Struggling to define Business Analysis & the Changing role of a BA (requirements elicitation, to change manager and trusted advisor) Maria (Murphy) Horrigan Account Director Health & Human Services Regional Lead Business Analysis BA World Symposium July 2008

...previously, on Heroes Business Analysis: In an agile environment Tools, practices, methodologies Career path Core competencies Organisations, alignment and membership Certification bodies Business-critical roles ... who are these guys?

Business Analysis:

In an agile environment

Tools, practices, methodologies

Career path

Core competencies

Organisations, alignment and membership

Certification bodies

Business-critical roles

... who are these guys?

BAs apply different powers and abilities in order to deliver on critical client needs – on projects, systems or processes Heroes is a television show produced by NBC. This presentation was for educational purposes only and is NOT in any way, shape, or form affiliated with NBC , Tim Kring , or any other persons or organizations responsible for the production of Heroes, all trademarks and copyright belong to their respective owners . http://heroeswiki.com/Main_Page

BAs apply different powers and abilities in order to deliver on critical client needs – on projects, systems or processes

“ I can’t stand to fly, I’m not that naive” Not about being Superman and coming in to save the day… It’s not about taking over another project members role, it’s about the expertise and tools we can offer Five for Fighting – “Superman”

Not about being Superman and coming in to save the day…

It’s not about taking over another project members role, it’s about the expertise and tools we can offer

Save the cheerleader, save the world! What powers and abilities do BAs need to help make stuff happen?

What powers and abilities do BAs need to help make stuff happen?

Hiro Nakamura - Manipulate Time and Space Need to go back and analyse what has happened in the past Jump to see the future to inform the present Not just show the way but help others to get there http://heroeswiki.com/Main_Page

Manipulate Time and Space

Need to go back and analyse what has happened in the past

Jump to see the future to inform the present

Not just show the way but help others to get there

Micha Sanders Techno path Understand what systems can do to deliver outcomes for people Know what is possible Understand the business context, requirements, data modelling and processes involved http://heroeswiki.com/Main_Page

Techno path

Understand what systems can do to deliver outcomes for people

Know what is possible

Understand the business context, requirements, data modelling and processes involved

Matt Parkman Telepath Mind reader “get inside peoples heads” Its good to have BA dedicated to knowing what the business and users want from the system Sometimes client doesn’t know what they want…only what they don’t want http://heroeswiki.com/Main_Page

Telepath

Mind reader “get inside peoples heads”

Its good to have BA dedicated to knowing what the business and users want from the system

Sometimes client doesn’t know what they want…only what they don’t want

D.L Hawkins Phasing A BA who can walk through walls of organisational silos A BA who can talk to the business as well as the developers and translate between the two http://heroeswiki.com/Main_Page

Phasing

A BA who can walk through walls of organisational silos

A BA who can talk to the business as well as the developers and translate between the two

Candice Wilmer Chameleon Perform any role when you need it Sometimes the gig requires a requirements specification, other times it’s a business cases, or mapping a business process or being that “trusted advisor” You need a BA who has a toolkit, skills and abilities to adapt to any situation http://heroeswiki.com/Main_Page

Chameleon

Perform any role when you need it

Sometimes the gig requires a requirements specification, other times it’s a business cases, or mapping a business process or being that “trusted advisor”

You need a BA who has a toolkit, skills and abilities to adapt to any situation

Peter Petrelli Empath Communicates Engenders trust Diverse abilities and skills Passionate Wants to “save the world” and make it better http://heroeswiki.com/Main_Page

Empath

Communicates

Engenders trust

Diverse abilities and skills

Passionate

Wants to “save the world” and make it better

Clare Bennett Cellular regeneration Change can open wounds old and new Need BA who can help with change management Be resilient http://heroeswiki.com/Main_Page http://heroeswiki.com/Main_Page

Cellular regeneration

Change can open wounds old and new

Need BA who can help with change management

Be resilient

Molly Walker Clairvoyance “ Find anyone, anywhere” A BA who can find the information and the missing pieces of the puzzle http://heroeswiki.com/Main_Page

Clairvoyance

“ Find anyone, anywhere”

A BA who can find the information and the missing pieces of the puzzle

Sylar (Gabrielle Gray) Intuitive aptitude We need BAs who can easily work out “how things work” Pick up new abilities and skills as required to expand superpowers http://heroeswiki.com/Main_Page

Intuitive aptitude

We need BAs who can easily work out “how things work”

Pick up new abilities and skills as required to expand superpowers

Heroes = Business Analyst Manipulate Time & Space Technopath Cellular Regeneration Intuitive Aptitude Chameleon Phasing Clairvoyance Telepath Empath Business Analyst

What is the BA role all about? We need to apply all our powers: Requirements analysis IT systems focus Business and process improvement Testing and validation Communication and change management ... And more!!

