Feb 4, 2021
What are the types of business analysts?
The role of a Business Analyst can sometimes be very misunderstood and sometimes roles are mislabeled. I would agree with the sentiment provided by another answerer that there are “no exact types of business analysts” although are some generally used types or terms that are used to help hiring managers narrow down the previous experience they would like the BA to have had.
IT Business Analyst
Description from The role of an IT business analyst
A business analyst is not limited to doing one thing. They often wear multiple hats. So what does a business analyst actually do? Read on to find out.
A business analyst is someone who analyses the organisation and design of technical systems, business models, processes and strategic business needs. A business analyst is also responsible for discovering the actual needs of stakeholders and not just what they desire.
In many cases a business analyst will facilitate communication between business departments. — in particular, they will often play a central role in aligning the needs of a particular business unit with the capabilities that can be delivered by IT.
Data Business Analyst
The business data analyst’s role, differs from the business analyst’s role in two main ways. Two additional requirements, or skills, that make the business data analyst’s job more senior, and generally higher pay.
First is a conceptual or analytical skill. The business data analyst is expected to be able to think flexibly, about how the data a company is currently collecting could be recombined, and analyzed in new ways to understand the business better.
Where business analyst, is generally given a specific problem to analyze. Based on information that has been assembled by someone else. A business data analyst may need to be able to pull together information from data sources scattered throughout the company, and should be able to figure out where to go in the organization, to find the relevant data. In other words, a business data analyst should be able to figure out the right questions to ask, in order to identify opportunities for business process changes, that may be suggested by the data. Second, is a related technical skill. While a business analyst is generally given a ready made data set, or a problem definition.
A business data analyst, is expected to be able to run SQL, or structured query language, queries to pull useful data out of much larger databases. Or even from distributed collections of unstructured data, scattered in multiple locations within the organization.
Functional Business Analyst
From Functional Analyst
A functional analyst is a type of business analyst who specializes in a specific technology, line of business, domain or industry. These functional analysts, owing to their expertise in a particular field are fully aware of the attributes, characteristics and functions of their field.
Business Systems Analyst
From https://thebusinessanalystjobdescription.com/business-systems-analyst/
A business systems analyst possesses proficiency in both the domains: Business and Technology. A professional having strong business domain knowledge and good grasp over technical aspects of the information technology domains is a worthy candidate for the Business Systems Analyst title.
Business Requirements Analyst
From The Business Analyst Job Description
The ultimate goal of any project is to create a unique product, service or result and in this endeavor a lot of requirement has to be gathered. Thereafter, these requirements have to be managed, prioritized, documented and checked for their feasibility for the business and the person responsible for all this work is called the ‘Business Requirements Analyst’.
Reporting Business Analyst
Actual job desc so remove some of the system specific language
As Reporting Business Analysts, your main tasks are to:
- Define the reporting business requirements in line with Invoice processing purchase-to-pay Core Model :
- Capture client requirements, propose the most adequate solution in line with Core Model Reporting Architecture and in coordination with SAP business analysts
- Define testing procedures and plans, and organise tests
- Design standard reports in SAP Business Objects InfoView environment, available for end users
- Define, develop and execute operational KPI reporting data.
- Support internal clients on the right use of the tool, including documentation and training sessions for end users
Enterprise Business Analyst
From Business Analyst | The Transformational Enterprise Business Analyst
Operating at the enterprise, strategic level, the EBA engages in radical collaboration, as the Stanford University Design School refers to it. The EBA understands that today’s complex projects demand an unprecedented amount of teamwork and cooperation among all key business and technology roles in a critical project. Indeed, shared project leadership is replacing old project management models. Perhaps the most valuable partnership when operating at the enterprise level is the one between the project manager and the business analyst.
Within Financial Services, who will also have recruiters looking for Payments Business Analysts, AML Business Analysts, Regulatory Business Analysts, Charles River Business Analysts and many more!
Though regardless of what type of BA you are or would like to be, the below may be of interest as to whether or not you feel being BA would be enjoyable for you.
From Alastair Majury on “What does being a BA mean to you?”
I came across this thread on LinkedIn titled — “What does being a BA mean to you?”.
The original post is:
“What does being a BA mean to you?
As someone very passionate about what I do, I will like to read and know how you feel being a BA (including Data, Systems, Infrastructure, … Analysts).
Please share your thoughts.”
