What A Business Analyst Does And How The BA Role Is Critical For A Project's Success.

Business Analyst

Name

Affiliations with Institutes

Business Analyst

With the ever-increasing demand for IT systems and multiple requests for the development of IT projects, it is no wonder that the whole life cycle of project development/implementation is given huge importance. An IT-related project, whether it is a software development, network setup or IT infrastructure configuration, involves multiple people that work together to make the project a success. Some of these roles include project manager, software developers, business analysts etc. ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"SfwCq5Ba","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","plainCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":388,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"itemData":{"id":388,"type":"book","ISBN":"1-317-38480-6","publisher":"Routledge","title":"Project management for engineering, business and technology","author":[{"family":"Nicholas","given":"John M."},{"family":"Steyn","given":"Herman"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Nicholas & Steyn, 2017). Perhaps one of these roles that get unnoticed is of a business analyst ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"SfwCq5Ba","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","plainCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":388,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"itemData":{"id":388,"type":"book","ISBN":"1-317-38480-6","publisher":"Routledge","title":"Project management for engineering, business and technology","author":[{"family":"Nicholas","given":"John M."},{"family":"Steyn","given":"Herman"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Nicholas & Steyn, 2017). Business analysts are those people that fill in the gap between IT and the business ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"SfwCq5Ba","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","plainCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":388,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"itemData":{"id":388,"type":"book","ISBN":"1-317-38480-6","publisher":"Routledge","title":"Project management for engineering, business and technology","author":[{"family":"Nicholas","given":"John M."},{"family":"Steyn","given":"Herman"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Nicholas & Steyn, 2017). For an IT project to be a success, someone who can understand the technicalities of both IT and business must be present.

Role of Business Analyst

A business analyst analyzes the risk from all the aspects and finds out ways to mitigate or remove the possibilities of risk from the project.

Some of the main reasons why IT projects fail are

Incomplete requirements: The user was unable to fully convey his demands or it was on the part of the team for not properly understanding the requirements ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"SfwCq5Ba","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","plainCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":388,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"itemData":{"id":388,"type":"book","ISBN":"1-317-38480-6","publisher":"Routledge","title":"Project management for engineering, business and technology","author":[{"family":"Nicholas","given":"John M."},{"family":"Steyn","given":"Herman"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Nicholas & Steyn, 2017).

Lack of user involvement: Without proper inclusion of the users of the project, the end result may not be the optimal one as the users give the right feedback on what is needed.

Unrealistic expectations: Something demanded by the client that may not be possible to complete due to any reason like finances, lack of technology, etc. is called unrealistic expectations.

Lack of support: It is necessary for any team that its members work in a joint effort to finish the project successfully ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"SfwCq5Ba","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","plainCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":388,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"itemData":{"id":388,"type":"book","ISBN":"1-317-38480-6","publisher":"Routledge","title":"Project management for engineering, business and technology","author":[{"family":"Nicholas","given":"John M."},{"family":"Steyn","given":"Herman"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Nicholas & Steyn, 2017). If proper support is not available, then the project is destined to fail.

Changing requirements: If the user continuously changes his requirements because of unfamiliarity to his main needs, then it can result in unnecessary delays and costs.

Lack of planning: Diving into development without proper planning can lead to catastrophic results in the IT projects

All of the above-mentioned reasons for failure should be mitigated by the business analyst by taking proper steps, that are

The Business analyst should review the requirements to know whether they are realistic or not, whether these can be completed or not and whether the requirements clearly represent the client’s needs.

The Business analyst should know which users are necessary for the projects and when they may be needed to participate in the development of the project ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"SfwCq5Ba","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","plainCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":388,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"itemData":{"id":388,"type":"book","ISBN":"1-317-38480-6","publisher":"Routledge","title":"Project management for engineering, business and technology","author":[{"family":"Nicholas","given":"John M."},{"family":"Steyn","given":"Herman"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Nicholas & Steyn, 2017).

A Business analyst should review, whether the requirements are feasible enough to be completed within the stipulated time or not ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"SfwCq5Ba","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","plainCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":388,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"itemData":{"id":388,"type":"book","ISBN":"1-317-38480-6","publisher":"Routledge","title":"Project management for engineering, business and technology","author":[{"family":"Nicholas","given":"John M."},{"family":"Steyn","given":"Herman"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Nicholas & Steyn, 2017). It is not necessary that a business analyst be present when objectives are set, but they should be fully aware, whether it would be possible and feasible for his team to continue the project.

The Business analyst can design the presentation in such a way that the senior management, that is in charge of the big decisions, knows the significance of the project which would save everyone's time.

If all the risks that can occur in a project are mitigated, the project is bound to be successful.

The Business analyst can participate in the development of requirements and carefully identify all the requirements ahead ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"SfwCq5Ba","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","plainCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":388,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"itemData":{"id":388,"type":"book","ISBN":"1-317-38480-6","publisher":"Routledge","title":"Project management for engineering, business and technology","author":[{"family":"Nicholas","given":"John M."},{"family":"Steyn","given":"Herman"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Nicholas & Steyn, 2017). This would allow the developers to easily complete the project without the need for major overhauling.

Planning for any project is of paramount importance. Carefully identifying each step of the cycle and implementing it properly, is the job of the business analyst ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"SfwCq5Ba","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","plainCitation":"(Nicholas & Steyn, 2017)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":388,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qnvKw9vm/items/Y98QNMW5"],"itemData":{"id":388,"type":"book","ISBN":"1-317-38480-6","publisher":"Routledge","title":"Project management for engineering, business and technology","author":[{"family":"Nicholas","given":"John M."},{"family":"Steyn","given":"Herman"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Nicholas & Steyn, 2017). They should be aware of what must be done, along with the requirements for making the project a great success.

References

ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Nicholas, J. M., & Steyn, H. (2017). Project management for engineering, business and technology. Routledge.