Lecture: Difference Between Project Manager and Business Analyst

Introduction

• Discussion on the roles of Project Manager (PM) and Business Analyst (BA)
• Skills required for each role
• Career opportunities for both

Personal Background

• The speaker considered a career as a BA before switching from engineering to project management
• Free Project Manager resume template available at AlvinTheePM.com

Business Analyst Role

• Ensures product meets customer requirements
• Understands customer needs and business opportunities
• Connects team to the business side

Responsibilities

• Create business proposals
• Perform requirements analysis and documentation
• Prepare use cases and create mockups
• Conduct interviews, validations, and user acceptance testing

Skills Needed

• Understand business lingo in the industry (e.g., construction, IT, finance)
• Good technical foundation
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to challenge and validate stakeholder requirements

Career Growth

• Start as Junior BA → move to Senior BA → Manager/Director roles

Project Manager Role

• Oversees the entire project from start to finish
• Ensures project is on time, within budget, and within scope (Iron Triangle)

Responsibilities

• Assemble the project team
• Create realistic schedules and identify resources
• Prevent scope creep and gold plating
• Manage team engagement and resolve issues

Skills Needed

• Effective team work and task delegation
• Hold team accountable and maintain weekly syncs
• Build trust and create an open environment

Career Growth

• Start as Junior PM → move to Senior PM → Program Manager → Manager/Director of Program Management

Comparison: BA vs. PM

• BA: Hands-on, interviewing stakeholders, documenting requirements, testing
• PM: Oversees entire project, leads and manages the team, ensures on-time and in-budget delivery

Conclusion

• Both roles have endless career opportunities
• Certifications like PMP or Scrum Master add value and income potential
• Call to action: Watch the next video to learn how to become a Project Manager