March 20, 2014 at 18:34Is it easy to become an analyst?
On May 24, Moscow will host the III International Conference on System and Business Analysis Analyst Days . Who needs it, how to become a business analyst, and is it worth it to strive for? Maxim Tsepkov , chief architect of the Directorate for Development of Solutions, CUSTIS Group of Companies, will talk about this.
The role of a business analyst depends on the software development model that the company uses, as well as on the division of responsibility for the project between the developer company and the customer.
There are several common models, but combinations of them can be used.
1. The business analyst works “in the field”, contacts the customer’s representatives and collects the requirements, which are then transferred to the “chief designer” or “architect” as initial information for the design. In the future, he is the communicator between the architect and the customer.
2. A business analyst acts as a direct customer for developers. It forms a certain consistent set of requirements or even a business model that describes the functionality of the system, and works out them to such an extent that the developer can continue to design himself. Then the analyst passes the requirements to the development, accepts the work done and ensures implementation.
3. A business analyst is seen as the next step in the growth of an analyst (system), who is a specialist in design, but without knowledge of the specifics of the subject area. And as you master a subject area or several, he becomes a business analyst.
In all models, business analysts are required to know the subject area and the ability to communicate with the customer in his language. But the differences relate to the area of responsibility of the business analyst within the project.
Business analysis is at the intersection of the subject area and design and requires fluency in two languages at once - “customer’s language” and “programmer’s language”. At the same time, “customer languages” are different for different industries and even for different companies within the same industry, and a business analyst is required to be able to quickly navigate and learn a new area for him in the absence of any systematically organized information and training time. Such skills are not common among developers, so business analysis is considered a more complex area. But at the same time, business analysts need good design skills that are not always available for specialists who come from a business field, and not from IT, and a business analyst without design skills is not considered qualified. As for the testers, then they also need knowledge of the subject area in those cases when they conduct full-fledged functional testing. But design skills are not required from them.
However, this applies to models 2 and 3 from the first question. And in model 1, the work of a business analyst is not considered more complicated, it is quite comparable with others, it just has its own specialization.
Can. Only the youngest, who will be taught by older comrades. And from the very beginning analyst, one needs activity and a thirst for knowledge, a desire to work. Then, as experience accumulates, the qualifications and the range of tasks to be solved will grow. Actually, here the analyst is no different from other professions.
Because these are different activities, knowledge and skills. In the system analysis distinguish design, "cleared" of the subject area. This is a natural process of differentiating activities by type. And then in different projects different types of activity may be needed and they can be distributed between roles differently.
In Model 1 mentioned above, business and systems analysis are clearly divided between different people. In model 3, they are combined as two activities of a business analyst, who at the same time can give separate tasks for designing to his subordinate "simple" (or system) analyst. And in model 2, business analytics is usually given to conceptual system design, possibly together with the developer, and the detailed remains with the developer.
The main quality is good conceptual thinking, which allows you to quickly build models in the absence of information, complemented by developed communication skills to obtain this information, as well as broadcast and discuss their models. This is a comprehensive quality, but it is precisely this that gives the activity integrity. Unfortunately, it is only very rare. So the analysis begins - and which "under-analyst" is better - and the point of view usually depends on the problems in the projects that answer the question. And if in a positive way, then all these aspects of activity need to be provided by one or several people working together, and you just need to understand how you will do it.
It depends on the specific project, the stage of its life cycle and the division of responsibilities between development and marketing in the case of a product company and between the company and the customer for outsourcing. And in those, and in others there is a certain set of activities related to analysis in the broadest sense. But they can be implemented in different ways - by highlighting individual roles or assigning additional functions to others. It depends on whether the selected analyst in a particular project or his responsibilities will be “spread out” between several employees playing other roles.
Probably possible. Because now there are many channels and ways to obtain information from the outside world. And instead of talking with colleagues and conferences, you can read books, search for information on the Internet and learn from trainings. Everyone chooses the method that is more convenient for him. However, it is absolutely impossible to become a good analyst if you do not study, do not follow the development of your professional field, the emergence of new methods and approaches. And for me personally, conferences are the most effective way to “be in the know”. Because they gather analysts of different qualifications from a variety of companies to talk about their problems and solutions; and they have already filtered out from a huge stream of information what seemed to them the most valuable, and often even managed to try it out in their work. Also, hearing something new, you can always “live” talk with someone who is in the know and tried, discuss with him an application to your problems - usually people willingly share their vision, in fact, give free consultations, because when discussing, they also advance in their understanding. And I, in spite of my very extensive experience, at each conference I discover something new.
Because now in the post-Soviet space this is one of two specialized analytical conferences (the second is the Summer Analytical Festival) The level of reports and communication on it is very decent, and this is an effective way to learn new things and develop professionally. Moreover, on the days adjacent to the conference, there are always trainings of leading analysts, in addition to master classes at the conference itself, and this is also a great opportunity to learn new things. I must say that the trainings at the conference differ from the “regular” trainings in the training centers in that it is on them that the coaches try new forms, talk about what they themselves have recently mastered or realized. So this is a wonderful way to “feel” the work of the analyst for those who are going to develop in this direction, and for experienced professionals - the opportunity to see what is happening in the professional field and learn something new.
Why do companies need business intelligence, what role do they play?
