Here’s the thing about business analysis training; once the course is completed and all tests passed, it’s then time to get to work and get your hands dirty…which can be much easier said than done in the real workplace.

Choosing the right provider is the first step. Being able to send your candidates on the right training course that will provide the skills, strategies, techniques – and crucially confidence – to deliver real change for your business on a practical level is key.

So, how do you go about that?

Well, start by looking for a Business Analysis Practice course that considers the workplace as much as the classroom; ideally they should be preparing students for putting their acquired skills into practice when they return so they can hit the ground running and have a real impact on the productivity, efficiency, change and growth within your business.

Putting learnt skills into action

In our experience, the best way to set your staff up for real practical success beyond the classroom is to take time to really consider what you want to get out of a Business Analysis Practice course, including what you want your talent to be able to achieve at the end of it, and what it is they can then bring back to enhance your business.

If you’re still sitting on the fence, the points below should help serve as a guide as to what you should be looking for in a good Business Analysis Practice course:

  • Look for a training course that is BCS accredited

There are a lot of different training providers out there and it is easier than you think to land on one that doesn’t have the recommended certifications. A BCS accredited course provides reassurance that your participants are acquiring all the necessary skills needed to implement business analysis successfully in the workplace. Practical, relevant and proven to deliver impact, these skills can be taken back to the workplace, retained and incorporated into your business.

  • Will training be delivered by experienced industry practitioners?

It’s important that the people who are delivering training to your top talent have the know-how and experience to pass on to participants on a really practical level. This is about going beyond course modules; when candidates are given the opportunity to learn, and receive advice from, practitioners who know how business analysis works in practice and across different industries, it can prove invaluable to both your people and your business.

  • Choose a course that delivers practical training:

Methodology is important but it’s only one part of business analysis training. If you want your staff to be able to put all they’ve learnt into practice in your business you’ll want to find a course that covers essential practical skills as well as classroom content and incorporates task-based learning where possible. Corporate case studies are a really useful way of introducing participants to how business analysis works in practice, particularly when woven into the structure of the course.

  • Modules that incorporate real skills to be used in the workplace:

You will know better than anyone what delivering change really looks like for your business and the types of skills, techniques and strategies a business analyst will need to acquire in order to drive efficiencies and improve productivity. A good business analysis course will include modules that develop those necessary skills such as convergent thinking, how to deal with stakeholders, and how to analyse and model key business activities with a view to building a business case to present to management.

  • Give opportunity for future growth:

The great thing about business analysis training is it isn’t restricted to one course at one level – investing in business analysis training for your top talent means providing them with learning opportunities and skills development for their future, as well as a clear career pathway and the prospect of continual benefits to your business as your team continue to progress and develop. What’s more, by putting your money where your mouth is and investing in individuals’ career development, you’ll be able to retain more of your top talent for many years to come.

When it’s time to get their hands dirty at the end of training, your candidates should be ready and confident to implement everything they have learned during their course. With the right training in place hand-holding won’t be necessary, and the right business analysis course can provide the springboard for your top talent to really soar, along with your business.

If you’d like to find out more about our BCS accredited Business Analysis Practice course we offer at Amatis Training – and what we do to ensure those skills go on to benefit businesses like yours beyond the classroom – just get in touch. We’d welcome the opportunity to talk things through with you.