Flexisource IT’s brown bag session for March was all about the role of a business analysis. The knowledge sharing seminar was hosted by Berlyn Decena, Flexisource IT’s own certified business analyst with an extensive background in computer science and a master’s in technology management.
The Role of a Business Analyst
What does a business analyst do? Berlyn cleverly discussed how business analysts (also known as BAs) are the metaphorical bridge between tech, testing and business. They act as the glue that communicates between each department’s needs while ensuring acceptance criterias, prioritisation of backlogs, and reducing overall defects regarding requirements.
Business analysts have a wide range of responsibilities for each project:
Responsibilities Included in Business Analysis
- Gathering Requirements – Gathering the necessary requirements of each project handled.
- Creating Necessary Documentation – Continuously creating all necessary documentation required for the project.
- Communicates with Stakeholders and Management – discussing with stakeholders to understand what they need in business. The BA den relays it to the team to prevent ambiguity over requirements.
- Process Analysis & Improvement – Analysing data to spot problem areas and providing optimisation.
- Facilitation of Comprehensive Solutions – Creating and facilitating a comprehensive solution.
What Business Analysts Mean for Developers & QAs
Jobs involving developers and QAs find comfort in knowing that a business analyst removes the core issues they may face without one.
The benefits of a business analyst for QAs:
- Acceptance Criterias Provide well-defined acceptance criteria
- Testability in User Stories Ensure testability of user stories by making them clear and actionable.
- Reduction of Defects Reduce defects caused by unclear requirements
The benefits of a business analyst for Developers:
- Clear Communication of Wants Reduce ambiguity in requirements
- Technical Feasibility Ensure technical feasibility and impact is considered early
- Less Requirement Changes Minimize last-minute requirement changes
- Backlog Prioritisation help prioritize backlog based on business needs
How a Business Analyst Supports Agile Development
A business analyst in agile development is at their most effective. In comparison to them being in methods such as the waterfall technique, business analysts continuously refine requirements with each sprint, are effective in collaboration, and facilitate a hands-on approach which reduces miscommunication.
Conclusion
Berlyn’s brown bag session concluded with high hopes and exciting questions from the audience. The session lasted an hour but didn’t fit the extensive details that business analysis studies required.
Luckily, Berlyn announced that there will be a second part of her brown bag session. In fact–it is to become a series of interesting information regarding business analysis.