And here are some of the responses:
“I think we BAs are lucky to be given the opportunity to have a job where we help people understand and describe problems they are facing, and then help them come up with solutions. We get to work with lots of different kinds of people, in mostly collaborative, rather than stupidly competitive, environments. We are also fortunate to work in a domain where there is lifelong learning.”
This one in particular resonates with myself:
“It is the breadth and variety of what we do (elicitation, facilitation, collaboration, listening, questioning, analysis, planning, organizing, documenting, illustrating, communicating, presenting, tracking, tracing) and who we work with (Sponsors, Business, Architects, Developers, Testers, Project Managers) that I enjoy most.
1 — Working with the business to understand and describe the problem and what is to be achieved,
2 — Collaborating with SMEs, Architects, and other analysts to define a solution for the problem,
3 — Organizing the requirements for the solution so that the development team can leverage them to build the solution, and making sure the team has a clear understanding of the requirements, and
4 — Ensuring that the solution that is built meets the needs of the business.I enjoy being the liaison between business and developers.”
“ I enjoy the essential thrownness that every business problem presents, the hermeneutic turn in modeling inquiry, and the reification of aporia. When the client’s complete aporia is reified and made apparent to the client I feel that my whole obligation to the client has been fulfilled. This is not a profession for doormats or dolts.”
“BA work is beyond requirements, facilitations,collaboratiom etc…we wear many hats, depending on the need of the hour. The only piece so far , missing , is writing code. But, i am sure there are BA’s out there that have done that as well and tested it too,just to be sure…:)”
“As a BA, I’ve worn several hats. Requirements gatherer, facilitator, collaborator, data analyst, developer, unit tester, and so many others. It depends on the day and the client need.”
“hi, if you’re questioning BA role purely from emotional/feeling perspective, look at the role of someone who feels the pain of all parties impacted by a change as well as all players who make the change happened, feels the pain and has skills to balance it out providing rationale, information, illustrations, whatever it takes to influence balanced decision making”
“ We take an empty slate and populate it with deliverables. Sometimes we deliver the goods. Other times, team members deliver the goods. We ensure delivery is according to best practices — well defined plans, validation tests, documentation, coordination between teams and stakeholders, and sometimes we make pretty the deliverable that is at first not-so-pretty. Making delivery possible, orderly, and neat.”
Accuracy of your personal data is important please read:
UK GDPR Case Law & Accuracy Principle — Legal Crowd Funder
and
Over 10% towards target reached in Help CapGemini Honour GDPR Legal Crowd Funder
Alastair Majury resides locally in the historic Scottish city of Dunblane, and is a Principal Consultant and a Senior Regulatory Business Analyst working across the country. Alastair Majury also serves on the local council (Stirling Council) as Councillor Alastair Majury where he represents the ward of Dunblane and Bridge of Allan, topping the poll.
Alastair Majury, is also a director of Majury Change Management Ltd is a highly experienced Senior Business Analyst / Data Scientist with a proven track record of success planning, developing, implementing and delivering migrations, organisational change, regulatory, legislative, and process improvements for global financial organisations, covering Retail Banking, Investment Banking, Wealth Management, and Life & Pensions.
For several years now, Alastair has worked extensively with a variety of financial institutions in order to offer the utmost comprehensive services. As a data scientist/business analyst, Alastair Majury is expected to find intuitive and sensible solutions to complex problems.
As a data scientist/business analyst, Alastair Majury has worked closely with several high-profile businesses, such as BNP Paribas, National Australia Bank, Standard Life and the Royal Bank of Scotland Group.A graduate of University of Glasgow, Alastair Majury earned his M.A. in Economics with Business Economics. Since then, Alastair has undergone several training sessions and earned multiple certifications for a variety of skills. More specifically, he has earned certifications in IAQ, risk management, resource management, and a bevy of other areas. Alastair Majury thoroughly enjoys his work.
What excites him most about being a data scientist/business analyst is that every problem has a variety of solutions. This allows for a great deal of creativity on his part. Providing ingenious solutions to his customers’ problems provides a great deal of satisfaction to Alastair Majury. Every single day can be a new and challenging problem.
Although he is a fierce and determined worker, Alastair also manages to find free time to embrace his hobbies and interests. Alastair is a major proponent of philanthropy and charitable endeavors. He constantly finds new and exciting ways to promote charities and philanthropic organizations in his community. He also tries to donate time and funds to said organizations whenever he can. Alastair Majury firmly believes that if we all work together towards a common goal, we can find peace.
