Business Analyst: A Vital Link between Business and IT

Business Analyst: A Vital Link between Business and IT
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In today’s fast-paced business world, the role of a Business Analyst (BA) has become increasingly important. Companies across various industry verticals, especially in the BFSI and IT space, are hiring BAs to ensure successful implementation of solutions to emerging challenges.

But what exactly does a Business Analyst do, and what skills are required to be successful in this role?

A Business Analyst is a subject matter expert with a functional understanding of various industries like Banking, Investment Banking, Insurance, Supply Chain Management, and more. Their primary role is to bridge the gap between business and IT verticals, ensuring that the solutions being implemented meet the requirements of the business or client.

Here are the key responsibilities of a Business Analyst:

  1. Understand the requirements: The primary task of a BA is to understand the requirements of the business or client with as much clarity as possible.
  2. Analyze the As-Is and To-Be model: After understanding the requirements, the BA must analyze the current As-Is model and identify the ideal To-Be model that aligns with the business’s goals.
  3. Prepare business and solution documents: A BA is also responsible for preparing the Business Requirement Document (BRD) and the Solution Document in coordination with the business/client.
  4. Prepare test cases and conduct testing: The BA must prepare test cases and conduct User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to ensure the developed product meets the requirements.
  5. Deployment and support: Once the product is developed, the BA is responsible for deploying it and providing ongoing support.
  6. Regular interaction with business/client: The BA must maintain regular interaction with the business/client to track the development of the product, timelines, milestones, and inform them of any scope creep or revised deadlines.
  7. Follow Agile or Waterfall model: A BA must follow the Agile or Waterfall model during the product development process and implement the Software/System Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

A Business Analyst can also act as a Scrum Master, responsible for planning and executing sprint sessions on the project. Typically, based on the client requirements and the BRD document as a base, an Epic ticket is created in the project management tool, such as JIRA. The Epic ticket is then split into multiple small tickets in JIRA. Based on the priority and complexity of the tickets, the Scrum Master/BA will prioritize the tickets in the sprint sessions.

Certification programs and upskilling opportunities are available to help BAs enhance their skills and keep up with the latest industry trends. It is essential to invest in the upskilling of your employees to build a team of expert BAs catering to various industry verticals like IT, BFSI, Telecom, etc. Certified BAs instill confidence in current and prospective clients, making them an asset to any organization.

Here is a list of the best business analyst certifications available today.

Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP)
The CBAP certification is offered by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) and is considered the gold standard in the industry. To earn this certification, you will need at least five years of experience in business analysis and 7,500 hours (about 10 and a half months) of relevant work experience. You will also need to pass an exam that tests your knowledge in six areas of business analysis.

Certification of Competency in Business Analysis (CCBA)
The CCBA certification is also offered by the IIBA and is designed for business analysts with at least two to three years of experience. To earn this certification, you will need at least 3,750 hours (about 5 months) of relevant work experience and pass an exam that tests your knowledge in four areas of business analysis.

Entry Certificate in Business Analysis (ECBA)
The ECBA certification is another certification offered by the IIBA and is designed for those who are just starting their career in business analysis. To earn this certification, you will need to pass an exam that tests your knowledge in three areas of business analysis.

Project Management Professional (PMP)
While the PMP certification is not specifically designed for business analysts, it can be beneficial for those who work in project management. Offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), this certification requires at least three years of project management experience and 35 hours of project management education.

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
The CSM certification is offered by the Scrum Alliance and is designed for those who work in agile environments. To earn this certification, you will need to attend a two-day training course and pass an exam that tests your knowledge in agile methodologies.

Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA)
The PMI-PBA certification is offered by PMI and is designed for those who work in business analysis. To earn this certification, you will need at least 4,500 hours (about 6 months) of relevant work experience and 35 hours of project management education.

Certified Analytics Professional (CAP)
The CAP certification is offered by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) and is designed for those who work in analytics. To earn this certification, you will need at least five years of analytics experience and pass an exam that tests your knowledge in seven areas of analytics.

Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP)
The CDMP certification is offered by the Data Management Association International (DAMA) and is designed for those who work in data management. To earn this certification, you’ll need at least two years of experience in data management and pass an exam that tests your knowledge in four areas of data management.

Certified Business Intelligence Professional (CBIP)
The CBIP certification is offered by The Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI) and is designed for those who work in business intelligence. To earn this certification, you will need at least two years of experience in business intelligence and pass an exam that tests your knowledge in four areas of business intelligence.

Business Process Management Certification (BPM)
The BPM certification is offered by the Association of Business Process Management Professionals (ABPMP) and is designed for those who work in process management. To earn this certification, you will need at least two years of experience in process management and pass an exam that tests your knowledge in five areas of process management.

In conclusion, a Business Analyst plays a crucial role in ensuring the successful implementation of solutions to emerging challenges faced by businesses today. With the right skills and expertise, BAs can help organizations stay ahead of the curve and achieve their business goals.

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