What do business analysts do. Business analyst: a creative profession for perfectionists. About the profession, its main characteristic features

Do Belarusian companies need business intelligence? The advertisement says that this is one of the most sought-after professions in IT, that it is not so difficult to get it, salaries are measured in thousands of dollars, and there are an incalculable number of vacancies on job search sites. Is it really? And how to become a business analyst if you are far from IT?

Who is a business analyst and what is the essence of his work?

The main task of a business analyst is a detailed study of the structure of the company, the search for problems and the best ways to solve them. Most often, business analysts analyze financial activity organizations, develop a new or improve an old business model, optimize the work process and do their best to increase the company's profit.

Business analysts are needed large enterprises, banks, construction organizations and, of course, IT companies.

For example, the company was contacted by a client whose sales fell. The business analyst needs to find out why this happened: low-quality content on the site, high prices, complex interface, lack of communication in in social networks. The business analyst then details the results of his research and proposes a solution to the problem.

creative work

Creative work: it is necessary to understand what the customer needs, to see ways to implement the idea, to offer new solutions for the development of the company, to decide which technologies will be used in the work. The business analyst is the creative face of the team, as it is he who communicates the client's requirements to the developers and formalizes them properly.

At the same time, a business analyst must be able to politely communicate with a client and resolve conflicts, be accurate and attentive to details, be able to present the project at its final stage and be, as they say, “two steps ahead”.

Project Management Methods

Project management methods are one of the key requirements for employers. If to speak in simple words, then project management is the management and organization of all processes that will lead to a goal, whether it be a competitor analysis or a marketing campaign.

The difficulty lies in the fact that all projects are different, which means that each needs its own approach. For this, a whole system of project management methodologies has been developed, and, of course, employers will demand this knowledge.

What should be a business analyst?

What other requirements apply to a business analyst?

• Teamwork skills,
• Knowledge is big enough number of software,
• Knowledge of software development methodology
• Activity and desire to develop,
• English language.

If your level is below Upper-Intermediate, getting a business analyst position will be quite difficult. Indeed, in IT, most often clients are Western companies.

How much do business analysts earn?

A good business analyst can expect to earn at least $1,200. According to dev.by statistics, the median salary of a business analyst is $1,600. Senior receives about $3000. Of course, everything will depend only on your professional skills and desire to develop.

Why is project management so important to business analysts?

Why is project management so important to business analysts? Talks about it Alena Volchek, PMI specialist, AGILE (scrum, kanban) and teacher in

- Now the most demanded in the labor market are the so-called "universal specialists". I call themPM- BA". I myself often had to collect requirements from the customer, write technical requirements and specifications. A project manager can be a good business analyst, but the opposite doesn't always work.

For guys who need to decide whether to go into business analysis or project management, this course is ideal. Since there is a base for business analysis and project management. And where to specialize further, already depends only on them.

Now project management is very important for Belarus, especially the last year and a half. The project approach is being introduced everywhere, not even inIT, and, say, in restaurant business, tourist. The question is only in frames. There are few good project managers, and those who understandITspecificity is even less.

Is there a division into the humanities and techies here? Humanitarians, as a rule, choose the specialization "Business Analysis", and as for techies, it seems to me that everything is subject to them, if it does not bother the fact that in "Project Management" or "Project Management + Business Analysis" you need to constantly communicate. Not all techies can do it.

Our Academy is worth choosing for a very comfortable atmosphere! The groups become so united during the course that by the end of the course many become real friends, help each other with employment. Teachers build the course program, taking into account the interests of each particular group and focus on topics relevant to the group.

Topics in the classroom will be very interesting: these are interviews and the features of team formation, protection from manipulation and negotiations and meetings. And also a “mix” in the management of classics and light methodologies, i.e. agile and pmi!

It is very possible to find a job after the course. From the group, at least 2-3 people find work in the first months after the end of the course. But these people are very interested in learning and are ready to change jobs. At the same time, they understand that without work experience it is impossible to immediately count on a salary of $ 1,500, and you need to start small, about $ 400. But the level of responsibility of the assistantPMmuch lower.

As for the best graduates, everything here is like at a university. You can be the best in theory, but fail in practice. Therefore, for me, the best ones are those who quickly master project management programs, grab ideas on how to combine them. Gaps in theory are easily filled, but you need to know the main points by heart: risks, deadlines, cost and team.

If you decide to change something in your life, in your profession, doubt less and do more. Without trying, you will never understand if this is your profession or not. In the meantime, you think, someone has already signed up for your place in my group!

