What is business analysis?
Key takeawaysCommon business analysis techniques
Business analysis turns business needs into clear requirements and evidence-based decisions.
- Business analysis aligns strategic goals with delivery by bridging stakeholders and technical teams.
- Clear requirements and validation reduce project risk and improve solution fit, cost and feasibility.
- Techniques like SWOT, gap analysis, process modelling and data analysis expose opportunities and bottlenecks.
and deliver value
The Change managementbusiness analyst: plays a critical role throughout project lifecycles and change initiatives. Their main responsibilities include: Supporting the transition of solutions into the business and managing effects on people and processes
- Requirements elicitation:Main business analysis processes Facilitating workshops, interviews, and surveys to gather needs from stakeholdersProcess
- Requirements documentation:Description Creating clear business and technical requirements using various formats (e.g., Requirements elicitationuser storiesGathering information from stakeholders using interviews, workshops, observation, and document analysis, use cases)Requirements documentation
- Gap analysis and feasibility studies:Capturing business and technical requirements in written formats, such as Assessing current and desired future states to highlight improvements and evaluate solution viabilityuser stories
- Stakeholder engagement:, use cases, or requirement specifications Communicating with diverse stakeholders to ensure requirements are validated and alignedRequirements validation
- Process mapping and Ensuring requirements are accurate, feasible, and aligned with business goalsbusiness process modellingStakeholder engagement:Building relationships with all parties affected by the change to ensure their needs are met Visualising workflows for process improvement opportunitiesProcess improvement
- Solution assessment and validation:Analysing existing workflows and recommending enhancements for efficiency Reviewing proposals to ensure solutions address documented Solution assessmentrequirementsEvaluating potential solutions against requirements and deliver valueChange management
- Change managementSupporting successful adoption of new processes or systems:Common business analysis techniques Supporting the transition of solutions into the business and managing effects on people and processesSWOT analysis
Main business analysis processes:
| Process Identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to a business area or solution | DescriptionGap analysis: |
|---|---|
| Requirements elicitation Comparing current and target states to identify improvement areas | Gathering information from stakeholders using interviews, workshops, observation, and document analysisUse case modelling: |
| Requirements documentation Mapping user interactions with systems to define requirements | Capturing business and technical requirements in written formats, such as Business process modelling:user stories Creating diagrams (such as BPMN) to visualise business processes, use cases, or requirement specificationsStakeholder analysis: |
| Requirements validation Identifying stakeholder interests, influence, and engagement needs | Ensuring requirements are accurate, feasible, and aligned with business goalsUser stories |
| Stakeholder engagement: | Building relationships with all parties affected by the change to ensure their needs are met Documenting concise functional requirements, typically in Agile projects |
| Process improvementFeasibility study: | Analysing existing workflows and recommending enhancements for efficiency Analysing proposed solutions for practicality and viability |
| Solution assessmentData analysis: | Evaluating potential solutions against requirements Using quantitative and qualitative data to inform decision-making |
| Change managementBusiness analysis tools and methodologies | Supporting successful adoption of new processes or systemsKey tools |
Common business analysis techniquesRequirements management software (for example, Jira, Confluence, or Azure
- SWOT analysisDevOps:) Identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to a business area or solutionProcess mapping tools (such as Visio, Lucidchart)
- Gap analysis:Mind mapping and collaboration software Comparing current and target states to identify improvement areasData analysis tools (for example, Excel, Power BI)
- Use case modelling:Methodologies Mapping user interactions with systems to define requirementsBABOK (Business Analysis Body of Knowledge):
- Business process modelling: The leading global standard published by Creating diagrams (such as BPMN) to visualise business processesIIBA
- Stakeholder analysis:, outlining best practices and techniques for business analysis Identifying stakeholder interests, influence, and engagement needsAgile
- User stories:: An iterative methodology focusing on flexibility, frequent delivery, and collaboration (often using user stories) Documenting concise functional requirements, typically in Agile projectsWaterfall methodology
- Feasibility study:: Analysing proposed solutions for practicality and viability A linear, phased project approach suitable for well-defined requirements
- Data analysis:Choosing the right methodology depends on project size, risk, stakeholder needs, and desired adaptability. Using quantitative and qualitative data to inform decision-makingEssential skills and competencies for business analysts
technical requirements (system or IT needs).
What 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.