How Business Analysis Bridges Industries and Drives Success
James Dean
ACBA | AAC | ECBA | Business Analyst & President of the IIBA Ireland Chapter ????
How Business Analysis Bridges Industries and Drives Success ??
My name is James Dean – no, not that James Dean ??, but a Business Analyst who’s been passionately transforming processes, empowering people, and driving success for over seven years. I love sharing how Business Analysis Professionals break communication barriers and create positive results, and today I want to invite you on a journey through two stories that showcase the magic of Business Analysis and its power to bridge industries, elevate professionals, and create real-world impact.
But that’s not all - I’ll also introduce you to an incredible network of BA leaders you can connect with and share how you can get involved with BA Force Multiplier to share your own success stories.
Grab your coffee ?, settle in, and let’s dive into the art of simplifying complexity and connecting people to solutions.
The Power of Prototyping: Simplifying Complex Processes
The Challenge
Early in my career, I joined a project aimed at modernising a company’s registry system. The task? Revamp the front-end application that customers used to submit online forms and overhaul the back-end system used by registry operators to process them.
Sounds straightforward, right? Not quite. The difficulty was the approval process. We had functional specifications for every online form and process - 20+ documents, each 30–80 pages long. Stakeholders were expected to comb through each document, understand them, and provide feedback. Unsurprisingly, they struggled. Approvals stalled, the project slowed, and frustration brewed on all sides.
The Turning Point
That’s when I had an idea. What if we skipped the heavy documentation and showed stakeholders exactly what the online forms would look like in real life? I proposed creating prototypes of the forms and demoing the workflow - showing them how the system would work from the moment a customer submitted an online form to its processing in the back-end.
There was just one problem: I didn’t know how to build prototypes. So, I rolled up my sleeves, taught myself JSON programming, and used an internal tool to create functional demos. I then scheduled walkthroughs with the registry departments, where we reviewed the forms together, refined business rules, and collected feedback in real time.
The Result
This experience wasn’t just about solving a problem, it was a lesson in adaptability and creativity. As Business Analysis Professionals, we must be willing to learn new skills, challenge the status quo, and make complex processes accessible.
Mentorship: Bridging the Gap Between Business Analysis and IT
Let me tell you about Gustavo. When I first met him, he was a talented Business Analyst from a non-IT background. He could map processes, engage stakeholders, and identify improvement opportunities like a pro. But he had a dream: to transition into the tech world.
The challenge? Gustavo believed IT roles required deep technical expertise, and he wasn’t sure how his existing skill set would fit.
The Journey
During our mentoring sessions, we explored what IT truly entails. Yes, it involves systems and technology, but at its heart, IT is about people, processes, systems and data working together to deliver business value - an area where Gustavo excelled. We mapped his existing Business Analysis skills to the needs of IT, and to his surprise, he already possessed much of what the role demanded:
Next, we crafted a clear strategy:
The Result
Within months, Gustavo secured his first IT BA role. He thrived by bringing a fresh perspective and a people-first approach to his new team. His story is proof that Business Analysis is the ultimate bridge between industries. Whether you’re in finance, healthcare, or tech, the core competencies of Business Analysis are universal.
Takeaway
You don’t need to be a coding wizard to succeed in IT. Empathy, communication, collaboration, adaptability, curiousity, the want to continually learn and a problem-solving mindset can take you further than you think.
领英推荐
Why Business Analysis Matters
Business Analysis is more than just a role, it’s the glue that holds organisations together, the compass that guides them forward, and the engine that drives meaningful change.
Here’s why it matters:
But it doesn’t stop there. Business Analysis doesn’t just improve processes, it transforms organisations. It creates better systems, empowers employees, boosts morale, and, ultimately, identifies and implements strategies, processes, or solutions that lead to cost savings, increased revenue, or both.
As Business Analysis Professionals, we aren’t just solving problems; we’re creating opportunities and building bridges across industries.
Who Am I?
Beyond the certifications, titles, and years of experience, I’m someone who thrives on connecting with people and making a difference in their lives.
Want to connect? You can schedule time with me here or chat with me directly on LinkedIn! Let’s make an impact together.
Get Involved!
The magic of Business Analysis isn’t limited to just my experiences. It’s happening everywhere, and we want to hear your story! Whether it’s about solving a complex problem, mentoring someone, or simplifying processes, your experiences have the power to inspire others.
?? Got a story to share?
?? Join the BA Force Multiplier LinkedIn group – an empowering community of changemakers dedicated to advancing the Business Analysis profession
?? Reach out to Thea ?? Soehren, CBAP, CSPO, ICP-APO, ???, LION , the founder of BA Force Multiplier Leaders, directly via LinkedIn to chat about your journey or collaborate on something amazing
Meet the BA Force Multiplier Leaders
We’re a global group of Business Analysis leaders who share a common goal: to empower and uplift those around us. Together, we provide coaching, training, consulting, speaking engagements, and more.
Our incredible leaders include:
You can connect with us at BAForceMultiplier.com or directly on LinkedIn.
Ready to multiply your impact? Let’s make it happen! ??
Freelance Consultant
2 个月James Spot on! This informative post rings so true for many of us “accidental business analysts” out there. Bob
CCBA? | Business Analyst I Data Engineer | MBA I MSc. I Computer Engineer
2 个月Very informative, thanks for sharing ??
Senior Business Analyst at Foods Connected Ltd | Facilitating better solution design through a shared understanding of business context, needs and opportunities. | Analyse, define, optimise.
2 个月Great article James Dean, ACBA, AAC, ECBA - really inspiring read. Thank you
Great post James. As someone who has seen the BA role evolve over the years, I always like to see or hear practical examples of how the "BA mindset" can help projects throughout their lifecycle (and regardless of methodology). At the end of the day, it's about identifying the root cause of an issue and engaging colleagues to help solve it (through a number of tools and techniques etc).