See below for a range of business analysis certification and training options to boost your business analysis career.
Typical business analysis training courses teach students the most essential techniques required by business analysts.
You can gain a basic understanding of some of these techniques by clicking the button to see a list of resources which cover some of these techniques.
Business analysis is a disciplined approach for introducing and managing change to organisations. Business analysis helps identify business problems and articulates the solutions for changing how organisations work.
There are 3 main areas of work during business analysis:
To be effective in a business analysis role, some of the most important skills and experience are:
Business analytics refers to the investigation of previous business performance to gain insights into how to improve performance. Usually, this investigation takes the form of data and statistical analysis and is a fact-based input into business planning. Business analytics answers questions such as why a statistical performance trend is happening, what happens if the trend continues, what will happen next, and what is the best outcome to be expected if improvements are made.
It depends upon which business analysis course you attend, but most likely you will learn some of the core business analysis techniques such as PESTLE analysis, SWOT analysis, MOST, POPIT, McKinsey 7S, de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats, CATWOE, fishbone diagrams, brainstorming, and many others.
It depends upon which country you are based in, and which country you will apply for jobs in. In the UK the most popular qualifications are from the BCS (British Computer Society, otherwise known as the Chartered Institute for IT). They include the fundamental course BCS Foundation Certificate, more than one Practitioner certificate, and an advanced business analysis qualification is the BCS International Diploma.
With the digital transformation of many industries accelerating, certified business analysts can play a key role in helping to shape the future of organisations.
The 3 most obvious roles within an organisation which is interested in the outputs of business analysis are programme managers, project managers and change managers. The proposed business solutions which are articulated as part of business analysis will be implemented in the form of business change programs and/or projects. Business analysts will work closely with programme and project managers to scope out programme and projects for change.
Whilst programme and project managers are focused on delivering the outputs of business change programmes and projects, change managers are focused on ensuring that the desired changes actually come about within the organisation by ensuring the affected staff ‘buy in’ to the proposed changes.
Like most jobs, a role with the job title of business analyst would normally require practical business analysis experience, especially in the business domain of the employing organisation. A university degree would also normally be expected, although this could be in any discipline. Normally, a business analyst would have a wide range of key responsibilities, so it is important for job candidates to consider all their prior experience before applying.
Yes. A business analyst will take a wider view of the organisation to analyse the underlying business problems and identify solutions. This could incorporate staffing, process and technology issues.
Systems analysts tend to focus more on the IT side and are usually assigned to IT projects to analyse existing systems, understand business rules for IT systems, and document requirements for new systems.
Business analysis is used to support businesses in achieving improvement. The business analysis process involves collecting data and conducting analysis for business needs.
Business analysts use business analysis techniques, methods of business analysis, and business analysis frameworks to identify gaps and make recommendations. Business analysis concepts and business analysis strategies guide decisions and ensure business analysis practices meet objectives.
Analysts perform analytical business tasks and create business analysis reports to inform strategic business analysis. The analysis of business operations considers size, market, and external factors, helping define requirements and solutions.
Methods such as business process modelling and requirements analysis allow companies to address user needs and to develop appropriate business analysis tools.
Business analytic skills and business analytics for business provide competitive advantage. Business analysts, including senior business analysts, use analytics, data analysis, and intelligence to evaluate financial and operational performance.
Business analysis skills are critical to every sector, from government to finance, and require ongoing learning. Agile, project management, change management, and business process improvement are often involved.
BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, offers learning and business analysis certifications to equip professionals. Effective business analysis enables organisations to adapt to change, manage costs, and achieve business architecture goals.