The Language Of Requirements Documents - When To Use Shall, Will & Should.

The Language Of Requirements Documents - When To Use Shall, Will & Should.

A well-written business requirements document (BRD) forms the basis of successful project documents and can be used to verify that all stakeholders are on the same page regarding their requirements. Three words that are often misunderstood and therefore misused in requirement documents are shallshould and willGuest Post

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4 Basic Tips For Writing A Better Business Case

4 Basic Tips For Writing A Better Business Case

Business Analysts are often required to write business cases to justify whether or not a concept/product is viable. Business cases can be of varying lengths and structure. Taking on such a task can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are four basic but easily forgotten tips that will make the process easier, and result in a winning business case.

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What Every Business Analyst Should Know About Analyzing Complex Projects

What Every Business Analyst Should Know About Analyzing Complex Projects

The relentless pace of technological progress drives businesses to work on increasingly more complex projects. With this increased complexity comes new challenges and roadblocks that business analysts must learn to overcome.

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The Business Analyst & Project Manager Collaboration: Identifying The Various Costs Involved In A Business Case

The Business Analyst & Project Manager Collaboration: Identifying The Various Costs Involved In A Business Case

In preparing a business case, the business analyst is often required to conduct some measure of cost analysis. When highlighting the benefits associated with an initiative, it is extremely important to also indicate the costs that will go along with implementing the initiative. Information regarding costs is particularly important in making go or no-go decisions when deciding which projects to implement. The business analyst should work with the project manager to identify these costs and arrive at realistic estimates.

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5 Cognitive Biases BAs Should Be Aware Of

5 Cognitive Biases BAs Should Be Aware Of

As professionals, we typically make decisions based on logic and information that is available to us. For example, Business Analysts typically make decisions on which techniques to apply when solving business problems and assist stakeholders in making decisions on which solutions to adopt. Cognitive biases can lead to bad decisions and errors in judgment and as such, BAs should be aware of them.

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Knowledge Management In Business Analysis: Multiplying Human Potential

Knowledge Management In Business Analysis: Multiplying Human Potential

Who’s the one person in your team you simply can’t afford to lose? It’s okay - every business has one: some expert, savant, or otherwise indispensable worker who holds projects together like glue. People like these are called Subject Matter Experts. They are those from whom we elicit those requirements that are not always explicitly stated. These people are incredible assets—until they are no longer with the business…and then they become a liability. Guest Post By Edgar Wilson.

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Big Data & The Business Analyst

Big Data & The Business Analyst

Without undermining the importance of experience and intuition, the days of relying exclusively on them are over. Big data has the capacity to revolutionize current ways of thinking, how businesses are managed, how quickly businesses respond and the benefits they are likely to gain from exploiting the opportunities that come with big data.

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7 Practical Ways To Persuade Stakeholders

7 Practical Ways To Persuade Stakeholders

Personally I am very fond of strawberries and cream, but I have found that for some strange reason, fish prefer worms. So when I went fishing, I didn’t think about what I wanted. I thought about what the fish wanted. I didn't bait the hook with strawberries and cream. Rather, I dangled a worm or grasshopper in front of the fish and said: "Wouldn't you like to have that?" Why not use the same approach when fishing for people? ― Dale CarnegieHow to Win Friends & Influence People. Guest Post By Nicola Joseph.

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Managing Analysis Paralysis

Managing Analysis Paralysis

Analysis Paralysis is based on the premise that by delaying decisions or committing to a particular direction, there's more time to gather new information, conduct analysis and present recommendations to the business. This premise only holds true for a while though. At some point, the law of diminishing returns sets in – the extra information collected and the extra time devoted to analysis no longer add any significant value to the project.

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