We need to apply all our powers:

Requirements analysis

IT systems focus

Business and process improvement

Testing and validation

Communication and change management

... And more!!

Is the BA role debate our kryptonite? So many powers! What is our main focus of activity – our central concern? Will our struggle to define our role threaten our existence? Is BA a profession or not? Where is the League of Justice for BAs?

So many powers!

What is our main focus of activity – our central concern?

Will our struggle to define our role threaten our existence?

Is BA a profession or not?

Where is the League of Justice for BAs?

Role vs Discipline – for good or evil? Definition by Role: Organisations have LOTS of roles we can fill Roles vary from organisation to organisation Too broad If role ≠ my BA picture, what am I, who am I? Definition by Discipline: Specialists in the field of business analysis are therefore business analysts Too narrow Don’t box me in!!! If discipline definition ≠ my current role, am I really a BA?

Definition by Role:

Organisations have LOTS of roles we can fill

Roles vary from organisation to organisation

Too broad

If role ≠ my BA picture, what am I, who am I?

Definition by Discipline:

Specialists in the field of business analysis are therefore business analysts

Too narrow

Don’t box me in!!!

If discipline definition ≠ my current role, am I really a BA?

Chickens and Eggs “ Any definition broad enough to encompass the role is too broad to foster useful discussion of the discipline; any definition narrow enough for the discipline is too narrow for the role….basing either definition on the other means one is going to be insufficient. Trying to do both at once isn’t working, producing a classic chicken-and-egg problem”. - Jesse James Garrett, IA Recon

“ Any definition broad enough to encompass the role is too broad to foster useful discussion of the discipline; any definition narrow enough for the discipline is too narrow for the role….basing either definition on the other means one is going to be insufficient. Trying to do both at once isn’t working, producing a classic chicken-and-egg problem”.

- Jesse James Garrett, IA Recon

Working thru “defining the damn thing” together “ Community of Practice” can help shape the future of the profession Shared tools Shared methodologies Shared approaches to work BA Practice by description NOT prescription

“ Community of Practice” can help shape the future of the profession

Shared tools

Shared methodologies

Shared approaches to work

BA Practice by description NOT prescription

It’s about learning and sharing…. “ Andrew Hinton at inkblurt.com” Work “Team” Involuntary membership Obliged to be a member Role defined by the project Team defined by organisation Focus on deliverables Community of Practice Voluntary membership “ Because I’m interested” Role described by the sum of the whole practice Continual improvement of knowledge Learning and sharing

Work “Team”

Involuntary membership

Obliged to be a member

Role defined by the project

Team defined by organisation

Focus on deliverables

Community of Practice

Voluntary membership

“ Because I’m interested”

Role described by the sum of the whole practice

Continual improvement of knowledge

Learning and sharing

What is a “Community of Practice”? “ Andrew Hinton at inkblurt.com” “ Practice is a shared history of learning”

There are many Communities of Practice These are emergent, self-organising, social groups for learning, making and improving the domain – the central concern of the practice.

It’s dynamic…. “ Andrew Hinton at inkblurt.com”

It’s a science arising out of many other sciences”…. Analysis Requirements Design User-centred Design & Architecture Business Process Management Project Management UAT Business Analysis Business Systems Analysis Programming and Development Adapted from “Andrew Hinton at inkblurt.com”

Overlap of BA and PM role Requirements gathering and management Both the PM and the BA face the same challenges Difficult to identify & document complete requirements up front Process Improvement PM - Continuous process & practice improvement BA – business process improvement and effective project management methodologies Skills and Competency profile Profile of an effective PM or BA are virtual identical Morphed into one profession the “BA/PM” Tools and Templates Again virtually identical

