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Writing Better Requirements: Why Projects Fail

Writing Better Requirements: Why Projects Fail

Write Better Requirements

Write Better Requirements


Why Do We Need Better Requirements?

The following article is a frank, open and surprising discourse on why we need better requirements.

According to Standish or Gartner reports and other case studies, nearly “two-thirds of all IT projects fail” because of poor requirements and other causes.

Why Do Projects Fail?

Consider that a project fails when it overruns the budgeted allocation of resources, time or money or fails to deliver the intended business requirements or value.

Some teams are so deep into this, that throwing more money, people or extending the shipping date is their default solution to scope creep, budget overruns or project failure!

How To Start Business Analysis After A Career In Computer Programming

How To Start Business Analysis After A Career In Computer Programming

How To Start A Business Analyst Career

How To Start A Business Analyst Career

Identifying your transferable skills is the first step towards successfully transitioning, changing or starting a new business analysis career.

Though this article is written for those starting a business analysis career after having worked as a computer programmer, the principles presented here are helpful to anyone interested in starting any new career.

The first step in starting a new career is building self-confidence by recognizing that the career you are transitioning to has some relationship or similarity to the jobs you have performed in the past.

FREE Coaching on How To Make A Career Change

FREE Coaching on How To Make A Career Change

Coaching on How To Change your Career

Coaching on How To Change your Career


Some of you have been asking about “how to choose the right career” or “how you can make a career change“.

You are searching for specific, practical step by step instructions for transitioning or making career changes.

The answer to this question is important to you because you spend the majority of your waking time at work.

So you understand that this question determines how happy or successful you will be for several years or until your next career change :-)

Bridging the Gap between Business and IT: The Case for Business Analysts

Bridging the Gap between Business and IT: The Case for Business Analysts

bridging the gap for business analysts

business analysts build bridges

In some organizations, the technical lead or senior software developer is also asked to gather, analyze or document the software development requirements.

This may be the case when:

  • Cowboy Coding -The Organization has not fully embraced any formal software development methodology
  • Cost Cutting -The manager wants to cut costs by not hiring for full-time business analysts
  • Role Differentiation – The IT / Software Development manager combines the business analyst role into the software development role

But, does combining the business analyst and software development role work or is it better to hire full-time business analysts for your team?

Career Roadmap For Programmers: Keeping Your Skills Current Or In Demand

Career Roadmap For Programmers: Keeping Your Skills Current Or In Demand
Keep your Skills Current or In Demand

Keep your Skills Current or In Demand

It is a commonly held belief that once you learn “how to code in one programming language“, you can easily transition your programming skills to another.

Yet many computer programmers never quite make it because they get lost in the transition from one programming language to another.

This is true of computer programmers transitioning away from legacy programming languages like Cobol or relatively more modern programming languages like classic Visual Basic.

When a computer programmer falls behind the technology (programming language) curve, the developer may experience:

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

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

starting a new business analyst career

starting a new business analyst career


The good news is that the economy is adding on jobs because it is the time of year when budgets have been approved and employers traditionally post more jobs and because the economy is also beginning to recover.

This is as good a time as any to dust off your resume, polish your act and start the career you have always wanted.

This article tells you how to do that … get back into the job market and start the business analyst career you’ve always wanted!

Is a Project Manager or a Business Analyst Career, a Better Fit for You?

Is a Project Manager or a Business Analyst Career, a Better Fit for You?

How To Choose the Right Career?

How To Choose the Right Career?

The following question was submitted by a reader who needs help with choosing between a business analyst and a project management career.

If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to submit your question as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!

If you enjoy reading this post, please be sure to … Share this Post with Friends

Here is the Reader’s Question: Should I Change Careers To Business Analysis Or Project Management?

Hello,

Is Tunnel Vision Killing My Career?

Is Tunnel Vision Killing My Career?

Is Tunnel Vision Killing My Career?

Is Tunnel Vision Killing My Career?

Medically speaking, Tunnel Vision is a visual impairment that results in the loss of peripheral vision.

It is characterized by the inability to see objects outside one’s center of gaze even though they are still within view.

But tunnel vision also refers to a frame of mind where one is either fixated on a specific answer or unable to see alternatives.

Consider that many Information Technology (IT) professionals evaluate their career options as though there a few choice careers mainly:

  1. Computer Programming
  2. Business Analysis
  3. Project Management

How To Break The Unemployment Cycle?

How To Break The Unemployment Cycle?

How To Break The Unemployment Cycle

How To Break The Unemployment Cycle

Sometime ago, Glendal (a project manager on this website) asked me to suggest a solution for the current unemployment crises facing the USA. While still working on an answer to that, the same question was again popped to me in a recent interview with Dice.com.

Since this is a question weighing on the minds of people … Today, it will be my pleasure to answer the question: “How To Solve The Unemployment Crises Facing The United States of America.“.

