The 'Business Analyst' - the future of decision-making for UK business?
An integral role that sits at the intersection between business, information systems and the outside world, says Dr Debra Paul, Chief Examiner for BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT and MD of Assist Knowledge Development
‘Business Analysis' is one of the newest disciplines in the information systems industry, having really come to prominence in the last decade, but what does a Business Analyst do and why is this professional role becoming so crucial to UK companies?
A business analyst is someone who helps guide an organisation to improve its processes, products and services through complex analysis and, in many cases, determines how the company can better integrate its business model with technology.
The role sits at the intersection between business, information systems and the outside world. Business analysts need to navigate the issues an organisation is facing and connect the different elements together, while understanding detailed business architecture and policies, in order to determine what the right solution might be.
As Chief Examiner for BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, a UK professional body that promotes wider social and economic progress in IT, I've met many business analysts with different skillsets over the years and have been able to discuss the future of business analysis with them.
Many have reported frustration with the perception of their role within their organisation - in particular, a lack of clarity about the precise nature of what a business analyst does, its scope and authority in decision-making.
This is often because the work of a business analyst can be so wide-ranging, from developing process models to specifying IT system requirements, to using data to formulate both short term day-to-day and longer-term strategic plans.
There's still a lot of focus in our industry on digital transformation; machine learning, artificial intelligence and multi-cloud environments are being increasingly embraced by companies to give them a competitive edge.
These technologies have the potential to offer a huge amount to customers. What the business analyst can do is take a broader view of the technology landscape (and indeed the wider world) and scope out the real opportunities and benefits for businesses from the adoption of digital technology.
In order to fulfil their professional potential and support their organisation in its growth, business analysts need to continually expand their toolkit of experiences and knowledge. Some understand data; how to manage it and use predictive analytics. Some are more focused on service and offering the best value and experience to customers. Many have excellent ‘soft skills' and are skilled at interacting with different types of stakeholders across an organisation.
Early intervention by business analysts helps organisations to invest wisely and prevents them from wasting money on the wrong project. Many UK companies are starting to develop excellent business analysis practices, employing many talented individuals to fill this vital role. These people are capable of analysing business problems and looking for a root cause, rather than just dropping an IT solution into the business. After all, there is so much more to business analysis than that.
So how can we achieve better recognition for this role across all types of industry and with so many different factors impacting organisations? At the very least, this requires a clear definition of the services offered by business analysts and the extensive array of best practice skills and techniques they apply. There is a wealth of business analysis resources helping business analysis professionals to boost their credentials, and validate their competence and the value they bring to an organisation. Also, business analysts can demonstrate their analytical, business and personal skills to both current and prospective employers, through attaining globally-recognised certifications.
Skilled application of business analysis techniques, supported by recognised certifications, will future-proof the next generation of IT talent and provide a basis for international standardisation and recognition for this professional role.
As business analysts become more widely-recognised, they'll be more empowered to develop their skills, stay up-to-date with technological developments and deliver the type of critical thinking that can only able be done by a human….for now.