Humanitarians have a place inIT

Vitaly Borodin, a practicing business analyst and educator, talked about why humanities can be better than techies, and why projects can fail without business analysts.

- The importance of the profession of a business analyst is explained very simply, and at the same time quite complicated. Let's try to figure it out. In the classical sense, BA is an intermediary between the customer and the developer, but what is behind this in practice? Hard intellectual work, which does not come down to a simple relaying of the customer's desire.

I know many projects that did not become successful precisely because of the lack of a business analyst. How it all happened: the customer says: "I want ...", and the developer implements the customer's desire. The customer looks at the result and understands that what he wanted was implemented, but it is completely impossible to use it due to some list of reasons.

In the case when a business analyst is involved in the project, he first of all analyzes the customer's business, identifies bottlenecks, the reasons why the activity is not as successful as it could be. After that, he determines and agrees with the customer the identified needs, approaches to satisfy them, determines the concept of a solution that can be associated not only with the development of a new software product, but also with the modernization of business processes. If the proposed concept is accepted by the customer, then work can continue. At the same time, the business analyst must also remember that in some cases it may be necessary to leave everything as it is, and this will be more effective.

Five or seven years ago, analysts were not so popular with us, as we traditionally lag behind in many areas. Now companies are learning to operate more intelligently, and come to understand the need and importance of the role of a business analyst. Yes, business analyst rewards may be high, but they pay off in reduced development time and the creation of better software solutions.

Business analysis is not the same simple profession, as it seems. And there are many explanations for this. First of all, the software you create should not be just a program. The ideal option is when you manage to create a new management philosophy operating activities a company that is integrated into business processes, and in some cases even using a software product to build business processes, regulate and regulate the activities of each employee.

For example, who can imagine a modern company that does not useCRM? Or some kind of software product for doing accounting? Now imagine a company where each software product has an integration with the other, where you can get the information you need in this moment in several manipulations in the same software environment. Just? Hardly.

Theoretically, anyone can learn to become a business analyst, but with one condition: there must be a clear motivation and understanding of why this is needed. In addition, it is necessary to clearly understand that business analysis is studied all the time while it works. You never know what project will be next: a website, search system, online store, reference and information system, payment service, graphic editor.

Young specialists with off-scale ambitions often completely forget that for high salaries it is necessary to work hard enough, and only theoretical knowledge obtained even in a prestigious educational institution, absolutely not enough.

I do not know of any profession where you can get big money on the go. In any case, you need to get some set of basic knowledge, practical skills. Then there will be the first project, the first bumps, again new project, a lot of new knowledge, and so on ad infinitum. This is an experience. That experience and knowledge that a business analyst receives with each project can turn into a coefficient by which the beginner's remuneration will change. And after some time, it may be a few months, for someone a few years, you can get to the concept of "earn a lot."

I am a supporter of the fact that this profession is more suitable for the humanities, since they think a little differently, for them the word “impossible” does not exist, they are more creators than hard workers. The main thing to remember is that the creation meets the interests of the customer. Technical Specialist thinks in formulas, while the humanist describes the essence itself.

Our IT Academy "BelHard" has all the necessary resources and infrastructure for successful learning. First of all, it's frames. All teachers are practicing specialists, each of them has various projects in their portfolio, thanks to which the “dry theory” is explained on practical examples and specific decisions that were made during the implementation of projects. In addition, the course is designed in such a way that anyone can learn, regardless of his age and knowledge.

Let me give you a few tips for beginners. Make sure that there is motivation and desire to explore a new direction, there is a willingness to learn a lot, and after completing the course, start a career almost from the very beginning, and, regardless of age and past merits, become a beginner who after some time will become a specialist and will be able to hear , as a satisfied user will say: “What a cool program, a genius came up with it!” But there is a difficult and long way to go.

How to become a business analyst?

If you are still confident in your motivation to become a part of IT, then you should find out where you can get this profession.

IT Academy "BelHard" offers an integrated course. Here you will learn how to design an information system and manage its development, learn how to effective methods collecting user requirements, formalizing them in a form that is accessible and understandable to all interested parties, learn how to manage joint work teams that solve different problems and learn how to create a finished product.

This course differs from ordinary business analysis in that you will learn not only to analyze a business and propose a development strategy, but also to manage projects, human resources, and risks yourself. You will acquire skills in two specialties at once, and this will double your chances of finding a prestigious and well-paid job.

Also, BelHard IT Academy has developed a course after which you will become a real business analyst!

