Business Analysis Fundamentals and Concepts

Week 39: Possible Interview Questions: Day 1

The Business Analysis scenario interview question for today is:

Describe a situation where you had to adapt a business analysis methodology to suit a project's needs.

The Aim of the Question

The interviewer asks this question to understand your flexibility and adaptability in applying business analysis methodologies. It evaluates your ability to tailor methodologies to the unique challenges and requirements of different projects. The question aims to gauge your practical experience in applying theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.

What the Interviewer is Seeking

The interviewer is looking to assess:

• Your understanding of various business analysis methodologies.
• Ability to critically assess a project’s needs and choose the appropriate methodology.
• Skills in customizing methodologies without compromising the project’s objectives.
• Problem-solving skills and innovation in methodology application.
• Experience in tailoring your approach to meet the specific needs and challenges of the project, rather than following a rigid or predefined methodology.

How Best to respond?

The best response strategy for scenario-based questions is to use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This will help you structure your answer clearly and concisely while highlighting your skills and achievements. You should also explain why you chose to adapt the methodology and what benefits it brought to the project.

Here are some examples of how a beginner, intermediate and advanced Business Analyst could answer this question, along with a sample answer for each level.

Beginner:

As a beginner Business Analyst, you could demonstrate your ability to learn from others and apply feedback to improve your work. You could also show your willingness to adapt to different project requirements and stakeholder expectations.?

Sample answer: "In my previous role as a junior Business Analyst, I was assigned to a project that involved developing a new online platform for a retail company. The project manager suggested that we use an agile methodology, as the client wanted to see frequent iterations and feedback. However, I was more familiar with a waterfall approach, as that was what I had learned in my training. I decided to adapt to the agile methodology by reading some books and articles on the topic, attending some workshops and webinars, and asking for guidance from my senior colleagues. I also participated in daily stand-up meetings, sprint planning sessions, and retrospectives with the project team. As a result, I was able to deliver high-quality work that met the client's expectations and received positive feedback from the project manager and the stakeholders."

Intermediate:

As an intermediate Business Analyst, you could demonstrate your ability to use different tools and techniques to support your analysis and communication. You could also show your ability to collaborate with other team members and stakeholders to ensure alignment and consensus.?

Sample answer: "In my current role as a Business Analyst, I was involved in a project that aimed to improve the customer service processes of a telecom company. The project sponsor wanted us to use a business process modelling notation (BPMN) tool to document the current and future state processes. However, some of the key stakeholders were not familiar with BPMN and preferred to use flowcharts or swimlane diagrams instead. I decided to adapt the methodology by using both BPMN and flowcharts to capture and communicate the process information. I also conducted workshops and interviews with the stakeholders to elicit their requirements, validate their understanding, and resolve any conflicts or gaps. As a result, I was able to create comprehensive and accurate process models that satisfied both the project sponsor and the stakeholders."

Advanced:

As an advanced Business Analyst, you could demonstrate your ability to evaluate and select the most appropriate methodology for each project based on various factors such as scope, complexity, risk, budget, timeline, etc. You could also show your ability to influence and persuade others to adopt your chosen methodology and ensure its successful implementation.

Sample answer: "In my previous role as a senior Business Analyst, I led a project that aimed to implement a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for a manufacturing company. The project was complex, large-scale, and high-risk, as it involved integrating multiple legacy systems, migrating huge amounts of data, and changing the business processes across various departments. I decided to adapt a hybrid methodology that combined elements of agile and waterfall approaches. I used agile methods such as user stories, sprints, and demos for the development and testing phases, as they allowed for more flexibility and responsiveness to changing requirements. I used waterfall methods such as project charter, scope statement, and Gantt chart for the planning and execution phases, as they provided more structure and control over the project deliverables. I also communicated the rationale behind my methodology choice to the project team, the stakeholders, and the senior management, explaining how it would help us achieve the project objectives while minimizing the risks. As a result, I was able to successfully implement the new ERP system within the agreed budget and timeline, while ensuring high quality standards and user satisfaction."

As a beginner BA, you may not have faced this exact sort of scenario before. I strongly advise you not to lie or craft out a hokey story as that's deception and if you're not good at it, an interviewer can smell the BS from afar and follow questions that could trip you up. SO DO NOT LIE... Instead, you could do one of these two things:

• Provide a similar experience and let the interviewer know how you would have dealt with the situation in that case OR
• Let the interviewer know your answer will be based on a possible scenario( as you have not faced this before) and discuss how you would solve the problem.