Z - Your Business analysis assistant
Oge Nwachukwu, CBAP, CPOA, PMP, ACCA, PROSCI
Business Analysis Consulting I AI Strategy & Implementation I Training I Coaching
In our recent Future Forward Learning Series episode, we had the privilege of hosting @ Mohamed Zahran , a distinguished business analyst and innovator. Mohamed introduced us to Z, an innovative AI assistant designed to support business analysts.
Here's a comprehensive recap of our enlightening discussion.
Guest Profile
Mohamed Zahran joined us from Cairo, Egypt, bringing with him an impressive background:
- Recognized as the IIBA BA of the Year for Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific in 2019
- Significant contributor to IIBA Egypt and the IIBA EMEA region
- Passionate about fostering the startup ecosystem in the Arab region and the Middle East
- Co-author of the IIBA Business Data Analytics Guide
- Currently focused on developing AI-driven solutions
Introducing Z: Your AI Business Analysis Partner
Z is an innovative AI assistant designed specifically for business analysts. Unlike general-purpose AI tools, Z is trained on business analysis standards, including the BABOK Guide, Agile practices, business data analytics, and cybersecurity analysis.
Key features of Z:
- Assists in creating business analysis artifacts
- Provides guidance on BA techniques and methodologies
- Offers context-specific recommendations
- Helps streamline documentation processes
- Maintains quality standards for BA artifacts
Mohamed emphasized that Z is not meant to replace analysts but to be a partner, reducing time spent on documentation and allowing more focus on stakeholder engagement.
Accessing Z
Z is currently available through OpenAI's ChatGPT platform. To access Z, you need a premium ChatGPT account. Use this link to start working with Z:
[Access Z on ChatGPT](https://chatgpt.com/g/g-GNuVH1jzw-z-the-business-analyst)
In the coming weeks, Z will also be available outside the ChatGPT platform, with both free and paid versions planned.
How Z Works
1. Interactive Queries: Users can ask Z specific questions related to their projects, such as the key components of a Product Requirement Document (PRD).
2. Contextual Examples: Z provides examples tailored to the user's context, enhancing understanding and applicability.
3. User Story Development: Z can generate user stories complete with acceptance and validation criteria.
4. Requirement Documentation: Z can generate drafts of various BA documents, including PRDs and test cases.
5. Standards Compliance: Z ensures outputs align with BA best practices and industry standards.
6. Security Considerations: Z can suggest security measures based on the project context, especially useful for financial and sensitive applications.
Privacy and Security Considerations
Mohammed addressed important privacy concerns:
- Z does not store or learn from user inputs
- Sessions are temporary, ensuring data confidentiality
- All data is deleted once the session ends
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The Evolving Role of Business Analysts
As AI tools like Z become more prevalent, the role of BAs is evolving:
- Focus shifting towards more strategic and interpersonal aspects of the role
- Increased emphasis on AI system analysis and design
- Need for BAs to understand and leverage AI in their work
- Emergence of specialized certifications in the BA field
Adapting to the AI Era in Business Analysis
Mohammed offered valuable advice for BAs looking to thrive in this changing landscape:
1. Embrace continuous learning and adaptability
2. Develop skills in AI system analysis
3. Focus on enhancing stakeholder engagement abilities
4. Use AI tools as enhancers, not replacements for core BA skills
5. Stay informed about new certifications and upskill to remain relevant
Addressing Resistance to Change
Mohamed noted that some analysts might feel resistant to adopting new technologies.
He emphasized:
- The importance of adapting to change for career longevity
- The value of considering specialized certifications to enhance expertise
Closing Thoughts
The integration of AI in business analysis offers exciting opportunities to enhance our work. However, it's crucial to remember that tools like Z are partners, not magicians. As Mohamed aptly stated, "Our work is not to develop systems; we develop systems to serve people's needs."
We encourage you to explore Z and other AI tools in your BA practice, always keeping in mind the need for human oversight and expertise.
Stay curious, keep learning, and embrace the evolving landscape of our profession.
Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more insights and practical tips in our future Forward Newsletter.
P.S. We're taking a short break to collect and analyze your feedback and plan future topics. Please share in the comments what topics you'd like us to cover next!
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Business Analysis Consulting I AI Strategy & Implementation I Training I Coaching
7 个月Mohamed Zahran and his team are constantly gathering feedback and improving the tool. Just this week, they've added exciting new capabilities: Z can now develop all the needed diagrams and provide instructions to generate them. It can also generate diagram code according to the UML standard and give instructions to run the code online, producing the diagram as a picture for you. The covered diagrams include: Sequence diagrams Use case diagrams Class diagrams Object diagrams Activity diagrams Component diagrams Deployment diagrams State diagrams Timing diagrams These enhancements further demonstrate their commitment to supporting business analysts in creating comprehensive and visually appealing documentation.