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Be an Unselfish Business Analyst!

Be an Unselfish Business Analyst!

You may be a great facilitator, an excellent “elicitor” of requirements; your analytical skills may be second to none, but if you can’t package and present information in an easily usable form, then you’re not completing the job as a business analyst.

Business Analysts: Don’t Forget Your ROI!

Business Analysts: Don’t Forget Your ROI!

It’s important that we take our own advice when it comes to our analysis efforts and keep ROI (Return on Investment) at front of mind.

Begin with what you HAVE to do

Begin with what you HAVE to do

The simple fact is, you can’t know all the details upfront. You can and should, however, be able to work with your stakeholders to identify the broader range of necessary capabilities and constraints, or “placeholders for conversations”.

Time Travel for Context-free Use Cases

Time Travel for Context-free Use Cases

Yes, sometimes we BA’s need to think of creative ways to help us withhold the technology and implementation detail from our requirements.

Classic Business Analysis Articles

Classic Business Analysis Articles

I was sorting through some of my bookmarks and articles I’ve accumulated over time via the Web, and found that there are a few articles that I seem to refer back to time and again.

Business Analysis Can Kill a Project (In a Good Way)

Business Analysis Can Kill a Project (In a Good Way)

Scrapping an ill-fated project before it gets started can be as valuable as seeing a project through to successful implementation.

Congratulations, You’re Ignorant!

Congratulations, You’re Ignorant!

The more we learn, the more we realize we don’t know.

Use Case Basics: Keeping it Simple

Use Case Basics: Keeping it Simple

A few simple tips for identifying and documenting use cases.

Escalation and Infinite Regression

Escalation and Infinite Regression

Fancy words for pretty common ways simple projects can quickly morph into gargantuan ones.

Could requirements analysis be automated?

Could requirements analysis be automated?

Could systems and software be used to take the place of the requirements analyst?

Structured Analysis & Big, Thick Documents

Structured Analysis & Big, Thick Documents

Great book on modeling & systems analysis and yet another critique of “big, thick documents.”

Patterns and the Evolving Business Analyst

Patterns and the Evolving Business Analyst

Let’s focus on what I consider the capstone to development and “evolution” as an analyst; the ability to learn, recognize and apply patterns.

Requirements Are the Keystone

Requirements Are the Keystone

Requirements are the keystone of a successful project implementation.

Google Wave for Business Analysis

Google Wave for Business Analysis

The social web is abuzz with news on the upcoming Google offering, Google Wave.

Did I Really Write That?

Did I Really Write That?

As I was scanning through some of my old documents, I found that I wasn’t that thrilled with a lot of my older work. Ever had that happen to you?

Accounting for Technical Debt

Accounting for Technical Debt

Hidden costs of the “quick and dirty” solution.

Economic Stimulus, Meet Business Analyst

Economic Stimulus, Meet Business Analyst

Before you tune out, don’t worry, while “politically motivated” this is NOT going to be a post on politics, but on process and procedure – business analysis, if you will.