The BA career from Apprentice to Practice Leader

BA careers and beyond

Lawrence Darvill

Business Consultant

© Assist Knowledge Development


My Background

Advisor within BA training field – AssistKD

Director of the BA ManagerForum

Organiser – BA of the YearAward

Committee member –European BA conference


Your Careers Talk



The profession

The organisation

The individual

Business Analysis Maturity Model


Bridging

• Project

• Requirements

• Business translation

Challenging

• Pre-project

• Problem-solving

• Strategy execution

Advising

• Portfolio• Value delivery• Outcomes

The Third Wave of Business Analysis


Skills Mix


Professional Business Personal

25%

25%

50%

Skills Mix


Career Planning


Maturity

Standards

CertificationsPublications

Maturity in Business Analysis


• Soft Systems Methodology

• Unified Modeling Language

• Requirements EngineeringStandards

• BCS certificates

• BCS Diploma

• IIBA Certifications

• BCS BA books

• Requirements/Modelling books

• BABOKPublications

Maturity in Business Analysis


BA Foundation & Practitioner certifications

International Diploma in Business Analysis

BA Professional Certifications

Advanced Diploma in Business Analysis

Expert BA Award

Extended BA Certification Scheme

CBAP


BA Manager Forum defines

Standard

Employer support x 10

Submission to government for

approval

Decision expected June

2016

Development and approval process

BA Apprenticeship Scheme


• Business Architecture

• Data Analysis

• Agile Business Analysis

• Advanced Requirements Engineering

Professional/

Analytical skills

• Benefits Planning & Realisation

• Business FinanceBusiness skills

• Stakeholder Engagement

• Team LeadershipPeople skills

Advanced BA Diploma Certifications


The Expert BA Award


Higher Level Skills - Case Example 1

Deliverable

Salt for winter roads

Multiple new partnerships

and supporting processes

Skills

Creative Problem Solving

Leadership & Influencing

Value

Lives saved

Safer roads


Higher Level Skills - Case Example 2

Deliverable

Recommendations on organisational

structure

Skills

Strategic Analysis

Organisational Architecture

Business Case

Value

Costs saved and staff retained

The right strategic decision made


• Requirements definition and management

• Strategic Analysis and Execution

• Portfolio management

• Business Process Improvement

• Business Modelling

• Business System investigation

• Business case development

• Benefits management

• Business Architecture

• Risk Management

Professional skills:

Exploring the Skills



• Business domain

• Market awareness

• Organisational Architecture

• Organisational Structure/Culture

• Business Finance

• Commercial Awareness

Business skills:



• Stakeholder relationship management

• Negotiation and conflict management

• Leadership and influencing

• Mentoring and coaching

• Presentational skills

• Creative problem solving and resolution

Personal skills:


Beyond BA

Change DirectorHead of Customer

ExperienceCommercial

Director

BA Coach and Trainer

Product Manager Business Architect

Head of Solutions Architecture

Head of Data Management

Head of Standards, Methods and Tools

Management Consultant

Head of Digital Services


Beyond BA

• Director – Business Analysis• Business design manager • Senior BA • Improvement manager

Example Profile 1 Head of Customer Experience –Managing all customer affecting change – global telco company.

A skilled communicator with the proven ability to influence, partner with senior leaders, develop a strong network of contacts throughout the industry and gain support and commitment from board members, managers and employees across the business.


Beyond BA

Example Profile 2 IT Programme Director Lead change, strategic alignment, producing and owning business cases. Large transport provider.

• Programme Director• Head of IT Service management • Head of Business Analysis• Project Manager• Business Analyst


Beyond BA

Example Profile 3 Change Portfolio Director Direction of multi-million change portfolio – concept to full implementation. Senior stakeholder engagement. Leading finance house.

• Change portfolio director • Head of delivery and analysis• Head of BA• Principal BA• BA Consultant


Summary

BA career in its own right

Stepping stone to other careers

Maturing profession


Questions…