The Business Analyst Role Within Solution Driven Projects
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This document discusses the role of business analysts in solution driven projects, emphasizing the importance of requirements management and the skills needed for effective business analysis. It includes survey results highlighting the increasing prevalence of solution driven projects and the challenges faced by business analysts in such environments. The document also outlines best practices and strategies for successful engagement and project management.
The Business Analyst Role Within Solution Driven Projects
- 1. The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects Stuart Peek Business Analyst Wednesday 22nd October 2014 The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 2. Agenda • • • • • • • • • • • Introduction Objectives & Purpose Background Survey Demand for Business Change Business Analysis Approach Benefits of the Correct Approach Challenges of the Wrong Approach Summary Conclusions Q & A The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 3. Introduction About me; – Business Analyst 10+ years – Experience of different types of projects across different • sectors • About the topic; – – – – – Solution Driven projects are becoming more Importance of requirements management Application of the Business Analysis skill set What works well, and not so well Case study approach; share my experiences common The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 4. Objectives & Purpose • To • To • To share my experiences as a Business Analyst explain discuss the nature of Solution Driven projects context and implications for the typical BA role • • To To share examples, research and learnings explain how the BA supports ‘Transforming the Business’ The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 5. Specsavers Background • • Specsavers; a global eye care and hearing care provider Founded in 1984, with over 1700 stores across 10 countries The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 6. Specsavers Organisation • • BAs located globally, and sit within functional teams Most solution driven projects happen within Strategic Projects team • • • • • Company growth through acquisitions Vast number of systems and processes globally Need to consolidate to reduce issues and increase Target Operating Models (TOM) defined RFI / RFP process to select solution partner efficiency The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 7. Background • What is a ‘Solution Driven’ project? – – Build from scratch; traditional BA role Solution Driven; ‘Commercial Off The Shelf’ (COTS) software Build from scratch Solution Driven project • • Evolution of the trend over time; Case study; IT Solution Business build → purchase Change (Master Data) The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 8. • • • • • • • • • • • Introduction Objectives & Purpose Background Survey Demand for Business Change Business Analysis Approach Benefits of the Correct Approach Challenges of the Wrong Approach Summary Conclusions Q & A The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 9. Survey of Business Analysts • • • • Survey of 36 Business Analysts in August 2014 Gather information and views of other BAs Goal of underpinning the topic by providing evidence Aim of understanding the nature of in other organisations Solution Driven projects • Makes this topic more meaningful The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 10. Survey of Business Analysts • Do you feel you understand • Have you worked in a Business Analysis role within a 'Solution Driven' what a 'Solution Driven' project is? project in the last year? 4 4 10 Yes No Somewhat Yes 28 26 No The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 11. Survey of Business Analysts • If 'Yes', what proportion of your Business Analysis time do you normally spend on • Do you feel 'Solution Driven' projects are becoming more common, when compared to 'Solution Driven' projects? developed solutions? 6 6 0-25% 14 25-50% 50-75% 75-100% Yes No Unsure 18 6 10 4 The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 12. Survey of Business Analyst s “..it makes no sense to reinvent the wheel”. • Other comments; ‘Solution Driven’ is a term I am hearing more and more frequently”. “Sometimes a solution driven project is the way to go when you severe timehacvoenstraints…” “I don't think the difference is as big “…the solution to the problem is only within the number of options offered...” as it's made out to “Never heard the be at times.” term 'Solution driven' before.” The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 13. • • • • • • • • • • • Introduction Objectives & Purpose Background Survey Demand for Business Change Business Analysis Approach Benefits of the Correct Approach Challenges of the Wrong Approach Summary Conclusions Q & A The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 14. Case Study Background • • • Business driver for change = reduce known Product Master Data IT Solution quality issues Third party IT Solution provider (ERP); Original scope Revise d scope The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects HR Corporate Finance Supply Chain Logistics Retail
- 15. Demand for Business Change • Important for the BA to be involved as early as possible – the problem statement – – – Understand Get common understanding of the need for business Build BA relationship with stakeholders Engage early in Project Lifecycle change • RFI / RFP process to select the solution provider – Requirements based selection process • • Use solution provider delivery methodology Knowledge Transfer via the BA – Inbound – Outbound (OUM) The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 16. Project Organisations • Project structure and organisation – – – – Stakeholders Business Analysts Functional Consultants Internal versus external resources Internal External System Integrator Sponsor Busines s User Busines s Analyst Regulator Project Manager Functional SM Consultant E Tester The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 17. Business Analysis Approach • Interactions with project stakeholders and third parties – – – – Business users have a day job too Assume Business users have limited working knowledge Disagreement is common; win the hearts and minds Assess Business Readiness • • • Decide and agree responsibilities Make use of BA peer reviews Plan knowledge acquisition up front – – – Known knowns Known unknowns Unknown unknowns The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 18. Business Analysis Approach • • • Maintain flexibility and openness to change Understand core BA competencies and how to apply them Typical Work Products; why and when to them produce – Lack of a Business Requirements Use of BA ‘Toolkit’ – Key techniques – Pros and Cons Equal focus on the as-is & to-be Conference Room Pilots (CRP) – Iterative and Waterfall combined Document (BRD) • • • The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 19. Busines s Analysi s Approac h • CRP process Gap Listing - MoSCoW Outside of CRP Analysis of Business Configuration Extension The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects Gaps Change to Oracle Oracle Governance Governance Board Board Desired Result = No Work through each Scenario Sign Off Desired Result = Yes
- 20. Business Analysis Approach • Manage the gaps Busines s Functionality Standard Product Configuration Extension The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 21. Business Analysis Approach • Third parties have to grow knowledge of your organisation – This will increase as the project progresses – Two-way exchange of understanding Business Process Reengineering is required Users are more willing if they contribute to shaping the necessary changes • • • What not to – Too much – Too much Plan for the do, and why reliance on third parties modification of the ‘vanilla’ software product • future – How to know when knowledge tasks are ‘complete’ – Organisational Process Assets, Work Products and Deliverables The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 22. • • • • • • • • • • • Introduction Objectives & Purpose Background Survey Demand for Business Change Business Analysis Approach Benefits of the Correct Approach Challenges of the Wrong Approach Summary Conclusions Q & A The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 23. Benefits of the Correct Approach • • • • • • Efficient way of assessing organisational readiness Increases the positive perception of the BA Develops the BA and improves BA maturity Delivers positive business change Helps to reduce TCO of an IT solution Enables agility for future business change The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 24. Challenges of the Wrong Approac h • • • • • • • Why have a BA at all? BA activity driven by external third parties Reluctance for business to accept change Desire to short-cut BA effort; rapid implementation Difficulties with acquiring IT solution knowledge Apprehension about working within solution-driven Potentially loose some core BA skills projects The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 25. • • • • • • • • • • • Introduction Objectives & Purpose Background Survey Demand for Business Change Business Analysis Approach Benefits of the Correct Approach Challenges of the Wrong Approach Summary Conclusions Q & A The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 26. Summary • • • • • • • • Be flexible and open minded to change Get involved early, and start at the beginning Grow and develop your BA toolkit Know the difference between ‘vanilla’ and bespoke Business users have a day job too Aim for self-reliance internally Keep It Simple Plan for the future The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 27. Conclusion s • • Solution Driven projects are becoming more common Business Analysts underpin the success of such projects • • • People; build and maintain key relationships Process; have equal focus on the as-is and to-be Technology; understand and manage the gaps The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects
- 28. Q & A ? The Business Analyst role within Solution Driven Projects