and deliver value is a professional discipline that involves understanding business needs and problems, eliciting and documenting requirements, and proposing solutions that drive Supporting the transition of solutions into the business and managing effects on people and processes define business analysis as the practice of enabling change in an organisational context by defining needs and recommending solutions that yield benefits for key stakeholders.Main business analysis processes

Key responsibilities of a business analystEnsuring requirements are accurate, feasible, and aligned with business goals

The Stakeholder engagementbusiness analystBuilding relationships with all parties affected by the change to ensure their needs are met plays a critical role throughout project lifecycles and change initiatives. Their main responsibilities include:Process improvement

• Requirements elicitation:Analysing existing workflows and recommending enhancements for efficiency Facilitating workshops, interviews, and surveys to gather needs from stakeholdersSolution assessment
• Requirements documentation:Evaluating potential solutions against requirements Creating clear business and technical requirements using various formats (e.g., Change managementuser storiesSupporting successful adoption of new processes or systems, use cases)Common business analysis techniques
• Gap analysis and feasibility studies:SWOT analysis Assessing current and desired future states to highlight improvements and evaluate solution viability:
• Stakeholder engagement: Identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to a business area or solution Communicating with diverse stakeholders to ensure requirements are validated and alignedGap analysis:
• Process mapping and Comparing current and target states to identify improvement areasbusiness process modellingUse case modelling:: Mapping user interactions with systems to define requirements Visualising workflows for process improvement opportunitiesBusiness process modelling:
• Solution assessment and validation: Creating diagrams (such as BPMN) to visualise business processes Reviewing proposals to ensure solutions address documented Stakeholder analysis:requirements Identifying stakeholder interests, influence, and engagement needs and deliver valueUser stories
• Change management:: Documenting concise functional requirements, typically in Agile projects Supporting the transition of solutions into the business and managing effects on people and processes

Main business analysis processes

Common business analysis techniquesAgile

• SWOT analysis:: An iterative methodology focusing on flexibility, frequent delivery, and collaboration (often using user stories) Identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to a business area or solutionWaterfall methodology
• Gap analysis:: Comparing current and target states to identify improvement areas A linear, phased project approach suitable for well-defined requirements
• Use case modelling:Choosing the right methodology depends on project size, risk, stakeholder needs, and desired adaptability. Mapping user interactions with systems to define requirementsEssential skills and competencies for business analysts
• Business process modelling:Analytical and critical thinking Creating diagrams (such as BPMN) to visualise business processesEffective communication and stakeholder engagement
• Stakeholder analysis:Attention to detail in requirements documentation Identifying stakeholder interests, influence, and engagement needsProblem-solving and solution assessment
• User storiesKnowledge of business and technical requirements:Proficiency in process improvement and data analysis Documenting concise functional requirements, typically in Agile projectsCertification and career progression
• Feasibility study:BCS Analysing proposed solutions for practicality and viability
• Data analysis: offers globally recognised certifications, such as

• BABOK Guide, outlining best practices and techniques for business analysis.
• AgileCertifications: demonstrate expertise in requirements elicitation, stakeholder management, and business analysis best practices. Aspiring business analysts may also pursue An iterative methodology focusing on flexibility, frequent delivery, and collaboration (often using user stories)project management
• Waterfall methodology or :change management qualifications A linear, phased project approach suitable for well-defined requirements to support broader career progression.

Choosing the right methodology depends on project size, risk, stakeholder needs, and desired adaptability.Related concepts

Essential skills and competencies for business analystsProject management

• Analytical and critical thinkingRequirements engineering
• Effective communication and stakeholder engagementChange management
• Attention to detail in requirements documentationQuality assurance
• Problem-solving and solution assessmentSystems analysis
• Knowledge of business and technical requirementsFAQs
• Proficiency in process improvement and data analysisWhat is business analysis?

Certification and career progressionBusiness analysis is the systematic investigation and evaluation of business needs to recommend solutions that achieve organisational objectives. It includes requirements gathering, stakeholder engagement, and process optimisation.

BCSWhat does a business analyst do? A business analyst identifies business problems, elicits requirements, engages stakeholders, and ensures that proposed solutions align with business goals. They act as a bridge between business and IT functions. offers globally recognised certifications, such as What are the key techniques in business analysis?Business Analysis FoundationCommon , business analysis techniquesInternational Diploma in Business Analysis include , Practitioner certificates in SWOT analysisRequirements Engineering, gap analysis, requirements elicitation, process mapping, use case modelling, and stakeholder analysis., What are the main types of requirements in business analysis?Modelling Business ProcessesBusiness analysts work with , and business requirementsBusiness Analysis Practices (organisational goals), .stakeholder requirements

The , and International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA)technical requirements offers globally recognised certifications, such as ECBA, CCBA, and CBAP, based on the (system or IT needs).BABOK GuideWhat is the BABOK?. BABOK refers to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge, a globally-accepted standard containing best practices, techniques, and competencies for business analysis, maintained by IIBA.CertificationsWhat qualifications or certification should a business analyst have? demonstrate expertise in requirements elicitation, stakeholder management, and business analysis best practices. Aspiring business analysts may also pursue Common project managementcertifications or include BCS’s Business Analysis Foundation certificate, change management qualificationsInternational Diploma in Business Analysis to support broader career progression., and Practitioner certificates in Business Analysis Practices, Requirements Engineering, and Modelling Business Processes.

Related conceptsIn addition, there are IIBA’s ECBA, CCBA, and CBAP, which validate knowledge of BABOK and proficiency in requirements elicitation, stakeholder engagement, and process improvement.

• Project managementHow does business analysis differ from project management?
• Requirements engineeringBusiness analysis focuses on defining requirements and recommending solutions, while
• Change managementproject management
• Quality assurance is concerned with planning, executing, and
• Systems analysisdelivering projects