What does a "Business Analyst" do...

**Zippy** · 13 January 2007, 12:58

BA = Business Analyst = Black Art

I think the definition changes from company to company but I reckon that mostly it means process engineer. And you know how to talk to customers and coders.

**Gonzo** · 13 January 2007, 13:02

Originally posted by Sockpuppet

So I keep seeing jobs for BAs with some fairly tasty rates (well there isnt much in the logistics sector yet so widening the horizons).

Now am I to assume that BA so what I used to do for another company. Look at the processes tell you they are all crap and use visio to draw some different ones which are probably no better than the start.

We called them process engineers but I am assuming that BA are the same, or is there some sort of black art to this that I'm not getting.

In any case I really can't see it being too difficult.

Its not difficult but doing it well requires discipline.

A bit of process re-engineering can form part of it, but there are other roles that the BA is expected to fulfil.

In theory a BA gathers all the requirements from the client and maps out how the solution is to function. In practice the client says "I have this problem" without knowing what the requirements are so the BA has to fill in all the gaps.

Having said all that there are plenty of p1ss poor BAs who think that it is a cushy job that they can coast with a bit of business knowledge, and plenty get away with it.

**Sockpuppet** · 13 January 2007, 13:48

So basically what I did for Vodafone then. Tell them "this is how your X is going to work"....

Might put a few applications in.

What does a "Business Analyst" do...