Going from dev to business analyst - is it possible without BA experience?

[heyya99]

I'm a dev. Bored of it. I want to do BA work. Is there a route into BA work without going perm for a while to learn it?

I'm doing some home reading on becoming a BA in the meantime.

[cojak]

Going from dev to business analyst - is it possible without BA experience?

What domain will you concentrate on?

And are you thinking of business analysis or technical business analysis (better described as systems analysis, but no-one uses the term any more).

Anyway, have a look at these threads for more info until people come back from their break.

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...g-finance.html

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...ntracting.html

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...velopment.html

[SimonMac]

Two questions, one as Cojak say's do you want to be a non technical proper BA, engaged from the start of a project or more of a Solution Architect big picture type person

Second question, and key one, what makes you think you will be as good as a experienced BA to allow you to keep contracting when you make the move? I ask this question as I am in the midsts of changing skill set and its very hard to do while keeping contracting when you are supposed to be a SME in your field

[clearedforlanding]

If you know the difference between functional & non-functional requirements, can map processes, facilitate workshops, understand touchpoints and can wing it with your PM, you'll be fine.

Just start with a project you understand, then move on to the interesting stuff you don't.

[billybiro]

I'm a dev. Bored of it. I want to do BA work. Is there a route into BA work without going perm for a while to learn it?

I'm doing some home reading on becoming a BA in the meantime.

Care to share what you're reading in this regard?

[northernladuk]

Home reading doesn't give you marketable skills so I'd say you are going to have to go permie to get the experience.

[heyya99]

What domain will you concentrate on?

And are you thinking of business analysis or technical business analysis (better described as systems analysis, but no-one uses the term any more).

Anyway, have a look at these threads for more info until people come back from their break.

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...g-finance.html

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...ntracting.html

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...velopment.html

I haven't decided what type of BA work I would like to do. I would ideally like to concentrate on business divisions as a whole as opposed to just being the BA on a software development project but I think that is my most likely inlet, being from a technical background. I don't mean being a technical architect.

I know moving across and continuing contracting won't be easy so I guess I would have a perm decision to make

I think to be a very good technical contractor, one must keep up to date with tech skills and I don't have the passion for that anymore. I'd like to have more to a bigger picture of how a business is run, specifically finance.

I'm reading this.

[Cirrus]

The Jeremy Corbyn of Project Methodologies

I'm reading this.

OMG! It's got Soft Systems Methodology. I thought that had died when I was a boy.

In fact I never thought had lived in the first place

[MarillionFan]

Home reading doesn't give you marketable skills so I'd say you are going to have to go permie to get the experience.

What tosh.

When I decided to become a Business Analyst from being a developer years ago, I just modified my CV to show my documentation, analysis skills I'd used as a developer & went an applied for a role as a BA, which I subsequently got.

You can call yourself anything in IT. If you can talk the talk and walk the walk, then there's no difference.

[cojak]

I'm with MF on this I'm afraid. With the right mindset you can get into business analysis with books. I started with that book (15 years ago though and business analysis has moved on, but it will give you the fundamentals).

But I'm a big believer in taking courses as well. I made sure that I was doing a little BA work in order for myco to pay for the training. Sitting in a classroom lets you hear from the other attendees and share their experiences and ask questions of the tutor.

I learned as much from the 2 Gartner guys who were attending one course as I did from the tutor.

My BA work now takes me into Lean territory and I'm in high demand.