Are you in the middle of implementing a change project?
or, perhaps you are considering a transformational change!
If so, you acquiesce that change is probably the only constant! And within modern-day organisations, the transformation is often agile and continuous. Whether it is being brought about to improve any existing processes or to introduce some new technology, the Business analysis could ptentially be the differentiator between a successful implementation of change and a failed one.
Why is Business Analysis such a ‘Buzzword’ these days?
Let’s be honest, time is money and money is short. Unfortunately (or fortunately!), we are not in Edison’s era anymore where we want to discover 10, 000 ways that don’t work. Businesses want to get it right and get it right the first time around. Whether it is about improving on an existing tech or a job role, time and budget are of the essence. This is the place where Business analysis fits in so exquisitely.
Proper analysis will ensure that there is calibration between the business needs and the business change solutions.
So what is Business Analysis?
IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis), defines it as, “Business Analysis is the practice of enabling change in an organizational context, by defining needs and recommending solutions that deliver value to the stakeholders.”
The business analysis offers an opportunity for organisations to ensure not only that technology is deployed effectively to support the work of the organisation, but also that relevant options for business change are identified that take account of budgetary and timescale pressures.
Scope of Business Analysis
The business analysis does not exist in isolation and its activities often intersect with two other domains as shown in the figure below
Strategic Analysis
Strategic analysis is mostly outside the remit of business analysis. However, it is imperative that the business analysts not only have access to the information about their organisation’s business strategy but also understand it, as their work will need to support the execution of this strategy.
IT Systems Analysis
The essential difference here is that business analysis is responsible for considering a range of business options to address a particular problem or opportunity; on the other hand, IT business analysis works within a defined scope and considers options for the IT solution.
Business Analysis
If the above-mentioned two fields sort of define the limits of the analysis work, the gap in the middle is met by business analysis. It ensures that the business needs are paramount when any change is being implemented whilst making sure that the requirements are realistic, justifiable, and attainable.
The Business Analysis process model
Now that we are closer to understanding what the scope of business analysis is, we can move on to understanding the flow of the Business analysis process. As no one size fits all, the process also adapts. However, the core process will include the following:
Investigate situation- This phase often uncovers issues and problems. During the initial stage of the business analysis work the analyst may be presented with just a statement of the problem rather than the real issue. Only post careful examination of the business systems can an analyst document the initial investigation.
Consider perspectives- This step is concerned with analysing the stakeholders and their perspectives on the business situation. It is vital at this stage to separate ‘views’ from ‘facts’ here as different stakeholders may have very different opinions on the business situation.
Analyse needs- The focus of this stage is to identify where improvements can be made to the business system with the help of gap analysis. Prioritisation of the needs also happens in this stage, often with the help of MoSCow analysis.
Evaluate options- This stage is all about evaluating the identified business options for acceptability and feasibility. At this point, the improvements are likely to be defined in the outline only but in sufficient detail so that a business case may be developed to support the recommendations and provide a basis for decision-making.
Define requirements- This stage is concerned with gathering and documenting the detailed requirements for the changes to the business system. These changes may be applicable to any or all four aspects: the business processes, the supporting IT systems, the job roles, and the organisational structure.
Begin your change project with us!
Business Analysis has developed into an ace field that can offer significant value to organisations, especially by assuring the delivery of business benefits and preventing unwise investments in hare-brained solutions. to mitigate the risk of going wrong it always helps to have a dedicated team that can help you implement the change you are considering.
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