In the courses you will learn about the features of software projects and modern software development methodologies, get acquainted with the functions performed by a business analyst, as well as with the basic skills of a business analyst, learn necessary tools and software, get invaluable experience in compiling and designing terms of reference.

By the way, if you want to become a real professional in the field of business analysis and study this area a little deeper, then you can take the course You will learn the language UML modeling, learn what user stories are, learn how to manage requirements.

All courses at BelHard IT Academy are aimed at workshops to get the best results. At the end of the course, all participants submit a project, according to which the final certification will be carried out. And remember that the main investment in your life is an investment in yourself and your knowledge!

Greetings, Friends/Comrades/Future Colleagues!

Recently, the profession of an analyst in the field of software development (in the future we will write software so that the abbreviation does not cause you bewilderment when you stumble upon it on specialized sites) is rapidly gaining popularity among representatives of not only the IT sector, but also "non-IT" specialties. Students, young professionals, long-term employees, many have a passionate interest in the enigmatic and intriguing phrase "business analyst". And on everyone's mind main question: how to become? We are launching a series of articles for beginner analysts, the purpose of which is to tell you about business analysis, help you make a choice and suggest in which direction to move on. Not so long ago, the authors of the article were at a crossroads, and if it were not for experienced people nearby, ready to prompt, explain and give invaluable advice, they would not have become what they have become - business analysts.

Today we will talk about the profession of an analyst, the qualities that analysts should have, and also outline the pros and cons of this craft.

So what is an analyst? The most simple and closest to IT definition: an analyst is an intermediate link between the customer of a software product (as well as its future users) and its developers. Imagine that you decided to build a house and hired a team of guest workers from nearby sunny countries for this. What is the probability that, by explaining to them the essence of your wishes, you will not waste your nerves trying to convey to them the idea that what they are doing is not “beautiful and convenient”? And how will you react to their statements like “you need a convector in the floor”? Surely you will eventually find with them mutual language. But now imagine that in the software development industry, specialized slang / concepts / principles of building systems are many times more complicated and voluminous, and programmers often show much more unwillingness to understand you and communicate with you in ordinary human language (sorry, programmers who read us; you are not all like that :)). This is where this very analyst comes to the rescue. The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) defines a business analyst as a professional who "understands business problems and opportunities in the context of requirements and recommends solutions to enable an organization to achieve its goals."

In practice, the essence of the work of an analyst may vary depending on the role of the analyst on the project. Most common types of IT analysts this:

1. Business analyst(Business Analyst, BA) - as a rule, this is a specialist engaged in the study and modeling of a specific subject area. In other words, he must find out the wishes of the customer, analyze them, supplement them if necessary, arrange them in a certain way (build models, document at least the general wishes of the client) and transfer them to the development team. BA is the face of the team, sociable, tactful, easily finding a common language with the customer. Technical knowledge (or, using the fashionable word now, background) is not at all necessary for a business analyst, much more important is knowledge of the customer's language and the characteristics of his culture.
2. Systems Analyst(System Analyst, SA) - an analyst much closer to the development team than a BA; a specialist who must translate to the team the high-level software requirements received from the business analyst in the form of detailed functional requirements for the system, naturally, in the language of the development team. Often he also has to propose a specific technical solution and design the system architecture.
3. Requirements Analyst(Requirements Analyst, RA) is a cross between BA and SA. In the official classification of the EKSD RB, this position is absent, however, in many Western theories, RA is present as a specialist who is responsible for extracting, analyzing, documenting and modeling requirements, i.e., in a simplistic way, for writing requirements specifications for their further transfer to developers. Unlike a BA, it is not enough for a requirements analyst to simply figure out the high-level requirements - he is also responsible for developing a detailed description of the system being designed. At the same time, it is not necessary for an RA to have deep knowledge in IT and develop a system architecture, since there are dedicated architects and system designers among programmers for this.

Most analysts in any outsourcing company in our country (that is, a company engaged in custom software development) are precisely requirements analytics. A rare company in our conditions can afford to keep a "pure" business analyst who is well versed in any one subject area, plus keep him on constant business trips, closer to the "customer's body". In addition, loading such an analyst with at least 80% of work will be very problematic, while the cost of maintaining it is quite significant. Although, it is worth noting that we have such companies and such analysts. As for system analysts, without having a BA on staff, they make little sense, except when you come across a customer with business analysts on their part, or a professional customer who knows and knows how to convey his “Wishlist” to the team (yes- Yes, not all customers know exactly what they want).

