Does the emerging project role of business analyst offer hope for improvement?
Seema Phull, principal of the Phoenix-based Arsu Group, is a business analyst — one of those oft-maligned people who write project requirements, translate them into two “languages,” and slog through long meetings with development teams, sponsors and key stakeholders. These professionals, whose previously ad hoc roles are just beginning to gain a defined shape and structure, may be the next best hope for development projects. If they can reliably bridge chasms that divide the technical and the business teams, BAs may be the key to solving myriad longstanding problems. Along with having technical expertise and experience, business analysts must also understand key business requirements, prioritize expected ROI and process re-engineering requirements, Phull says. They must have a clear vision for an organization’s “big picture” goals and how technology fits into them. “Technology should follow the process, not lead it, or else you get an over-engineered solution. Please login/register to
