Information Systems Management 10 Role of the business

Information Systems Management 10 Role of the business analyst

Emergence of BA role Role has emerged over the past 20 years or so. • around previously in more limited capacity as systems analysis and design • specific dedicated role in system implementation projects – responsible for gathering requirements and specifying design of systems • more generally, BA skills have become an important element of many IT related jobs, particularly those in the area of IT management

BA role • responsible for bridging the gap between IT and the business users • elicit and define user requirements • balance what is technological feasible with what is reasonable and appropriate from a functional and financial perspective • iterative process • buy-in and ownership of outcomes by user areas an important part of the process

BA roles and specialisations • general BA role, and basic SA&D • system testing • interface design and user experience • data analytics • business intelligence • IS strategy • enterprise architecture • information security • etc Agent of change

BA in IT management • IT engagement with business areas is an important, and often neglected, element of IT management • this interaction often involves understanding business area requirements at a fairly high level, and negotiating with them as to what is technically and functionally feasible, even if this isn’t underpinned by formal modelling techniques • similar types of engagement with senior management