What Is The Most Difficult Challenge Facing Your Career?

What Is The Most Difficult Challenge Facing Your Career?
The Most Difficult Challenge Of My Career

The Most Difficult Challenge Of My Career

Hello,

“What is the most difficult challenge facing your career right now”?

Your most difficult challenge may be about how to get a job or how to improve your skills or how to get promoted on the job

Perhaps your most difficult challenge is about how to transition out of or into a business analyst or computer programming or database developer career.

Whatever your challenge is, just go ahead and post it as a comment on this page and I will deal with it for you.

Can a Developer Make a Good Business Analyst?

Can a Developer Make a Good Business Analyst?

Computer Programmers Learning Business Analysis

Computer Programmers Learning Business Analysis

I have been talking to a number of software developers, interested in changing roles to business analysis. If you are one of those software developers, then this post is written to show you how to switch careers from software development :-)

There seems to be some bias against switching roles to business analysis from software development. It’s a subtle form of discrimination from folks who stereotype all software developers as nerds with poor presentation and communication skills!

But is that really true? Are you poorly suited for a business analysis role just because you’re a software developer?

College Graduates Paying for Unpaid Internships!

College Graduates Paying for Unpaid Internships!

Will Pay For Work!

Will Pay For Work!

It is generally accepted that hands-on experience is one of the more important qualifications for getting a job and that you may get handson experience through paid or unpaid internship programs.

So this article on NyTimes.com about how job seekers are paying thousands of dollars for internships is not surprising considering how competitive the job market has become.

What is surprising is that these are college graduates from prestigious colleges paying for nonpaying internship programs!

The article is titled “Unpaid Work, but They Pay for Privilege” and you can read it here:

Career Spotlight on Microsoft Access Database Developers

Career Spotlight on Microsoft Access Database Developers

Microsoft Access Developer Career

Microsoft Access Developer Career

The Microsoft Access Relational Database has been around for a while and it is used in many businesses, Information Technology (IT) Teams and organizations.

Microsoft Access is commonly used in building desktop software applications, data analysis programs and corporate databases where the number of records are as few as 2 billion records or the number of users who access the system at any one time are as few as ten concurrent users.

The ease with which Microsoft access database developers create functional relational databases, add data entry forms, build reports and distribute their database projects to multiple users creates a market for skilled Microsoft Access Relational Database developers.

How To Change your Career In 5 Easy Steps!

How To Change your Career In 5 Easy Steps!

How To Change Careers

How To Change Careers


You are brave, if you are considering leaving your career. Most people make themselves stay at jobs or careers they hate because they are afraid of the unknown.

However, knowing the difference between leaving a job and leaving a career can make your transition smooth and easy or painful to say the least.

You change careers when you are in the wrong profession or you are in a career that you’re not suited for. And, you do not change careers simply because you are unhappy at work!

8 Tips for Business Analysts: How to Stand Out in a Crowded Job Market

8 Tips for Business Analysts: How to Stand Out in a Crowded Job Market

stand out in a business analyst job market

This question was submitted by Merry who wants to know “how to become the best business analyst in a competitive business analyst job market.”

If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering Merry’s questions below!

Here is Merry’s Question on Becoming The Best Business Analyst

Hi

I recently graduated from university with a BSc degree in Computer Science. I am now doing a Business Analyst Internship at an IT company in RSA. My contract with the company is expiring in the next four months.

Let Your Personal Creativity Run Wild!

Let Your Personal Creativity Run Wild!

starving artist wolfgang amadeus mozart

starving artist wolfgang amadeus mozart


This article is one in a series on creating or establishing your personal brand and becoming a leader in your industry.

While creating your personal brand is not easy, the benefits speak for themselves; other professionals begin to seek you out, ask for your assistance or offer you compensation in exchange for your help, services or advice.

Creativity is sometimes frowned upon in the workplace because you are expected to follow orders!

Perhaps you’ve neglected using your creative forces in the past because it forces others to think or so that you can keep your head down and stop others from following you!

How To Answer Business Analyst Job Interview Questions

How To Answer Business Analyst Job Interview Questions

How To Answer Business Analyst Job Interview Questions

How To Answer Business Analyst Job Interview Questions

I’ve taken dozens of IT job interviews with various IT departments ranging from small IT shops to Fortune 500 IT departments to non-profits to consulting firms to staffing or recruitment agencies!

I’ve been interviewed and hired for both management and non-management IT positions. I’ve personally interviewed, hired and also coached IT Professionals who’ve gone on to wow their interviewers or ace the IT positions they wanted.

I’ve been in several situations where to get the next consulting assignment, I interviewed with several firms and also received multiple, competing job offers!

Free E-Book On How To Stay Ahead of the Technology Curve

Free E-Book On How To Stay Ahead of the Technology Curve
Stay Ahead of the Curve!

