BA Career Path

Business Analysis itself is a new career and nowadays there is a trend of companies like to have a couple of BAs even if they don't know why they need them .... :)

Business Analyst like other careers once they spend a couple of years as BAs they remember about their career progression and start looking to climb up in the ladder where actually there is no ladder available... lol actually it is a debatable subject regardless of where BAs come from most people forget to think on where the BAs to go..

Definitely yes the next Step we can name as the Senior Business Analyst but after that is it the Product Management Track or the Project Management Track is questionable? Some people say Business Analysis is a Unique role even though u get 10 years experience you still remain as a Business analyst(in an article by Jonathan "Kupe" Kupersmith in www.batimes.com he says he likes to come back as a BA even after he had a PM position) but Some others say that the next Level is either a Product Manager Or Project Manager.

In My Case as a Business Analyst I would not agree on the first option and i would rather like to climb up in the ladder via Product Management or Project Management and also i feel there is another option of selecting consultancy....

Requirement Management Process

I was planing to do a research on implementing a requirement management Process in oder to minimize the redundancy in requirements and improve the Business Analysis. In that some of my concerns were:

1. Identify the Current methodology followed by the particular organization.
2. Study the Industry Standards and benchmark them.
E.g.: CMMi - Requirements Management

3. Conduct a survey within the organization to identify the areas to be improved
4. Study on Requirement Management System which would facilitate managing requirements and tracking the requirement through out the SDLC.
E.g.: Visual Modeling Platform
5. How effective it would be to train the Business analysts and getting certified by professional Bodies like IIBA or BCS ISEB

IIBA Certification Benefits

The Certified Business Analysis ProfessionalTM (CBAP®) offers many benefits, both to practitioners and to the organizations that employ them. They are as follows:

Benefits to the individual:

• Demonstrated knowledge of the skills necessary to be an effective Business Analyst.
• A proven level of competence in the principles and practices of business analysis.
• Participation in a recognized professional group.
• Recognition of professional competence by professional peers and management.
• Advanced career potential due to recognition as a professional Business Analysis practitioner.

Benefits to the organization:
• Establishment and implementation of Business Analysis best practices as outlined in the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® (BABOK®) by individuals acknowledged as knowledgeable and skilled.
• More reliable, higher quality results produced with increased efficiency and consistency.
• Identification of professional Business Analysts to clients and business partners.
• Professional development and recognition for experienced Business Analysts.
• Demonstrated commitment to the field of Business Analysis, increasingly recognized as a vital component of any successful project.

Source : IIBA website

The Essential Business Analysis Skills as specified in the IIBA website

- Analyze and understand the business problems
- Identify and document requirements
- Communicate effectively (written and spoken)
- Manage client relationships
- Facilitate discussions
- Negotiate and build consensus
- Model data and processes
- Plan and manage activities
- Facilitate and develop business strategy
- Understand and manage organizational change