Why Business Analysis is so important for Business

While Business Analysts (“BA’s”) are recognised for the value they provide to large corporate and government departments this has not always been the case with Small / Medium Sized Enterprises.

By their nature, Businesses tend to be highly focussed on operational issues and incorporate more generalists than their larger counterparts. Cash Flow and Financing are likely to be the daily focus of top management, especially in the demanding Financial environment of today.

The complexity of their business processes, information needs and reliance on technology is on par with organisations with far larger head counts.

A major focus for Business' is to ensure their agility over their larger competitors, as it’s easier for them to change their offering. Service industries have a distinct advantage here, as the correct application of Information Technology (IT) can assist by providing more efficient and more effective business processes, access to better management information and ultimately a more satisfied customer.

Good Business Analysts are seasoned professionals that specialise in the following:

  • They gain a very quick understanding of the business and its strategic drivers
  • They facilitate discussions to work out the business requirements that support the strategic drivers
  • They work out the shortcomings with existing processes and technology to work out how the business requirements are not being met.
  • They analyse and document the details of the requirements for the proposed solution based on inputs from key business people
  • They assist with the designing of solutions to meet these business requirements and ensure that the benefits of the solution are achieved.
  • They assist the business to test the solution to ensure that it meets their expectations and requirements
  • They assist the business to change to the new solution through training and communication with all impacted parties.

Ultimately, business analysts perform a key function for Business: Assisting the investment decision around new technologies and ensuring their agility.