Requirements gathering and management

Both the PM and the BA face the same challenges

Difficult to identify & document complete requirements up front

Process Improvement

PM - Continuous process & practice improvement

BA – business process improvement and effective project management methodologies

Skills and Competency profile

Profile of an effective PM or BA are virtual identical

Morphed into one profession the “BA/PM”

Tools and Templates

Again virtually identical

image: http://www.lakefronthartwell.com/bm~pix/milkshake~s600x600.jpg BA Role PM Role

Not the center of the universe Central Concern Analysis Requirements Design BA Adapted from “Andrew Hinton at inkblurt.com”

These Practices aren’t milkshakes More like a McFlurry

Central Concern will always overlap Many practices, disciplines and areas of concern have overlap. E.g. UXD & IA; IA & BA; BA & EA People will migrate from one area of concern to another based on their previous experience, skills and expertise, into new ones over time. Even if we're called the PM, we might well be doing business analysis; or be called the BA on the project when we're really doing coordination and project management work. There will always be differences between roles and activities we bring to our team and the central concern

Many practices, disciplines and areas of concern have overlap. E.g. UXD & IA; IA & BA; BA & EA

People will migrate from one area of concern to another based on their previous experience, skills and expertise, into new ones over time.

Even if we're called the PM, we might well be doing business analysis; or be called the BA on the project when we're really doing coordination and project management work.

There will always be differences between roles and activities we bring to our team and the central concern

Overlap of practice & identity – so who am I? “ Andrew Hinton at inkblurt.com”

Community of practice – “homes for identities” Each of us tends to identify with a practice “ Andrew Hinton at inkblurt.com” ABAA

Big BA vs Little BA Image: Based on the cover to Batman #9 by Bob Kane.

BA the …….. “ Andrew Hinton at inkblurt.com” Activity: The actual work of analysing the “thing” Thing: The analysis “stuff” itself

Sending up the Bat Signal How can we share ideas about: The differences in our Titles? Our evolving Role? Our tools, methodologies and deliverables How do we adapt to: The demands of the rapidly changing business environment? The impacts this has on our Discipline and Practice?

How can we share ideas about:

The differences in our Titles?

Our evolving Role?

Our tools, methodologies and deliverables

How do we adapt to:

The demands of the rapidly changing business environment?

The impacts this has on our Discipline and Practice?

Harnessing the Social Computing Revolution for our Practice Instant access to BA Community of Practice Access to body of knowledge (in people’s heads, not in documents) Communities of practice Experts, gurus and thought leaders Access to friends and their friends and their friends This is “ what networking should be” - linkedIn Leveraging: the power of many The power of permission: trust The power of networks: the friend of my friend is my friend The cost (time, energy): easiest way (anytime, anywhere) to make contact, communicate, share, collaborate with “friends” and the BA Community of Practice

Instant access to BA Community of Practice

Access to body of knowledge (in people’s heads, not in documents)

Communities of practice

Experts, gurus and thought leaders

Access to friends and their friends and their friends

This is “ what networking should be” - linkedIn

Leveraging: the power of many

The power of permission: trust

The power of networks: the friend of my friend is my friend

The cost (time, energy): easiest way (anytime, anywhere) to make contact, communicate, share, collaborate with “friends” and the BA Community of Practice

http://www.linkedin.com Linked in

Twitter

Facebook – building online communities www.facebook.com

Blogs www.barocks.com

Case studies BAs in a changing environment: Learning new powers from intersections NOT milkshakes Agile environment Leveraging Community of Practice BAs “with powers and abilities far beyond normal man”: Adapting and changing roles Agile environment and tight timeframes Analysis from strategy and policy to complex data issues

BAs in a changing environment:

Learning new powers from intersections NOT milkshakes

Agile environment

Leveraging Community of Practice

BAs “with powers and abilities far beyond normal man”:

Adapting and changing roles

Agile environment and tight timeframes

Analysis from strategy and policy to complex data issues

Case Study 1: BAs in this changing environment Large paper based application process to be developed via the web Involvement of multiple divisions across the organisation, other agencies Political exposure due to external user interaction with system Data commercial-in-confidence Pressure from stakeholders to develop process transparency , accountability and efficiency Requirements three years in the making

