Business
analysts should be bilingual: they need to speak in the language of both
computers and business. To be credible in both environments, they
must have the required information technology and business skills. They must
also have excellent communication skills
to interact with the two words.
"Business
analysts spend their time communicating,
asking questions, conveying needs," explains Clément Côté, senior
consultant with 2C Solutions and president of the Montreal chapter
of the IIBA. "The documentation they
produce must be clear and consistent, without any ambiguities,
because it serves as the foundation for the computer development work."
Business
analysts must also demonstrate a talent for negotiating. They have little formal authority, because they work
very independently and have no one reporting directly to them. They must
therefore use persuasion, leadership and tact to convince people.
Analytical
skills are key. Business analysts must be detail-oriented,
and take the time to understand each problem, as opposed to project managers,
who are required to have an overview.
Clément
Côté further explains that business analysts do not generally have a lot of
ambition in terms of power and managing people. They prefer to remain involved
in project management on a daily basis and to maintain their
independence.
Summary of skills/tasks/qualities
Technical:
-
Engineering systems concepts and principles
-
Technical computer knowledge
- Complex
modelling techniques
-
Technical writing
Analytical:
-
Analytical and conceptual expertise
-
Planning, documentation, analysis and business requirements management
techniques
-
Object-oriented analysis
-
Evaluation of profitability/risk
- Testing,
verification and validation techniques
- Creation
of the Business Requirements Document - BRD
-
Administrative and reporting abilities
Business:
-
Knowledge of business processes
- Ability
to have a business-oriented vision
-
Improvement of business and engineering processes
-
Strategic planning
- Case
development
- Business
writing
Management:
-
Decision-making
-
Fundamentals of project management
-
Management of customer relationships
-
Management of organizational changes
- Time
management and personal organization skills
-
Integrity and ethics
Communication:
- Ability
to formulate concepts
-
Communication of technical information to a non-technical audience
-
Communication of business information to a technical audience
-
Negotiation
- Tact