Well, are you interested? Then let's move on. So the main qualities/skills an ideal analyst (note that some qualities are innate, while others are developed, some quickly, and some quite long):

1. Analytical mindset (really? Analyst? Thank you, cap :)). This is the ability to analyze or, in other words, the ability to put information on the shelves and build logical chains. This is one of the characteristic styles of human thinking. An analytical mindset is not inherent in everyone from birth, but any of us can develop analytical abilities in ourselves, so do not despair.
2. The ability to notice details, attentiveness and systems thinking. On the one hand, these qualities are characteristic of a person with an analytical mindset, but still these are separate skills, or even habits that can and should be developed in oneself.
3. Sociability and communication skills, namely:
- the ability to listen and hear.
- the ability to express their thoughts clearly and clearly.
- the ability to establish and establish contacts and relationships with other people.
4. Knowledge of IT and the basics of software development (the so-called technical background).
5. Knowledge foreign language(most often English) in terms of written and oral application. Domestic outsourcing is mainly directed to foreign countries. Naturally, in unique situations, when you know that you will professional career build exclusively on interaction with Russian-speaking customers, you can safely ignore this item.
6. Learning. Moreover, learning is not only at the stage of learning. In principle, it is important for analytics and it is necessary to constantly improve, “pump” in one area or another, follow new technologies, tools and approaches, filter information flows.
7. Creativity.

We have not in vain noted that these are the qualities of an ideal analyst. In life, you are unlikely to meet a person who has these qualities / skills from birth or who received them in full at school or university. They will have to be developed and developed. Let's say more: as you move up the career ladder (and we will write about this later), you will have to develop and acquire additional skills, no less complex and interesting.

We must not forget that every profession has its own dignity, and limitations. And if you, most likely, have heard a lot about the merits, because it was not in vain that you were drawn into business analysis, then you may not know about the shortcomings. But for the sake of completeness of the picture, we will present both.

Why you might like the job of a business analyst:

This is interesting :) (of course, not always, of course, depending on the company and the project, but still ...)
- work involves constant communication (unlike developers and testers, an analyst will not be able to sit in front of a monitor all day, and this, in our opinion, is great)
- a variety of activities (here you have communication, and information analysis, and documentation, and design, and problem solving, and team management, and lecturing - and that's not all)
- the possibility of growth in breadth and upwards (if there is a desire, of course)
- the material side of the issue
- the opportunity to visit other countries and all the benefits that follow from this.

Why you might not like the job of a business analyst:

This is boring (: (again, depends on the specifics of the project and the company - sometimes you will have to do monotonous and routine work, or work that you do not like)
- the need to communicate (more precisely, you willy-nilly have to communicate, and, in most cases, not only in Russian, plus periodically make public speeches)
- the need to switch between various types activities and, as progress is made, between several projects that are completely different in nature
- the need to make decisions and take responsibility for their decisions.

Did you get the idea? Everything here is purely individual, plus a lot depends on where you will work (in which company / with which customers / with which team / on which project / in which subject area).

This concludes our introductory lecture. We hope that this article was useful, or at least allowed you to once again make sure that you are in the right place. We would advise beginner analysts to analyze the entire flow of information, decide whether you really want to become a business analyst, and thereby get one step closer to your cherished goal. In the following articles, we will talk about what are the options for “entry” into the industry, how to prepare for interviews, we will also talk about self-education, we will give many useful links and explanations, plus we will tell you about the next steps for those who have already become an analyst, but still wear proud prefix junior.

We encourage everyone to actively unsubscribe and share their thoughts and experiences on the above!

P.S. Feel confident that you want to become a business analyst or improve your knowledge in this area? Welcome to

This article addresses the questions:

1. Misconceptions of the people.
2. So what, after all, does an IT analyst do?
3. secrets successful work(what qualities should an analyst have).
4. Analytics tools.
5. Where to go next?

Also in our blog there is an article "", which complements the current one.

Misconceptions of the townsfolk

Systems analyst is a profession that has appeared relatively recently on Russian market vacancies in the IT field. Understanding who a system analyst is, arises from candidates for this position either from the requirements described in the vacancy, or from their own conjectures. Let's take a look at some of the most common candidate misconceptions. This vacancy is not for everyone who was previously someone "systemic". Our company often receives responses to this vacancy, for example, from system administrators.

An analyst is one who analyzes

In principle, it is correct, but when you ask a candidate about what he analyzes, this is where fantasies and reflections on various topics begin. Some argue that the analyst should tell the project manager what it would be good to do this or that when developing the project, or generally monitor the developers and analyze whether they are doing the right thing or not. All these are erroneous opinions.

