

Source : http://www.businessanalysis.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51:the-aiba-announces-australias-first&catid=1:latest-news

ESI-Business Analyst Competency Model

ESI in their white paper “Eight Things Your Business Analysts Need to Know” they have discussed a BA competency model , they define two categories of competencies :

1. Those competencies that address organizational success
2. Those competencies that address success for a certain job

In the white paper they break these categories in to 3 components :knowledge ,skill and ability.

• Knowledge considers “what is being measured?”
• Skill looks at “how is it done?”
• Ability examines “to what degree can it be done?”

Below is a diagram of the competency model they discuss

Source : ESI white paper :”Eight Things Your Business Analysts Need to Know” , http://www.esi-intl.com

IIBA -Business Analyst Competency model

As described in my previous post would be given a list of different models available .

In this post , describe the model created by IIBA. IIBA describes these skill sets as knowledge areas which every BA should have and has also given different levels for the same. The knowledge areas are :

1. Enterprise Analysis
2. Requirements Planning and Management
3. Requirements Elicitation
4. Requirements Communication
5. Requirements Analysis and Documentation
6. Solution Assessment and Validation

Ref : Knowledge areas of IIBA’s BA BOK V 1.6

Business Analyst or the Consultant

Introduction

the role of a business analyst has emerged from the integration of IT systems in to the industry , with changing times, the more the need for moving to IT systems and software automations from simple keeping of records to massive supply change management .

Figure: Traditional IT Management

So when companies or organisations wanted to implement an IT solution , a consultant was required , which traditionally came from the software company providing the solution , but as business continued to grow and expand there was aneed felt that an inhouse consultant was required who help evaluate the best solution and also help put across the requirements in the best way .
This in house consultant later evloved to be a business anlayst.

Main drivers that led to creation of business analyst

1. consultants hired were on short term
2. Expensive also would return with business knowledge
3. requirement of understanding industry and products
4. expensive

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the difference simply put :