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Business Analyst

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by rmr864

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Can anyone give advise on how to switch gears from network admin/IT manager to a business analyst.

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by jamesrl

The first thing to learn is how to flow chart a business process. You can use a number of tools, from Powerpoint to Visio. I suggested getting a book on the subject - its not difficult but it requires a logical approach.

For more expertise I would look at some of the Six Sigma methodologies. Depending on what business your company is in, or your interest lies, there is six sigma for service businesses, manufacturing etc.

I would also bone up on IT Project Management. One of the key things a business analyst does in many IT organizations is gather the functional requirements for a project - the "what" the product needs to accomplish - and turn the information gathered into a usable document that a developer/architect/designer can use. There are books and courses on how to write good requirements.

Thats a good start.

James

by cloudedyoda

Hey, I have also been considering this after reading articles that hype up demands for Business Process Management (BPM).

I like doing system analysis more than software engineering. But business analysis is fairly new to me.

My question is:
From your experience, do business analysts have a stable job? Perhaps they do not switch jobs as often as software developers who always have the extra burden of re-skilling on new programming languages (or get replaced). Do you know anyone in the field who stayed on the same job for a long period of time?

by jamesrl

Many Business Analysts I know transition into Project Leads/Managers. If they have come from development they understand the "build" cycle. From being a business analyst they come to understand the project initiation phase. Put it together and they have a good handle on much of the project management world. In smaller projects, the PMs often fo the business analysis.

James

by rmr864

Thanks for the responses.
Here is my situation...At my old position I was the goto Network Admin and also the manager. After a 6 month layoff, I am now working solely as a call center manager and I am feeling rather bored. I am thinking of looking at switching over to a Business Analyst position. I like the idea of seeing a project through till the end.

by wrightdavidw

Have a look at a new group, the International Institute of Business Analysis, at www.iiba.com

Quick thoughts on this conversation? I have been a Business Analyst/Architect for over 20 years, with no desire to switch over to project Management. Granted, I do Project Planning, Work Breakdowns, Estimating and have the 'project lead' on various projects... but the two roles are different. BA's want the project done right, and PMs want it done on time and within budget. It is best to have two people in the different roles negotiating the trade-offs of the project 'triangle'; make one person do both for too long and it will drive them nuts trying to do it all themselves.

Last thought? Business process Maps (flowcharts) are good, but add Functional Decomp/defn, Use Cases, Conceptual Data Modelling and Business Rules definition...to start.

by catherine

I am working in software quality assurance, where there is little interaction with the end-users. How do I become a Business Analyst (gaining experience in requirements' gathering, training)? I have a job offer now, on business analysis, but their system was already developed late last year, so I was thinking the work would be quite diluted?

by iqtiedu

For business analysiscareer you need to know much about the concepts of business analysis . Also should have good analytical and language skills add advantagage

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