Analyst should not be able to program

This is a logical conclusion, assuming that the first conjectures are correct. In fact, analytics is not required special knowledge in programming, but you need to know the basics, or at least have development experience in any programming language that supports OOP.

Analyst is not responsible for anything

In fact, this is far from the case, and candidates who want to take the position of a systems analyst in an IT company think that they will not have to answer for the job. Analyst errors in a project are the most expensive and can even be fatal to a project.

So what does an analyst do anyway?

Requirement Identification

An analyst starts a project, participates in development, and completes it. Software development begins with the fact that the customer sets out to the contractor his vision of the future system. This presentation could be oral as well as in writing. This presentation cannot be called requirements, since they are not systematic, but resemble a set of wishes of the client. At the initial stage of software design, the analyst is obliged to identify the goals of software development from the customer, that is, what main tasks the System should solve when it is introduced into the business process of the enterprise. This stage of the project is the initial stage and is called the requirements identification process. All identified requirements and business processes must be formalized in a certain way. Formalization of requirements is necessary for their coordination with the customer, as well as their equal perception by both the customer and the project developers. In addition to the identified requirements, at this stage of project development, project users with certain access rights are also determined. In the process of identifying requirements, the customer may not provide all the necessary information for the full functioning of the project. The analyst should be able to identify this information and agree with the customer on this functionality of the work. The result of the analyst's work at this design stage is the terms of reference for the development, agreed with the customer.

Requirements Management

At subsequent stages of development, situations are possible when the requirements formulated at the stage of identifying requirements become obsolete for one reason or another, and new requirements appear instead. The analyst must minimize changes in requirements, whether the new requirements come from the customer or developers. In the event of a change in requirements, the analyst should, keeping the project practically in his head, evaluate all changes in the project that will entail the introduction of new requirements into the project. Changes in requirements can be costly in project development, so changes should be kept to a minimum, but nonetheless modern world Requirements changes are almost inevitable on any project. The analyst must be able to anticipate such situations in order to manage changes in project requirements to minimize risks.

Project implementation

Upon completion of the development of any IT project, the stage of introducing the developed project into the customer's business process begins. This stage also lies on the shoulders of the analyst, he must prepare the documentation necessary for users, conduct a demonstration of the project, and train the customer's employees. In order for this stage to be completed at the proper level, the analyst must know the work of the entire project from "A" to "Z", as well as navigate the possible errors that will be eliminated in subsequent releases. Before the implementation phase, the analyst should take part in testing the project in order to make sure that all the functional requirements specified in the TOR are fulfilled correctly.

Secrets of successful work

I would like to touch on the topic of the personal qualities of an analyst in the IT field. Personal qualities analytics give 60% of his result. The work of an analyst is connected with direct communication with the customer, so the analyst must have a well-delivered speech so that the customer sees a competent specialist and a pleasant person in the interlocutor. In the ability to communicate lies big success at work. So, the first quality of an analyst is sociability. The next quality of an analyst, which allows him to perform his duties with high quality, is analytical warehouse crazy. It allows you to "filter out" unnecessary information that the customer conveys to the contractor, and on the basis of the information received, analyze the customer's activities and formalize the requirements. Perhaps this is the main quality of an analyst, because it directly affects the quality of projects being developed. The analyst must be able to keep a large amount of information on the entire project, and sometimes more than one, in his head and be able to quickly calculate the impact of certain changes required by the customer or the development team on the system as a whole in order to timely coordinate these changes and their consequences with all stakeholders. To build business models of customer processes, an analyst needs to have a high learnability. This quality is necessary for a quick study of the subject area in which the customer works. The analyst must become a "specialist" in each of the subject areas, which change with work on each new project. At the stage of formation of requirements, the analyst draws up the terms of reference (TOR) for the development of the project, which must be agreed with the customer and which will be studied by the developers.

Based on this, the system analyst must state the requirements in the TOR in such a way that they are understandable to both the customer and the project executor. For this, it is necessary to have literacy in writing texts and make as few mistakes as possible. In the process of building business models, the analyst will need programming skills and understanding of OOP. Most often, the model of a process can be represented as a set of objects, and actions on them can be represented as methods. Model objects can also have properties. Objects in models can use all OOP principles. When building system models, as a rule, the project data model is also determined.

