Inefficient processes and duplicate activities are just some of the problems addressed by business analysts, and the skills needed to become a business analyst can be acquired through a combination of training and job experience. Business analysts cultivate creative problem solving and communication skills to identify business needs and prospective solutions that lead to more robust and profitable companies. These functions of business analysts are used in nearly all organizations regardless of the industries in which they operate. Here are some of the things that one must know to become a successful business analyst within today’s organizations.
Gain Education and Training
Most business analysts possess at least an undergraduate degree. However, the type of specific education that is most beneficial to them depends on the kind of analysis that they are conducting. For example, many business analysts work for systems engineering organizations, and they must have knowledge of system lifecycle development processes. While a technical degree in engineering or computer science is ideal, business analysts can still be effective by simply taking training on system engineering and software development processes. The best types of degree programs for business analysts are ones that promote analytical problem solving, logic and critical thinking. These degree programs could include majors like applied mathematics, business management and even philosophy.
Use the Tools of the Trade
Business analysts evaluate system processes, conduct deep inquiries with stakeholders about how those processes are supposed to work, identify gaps in process capabilities and document proposed solutions. They often use the industry standard Unified Modeling Language to depict system functionality and the interactions of objects within a system. These simple diagrams are unambiguous enough to be used by system designers, and they are straight forward enough to be understood by a variety of non-technical stakeholders.
Earn Professional Certification
Business analysts perform so many activities within the scope of their jobs that many people view business analysis as a rather unstructured career option. However, the career field actually has a body of knowledge from which the work of professionally trained business analysts is based. Senior business analysts who meet the experience and educational requirements can become Certified Business Analyst Professionals through the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA). The IIBA is a non-profit organization that also helps to establish and update industry standards for business analysis, and its member analysts benefit from its publications and professional development resources.
Understand Job Prospects of Business Analysts
Business analysts can hold a number of job titles that relate to their unique skill set, and some of these include requirements analyst, management analyst, project manager and business process analyst. The Bureau of Labor Statistics state that the job prospects through 2022 for management analysts are expected to grow at a rate that is faster than average for all jobs surveyed, and these analysts earned annual median salaries of $78,600 in 2012.
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Conclusion
While process competence is critical to a business analyst’s success, their ability to translate business requirements and technical solutions for the benefit of company stakeholders and project teams is invaluable. These analysts add value to the role and avoid becoming burdensome middlemen through their abilities to expand the scope of their analysis across the enterprise to identify improvements that allow multiple divisions within a company to gain benefits. Most organizations know that the described skills needed to become a business analyst are honed primarily through experience, continued education and systematic adherence to industry standards.
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