In everything I do, I find myself “being a BA.” It turns out I’m not alone. Last week, Bridging the Gap reader Janet Wood shared the following insight on our “What should I study in college to become a business analyst?” post.
I often tell people that I learned all my BA skills when I was reading parenting manuals while trying to get to grips with how to raise 2 bright, active and normally naughty little boys! I learned that “I-messages” work better than “you-messages”. I learned the wonderful concept of trying to “catch them doing something right”, which I have applied to colleagues, bosses and clients. I also learned how important v-e-r-y c-l-e-a-r instructions can be – “do not run while carrying a full cup” rather than “careful with that cup”.
As a new parent of a 3 1/2 month old bundle of joy, I would definitely agree. I haven’t yet had to instruct my little one not to run with a cup, but I have poured over countless books amassing knowledge of how her brain and body develop and ideas for activities to keep her both stimulated and developing intellectually. But it doesn’t stop there.
Before she was born my husband and I interviewed 3 different pediatric practices. After each interview, we discussed what we wanted from a practice and shifted our priorities. We finally made what seemed like an unexpected choice – choosing a practice 45 minutes away, because it was the very best fit for us.
Since she’s been born we’ve purchased toys and books appropriate to her developmental level, and tried all the goofy things that parents do to encourage her interaction with them. We talk to her constantly, describing our day, our activities, what she’s wearing and what we’re doing. As I talk, I find myself more deeply aware of repetitious activities, such as changing a diaper or getting dressed, than I thought I ever could be.
Along the way, my husband and I have had to sort out our different assumptions about how to approach certain parenting situations. I tend to analyze what we did, what we might do, and how to do it next time. My husband has researched all kinds of tasks, including the best way to wash our cloth diapers and how to get the little one to amicably take a bottle. And all of this while bleary-eyed from lack of sleep.
Just last week, we put her down for the night in her own room. She slept fine. I did not. Change is hard.
I am still resisting the inevitable evaluations of potential baby-sitters or an eventual “Mama’s Helper.” But I know when I’m ready, I’ll list out my requirements, form a set of behavioral interview questions to gauge experience and fit, compare the candidates, and make a decision.
Why share my parenting stories with you? Because they are not just parenting experiences, they are analysis experiences. I’ll bet you can find evidence of the following BA activities:
- Interviews
- Document Analysis
- Requirements Definition
- Requirements Prioritization
- Change Management
- Process Analysis
- Problem-Solving
- Communication
- Decision-Analysis
- And many, many more.
Business analysis is a mindset. It’s a way of approaching problems and solutions. For better or worse, (better I think) I take my BA mindset with me while planning a vacation, exploring my role as a new parent, building a business, organizing a local function, or, more traditionally, helping my organization implement new software.
When have you been a BA outside a formal BA role? This question is especially important for aspiring business analysts who are looking for strategies to overcome their “lack” of experience.
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Laura, sure i agree with you.
In my daily routine with kids, i keep checking what is the process and how can i improve it.
for eg:
1.simple task like, when my Daughter comes back from school, asking her to put her lunch box in dishwasher. if she forgets, the next day morning becomes hectic, searching for it, cleaning , screaming with each other etc
2. Grorcery shopping for eg. We can improve it by asking few BA type question like
a) when we do it?? (is some day is fixed)
b) how frequently we do it?? (weekly or as an when remembers
c) where we do it ??? (is it a one stop shop for all thing)
analysing with “As is ” means what we are doing currently, and planning to improve
“To be” and analysing the improvement and value addition of it.
3.) Utility Bill payments:
Again same thing,
a) how we do it ?? ( online, manual by sending post)
b When we do it ?? ( did we fixed some day of the month)
can we improve on our current process, to save time, or make it better etc. etc.
We can do same process analysis for our various housework, and other financial works.
My thoughts continuously work towards these, since iam currently looking out for job.
And i fully agree with you, that this can happen only with BA mindset.
Laura, thank you for the good article… while reading through it I found many similarities with my case. I realized that almost all my everyday experience is based on my BA mindset and skills. And it really is. Family budgeting, child care and even house renovation made me unintentionally go through BA-like activities that I would normally deploy at work.
As a human being we have to make the right choice and sometime take tough decisions to provide more secure outcome and future for ourselves (and sometimes not only). And while standing on the crossroad of decision making your instinct of survival calls your tested weapon to protect and rescue you and save the situation. That is what you can do, you do it best and it is kind of your method of survival.