When designing large projects for large customers, analysts face many difficulties associated with the development of technical specifications. These difficulties can arise due to constantly changing requirements, a large number of users, and other factors. All this leads to frequent changes in the TOR. Analyst sometimes has to rewrite up to 30-40% of the terms of reference several times. Naturally, this affects his nervous system, so the analyst needs to have considerable patience and stress resistance. Stress resistance also useful in training users of new projects, since most users are forced to work in a new project by business organizers (customers), which they strongly resist. The analyst has to listen to a lot of unflattering words addressed to him, but he must calmly respond to criticism from users and complete his task.

Analytics tools

The main tools of a system analyst are pen, paper and pencil. For a good analyst, this is enough to formulate requirements and draw up a business model. In practice, analysts use various modeling tools that support IDEFx, UML, BPMN notations. Such tools allow you to reduce the time for building models and diagrams, as well as get the result in graphical form and in the form of text reports. Tools like these help keep project requirements under control and keep them up to date. An example of modeling tools are such applications as: Enterprise Architect (EA), Rational Rose, RUP, etc. Also, office packages such as MS Office, iWork, Open Office come to the aid of analytics.

Where to go next?

In conclusion, I would like to reflect on the development of a further career as a systems analyst. A system analyst is a universal person who is able to negotiate with customers, set tasks and monitor their implementation by developers. His knowledge and ability to navigate various subject areas human life functions are able to assist in the implementation of duties, for example, a project manager, or manage a team of analysts on large projects. One way or another, the profession of a system analyst is promising in the IT market today.

Other blog materials on the topic "Analyst in IT".

Often people who start exercising entrepreneurial activity, ask the question: "Business analyst - who is it and why hire him?" After reviewing the definition of the concept, it will become clear that he is an indispensable employee. Then you need to find out what information his job description contains.

concept

A business analyst is a specialist who applies business analysis methods to perform an analysis of the company's needs, to find out the causes of problems in the implementation of activities and create proposals for their solution.

This concept is defined by the International Institute of Business Analysis as an intermediary to collect the necessary information and verify the requirements for creating information systems. The employee must understand what the business has opportunities and challenges that help or hinder the achievement of the company's goals.

The term in question has not been established for a long time. Synonyms can be used as the name of a specialist: requirements analyst and system analyst. Business Analyst is the lowest consultant position if consulting business is considered.

General provisions of the job description

A business analyst is a service employee of the company's development department, which belongs to the category of administrative and managerial apparatus. It should be noted that the purpose of the position is to optimize and analyze the processes that are carried out by the company. A system analyst can be appointed to a position and removed from it on the proposal of the head of the department by the head of the enterprise. The employee must follow the orders of the director strategic development. To do this, he must use the relevant regulatory documents.

Business analyst functions

The system analyst plans work on the analysis of business processes:

• is engaged in the creation of a work plan for the analysis, optimization and modeling of processes, after which it is coordinated with the head of strategic development;
• is engaged in the formation of an estimate of resources and a plan for communications required to perform modeling of new processes.

Performs analysis and optimization:

• develops the structure of the elements necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of existing functions and processes;
• applies tools modeling, acceptance by the company;
• draws up a holistic analytical report, presented with text comments and analysis tables;
• develops recommendations for changing organizational structure and application of optimized business processes;
• prepares the required information for the technical writer of the development department.

Performs a presentation of the optimized process to other employees of the company:

• the business analyst develops the demo materials that are required for the presentation;
• ensures that the presentation has the necessary information materials, software and hardware;
• demonstrates optimization results to other employees;
• deals with the procedure for publishing materials on the company's website.

Engaged in the improvement of the methodology for examining the processes of the company:

• monitors available sources of information to identify shortcomings in the methods adopted at the enterprise;
• conducts documentation of the shortcomings of the company's methodology, which will contain a report to the head of strategic development and ways to eliminate problems;
• develops recommendations for the use of innovative optimization technologies.

The duties of a business analyst include training company employees and professional development:

• must undergo appropriate training and certification in accordance with the established plan of the company;
• trains other employees of the company to work with optimized business processes;
• trains other employees of the company to work in the tool environment of their modeling.

Business analytics knowledge

A business analyst should have the following knowledge:

• existing national standard DSTU ISO 9001-2001;
• organization standard for internal audit, regulation and system description;
• current orders and orders of company executives in the field of optimization and analysis of business processes;
• adopts domestic and foreign experience to improve management systems;
• the established and current model of the company's functioning;
• modern possibilities computer technology, as well as ways to use it to carry out work on the survey and optimization of relevant processes;
• norms and rules of labor protection established by the legislation.

