I Want To Be A Business Analyst

Recently I met someone who has just accepted a job as a Business Analyst in the Online Consulting division for a big company. She is older than me so I certainly wouldn’t expect to be getting that kind of role at this stage in my career, however I’ve realised that it is a career path I would like to put myself on. She explained the role as scoping out projects for front and/or back end user systems, including liaising with designers and developers, testing the system, going back for changes, etc. I have had a brief taste of this in two of my previous roles, where I designed a simple back end admin system with a php programmer for use in a subscription management system. I also redesigned the back end admin of a custom CRM system that was being used to manage paid website content and the associated writers who submitted it. I LOVED this kind of work. There is nothing I love more than taking a process and making it more efficient and effective for the end-user. If this is what a Business Analyst does, I want in.

This prompted me to ask myself ‘What qualifications and experience would a BA have?’. Naturally, I turned to Google for the answer. I came across this post, and Mr Winning’s (Hmm?) list of critical attributes for an analyst, so I thought I’d go through them and self-assess my abilities:

(Btw we recently had an organisation behaviour person come in and do team building with us, and my personality type was discovered to be The Analyst, so surely that already qualifies me?)

1. An analyst is looking for ways to improve the business through technology yet cautioning against letting technology lead the business by the nose. Absolutely. I love technology and think it can improve many processes, however just because it’s ‘new’ doesn’t make it ‘good’. I dislike my current job because people are so caught up in ‘the next big thing’ that they don’t stop to consider whether it’s actually a viable solution to a problem. You should drive technology, it shouldn’t drive you.

2. An analyst is looking to accomplish specific tasks or meet specific measurable goals within a reasonable time frame. I do this as a natural part of working, so I would consider this a tick in the box.

3. An analyst is as comfortable in a technology driven meeting as in a business planning session. The analyst listens to business problems and goals and translates that information into potential solutions – sometimes using technology and sometimes not – technology is not always the answer. Anyone who knows me knows I love technology, especially when it comes to that which improves efficiency. Having worked in digital marketing for the last 5 years and every single person I know being a programmer, web designer, online BDM, I am extremely comfortable talking tech as well as talking business. I’ve always been an ideas person. My favourite thing to do, and what I consider a major strength, is just having ideas, and thinking outside the box. I am highly solutions-orientated, and a great problem solver. I’m also able to take an idea and see how it can be added to or built on to provide more value to the business.

4. An analyst can also serve as project manager, test coordinator, “keeper of the budget” or data analyst. I don’t have a whole lot of experience in ‘official’ project management (i.e. doing all the standard documentation, following a budget step by step, doing risk projections, etc) however this year I’m hoping to get some proper training in this area. I have ‘project managed’ in most of my jobs, but this area seems to demand a qualification of some sort. I am very familiar with testing and re-testing, after working in so many tech based roles, the last year has turned me into a penny pincher, and data analysing is one of my stengths – especially when it comes to casting doubt over survey results! (FYI, if you do a survey, don’t consider it as gospel!)

5. Analysts are not “yes” people – if the idea sucks we’ll tell you. Analysts hate waste and are usually budget bears. In my current job we waste a lot of money. We don’t spend in areas that make us money, and spend exhorbitantly in areas that contribute nothing (we have $3000/ea chairs that we never sit in). Then there’s me, who uses a coupon when we buy our images from iStockPhoto just to save $17. Oh and I am certainly not a ‘yes’ person. I’ve actually been worried lately that my constant habit of considering the flip side (read: negative) side to great ideas is making me sound like I am just a negaitve person overall. I’m really not, I just think it’s critical to consider things from every angle.

6. An analyst is always conducting research – either for their business or for their own personal education. An analyst understands that business and technology are forever changing therefore, an open view of the world must be maintained in order to see the potential in any situation. I really wish I had a thousand more hours in the day to read, because I am often wondering how things in the world work and I keep a list of things I am meaning to look up. I do a lot of my own personal research into organisational behaviour and culture, consumer behaviour, management theory, happiness theories, emotional and social intelligence, etc. I love discovering the intracacies of human behaviour and how this impacts on the workplace. I definitely have an open view of the world and believe many things are possible – just ask me about my online jury system…

7. An analyst understands that no one vendor or software is the solution to all evils. The newest rage today will fade into the distance next week. I COULDN’T AGREE MORE! This is no truer than with social media. Everyone acts like it will NEVER be superseded. Guess what? When mIRC first came out, it was the best thing to have ever been created too. Same with ICQ. Where are they both now? Alive, but what person born after 1990 has heard of them? The worst mistake you can make is assuming that something won’t just come and go – however long it takes, everything has a lifespan. Nothing is going to do everything you want it to, and generally when companies try to be the be-all-and-end-all, they ruin what made them good in the first place.

8. We’d always rather build than buy but understand that buying – for the most part – is usually the way to get more of what the business really needs in a more reasonable time frame (at lease in my world). I definitely understand this concept. Custom systems are unbeatable, but the amount of time and money they cost usually means they are out of the question. The best solution is to find something you can buy and then customize. This way you get the best of both worlds.

9. An analyst is not and cannot be political. An analyst is a cynic and optimist at the same time. A cynic and an optimist at the same time… I am definitely cynical, but also an optimist. My best way of illustrating this is that I do not believe there is such a thing a ‘the glass is half full’ or ‘the glass is half empty’. That is supposed to tell you whether you’re an optimist or a pessimist, but for me there is an extremely clear definition as to when the glass would be in each state, and without contextual information, you cannot possibly make a judgement about the state of the glass.

10. An analyst knows “bodies” don’t get a project done – people do. An analyst gets to know the developers on a project and finds the unique talent that each one has – and uses it to run a better project. I will always operate on a very real and human level in my work. Every single person at work is a complex being of emotions, knowledge, experience and perceptions, and this means that in order to get the best out of them, you need to fully understand their motivations and why they come to work in the morning. Personally I love developers. People treat them like crap, but I know that most of them just want to be recognised for their awe inspiring level of skill. Finding the “Unique Selling Point” of each person on a team or project is what will take it to new heights – if you want the best outcome, you need the absolute best part of each person.

11. Analysts believe that they are pretty smart – if we don’t no one else will. We chuckle softly at people who don’t understand that we really do have a grand vision and believe that anything can be accomplished if you knock all the crap out of your processes. I’ve been doubting my intelligence in recent years because I’ve met so many RIDICULOUSLY smart people (aerospace engineers and the like), however people who have read this blog tell me I am too smart to be friends with them. I still find that weird. Anyway, I have to laugh at this point, because I think that’s exactly what I’m like.

12. Analysts are always looking at least 5 years out. I’m a ‘projectionist’. Who cares about what’s hot right now – where are we going?

13. An analyst thinks becoming management is a step down. Analysts aspire to be highly paid experts. Perhaps it’s a symptom of not yet having a management job or an analyst job as I don’t necessarily agree with this statement, however I can see how it is true. I certainly consider ‘Consultants’ to be a step up from Management and an ‘Analyst’ is even better than a consultant. Being highly paid wouldn’t be so bad either….

So – do I qualify?