Skills Required for a Business Analyst

May 16, 2024

Skills Required for a Business Analyst

Introduction

  • Speaker: Laura Brandenburg from Bridging the Gap
  • Objective: Help individuals start their business analyst career by outlining the skills required.

Core Skills

  1. Communication
    • Strong verbal communication (meetings, presentations)
    • Clear written communication (emails, specifications)
    • Visual communication (diagrams, models)
  2. Problem-Solving
    • Understanding business problems and project objectives
    • Facilitating a shared understanding of the problem
  3. Critical Thinking
    • Evaluating if the correct problem is being solved
    • Exploring potential solutions (business processes, software, team organization)

Business Analysis Skills

  • Skills taught in business analyst training programs, e.g., Bridging the Gap's courses.
  • Blueprint and Technique Categories:
    1. Analysis and Communication
    2. Three Levels of Requirements
      • Business Level: Business process mapping, workflow diagrams, textual process models
      • Software Level: Use cases, user stories, user-system interaction models
      • Information Level: Entity relationship diagrams, glossaries, data dictionaries, data mapping, system context diagrams
  • Eight-Step Business Analysis Process
    • From ambiguous project start to assessing project value
    • Ensures support for both technical and business teams

Soft Skills

  1. Relationship Building
    • Build trust and openness with stakeholders
  2. Self-Management
    • Manage time and tasks independently
    • Think ahead and plan for multiple projects
  3. Thick Skin
    • Handle feedback constructively
    • Embrace and integrate feedback without taking it personally
  4. Handling Ambiguity
    • Thrive in undefined project starts
    • Convert ambiguity into clarity using models and frameworks

Additional Skills

  • Often required but not core to business analysis
  • Technical Skills
    • Coding, specific software systems (not essential but helpful)
    • Understanding technology to facilitate conversations
  • Methodologies
    • Agile, Six Sigma, BPA (layered on top of core skills)
  • Domain Experience
    • Industry-specific knowledge (insurance, accounting, HR, etc.)
    • Leverage existing knowledge when transitioning to a BA role

Notes on Job Titles

  • Business analyst roles may have different titles (e.g., project manager, process analyst)
  • Focus on the skills required rather than the job titles

Final Thoughts

  • Free Training: Link available for deeper dive into business analyst skills
  • Courses: Online, on-demand business analysis training at Bridging the Gap
  • Conclusion: Success in business analysis starts with building the right skills and focusing on continuous improvement.