Stay Ahead of the Curve!

Have you ever wondered how some people stay ahead of rapidly changing technologies while others seem to let their skills become extinct like the Dodo?

Well, apparently, someone in Dubai, U.A.E. wants to know the answer so badly that he sent in his question by postal mail!

If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!

How Do I Transition Microsoft Access or Excel Data Analyst Skills?

How Do I Transition Microsoft Access or Excel Data Analyst Skills?

The Data Analysts Career Path

The Data Analysts Career Path

This question was posted by a Microsoft Office Data Analyst who wants to know “How to Upgrade Microsoft Access or Excel Data Analysis skills!

If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this questions now!

Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.

Why Employers Stopped Hiring Junior Business Analysts!

Why Employers Stopped Hiring Junior Business Analysts!
Not for Juniors

Not for Junior BAs

This question was posted by Victor who needs advice on “how to change careers from a banking domain to business analysis.”

If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering Victor’s questions below!

Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.

How to Become a Freelance Programmer

How to Become a Freelance Programmer
Choose a Freelance Consulting Career

Choose a Freelance Career

This question was posted by Mallory who needs advice on “how to begin a freelance software developer career!”

If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering Mallory’s questions below!

Please, send this post to your friends using the “Share This Post” Link.

You are providing valuable information or free advice with the Share a Post Button.

Mallory’s Question Are:

I have started an account on scriptlance which is for programmers. However I am not a professional programmer.

How To Solve Chicken or Egg Career Problems

How To Solve Chicken or Egg Career Problems
Ask IT Career Coach

Ask IT Career Coach

Here’s a question on “how to get the experience neccessary for career advancement opportunities!” from a professional who has an MBA in Information Security.

If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!

Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.

How To Learn Many Programming Languages

How To Learn Many Programming Languages

learning multiple programming languages?

learning multiple programming languages?

This question was posted by a reader who needs advice on “how to learn many programming languages!”.

If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!

Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.

Discover Answers to Your Career’s Toughest Questions!

Discover Answers to Your Career’s Toughest Questions!
IT Career Coach

Get Career Help

Hi,

If you need help on a pressing or challenging issue, you’ve come to the right place!

You may get my help by posting the toughest questions facing your career at the moment!

I will answer your questions and help you just as I’ve answered and helped others.

  1. Your questions may be about how to get a job in a tough and competitive job market!

  2. Perhaps your question is about how to earn some income or pay bills without a regular, full-time or nine-to-five job!

How To Answer Data Analyst Interview Questions Correctly

How To Answer Data Analyst Interview Questions Correctly

Data Analyst Interview

Ace your Data Analyst Interview


If you are looking for a scientific way to boost your data analysis skills or ace your Data Analyst job interviews, start using practice tests.

Research has shown that practice tests or quizzes improve retention, recall or understanding.

Research has also proven that workers who study and take quizzes have better long-term recall than their colleagues who study without taking quizzes.

Don’t use practice tests only in preparation for certification exams because they are useful for much more than that!

How To Become A Highly Paid Corporate Programmer

How To Become A Highly Paid Corporate Programmer

highly paid corporate programmer

highly paid corporate programmer

Transitioning careers to Microsoft .NET programming may seem like a daunting or impossible task because you need solid Hands-ON experience which is hard to get without a full-time Microsoft.NET job!

So, the question is, “How Do You Gain Hands-On Experience For Microsoft.NET Corporate Programmer Jobs Outside Regular, Full-Time Employment?

How To Get An Entry Level Corporate Programming Job

You can transition from a Mainframe to a Microsoft.NET Software Developer Career in phases which allows you to achieve career success in manageable steps or phases.

How Important Is Domain Knowledge For A Business Analyst?

How Important Is Domain Knowledge For A Business Analyst?

The Domain Business Analyst Career Path

The Domain Business Analyst Career Path

Is a business analyst with domain knowledge more valuable than a business analyst without domain knowledge?

By looking at how business analyst job descriptions are written, you may be tempted to say yes!

Business Analyst job descriptions are written as if there is a distinction between IT oriented business analysts with skills in UML, Use Cases, Requirements Elicitation, Requirements Modeling and domain oriented business analysts with knowledge in specific domains like sales, marketing, customer relationship management, insurance, finance!

Did I Mess Up My Career?

Did I Mess Up My Career?
Ask IT Career Coach

Ask IT Career Coach

This question was posted by a reader who needs advice on “what to do about making wrong career choices”.

If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!

Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.

How To Become A SQL Report Writer

How To Become A SQL Report Writer

jobs-employment-recession

The report writer as a key member of the database, sql or data analytics team is responsible for creating, validating, distributing and documenting the reports required by an organization.

Report Writers work with various types of relational databases, sql query writing and report writing tools because they need to retrieve, aggregate and present data from different databases including Oracle, SQL Server or ODBC Compliant Databases.

