How To Become A Business Analyst

Part 1 of 23 in the Series: The Business Analyst Job Description

ON BECOMING A BUSINESS ANALYST – THE BUSINESS ANALYST JOB DESCRIPTION

A business analyst is an information technology worker who improves the efficiency and productivity of business operations.

The business analyst achieves this by closely analyzing the business processes in an organization for inefficiencies.

When inefficient business processes are discovered, the business analyst makes recommendations for business process improvements.

If the recommended solution is approved, the business analyst works with computer programmers, lead software developers, software managers and other information technology workers to implement the recommended solutions.

The business analyst works in a team, acting as a liaison between the business team and the software development team.

The business analyst is the information technology worker who lives in two worlds, one being the business world and the other being the software development world.

A business analyst needs to understand software development enough to discuss the details of the business process improvement project with computer programmers assigned to the project in a technical language programmers understand.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Business Analyst

The roles and responsibilities of a business analyst include:

Acting as a liaison between the software development team and the business team.

Writing feasibility studies, project briefs, cost analysis, testing schedules and user manuals for new business processes.

Analyzing business processes to identify problems and implementing solutions that improve the business process.

Communicating and presenting technical solutions for business problems to business stakeholders and owners.

Documenting or explaining complex business operations to software developers.

Career Outlook and Prospects for Business Analysts
Like the other professions in software development, business analysts also have well-paying jobs. In 2006, business analysts in the United States earned an average of $68,579 annually, with bonuses amounting to $3,783. The total increase from the figures of 2005 is 3.1%.

Business analysts who become contract information technology workers can earn six-figure salaries.

I recommend that you read two of my previous articles on contracting if you are interested in becoming a contract business analyst. The first article is the how to become a contract business analyst. The second is Full Time Business Analysts Or Contract Contract Business Analysts.

Both articles will help you decide whether to be a full-time business analyst or a contract business analyst.

Skills and Requirements for a Business Analyst

In some organizations, the business analyst works with a team of computer programmers and does not need to master computer programming.

In other organizations, the line separating the business analyst and the computer programmer is fuzzy, therefore the business analyst must know how to code. In cases like this a beginner or entry-level mastery of computer programming is all that is needed.

Generally, a basic computer expertise in computer programming will help a business analyst perform their work better.

To gain this basic expertise in computer programming, an aspiring business analyst should have a solid understanding of SQL, data analysis, reporting, UML, Visual Basic programming, Microsoft Office Automation and a few other software packages.

Just bear in mind that this varies from organization to organization.

The ability to work in a team and to coordinate among people is also a skill that the business analyst needs to cultivate. Good writing skills and communication skills are also helpful in this career.

Comparing Computer Programmer Careers To Business Analyst Careers

1. Technology Skills: Computer programmers spend the majority of their time writing code while business analysts spend a minor amount of time writing code.

2. People Skills: Business analysts invest a lot of time interacting with business users a lot, so they need good communication and relationship skills.

Computer programmers tend to invest most of their time working on software that will be used by people. So communication and relationship skills are secondary to technical skills for software developers.

3. Entry level requirements: Business analysis positions tend to have lower entry level requirements than computer programming positions. Business analysis positions tend to pay lower than computer programming positions as well.

One of the advantages of learning computer programming is that you instantly have a lot of well-paying career options including software project management and business analysis.

The business analyst career stands out because it gently introduces you to the software development industry. It also provides you the opportunity to use more of your communication, relationship-building and data-analysis talents.

After more than a decade in software development, I’m convinced that many people don’t realize they have the option of becoming a business analyst. I hope that you do decide to become a business analyst if you are not really cut out to be a computer programmer.

If you want to become a business analyst or are looking for a business analyst job, begin by reading the series titled “The Business Analyst Job Description” to get the foundation or knowledge you need to succeed in business analyst jobs or roles.

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Getting Back Into The Job Market: How To Start A Business Analyst Career»

Gaurav

Thats really good article. Can you tell what will be opportunity for a person who have done computer programming then after management studies go for Business Analyst. Because that person possess fair technical skills and people skills.

