Must-have skills for a Business Analyst
During the last read, we understood what a newbie should expect in the industry, what is expected out of them and what skills should they possess.
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The skill set possessed by a Business Analyst is vital for the success in completing a project. Needless to say, a Business Analyst is involved in almost every aspect of a project — just minus direct involvement in development stage of the application; else, in a business-oriented project, all functions.
Just to give a start, the role of a Business Analyst is Messy!
Before we run though the needed skill-set of a Business Analyst,
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Let’s glance again what the job description usually includes:
Defining requirements of the business/ project
Defining project requirements and reporting back to the client/stakeholders directly involved in the business is a vital for a Business Analyst.
The capability to be exemplar at defining project requirements helps the employee define a character of his/her own
P.S: The confirmation back from the Client or Stakeholders is usually is done by a Product Owner of the assigned project too.
Creating a detailed analysis on project/ business
Needless to mention, this part of the Business Analyst’s role totally defines the person, since this is one of the key duties a Business Analyst is expected to perform in his/her role — from outlining problems and finding the most appropriate solutions for business concerns are some of the most sought-after characteristics of a Business Analyst.
Despite what business domain the role is carried out on, the BA should have it all up the sleeves.
Planning and monitoring
Just as when the requirements are being discussed, the Business Analyst should have the understanding as to how the work that gets piled up and monitored should be planned, and of course, monitored.
There isn’t such a strict-adherence to a method a Business Analyst should follow, but it is better they follow a method of own when planning and monitoring how the requirements of the business are being aligned.
Budgeting
Sounds little less of a Business Analyst’s role, but it is a part to be clear.
Based on the project aligned to the Analyst, they need to keep up with the project budget and it limits.
Here, soft skills of a Business Analyst such as Communication and negotiation skills are a highly tested. Based on the budget, the Business Analyst is required to master the art of — forecasting.
Again, it sounds like a lot…
So, what exactly are the skills that will help a Business Analyst climb along the ladder and be better at the job?
Six skills sets a Business Analyst should have up his sleeves:
Skills to succeed in Business Analysis can be a swing between a lot of skills — but few top the list.
1. Critical Thinking
An analyst role is discreet without a skill to critically think and evaluate.
The life of Business Analyst is mostly around a key count of skills, and Critical thinking lies on top.
How could this skill be applied to benefit the project/ organization?
When a Business Analyst is given a task — a new problem to be solved, they must first listen to the client’s ask. What the stakeholder(s) presents with is a mere mesh to play with.
The weight lies on the shoulder of a Business Analyst to unwind the mesh to question, clarify and be vivid of the exact requirement of the client/ stakeholder. It is during this phase, most of critical thinking of a Business Analyst comes into the play.
Skill of thinking on business matters from a fresh perspective is a needed accessory to the role of a Business Analyst — But, what other skills should assist this golden skill?
2. Problem Solving Skills
Not a single project passes by without considerate problems.
Finding answers to these questions is just as important in the role of a Business Analyst.
Here, the BA provides with a comprehensive understanding on the existing problem to the team, with possible outcomes of the solution projected towards both optimistic and pessimistic ends.
In order to master the art as a problem solver being a Business Analyst, thorough analysis of the business process is vital — adding more, it is more of a mandate to evaluate the process.
In addition to the places mentioned, a Business Analyst will also find himself in a position amidst teams facilitating solve technological queries, a unique occurrence is when a situation rises to negotiate between a count of business partners or stakeholders.
How could problem-solving skills be applied to benefit the project/ organization?
The use of problem solving skills in a business as discussed is a vital nutrient for the constant growth of a business.
A Business Analyst could interpret the business needs in a way the proposed solutions cater a multitude of problems that benefit the company in return — thorough research in related technical domain or the business domain prior to drafting a proper solution could at times be the difference between the company’s ultimate “million-dollar” profit or the poorest Return-On-Investment.
Nonetheless, the Business Analyst could add to his backpack of skill-set, the much anticipated learning to show prowess in the projects to execute.
3. Technical Skills
Just as curious as one could be, technical skills are an ask from employees willing to be recruited in tech-based companies.
A Business Analyst should most possibly be involved in development process, on to a certain extent — to be precise, till the development process is on with minimal to zero issues on understanding any issues related to documentations.
As mentioned in my previous article, having an overall knowledge on the basics of development languages and frameworks used in software development could be highly beneficial.
So, know your SQL, basic Java, PHP and a little more. Just an addition, have a good understanding on the systems of used in the firm, whether or not it is technical.
How could technical skills be applied to benefit the project/organization?
The answer lies plain-sight.
The gap between the Business Analyst and development teams could be narrowed down,
Negotiation between client requirements and changes could be made with less-hassle,
Process of requirement documentation is vivid and concerns related to writing down acceptance criteria or user stories is less of a pain,
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Also, knowledge on development comes handy with career growth.
4. Research, Documentation and Presentation skills
This aspect covers quite a number of supporting factors that make the role of a Business Analyst interesting, inquisitive, also miserable.
Research in any project is mandatory. Individual assessment of different aspects of the project is just as important as other key business decisions.
It helps a Business Analyst understand the project/ client requirements and has the ability to provide more optimized, cost effective and feasible solutions.
Documentation is arguably a test in the skill set of a Business Analyst. The appreciation of project requirements and working to benefit the developer teams is crucial.
Documentation developed by a Business Analyst is the single-most informative document of project and the “single-truth”of the project as some term it.
When completing requirement documentation, few areas need attention — from writing the vision, prerequisites, user stories and acceptance criteria, are key!
They simply define the quality of work the Business Analyst puts on to the table.
It is a must, a Business Analyst takes note of this!
Presentation skills, not the sought-after skill, but to be in shape for possibly few pitches on findings, pulling off killer presentation skills could be an advantage.
5. People, Communication and Negotiation skills
People, Communication and negotiation are soft skills a Business Analyst must have.
The nature of the role calls for constant communication and interactions between people from different backgrounds. This masks a demand that a Business Analyst should fulfill, as a Business Analyst is of paramount worth to a company when it comes to people management.
In addition, a skill that is chained to people management is communication. The bridge between that connects the network within a project is communication and nonetheless, the Business Analyst is a core component in the process of communication, hence making communication a mandate to the role of Business Analyst.
At last, only in a random list of skills lies Negotiation skills.
It is simple. You don’t communicate well and enough, you will not go past just another conversational agreement. Negotiation needs ad hoc communication, critical thinking and a persuasive tone in communication.
If you own up to a good sense of communicative and negotiation skills, you are quite a needed asset for the company.
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Now it is evident, not just what is there in the job description that counts.
It is a far cry!