The role of a business analyst depends on the software development model that the company uses, as well as on the division of responsibility for the project between the developer company and the customer.
There are several common models, but combinations of them can be used.
1. The business analyst works “in the field”, contacts the customer’s representatives and collects the requirements, which are then transferred to the “chief designer” or “architect” as initial information for the design. In the future, he is the communicator between the architect and the customer.
2. A business analyst acts as a direct customer for developers. It forms a certain consistent set of requirements or even a business model that describes the functionality of the system, and works out them to such an extent that the developer can continue to design himself. Then the analyst passes the requirements to the development, accepts the work done and ensures implementation.
3. A business analyst is seen as the next step in the growth of an analyst (system), who is a specialist in design, but without knowledge of the specifics of the subject area. And as you master a subject area or several, he becomes a business analyst.
In all models, business analysts are required to know the subject area and the ability to communicate with the customer in his language. But the differences relate to the area of responsibility of the business analyst within the project.
Why is business analysis considered more complex than programming, and the more testing a field of activity?
Business analysis is at the intersection of the subject area and design and requires fluency in two languages at once - “customer’s language” and “programmer’s language”. At the same time, “customer languages” are different for different industries and even for different companies within the same industry, and a business analyst is required to be able to quickly navigate and learn a new area for him in the absence of any systematically organized information and training time. Such skills are not common among developers, so business analysis is considered a more complex area. But at the same time, business analysts need good design skills that are not always available for specialists who come from a business field, and not from IT, and a business analyst without design skills is not considered qualified. As for the testers, then they also need knowledge of the subject area in those cases when they conduct full-fledged functional testing. But design skills are not required from them.
However, this applies to models 2 and 3 from the first question. And in model 1, the work of a business analyst is not considered more complicated, it is quite comparable with others, it just has its own specialization.
Is it possible to become an analyst right after a university?
Can. Only the youngest, who will be taught by older comrades. And from the very beginning analyst, one needs activity and a thirst for knowledge, a desire to work. Then, as experience accumulates, the qualifications and the range of tasks to be solved will grow. Actually, here the analyst is no different from other professions.
Why is system analysis and business analysis separated?
Because these are different activities, knowledge and skills. In the system analysis distinguish design, "cleared" of the subject area. This is a natural process of differentiating activities by type. And then in different projects different types of activity may be needed and they can be distributed between roles differently.
In Model 1 mentioned above, business and systems analysis are clearly divided between different people. In model 3, they are combined as two activities of a business analyst, who at the same time can give separate tasks for designing to his subordinate "simple" (or system) analyst. And in model 2, business analytics is usually given to conceptual system design, possibly together with the developer, and the detailed remains with the developer.
What are the main qualities of a good analyst? What are the “anti-qualities”?
The main quality is good conceptual thinking, which allows you to quickly build models in the absence of information, complemented by developed communication skills to obtain this information, as well as broadcast and discuss their models. This is a comprehensive quality, but it is precisely this that gives the activity integrity. Unfortunately, it is only very rare. So the analysis begins - and which "under-analyst" is better - and the point of view usually depends on the problems in the projects that answer the question. And if in a positive way, then all these aspects of activity need to be provided by one or several people working together, and you just need to understand how you will do it.
Who needs analytics - food companies or outsourcing?
It depends on the specific project, the stage of its life cycle and the division of responsibilities between development and marketing in the case of a product company and between the company and the customer for outsourcing. And in those, and in others there is a certain set of activities related to analysis in the broadest sense. But they can be implemented in different ways - by highlighting individual roles or assigning additional functions to others. It depends on whether the selected analyst in a particular project or his responsibilities will be “spread out” between several employees playing other roles.
Is it possible to become a good analyst without communicating with colleagues and without attending industry conferences?
Probably possible. Because now there are many channels and ways to obtain information from the outside world. And instead of talking with colleagues and conferences, you can read books, search for information on the Internet and learn from trainings. Everyone chooses the method that is more convenient for him. However, it is absolutely impossible to become a good analyst if you do not study, do not follow the development of your professional field, the emergence of new methods and approaches. And for me personally, conferences are the most effective way to “be in the know”. Because they gather analysts of different qualifications from a variety of companies to talk about their problems and solutions; and they have already filtered out from a huge stream of information what seemed to them the most valuable, and often even managed to try it out in their work. Also, hearing something new, you can always “live” talk with someone who is in the know and tried, discuss with him an application to your problems - usually people willingly share their vision, in fact, give free consultations, because when discussing, they also advance in their understanding. And I, in spite of my very extensive experience, at each conference I discover something new.
Why should someone who works or wants to work as an analyst should go / go on Analyst Days?
Because now in the post-Soviet space this is one of two specialized analytical conferences (the second is the Summer Analytical Festival) The level of reports and communication on it is very decent, and this is an effective way to learn new things and develop professionally. Moreover, on the days adjacent to the conference, there are always trainings of leading analysts, in addition to master classes at the conference itself, and this is also a great opportunity to learn new things. I must say that the trainings at the conference differ from the “regular” trainings in the training centers in that it is on them that the coaches try new forms, talk about what they themselves have recently mastered or realized. So this is a wonderful way to “feel” the work of the analyst for those who are going to develop in this direction, and for experienced professionals - the opportunity to see what is happening in the professional field and learn something new.