It just happens automatically. Defining my own needs with care, even “interviewing” my wife to know her opinion and requirements for the case (even when it is not a female deal). It is like a game and I am trying to make it as comprehensive as possible to seemingly consider all issues. Some more research and predictions color the game and help finalizing the expected impact of the solution.
Recently a friend of mine turned to me to get a piece of advice about his intention of running his own business. Well… instead of smiling and falsely encouraging him, I invited him to a discussion. After listening to his story I draw up an analysis presentation and revealed all possible positive and negative sides of his business plan. First he was shocked a bit… but now it seems this guy is going to be one of the key players in the local market and I am happy for him.
Laura, I sense many changes and opportunities for the invention of new processes and tools! Excellent analysis.
Not quite the same but I was doing this other day and not even knowing I was doing it!
I was shopping with my girlfriend and looking at all the shops and what ones were close to each other and the type of people shopping in there.
For example there were 5 shops next to each other, Zara, H&M, River Island, Ted Baker and Miss Selfridges.
I was analysing the people going in and come out and the bags they had from other shops. I could tell who would by something from them shops and who would not.
Stuart – this is so natural for us to do. We are trained observers, looking for patterns and understanding the process. I love that you noticed this.
Thank you everyone for your comments here. You are proving that business analysis is everywhere! And, as noted, when you are looking for a job, the conscious application of the BA principles is even more important. It’s a great way to keep your mindset fresh while not working as a formal BA, which is really going to help you be perceived as ready to hit the ground running while in an interview situation.
Excited to read more of your stories!
There is definitely some Venn diagram which has a BA, parenting and a whiteboard. The output is something like this…
Aim: Ensure that baby does not get infection due to wallowing in dirty diaper
Process:
Diaper check –> Diaper clean? –> No action –> Diaper check (repeats)
Diaper check –> Diaper dirty? –> Sub-process: Change diaper –> Diaper check (repeats)
Observations: This is a process that repeats itself many times each day. How do we automate for efficiency? Can we fix problem at source to obviate need? Other parents talk about something called weaning, more research required.
Alternate flows:
Trigger: Audible deposit into diaper –> Change diaper
Trigger: Diaper change disaster –> Baby and changing personnel covered in diaper contents –> Consume all wipes in household in vain attempt to get marginally clean –> Clean baby –> Apply fresh diaper –> Find way to distract baby for 15m (only if very lucky) –> Clean changing personnel –> Emergency purchase of wipes
I have an 8 month old stakeholder who has no idea what his requirements are and is a lousy communicator. Most assumptions will be wrong, and any that are right this week will be wrong next week. Subject Matter Experts often dissagree and are regurlarly contradictory. All timelines are fungible and non-linear. Any minor flaws in implementation will be met with immediate notification (screaming in your ear) with expectations of urgent placation. The current process, even when successful, is a complete mess. All metrics used to measure success are abitrary and bear no relation to effort involved. Recognition is rewarded randomly, and never to the most deserving.
I just wish my stakeholders at work could so easily be kept happy just by pulling silly faces at them.
Hi all, love the article and the comments!
As a father of 3 little ones under 6 I can see that like a BA, the role of a parent is full of ambiguity and uncertainty.
The skill of Requirements Elicitation is applicable to raising a toddler as you seek to understand just what it is they are trying to tell you while not getting frustrated!
Then you Validate the Requirement as understood by suggesting that this is what they need and judging from their reaction you determine the success of your Requirements Gathering.
Great stuff!
Comments are really nice, and being a BA reflects in every ones life leading to the structured way of living. I really love being a BA
Can someone intimate me good BA training centres in Chennai and Bangalore.
You can reach me at
jameelcan@nlogixsolutions.com,
jameelcan06@gmail.com,
9791355822
There are also many online resources if you have either a moderately fast connection or are willing to use DVD/CDROMS to play back your lectures/presentations.
Many of the online resources are significantly cheaper. Try searching the IIBA website for providers in your locale. Also, if they have a local chapter near you join them: http://www.theiiba.org
Yes, there appears to be a Banglore IIBA chapter.
Laura,
My daughter-in-law won’t hire a babysitter unless they are family. I expect that between the local welfare agency and the public library reference desk you can find what Denver has in that area.
As a grandfather I have been there, done that. btw if you decide to hire a babysitter that you don’t have a long term personal relationship with you really need to do a fullblown security check. To many horror stories
Now would be a good time to start studying for your MEW (Master of Expression Web) [roll on floor, laughing].
HTH,
Tom M.