The Role of the BA in Creating a Common Vision
by Catherine Brunsting
Lack of predictability in getting a new product or service to market is one of the biggest threats a business can face. This problem is pervasive and many businesses are simply unaware there is a better, more predictable approach to deliver projects.
In her article Ms. Catherine Brunsting addresses how we can bring about predictability into what is delivered and when it is delivered, and how a strong Business Analyst can insure that this happens.
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| The_Role_of_the_BA_in_Creating_a_Common_Vision.pdf | 199.95 KB |
Ask not what they want, Ask what they do...
Scott, and Megan too,
I am in full agreement that you can't just ask what people they want, no one can absolutely define that. It is better to ask and document what people do, because that is definitely something they can tell you; and when that unearth's problems they are having now, or opportunities thay can't yet take advantage of, ask what they would do differently to solve the problems and realize the opportunities.
If you do this, you will get specific Business Requirements, rather than vague wishes or desires.
...and this is not a Traditional versus Agile thing, both can be guilty of only asking what the business wants. I agree that Agile will more quickly determine if what was 'wanted' was really what was 'needed' or not, but that is really just cutting up trad waterfall into little pieces, rather than doing something really different than Trad Waterfall. I suggest that any approach will work better and save re-work time if you start by having people tell you things they actually know --- what their business process is --- rather than having them speculate about what a system should do for them.
David Wright
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
- Aristotle