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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How Should BAs Relate With Other Project Stakeholders?

How Should BAs Relate With Other Project Stakeholders?

According to Stephen Ward & Chris Chapman in their piece, Stakeholders and uncertainty management in projects, “Stakeholders are a major source of uncertainty on projects and this uncertainty stems from whom these stakeholders are, their motives, and how they can influence a project.”

It is this uncertainty that constitutes risks to the project. BAs should relate with other project stakeholders to overcome this uncertainty by improving their ability to convince stakeholders to see things their way, thereby influencing the course of the project.

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5 Things Business Analysts Should Learn From UX Designers

5 Things Business Analysts Should Learn From UX Designers

BAs can learn a lot from UXers, that much is certain. But perhaps the most valuable thing the two disciplines can learn from each other is working together. Both roles have the same ultimate aim—to produce a product that has business value and meets users’ needs. The approaches may differ but are far from conflicting: BAs create value by delivering good features and functions, UXers by delivering good experiences. Guest Post by Cassandra Naji

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Interested In Improving Your Technical Skills? Here's A List Of Technology Websites To Explore

Interested In Improving Your Technical Skills? Here's A List Of Technology Websites To Explore

This post is a compilation of websites with resources that can boost your technical skills, and help you become better at work. If yours is one of those organizations that have cut back on training programs; you've been assigned to a new project or perhaps it's just out of your pure interest in the world of techies, you’ll certainly find these websites useful.

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Why Do Requirements Need To Be Detailed & What Level Of Detail Is Enough?

Why Do Requirements Need To Be Detailed & What Level Of Detail Is Enough?

As development practices change, so do the reasons why we write requirements and the level of detail we go into with Requirements Specification Documents. Even seasoned business analysts have at one point or the other asked themselves, “What level of detail is enough?”. The answer to this seemingly simple question is inseparably intertwined with the reason why we write requirements in the first place: so that they can be read, understood, and implemented.

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Defining The Scope Of Business Analysis With A Context Diagram

Defining The Scope Of Business Analysis With A Context Diagram

One of the main goals of business analysis is to uncover unknown risks and requirements during the requirements discovery phase. But as many business analysts will surely attest to, sooner or later, the problem of scope creep inevitably arises, unless concrete steps are taken to prevent it.

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A List Of Free Business Intelligence (BI) Training Courses For Business Analysts

A List Of Free Business Intelligence (BI) Training Courses For Business Analysts

This post comprises a list of free training that business analysts can use to gain the knowledge and experience of what to do when practising business analysis within the context of business intelligence.

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Benefits Of Holding Facilitated Sessions Among Stakeholders

Benefits Of Holding Facilitated Sessions Among Stakeholders

We make hundreds if not thousands of decisions every day. Some more important, others less so. With each decision we make, we shape our future and possibly, come closer to the attainment of our goals. One of the most effective ways to increase productivity and make better choices  during requirements elicitation is by organizing facilitated sessions among stakeholders.

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Importance Of Documentation On Software Projects

Importance Of Documentation On Software Projects

Documentation of software requirements should not be seen as optional, but a necessity. While the level of detail may vary depending on the approach adopted, be it Agile or Waterfall, it’s important to keep in mind why documentation is needed in the first place, before one goes too far in the wrong direction.

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The Link Between Business Analysis & Needs Analysis

The Link Between Business Analysis & Needs Analysis

Needs Analysis is similar to business analysis especially in the sense that it is used to determine the needs of the business, and is centred on understanding the issues and opportunities faced by the business with the objective of finding resolutions, defining approaches to resolving issues and exploiting opportunities. In summary, it’s about:

 

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    A Beginner's Guide To Requirements Elicitation: What To Do After The Event

    A Beginner's Guide To Requirements Elicitation: What To Do After The Event

    From analysing data and preparing deliverables to supporting stakeholders through other stages of the solution development lifecycle, the role of the BA is certainly key to successful projects. The end of the elicitation event does not signify the end of business analysis activities, but the beginning of the BA’s involvement in other aspects of the project.

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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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    Solving Complex Business Problems: An Introduction to Soft Systems Methodology - Part 2

    Solving Complex Business Problems: An Introduction to Soft Systems Methodology - Part 2

    As discussed in the previous article, Solving Complex Business Problems: An Introduction to Soft Systems Methodology, the steps of SSM can be applied in any particular order and the analyst may choose to skip or apply steps depending on what is needed to understand the problem situation. The steps of SSM that will be applied in this article include:

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    Solving Complex Business Problems: An Introduction to Soft Systems Methodology

    Solving Complex Business Problems: An Introduction to Soft Systems Methodology

    Some business problems are by their nature, complex to handle. Due to their complexity and the non-suitability of traditional problem solving methods, Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) can be used as the methodology for arriving at recommendations for action and positive change. This recommendation for action can range from making minute changes to a process to introducing a new information system.

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