Business analyst is a bridge between customers and company. When they communicate with clients then they must show both their people skills for relationship building and technical skills to understand the problem. And when they discuss problems with development team they must demonstrate excellent people skills.

Because to be very frank people dont want to work and its majorly responsibility of business analyst and project manager to motivate their people to work.

Business Analyst modernanalyst.com

I really enjoyed your article on becoming a business analyst (from the programmer’s perspective).

What intrigued me the most was your thought that most programmers/developers do not realize that they do have a career option of becoming a business analyst.

I agree with you that for those programmers who realize they are not cut out to keep coding, business systems analysis is probably a logical career move.

Best regards,
- Adrian

Kingsley Tagbo

Gaurav:

A person who has done management studies with a background in computer programming has the required technical skills to become a business analyst. To succeed as a business analyst, the person will also need good communication and interpersonal skills.

Craig Brown betterprojects.blogspot.com

Nice article. For people who want to learn more about the role I have collected a bunch of blog posts on what the role is about

One comment about pay rates – While I agree entry level people are paid less then technical specialists, I find senior BAs are paid pretty well; similar rates to project managers and architects.

charu

I founf the article relly good.I wanted to know that if a person is appointed as a business analyst.For understanding the requirement well,one should know how to prepare the test cases.Do this,really help BA?

Charu:
Learning how to document business requirements using test cases will definitely fall under the duties, roles and responsibilties of a Business Analyst (BA), so you are right in your analysis.

Vish

Do we have any websites that offer some good online tutorials for BA’s, If Yes could you Please pass them on

Thanks
Vish

Shashi linkedin.com

Many thanks for providing valuable information on BA. As i’m interested and looking for BA job hope this is going to help me out.

Could you please provide me online tutorials for BA entry level.

Keep me in a loop for any article/discussion from you. You can reach me here shashidhart@tataelxsi.co.in

Best Regards,
Shashi

Aditya

i dont have an MBA degree, but i am working in an IT MNC.What should i do to go for B.A.

IT Career Coach

#mba #jobs you can become a business analyst without getting an MBA degree, OK?

Having an MBA does not make you a business analyst nor is it required to become a business analyst..

Also the educational requirements for becoming a business analyst are very specific.

An MBA is a business degree and while a business analyst is also a business oriented career, it is not the same as an MBA.

So, you have to start by acquiring business analysis skills like requirements analysis, requirements elicitation, requirements validation, Use Cases and UML.

Gopal

i am presently working in Business intelligence unit.

i would like to became a business analyst.

i have 4 yrs exp in banking domain and pursing a M.C.A degree.

My job profile is providing the data support & data analysis to user using the SAS tools with SQL queries to extract the data.what should i do to get a Business analyst …

Please advice on the same.

IT Career Coach

#businessintelligence #businessanalyst bridge the gap to the next business analyst job using your SAS, data analysis, SQL Queries and data support.

Start by finding opportunities to transition to your business analyst career on your current job.

Note that you still may not be able to get a BA job … even with your current business intelligence experience except if you prepare yourself for the opportunity …

Prepare yourself for that opportunity by getting business analyst training because when the opportunity comes, you will only be chosen if you are qualified.

And if you are not qualified, your manager may prefer to hire an external Business Analyst!

puneet

Hi..

The article was very comprehandable and accurate.

I have a hardcore 7.5 yrs of sales and marketing experience in banking and finance.

I have worked with around 4 reputed banks in credit cards and loans dept and would now want to persue my career in the IT sector as a BA.

Kindly suggest the way ahead.Could you please provide me online tutorials for BA entry level.

Thanks

IT Career Coach

You can become a business analyst by leveraging your domain experience.

Since your domain experience is in the ares of banking and finance and sales and marketing, you may consider becoming a “banking and finance business analyst” or a “marketing and sales business analyst”.

Why do I say that?

When you consider business analyst jobs, you would see that they tend to fall into two (2) major career paths:

1.) the domain business analyst career path

2.) the IT business analyst career path

Since you already have some domain experience, i would suggest that you start your job search with companies looking for business analysts with your kind of background before looking at other business analyst jobs

Pratik Ambadkar

Hi…

I’ve a experience in banking/ finance field of around 4 years in marketing of financial products.