Job Responsibilities

To make it clear what responsibilities a business analyst has, the instruction for him should be drawn up by a representative of the company in which he will work. He has the following responsibilities:

• performance of the functions established by the job description;
• Ensuring compliance with company policy with high quality;
• contributing to the optimal functioning of the quality management system;
• taking corrective measures in the implementation of its activities;
• fulfillment of the requirements stipulated by the organizational documents.

The duties of a business analyst must be performed by him in full in accordance with the established job description.

System analyst rights

It is worth highlighting the following rights of a business process analyst:

• Request from officials and receive the required documents and materials related to the activities carried out.
• Conduct surveys and interviews with company leaders to perform analysis and optimization
• Carry out a survey of the company's management to ensure the collection of the required information to identify shortcomings in the functioning system and determine the need for its improvement.
• The business analyst has the right to receive reviews of documents developed by the company and required for the implementation of business processes.
• The employee must be familiar with the mode of operation included in the list of rules internal regulations companies.
• Has the right to travel on business trips if necessary.

The list of rights can be expanded depending on the order of the enterprise management.

Responsibility

Job description business analyst contains a list of processes for which he is responsible:

• for insufficient quality of performance of their duties;
• for providing false information about the quality of the work performed in accordance with the accepted indicators;
• for late reporting in accordance with the requirements of the regulation on internal audit;
• for failure to comply with the instructions and orders of the company's management and the head of strategic development;
• for violating the company's internal regulations.

Responsibility is established separately for each enterprise. The analyst must understand that it is impossible to violate the rules of the company.

Relationships

The tasks of a business analyst also include relationships. They represent the implementation of information interaction with officials structural divisions companies under their authority. Also, the system analyst should provide the required information to the technical writer of the development department in the area of ​​documenting the results.

Regulations

The business analyst must be guided by the following documents and standards in the performance of his duties:

• Job Description, which is developed and adopted by the company's management.
• National standard DSTU ISO 9001-2001.
• Company standard.
• The company's quality management.
• An established description of the enterprise functioning system.
• Orders and orders of the company's management in matters of analysis and optimization of business processes.
• Accepted internal rules of the company.
• Legally established rules and norms of labor protection.
• Orders and orders of the chief, which relate to the organization of the activities of other employees of the company.

It is necessary to adhere to the requirements of these documents in without fail if provided by the company.

Labor efficiency criteria

An IT business analyst must show certain results of work. The main criteria for labor efficiency are:

• Compliance with the established work schedule.
• Achieving a high level of employee satisfaction with the quality of work organization.
• Achievement of maximum values ​​during performance assessment, which are preliminarily set by the company's management.

A business analyst who has been hired by the enterprise development department must read the job description and sign an agreement to comply with its terms. The document should be developed by an employee specially appointed for this purpose. It is necessary to develop a job description taking into account all the requirements that must be observed.

The Business Process Analyst should review the submitted document in detail. After his signature, he can begin to perform his duties. You should also know your rights and responsibilities for violation current rules. The job description is also signed by the head of the department and the chief executive of the enterprise.

Business analysts in IT help managers make the right and informed decisions. Thanks to business analysis, you can adjust the development strategy and work with the system based on clear arguments and specific data. That is why IT companies need good business analysts. Today we are talking about the specifics of the profession, tasks, areas of responsibility and how to become a business analyst with Evgenia Shpilnaya, a teacher of courses and trainings in business analysis.

Evgenia, why do IT companies need business analysis?

The most important task of business analysis- compare the state of existing processes with the needs of the customer and offer options for optimizing current processes and / or organizing new processes in accordance with business objectives. All proposed options are carefully studied by the analyst, all the pros and cons are weighed, and, if possible, providedeconomic rationale for each decision.

Tell us how you got into the profession, where did you start?

I studied IT at the university (Software for computer technology and automated systems). Until the last course, I was sure that I would become a developer. During the training, we were told how the development process goes in general, which employees are involved. They also talked about the tasks of an analyst. This area interested me a lot. After receiving my diploma, I had to choose what to do next. By that time, it became clear that I would not go into development, there were analytics and testing. I chose analytics because the profession is partly creative. You need to come up with ideas, work out solutions, put everything on the shelves.

First I worked as an intern, then as a technical writer and systems analyst. So I reached the position of a business analyst, gradually developing the necessary competencies and skills

What is the difference between business analysis and systems analysis?

