As a BA, I do deal with the operational aspects and this may be seen as the “bread and butter” work of a BA. However, the shift towards employing MBA graduates as BAs, means that we find ourselves able to add value from a strategic perspective as well. We are more focused on the client area and understand their business as well as being able to communicate and understand the technical requirements to develop systems.
I am a little disappointed that BABOK is not looking into strategic planning. I have found that in recent years, the work of a BA has changed dramatically. As BAs we are being required to approach projects from an “Outside-In” perspective. That is, we are asked to understand what the big picture or overall strategy is in order to map and build the requirements for the business.
When the business cannot fully articulate their needs, we workshop to help them create a vision of what the system will look like and make them aware of emerging technologies that may help. We provide prototypes along the way and it is a very collaborative approach between the business, architecture and BA team.
Hi Maria,
I think that BA, like IA or EA or any other two-letter acronym, can be strategic or tactical. The only rule of thumb is that the influence (and the billing rate!) increases as the engagement moves from tactical to strategic.
Best regards, Andrew
Hi Maria,
What you describe above isn’t “strategic planning” in the sense that I have seen the term used. Strategic planning occurs at the level of the business as a whole and entails setting the overall goal for that business over a multi-year timeframe. It asks what markets we want to be in, what our pricing or branding will be in those markets, what kind of market share we expect to have, what products we will develop, and so forth.
What you’re talking about is at a lower level–once the strategic goals are set, a BA can work with the business to explore various solution options to meet those goals. That is covered in the Enterprise Analysis KA.
Thanks Kevin, Yes I agree that I have used the term “strategic” at the middle management level rather than at the higher level where the overall vision for the organisation is set by the Board or Company Executives.
Once this Goal has been set and the organisation is given the task to make it happen, i think BAs, particluarly in a consulting role, can effectively work with executive mangement and make a real contirbution to the organisation to help ensure the solutions expolred do indeed meet these goals.