What is Business Analysis?
Business analysts play an important role in organisations and can deliver immense value and insight. Primarily they help businesses to define problems, innovate and grow through informed decision-making.
The role of the business analyst can be defined as:
“An advisory role which has the responsibility for investigating and analysing business situations, identifying and evaluating options to improve business systems, elaborate and define requirements, as well as ensuring the effective implementation and use of information systems in line with the needs of the business”.
Why is Business Analysis needed?
Ask ten different people why business analysis is needed and you’ll more than likely get ten different answers! There are so many great tools and techniques that can be applied in almost any business situation, across almost every industry.
The fundamentals of business analysis however remain the same; it is about identifying the needs of a business and creating innovative approaches to overcome problems and drive positive change.
Business analysis is about understanding how a business operates, how its departments and systems interact and recognising what can be improved to meet business needs as well as stakeholder requirements.
Ultimately, business analysis is needed wherever you find an organisation with a systems, processing or performance issue.
What are the benefits of a business analyst?
Business analysts are highly skilled in process improvement; by identifying areas for simplification and cost reduction they increase operational efficiency and profitability. They are an indispensable asset for organisations navigating the complexities of the business landscape, helping to adapt and facilitate growth.
Business analysts excel in facilitating effective decision-making through data-driven insights to select optimal strategies and solutions.
By taking an holistic view of the business, the business analyst ensures that projects align with organisational goals while reducing risks, project rework and project failures.
By clearly defining requirements, business analysts reduce ambiguity and enhance project success rates. They also serve as a catalyst for innovation, identifying opportunities to adopt technology and improve processes.
Who can become a business analyst?
There is no ‘typical business analyst’ but more often than not they will have good behavioural skills and personal qualities such as being effective problem-solvers and strong communicators with meticulous attention to detail. As a business analyst you will need to be able to think creatively, engage with stakeholders and be collaborative in your approach.
Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to have every one of these skills to embark on a career in business analysis. Rather, these are the kinds of skills and qualities you will learn and develop as you further your training and experience.
If you are thinking about pursuing a career in business analysis or specialising in it, there has never been a better time. As one of the fastest growing and well-paid job sectors in the UK, business analyst roles are very much in demand, offering a rare mix of financial stability and an often enviable work-life balance.
How to get started
There are many different types of business analyst roles, with many analysts specialising in a particular field, such as Data Analysis or Business Architecture.
At Amatis Training we provide a range of BCS-accredited training courses at Foundation, Practitioner and Professional level. If you’re just starting out then our Foundation in Business Analysis course is a great starting point.< For more information, take a look at our Business Analysis Training pages or feel free to get in touch – we’d be more than happy to answer any questions.