In fact, the difference between business analysis and system analysis is the level of elaboration of requirements for the product, for the automated system.The business analyst works with business requirements, while the system- in the field of system requirements.But where the border is between these two types of requirements, each company determines for itself. The tasks of a business analyst in one company may overlap with those of a systems analyst in another.

The diagram shows the levels of elaboration of requirements for an automated system. As a rule, the lower block of system requirements is in the competence of the system analyst, and the upper one, with business requirements,- business analytics. How to distribute the remaining requirements between system and business analysis is decided individually in each company.There is no clear boundary here.

Development of requirements for software, Carl I. Vigers

Why then draw a line between business analysis and systems analysis, should it be drawn?

The line is drawn precisely because of the main area with which the analyst works. It can be a business (processes, people, goals, indicators) or a system. It means automated system, i.e. some application that allows the user to achieve certain goals. At the same time, within the framework of the whole process, these can only be intermediate goals.If the project is small, it makes no sense to separate tasks and take two analysts to the company, in which case one specialist can handle it.The larger the project, the more likely it is to separate tasks.

What knowledge and skills do you need to have to become a business analyst?

Since we are talking about business analysis in IT, it is desirable to have some kind of IT background. At a minimum, know the main features of technologies and the differences between them. Analysis skills required- ability to collect data, analyze, draw conclusions.

Among business analysts there are those who have not worked in IT before, but already in the process got acquainted with development methodologies.

You also need attention to detail and a desire to understand the problem, the ability to clearly and clearly express your thoughts, good communication skills (the ability to actively listen, ask questions). What is important is the ability to work with a large amount of information, responsibility and, perhaps, a tendency to perfectionism. If you recognize yourself in this psychological portrait, business analysis is right for you.

What are the requirements for business analysts employers?

This is usually higher education Information Technology or mathematics), because it is these areas that people with analytical, structural thinking tend to choose. But some companies require experience in their industry. For example, if a company operates in the medical field, you may need to medical education. As for the skills of an analyst, an employer may be interested in the experience of collecting and describing requirements (Vision, Use-Cases, User Stories, SRS), identifying and documenting business processes, and modeling business processes. Experience in prototyping user interfaces will also come in handy. These are the points we will be talking about in this course. I will tell you in detail why each process is needed, where to start, what to pay attention to.

Also in job requirements you can find knowledge of modeling tools (MS Visio, ARIS, Enterprise architect, Bizagi, etc.), knowledge of interface prototyping tools (Balsamiq, Axura, etc.), knowledge of modeling notations (UML, IDEF, BPMN, etc.) . We will also talk about which tools to choose during the course, there will also be practical homework assignments. You can study the software in detail yourself,

Do not focus on specific programs. The higher the qualification of a specialist, the less he depends on the tools.

How long does it take to become a highly qualified specialist?

It depends on the person himself. You need to spend 10,000 hours of practice to become a professional in some area, and this is about 5-6 years of work. If all this time is devoted to an in-depth study of the chosen field, then 5 years is more than enough to become an expert. True, it is worth remembering that business analysis, like all areas in IT, does not stand still. You always need to follow trends, learn the news, constantly learn.

What career prospects await analysts?

It can be horizontal growth: deepening into specialization, transition to system analysis, data analysis. Or vertical growth: a shift in management, the work of a department head, project manager, product manager.

Where can you start to become a business analyst?

You can start as a technical writer, assistant business analyst, intern. Or you can start with testing, but the path may be longer. If you are going to become a business analyst, but it is not yet possible to apply for such vacancies, try to get a position where there is an opportunity to work with analysts.

On the we study what skills are needed for successful work, we look at how to succeed in each of the areas. The course provides a good vector for further development.

Why is it worth taking a course at the IT Academy, because you can study on your own, learn everything about the profession?

The course is not like university lectures. Classes are held in small groups, and it is always a dialogue, a two-way format. You can ask an expert teacher questions that really interest you, get an answer quickly, and communicate with colleagues. This is a valuable experience.

Start with Books: Carl I. Wiegers, Joy Beatty Software Requirements Engineering, Alistair Coburn Modern methods descriptions of functional requirements for systems” and others. Many useful materials for website analystsanalyst.by , habrahabr.ru , uml2.ru .

What advice would you give to those who want to work as an IT analyst?

The profession of a business analyst is creative, but at the same time it involves a lot of responsibility. You don't have to be afraid of this. And, of course, always develop, look at what is happening around, learn new things.

We invite you to , where you can learn more about the profession and try your hand at real cases from the practice of a teacher. And you can get more complete knowledge on. Waiting for you!