In some cases activities will be performed iteratively with the result that stages will be revisited. The lifecycle should be thought of as providing an overall direction, rather than a rigid sequence of activities.

Before moving on, please take a few moments to click onto each step and review how the business analyst will be involved.

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We have already discussed the difficulty organisations have had in realising the benefits of IT systems. An important part of the business analyst role is to support the business managers during benefits realisation activities.

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Many organisations employ external consultants to assist and this provides a cost effective approach. However, there can be a lack of accountability and skills transfer at the end of the project, along with high consultancy fees.

 

Employing business analysts in house has several advantages such as:

• A good understanding of the organisation and its business

• Possibly being more cost effective

• Ongoing involvement and accountability and finally

• That skills are retained in house.

 

These advantages have seen an increase in organisations creating internal business analyst roles.

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The scope of business analysis

 

There are three disciplines, or areas, that may be considered part of business analysis:

• Strategic analysis and definition

• Business analysis and

• IT systems analysis.

 

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Principles of business analysis

 

The role of a business analyst can be defined as: “An advisory role that carries out some or all of the services within the BASF in order to ensure the effective deployment of business changes and use of technology in line with the needs of an organisation.”

 

BASF refers to the Business Analysis Services Framework that is described later in this course.

 

There are six principles of business analysis that define the priorities for conducting business analysis work.

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These are:

• Root causes not symptoms

• Business improvement not IT system change

• Options not solutions

• Feasible, contributing requirements not meeting all requests

• The entire business change lifecycle, not just requirements definition and

• Negotiation not avoidance.

 

These principles clarify why business analysis is so relevant in today’s business world and set out the responsibilities that business analysts should recognise and accept.

 

The principles are underpinned by two key approaches:

- the holistic approach and

- the Agile philosophy.