Since it is not practical or feasible for Report Writers to learn or master all the available database reporting tools, they specialize in a few and then learn any additional reporting tool come along on the job!

How Do I Overcome Employment Gaps In My Oracle Programming Career?

How Do I Overcome Employment Gaps In My Oracle Programming Career?
Ask IT Career Coach

Ask IT Career Coach

This question was posted by a reader who wants to overcome obstacles posed by employment gaps in an Oracle Programming Career!

Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.

If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!

Why Can’t I Find A Job?

Why Can’t I Find A Job?

Beat the Recession

Beat the Recession

You’ve got a college degree, a good looking resume and an impressive listing of Information Technology (IT) skills but can’t seem to find an IT job.

Finding a Job doesn’t have to be a traumatic, nerve racking or frustrating experience filled with rejection, fear and pain!

Just follow this article series to find out what’s wrong or get back in control of YOUR job search.

Interested in Learning SQL?

Interested in Learning SQL?
Ask a Burning Question

Ask IT Career Coach

If you are interested in learning more about SQL Skills or becoming a Database Professional, send inyour questions now and I will answer them for you … right away!

Your questions may be about how to get a database developer job or how to improve your SQL query writing skills or how to become a database developer.

Perhaps your question is about how to get back into the database career track after a period of unemployment or about how to learn the relevant database skills for your job or employer. Whatever they are, go ahead and send in your questions and I will answer them for you.

Alternate Career Paths for Business Analysts

Alternate Career Paths for Business Analysts
Ask IT Career Coach

Ask IT Career Coach

The fundamentals of earning an income is rooted in the exchange of goods, services or skills and having an 8 to 5 job is just one way of doing that!

This post answers the question of what to do when you can’t get a job! posted by a reader (Kintu Vicent) who is inquiring about “how to earn an income as a business analyst without regular employment!

If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!

Savings

Savings

SPECIAL DISCOUNTWe are running a special discount that allows you to subscribe to two (2) or more courses for close to the price of one course.

Use the current discount to register for the Busines Analyst Boot Camp and the SQL Boot Camp or the Busines Analyst Boot Camp and the Data Analyst Boot Camp for close to the price of one course.

Or Use the current discount to register for the Software Developer Boot Camp and the SQL Boot Camp or the Software Developer Boot Camp and the Data Analyst Boot Camp for close to the price of one course.

How Do You Get Business Analyst Domain Experience?

How Do You Get Business Analyst Domain Experience?

Become a Leader

Become a Leader

One of the toughest challenges facing business analysts today is building the domain experience required for business analyst jobs.

Acquiring business analyst domain experience from scratch is hard because you need to get a job before you can build domain expertise … yet no-one will give you a job without the required domain experience!

This article discusses how to get around the business analyst domain experience required for most business analysis jobs.

It Is Never Too Late To Become A Computer Programmer!

It Is Never Too Late To Become A Computer Programmer!
Ask IT Career Coach

Ask IT Career Coach

This question was posted by a reader who wants to become a computer programmer!

If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!

Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.

Here is the Question:

hi

How To Become A Healthcare Business Analyst

How To Become A Healthcare Business Analyst
healthcare business analyst career path

healthcare business analyst career path

This question was posted by a Healthcare Business Analyst looking for work!

If you have a Burning Question or a Challenge that you need help with, be sure to ask your question as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering the question below!

If you find this article helpful then share it with your friends using the “Share This Post” Link.

You provide valuable information or advice to others each time you use the Share This Post Link.

Is the Job Market Good Or Bad For Business Analysts?

Is the Job Market Good Or Bad For Business Analysts?
Ask IT Career Coach

Ask IT Career Coach

This question was posted by a Business Analyst in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.

If you have a Burning Question or a Challenge that you need help with, be sure to ask your question as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering the question below!

Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.

Here is the Question:

Hi,

Become an IT Career Coach

Become an IT Career Coach
Tell A Friend

Tell A Friend

Are you interested in helping people get situated in the right IT Careers or Jobs?

Do you have contacts or friends interested or working in the Information Technology (IT) Industry? If you answered yes, why are you not an IT Career Coach?

We are looking for a few good people who want to earn generous commissions by linking or refering IT Workers to us … click here to read more about our affiliate program

June Specials

June Specials

SPECIAL DISCOUNTWe are running a special discount that allows you to subscribe to two (2) or more courses for close to the price of one course.

Use the current discount to register for the Busines Analyst Boot Camp and the SQL Boot Camp or the Busines Analyst Boot Camp and the Data Analyst Boot Camp for close to the price of one course.

Or Use the current discount to register for the Software Developer Boot Camp and the SQL Boot Camp or the Software Developer Boot Camp and the Data Analyst Boot Camp for close to the price of one course.

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