BAs work conditions & responsibilities

[SandyD]

I wanted to discuss how I noted BAs roles have changed quite a bit in the last few years, we touched in this on a different thread, so wanted to discuss it in a bit more details here.

First of all am a BA, ex programmer. I really like and enjoy pure BA work that I have been doing almost 20 years now, and used to be quite satisfied with the role.

In the last few years, I am noticing a trend that has become the norm now.
I get recruited for a BA role, on a BA pay rate that hardly changed in the last 10 years, but when I start the role, I find that an expected to do BA(of whole project not just a specific area of the project as it used to be ) on top am expected to do all PM work ( as the real PM is busy managing a bazillion other projects) some IT / scripting work, the design and architecture, all testing including SIT/UAT, not to mention PMO work. I recently took another role and specifically chose and mentioned in the interview that I just want pure BA role... as usual I start here and I am not only doing all the above (BA/PM/PMO/IT/Testing) but on top I have to produce all financials across legal entities involved in the project, plus the legal agreements between this entities.

Frankly am tiered, I said no to some tasks a few times, but no one is taking notice tbh. They just say you have to do it, no one else is there to do it.

I am working for the biggest banks, they have a lot of money, but the budget they assign isn’t enough to recruit more people.
I could put my foot down and leave, I did this before, but it means moving from the frying pan into the fire, as I find everywhere is the same now.

Except when I worked in Europe a couple of years ago, that was just like the old days when a BA is expected to do just a BA role

What do other BAs think? I am capable of doing multi roles, but
I am getting burnt out... and just want to do what I do best!!!

[PerfectStorm]

I find that if you go to somewhere like a bank, you'll get that - BA only - no stepping outside of your role even if you want to, or is helpful to the project!

Other places let you wear a lot of hats, or require it.

I like it, keeps things varied.

Back in the old days, for me, a BA felt like someone who did a bit of everything, like a technical project manager who 'got involved' as opposed to staying in an ivory tower somewhere. I like that.

[northernladuk]

Make sure you get a clear set of deliverables at the start of the contract and if they want you do something not on that you have to say no as you'll be under D&C and have an IR35 issue.

Sounds like clients don't really know what a BA is and are really looking for Project Analysts.. i.e. some that does anything on a project they fancy.

[SandyD]

I find that if you go to somewhere like a bank, you'll get that - BA only - no stepping outside of your role even if you want to, or is helpful to the project!

Other places let you wear a lot of hats, or require it.

I like it, keeps things varied.

Back in the old days, for me, a BA felt like someone who did a bit of everything, like a technical project manager who 'got involved' as opposed to staying in an ivory tower somewhere. I like that.

Not sure if you got mixed up, I am working for banks, and they do expect me to do 5 roles on a one role pay rate.
Variety is good, but I not if they are clear from the start that the role involves XYZ, but not if they list employ description no where close to reality.
I am not willing to do all of PM / PMO/Tester/Techie roles for one BA role, not willing to work 18 hours a day any more!!!
I agree it should be fine for some, but the advertiser should be very clear on their expectations, this way I could chose before I accept a role.

[Hobosapien]

I don't think this role creep is relative to just BA work, I see it on all sorts of roles that I could do to varying degrees of competence.

e.g. Many developer related vacancies mention 'full stack', expecting some knowledge and experience of everything from client side scripting to databases. Oh for the days of separation of roles into UI designer, 'traditional' developer, DBA.

I've been trawling the job sites to see what they're asking for skills wise so I can identify gaps where I need to brush up or get clued up before going for interviews when my current contract ends, but when they want everything I just think why bother, I'll just blag my way through the interview and get up to speed on what they actually use when I see it in front of me.

Not sure why this trend has appeared but I'd rather be a specialist than a jack of all trades. Need to find a niche, maybe legacy stuff now all the first generation 'boomer' techies are dying off.

[SandyD]

Make sure you get a clear set of deliverables at the start of the contract and if they want you do something not on that you have to say no as you'll be under D&C and have an IR35 issue.

Sounds like clients don't really know what a BA is and are really looking for Project Analysts.. i.e. some that does anything on a project they fancy.

Problem is it’s being done across the board now, no matter which bank....
everyone wants one person cheapest rate to carry out most the work, in the past for same type of projects they would have recruited a lot more resources and everyone had clear responsibility, one can still grow and move on from one area to another, but not actually doing all the roles!

[SandyD]

I don't think this role creep is relative to just BA work, I see it on all sorts of roles that I could do to varying degrees of competence.

e.g. Many developer related vacancies mention 'full stack', expecting some knowledge and experience of everything from client side scripting to databases. Oh for the days of separation of roles into UI designer, 'traditional' developer, DBA.

I've been trawling the job sites to see what they're asking for skills wise so I can identify gaps where I need to brush up or get clued up before going for interviews when my current contract ends, but when they want everything I just think why bother, I'll just blag my way through the interview and get up to speed on what they actually use when I see it in front of me.

Not sure why this trend has appeared but I'd rather be a specialist than a jack of all trades. Need to find a niche, maybe legacy stuff now all the first generation 'boomer' techies are dying off.

Yes I agree, speaking to some developers, they agree with me that that work load getting higher while head-counts getting squeezed

[fiisch]

No I am finding the reverse.... not enough BA work to keep me busy, last three roles have been the same.

Current contract I have been there a month and I've still to be assigned to a project....

[Hobosapien]

Current contract I have been there a month and I've still to be assigned to a project....

Are they paying you for not doing any BA work you were presumably contracted for? If so are you outside IR35 where this matters?

[fiisch]

Are they paying you for not doing any BA work you were presumably contracted for? If so are you outside IR35 where this matters?

I am focused on orientating myself with the system in question in preparation for assignment....

(To be fair, I am assigned to a programme of work - just the individual project(s) are TBC, the schedule of which was thrown up in the air on the week of joining).