I am having BE ( Electronics & Telecomm ) with MBA ( Mktg ) as my qualification.

Kindly suggest how do I enter into the field of business analyst.

Looking forward for your revert.

IT Career Coach

This is how to enter the field of business analysis: begin by choosing a business analysis domain close to your background.

next, get some formal business analysis education or training.

finally do a gap analysis and use it to figure out the additional hands-on experience that you will need for transitioning to a business analysis career.

Since your current background is in the marketing of financial products, you may begin by looking at the financial business analyst career path.

Hariharan Mohan

Hello

I would be eager to know about the responsibilities of a Business Analyst and the various tools and terminologies that would be needed for a smooth operation of the overall business.

Since I have only had an experience working on the java and J2EE platforms, I would be glad if you could guide me about the basics of the Business Analyst position and help me with the same.

Thanking You

Sincerely

IT Career Coach

#businessanalyst : BAs are responsible for eliciting, analyzing, validating and managing the requirements in a business.

Some of the tools or techniques use by business analysts will include Use Cases and UML Diagrams and of course any tool that will assist with the documentaion or generation of these models.

Biswajit Mitra

I am a B.com, Graduate , working as an operation executive but i want to become an analyst what should i do and what are the procedures to become an analyst.

IT Career Coach

#analyst #jobs The word Analyst may be too ambiguous as it refers to a systems analysts or a business analyst or a marketing analyst or even a data analyst.

So, you have to be more specific in your question.

Yo can start with the following questions:

1. Why do you want to become an analyst?

2. What type of analyst do you want to be?

3. What don’t you like about your current career?

Note: An analyst typically gathers, analyzes and validates requirements.

The wr

Asha

I am a B Com Graduate with about 7 years of experience in BPO sector and with absolutely no IT knowledge.

I wish to get into IT sector and subsequently progress to being a BA.

Can anyone please let me know, what is it that I should do or study to get into IT sector, considering the competition that I have to face?

And what is it that I should concentrate on to eventually becoming a BA?

Thanks a lot for the help.

IT Career Coach

Study Resources for Becoming a Business Analyst can be found at Business Analyst Training Newsletter here: Learn Business Analysis Newsletter

Kiran

Hi,

I work as a Technical Analyst in a Financial Institution. The nature of my job is providing technical support to the bankers. I have been only in this field (Tech Support) and have an experience of about 5 yr including 2.5yr in the current.

To be honest i am desperately looking for a career change as i feel stagnant and do not see any advancement in my current employment. I know i have more potential in me which i cant deploy in my current position.

I have been wondering about the options of change in career or advance for a better living, with the skill i posses (Commerce gard and a diploma holder in IT with 5 yrs exp in Technical Support)

Upon research, BA seems really interesting to me. I love to to mingle with people. I believe i have good people school.

I kind of feel lost .

So how cud i start moving to BA from my current job. What course shud i be taking. Rather what how shud i make a move..?

Kindly request you to help me out in this?

Regards,

Kiran.

IT Career Coach

#techsupport #helpdesk #ba Tech support jobs do not have to be a dead-ends. Use them as launching pads.

Start working on bridging the gap between your current tech support role and your dream business analyst job.

To bridge that gap successfully, you need to learn or understand what business analysts do and then seek opportunities to practice business analysis.

The learning part is more straight forward. you can get information on how to learn business analysis here.

The practice part is more involved. Perhaps the best way to understand it is … on the job training.

For example, look for opportunities to document what your team is working on the same way a business analyst would.

Look for opportunities to lead meetings or facilitate interviews or give presentations.

Build relationships with your project managers, IT managers or Team Members and offer to help them with your recently learned BA skills. You will be surprised at the reception you will get as many IT teams are short staffed and will welcome any skilled or talented help they can get

Harshal

Thats a nice article! I am working with one of the software company as a Software QA engineer.
Currently my profile deals with communicating with BA guys along with developers and tech. support.
From last few months I am trying to search regarding BA Career path and wanted to know if its really possible to become BA without having much fair knowledge in Programming.

Thanks
~Harshal