Large paper based application process to be developed via the web

Involvement of multiple divisions across the organisation, other agencies

Political exposure due to external user interaction with system

Data commercial-in-confidence

Pressure from stakeholders to develop process transparency , accountability and efficiency

Requirements three years in the making

It’s Groundhog Day – the dreaded Business analysis spiral M Hodgson : “Ain’t no backseat driver” Requirements gathering Document divergent solution Analysis New Information Distraction Build

IIBA Model

ABAA Framework

ISO:13407 Human‐centred design processes for interactive systems

Business-centred design M Hodgson : “Ain’t no backseat driver” Understand Business wants & needs Develop and document design solution Analysis New Information Workshop Possibilities Prototype and refine screen concepts Build Validate requirements

Sharing the solution – a new lifecycle!

Lessons learned The environment is rapidly evolving BAs need to learn and adapt to survive There are tools not made by BAs that we can look to for help One size (approach) doesn’t fit all Intersections of the ‘central concern’ is a strength to draw from Give back to the community – blog about it!

The environment is rapidly evolving

BAs need to learn and adapt to survive

There are tools not made by BAs that we can look to for help

One size (approach) doesn’t fit all

Intersections of the ‘central concern’ is a strength to draw from

Give back to the community – blog about it!

Case Study 2: BA powers and abilities Very political and high profile initiative Policy still being developed on the fly Tender is progress but delay in finding Vendor by Program launch date Pressure for a deadline - (IT an afterthought) so Interim system deemed to be required. 3 weeks to develop high level requirement specifications Required extensive data analysis - match one organisations product code’s to several other organisations

Very political and high profile initiative

Policy still being developed on the fly

Tender is progress but delay in finding Vendor by Program launch date

Pressure for a deadline - (IT an afterthought) so Interim system deemed to be required.

3 weeks to develop high level requirement specifications

Required extensive data analysis - match one organisations product code’s to several other organisations

BA role description Powers and abilities: Project Management skills Test Management Subject matter expertise in Health In-depth knowledge of Medical products environment Business case development Forecasting needs for the longer term solutions

Powers and abilities:

Project Management skills

Test Management

Subject matter expertise in Health

In-depth knowledge of Medical products environment

Business case development

Forecasting needs for the longer term solutions

The complex environment – service rebate system

The complex data issue

Approach Initiation & Scoping solution requirements (core functionality to calculate payments based on total sales (volume) by distributors. Research and Analysis to define key reports, outline key business processes, identify critical success factors, undertake a high level risk analysis Develop Requirements Specification Develop Conceptual Design (prototype) Project Coordinate the Development of the system for the business Evaluate - User acceptance testing

Initiation & Scoping solution requirements (core functionality to calculate payments based on total sales (volume) by distributors.

Research and Analysis to define key reports, outline key business processes, identify critical success factors, undertake a high level risk analysis

Develop Requirements Specification

Develop Conceptual Design (prototype)

Project Coordinate the Development of the system for the business

Evaluate - User acceptance testing

Lessons learnt In a changing environment: Requirements and development are being done simultaneously BA may have to draw on various disciplines BA need to fulfil different roles during the project Drawing on core capability of analysis was key to solving the complex data issues BAs are key to understanding the business environment BAs can add value through the entire project BAs can become the trusted advisor for the business

In a changing environment:

Requirements and development are being done simultaneously

BA may have to draw on various disciplines

BA need to fulfil different roles during the project

Drawing on core capability of analysis was key to solving the complex data issues

BAs are key to understanding the business environment

BAs can add value through the entire project

BAs can become the trusted advisor for the business

We all need heroes….. We are a thriving and growing community of practice We can help support Projects Our analysis skills can be utilised during various phases of the delivery of an engagement We have proven methodologies, frameworks and tools to add value and fulfil business needs http://heroeswiki.com/Main_Page

We are a thriving and growing community of practice

We can help support Projects

Our analysis skills can be utilised during various phases of the delivery of an engagement

We have proven methodologies, frameworks and tools to add value and fulfil business needs

Central Concern BA

Questions? Maria (Murphy) Horrigan Account Director Health & Human Services Regional Lead Business Analysis Email: mhorrigan@smsmt.com Blog: www.barocks.com Web: www.smsmt.com