What is Business Analysis?

What is Business Analysis?

Business Analysis is the practice of enabling change in the context of an enterprise by defining needs and recommending solutions that deliver value to the stakeholders. Business Analysis ultimately helps to understand why organizations want to create change, understand the needs of the enterprise, design possible solutions, and describe how those solutions can deliver value. Business Analysis is delivered in a variety of perspectives including, but not limited to Agile, Business Architecture, Business Intelligence, Information Technology (IT), and Process Improvement.

Who is a Business Analyst?

Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing and synthesizing information provided by a large number of people within the enterprise, including customers, end users, subject matter experts (SME), management, and sponsors.  A Business Analyst is anyone in the organization that perform business analysis activities, no matter what their job title.  Common job titles for people that perform business analysis activities are Business Analyst, Business Systems Analyst, Requirements Engineer, Agile Team Member, Enterprise Architect, Business Architect, Business Intelligence Analyst, Data Analyst, Process Analyst, User Experience Designer, Product Owner, Product Manager, Change Manager, Change Agent, and many more.  Business analysis activities and techniques are defined in the Guide to Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK®) created by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®). Other roles within the enterprise, such as management, project management, software development, quality assurance and interaction design rely heavily on business analysis for success.

Business Analysis Help Businesses Do Business Better

Business Analysts as agents of change is a disciplined approach to help introduce managed change in the organization, whether they are for-profit, government, or not-for-profit. Business Analysis is used to identify and articulate the need for change in how the organization works, and to facilitate that change. As Business Analysts, we identify and define solutions that will maximize the value delivered to the organization and its stakeholders. Business Analysts work across all levels of the organization and may be involved in everything from defining strategy, creating enterprise architecture, defining goals and requirements for programs and projects, to supporting continuous improvement in its technology and processes.