notes and views on crm, social media, and the human side of information technology

The role of BA

I’VE ALSO HAD A PROBLEM classifying the role of Business Analyst as a bridge between business and IT, but if the Agile movement says IT should understand what business needs, I am not hopeful that just being able to come up with “better solutions than the business people can develop on their own” is good enough. Either business people will never understand technology well enough or IT folks won’t get the business needs well enough; but then, there would still have to bea bridge to cover the gap.

Indeed, when BA is staffed in IT, he becomes a documentor, an interpreter, and above all a tool of IT interests.

Therefore, I am convinced a business analyst on IT projects should be a member of the business team and as such play under their colors - as their advocate. If it means going head-to-head against IT, so be it. So often the programmers know full well what the business *really* wants, and don’t do it because it’s too difficult, costly, etc.

That’s not to say BA should necessarily push all ideas regardless of their merit; as Kevin says, he should be able to propose better solutions - based on his in-depth understanding of his colleagues’ needs. He should work with requirements as every good advocate should - with his critical faculties turned on.

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May 28, 2007 | Filed Under Software delivery 

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