Business analysis

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The aim of business analysis ( BA or Business Analysis ) is to understand the structures , business rules as well as communication and business processes of a company . There are solutions are recommended that allow the company to improve these structures, business rules and processes. Examples of this are optimized work processes , changes to the organizational structure and, in particular, the use of IT tools . The business analysis determines the requirements and expectations of different people and groups of people ( stakeholders ) inside and outside the company.

Content

For business analysis it is necessary to understand

  • how a company works
  • what goals a company pursues,
  • how it achieves its goals ,
  • what requirements the stakeholders have,
  • how the requirements relate to the corporate goals,
  • which measures and solutions are suitable to achieve the goals,
  • what potential a company needs in order to be able to offer products and services to external and internal stakeholders ,
  • how different organizational units as well as internal and external target carriers (stakeholders) work together.

Business analysis can analyze and describe the current state of a company and / or determine requirements for a future target state. Business analysts collect, organize and process the requirements of a wide variety of people and groups of people (e.g. customers, employees, IT experts and managers). Ensuring and improving communication between the various parties involved often plays an essential role. Solutions are then developed and evaluated in order to meet the requirements and achieve the goals. These solutions are often IT-supported or direct IT solutions (e.g. new or improved software, use of workflow systems). Therefore, the requirements of the internal departments and external customers must be compared with the options provided by IT. Because different (technical) terms are used in specialist areas and IT departments, business analysts often serve as “interpreters”.

Areas of responsibility

The areas of responsibility of business analysis are:

  • Strategic analysis : Determine the current state of the company and outline possible solutions as improvements to the target state (describe existing problems / opportunities, define goals, design approaches, determine the scope of the solution, create a business case ).
  • Survey and collaboration : identify stakeholder requirements.
  • Requirements analysis and design definition : prioritize, structure (selection of text, graphics and / or model to document requirements), specify (document requirements in text form), model (document requirements with graphics / models), verify (check for quality of content) ), validate (check for compliance with objectives).
  • Requirements lifecycle management : manage requirements (prepare requirements for approval, manage requirement changes).
  • Planning and monitoring the business analysis : planning the business analysis work (planning the tasks to be done, communication, information management).
  • Solution evaluation : proposed or implemented solutions check whether they cover the identified requirements.
  • Basic competences : use oral and written communication skills, use analytical knowledge, use company and industry knowledge.

Job title

People who perform business analysis or related tasks are referred to as:

  • Business analyst , English business analyst
  • IT coordinator
  • (Business) systems analyst
  • Requirements Engineer
  • Corporate architect
  • Management consultant
  • organizer

education

Business analysis can be studied part-time in Germany at the Steinbeis University and in Switzerland at the Zurich University of Economics . Each degree is a master’s degree. In addition, training providers train and certify in business analysis.

In principle, however, no special training is required for the work of a business analyst, although a degree in economics or business-related vocational training makes sense.

literature

  • International Institute of Business Analysis (Ed.): BABOK® v3 - Guide to Business Analysis BABOK® Guide 3.0 . 3. Edition. Giessen 2017, ISBN 978-3-945997-03-1 .
  • Ingrid and Peter Gerstbach: Basic knowledge of business analysis - solving problems, seizing opportunities . Munich 2015, ISBN 978-3-86881-574-0
  • Inge Hanschke, Gunnar Giesinger, Daniel Goetze: Business analysis - simple and effective: Understand business requirements and implement them in IT solutions . 2nd Edition. 2016, ISBN 978-3-446-44345-7 .
  • Clemente Minonne: Business Analysis - Concepts, methods and instruments for optimizing the business architecture . 1st (German) edition. Stuttgart 2016, ISBN 978-3-7910-3308-2 .
  • Axel-Bruno Naumann: Business Analysis . 1st edition. Giessen 2018, ISBN 978-3-945997-11-6 .
  • Götz Schmidt: Organization and Business Analysis - Methods and Techniques , 15th edition, Gießen 2014, ISBN 978-3-921313-93-0

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Guide to Business Analysis BABOK® Guide 3.0 (BABOK v3)
  2. ↑ IT-German, German-IT. Article in the magazine Der Handel 10/2009. (PDF; 1.5 MB)
  3. ↑ BABOK v3
  4. ↑ Your optimal work-study balance: Master of Science Management. In: IOM Institute for Organization & Management. Retrieved on March 19, 2020 (German).
  5. ^ MAS Business Analysis. Retrieved on March 19, 2020 (German).