The Business Analyst (BAs) is the person in charge of translating the requirements made by the client to facilitate the understanding of the architects and software developers. This person works as a bridge between the client and the IT team.
The BAs usually define the functionalities and characteristics of the software, and also works on prioritizing and refining the backlog. Overall, plays a facilitator role by managing and balancing the different visions of the executives and stakeholders of the project.
Let's take a look at the responsibilities of BAs and why their role is so important to IT companies.
What are the tasks of a BA throughout the life cycle of the project:
The BA collects relevant technical and functional information about the project directly from the client.
The BA creates a document where all the specifications are collected, this document is paramount for planning, monitoring, and execution of the different project phases.
Also, the BA participates in all the parts of the project supporting the team by solving doubts and providing suggestions and more information if needed.
When the project is done, the BA will have to follow up on the results.
What are the abilities and skills that make BAs so important:
A good Business Analyst must possess diverse qualities to be able to complete the requirements analysis for the project. For example:
Analytical thinking is the ability to understand and solve a problem. It is a reflective thought that allows you to make reasonable decisions. This skill gives the BA the ability to deal with problem situations and find solutions. Additionally, coordinating and defining customer requirements requires analytical thinking to synthesize this information and convey it clearly to the development team.
Communication is paramount to BA's work, they spend a lot of their time communicating with customers and the IT team, as BA acts as an intermediary between all stakeholders. Knowing how to communicate means understanding when information is needed and how this information should be communicated.
Cross-cutting knowledge is essential for BAs. They need to understand the technology their business uses as well as become familiar with clients’ needs and know the language of business.
Additionally, the cross-cutting knowledge allowed them to transmit in the most efficient way all the commercial needs between the IT team and the clients.
This could be considered one of the most important skills for BAs because a person with technical and business knowledge is the perfect and most well-rounded candidate for this position.
In conclusion, it is paramount the role of the Business Analyst to achieve success in projects. To succeed in the changing and competitive world, today's BA must acquire and develop new skills that allow them to face the challenges of today's environment.
And for businesses, it is becoming increasingly essential to find versatile BAs that act as an effective link between customers and the IT team.
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