The Business Analyst as Strategist

The Business Analyst as Strategist
Author: Kathleen B. Hass PMP
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Total Pages: 142
Release: 2007-12
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1523096527

An organization's ability to achieve strategic goals through programs and supporting projects depends on its ability to establish a future vision, set strategic goals, select the most valuable projects, and then execute flawlessly. Organizational strategic alignment is achieved by converting strategic plans and goals into a valuable portfolio of programs and supporting projects. Strategic project leaders and project teams execute the project plans to meet objectives and deliver project outcomes, adding value to the organization. As the role of the business analyst evolves and matures, senior business analysts will emerge as the key individuals in the organization who have the depth of business acumen and technological proficiency to serve as both business and technology experts. In this capacity, business analysts will become involved in an array of activities designed to devise a strategy to reach the organization's future business vision by achieving strategic goals. As the business analyst elevates into a leadership role as the business and technology strategist, he or she serves the executive team by facilitating, informing, and enabling the most favorable business decisions during the strategic planning and enterprise analysis phases of the business solution life cycle (BSLC). This book examines the emerging critical role of the business analyst during these first two phases of the BSLC.

Managing Business Analysis Services

Managing Business Analysis Services
Author: Barbara Davis
Publisher: J. Ross Publishing
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2012-10-21
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1604270799

This unique desk reference offers the information, models and guidance needed to plan and deliver complete, end-to-end business analysis services. Its step-by-step approach enables maximum utility of the business analysis (BA) role, development of more complete solutions for meeting the strategic goals of a business, and dramatic and sustainable improvements in project success rates. Managing Business Analysis Services: A Framework for Sustainable Projects and Corporate Strategy Success provides chief information officers, business analysis managers and consultants the information required to maximize the efficiency and productivity of technology projects, obtain higher returns on investment from BA services, reduce operating costs, and increase alignment of products to better serve the company or the client organization.

Professionalizing Business Analysis

Professionalizing Business Analysis
Author: Kathleen B. Hass
Publisher: National Geographic Books
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2007-10-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1567262082

A Volume of the Business Analysis Essential Library Series Uncover the role of the business analyst as the business and technology strategist who provides the executive leadership team with the information, process, tools, and capability to make the best decisions. The Business Analyst as Strategist: Translating Business Strategies into Valuable Solutions outlines the first two phases of the business solution life — strategic planning and enterprise analysis –– that the future vision of the enterprise is established, strategic goals and measures are set, and the most viable programs and supporting projects are initiated to achieve the strategy. Learn how to set the stage for change, and how to translate your strategy into operational terms through a portfolio of programs and supporting projects. Understand the five-step process to set well-formed strategies and how to execute them. Through this book you will master business analysis competencies, learn how to react effectively, anticipate changes in the marketplace, and flow value through the enterprise to the customer, thus achieving competitive advantage.

Seven Steps to Mastering Business Analysis

Seven Steps to Mastering Business Analysis
Author: Barbara A. Carkenord
Publisher: J. Ross Publishing
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2009
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1604270071

"This book provides a "how to" approach to mastering business analysis work. It will help build the skill sets of new analysts and all those currently doing analysis work, from project managers to project team members such as systems analysts, product managers and business development professionals, to the experienced business analyst. It also covers the tasks and knowledge areas for the new 2008 v.2 of The Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK) and will help prepare business analysts for the HBA CBAP certification exam."--BOOK JACKET.

The Business Analyst / Project Manager

The Business Analyst / Project Manager
Author: Robert K. Wysocki
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2010-08-20
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0470910682

A breakthrough game plan illustrating the need for better collaboration between Project Managers and Business Analysts In The Business Analyst/Project Manager, author Robert Wysocki draws on his forty-five years of professional experience as a PM/BA to shed light on the similarities and differences of the roles and responsibilities of these two positions, the need for greater collaboration, and how to staff a project with one or both of these professionals. Examines the boundaries and interactions between the BA and the PM Looks at how to identify the skill sets needed to make the project a success The typical relationship of the BA and PM across the project management life cycle Making the best configuration of leadership assignments based on project characteristics Where the responsibilities of the BA leave off and the PM's begins and where the two have collaborative responsibilities How to use a PM/BA to enhance project performance How to foster a "dual career path" for PM/BAs development The in-depth discussion of the synergies between the two roles and the advantages of a combined PM/BA makes The Business Analyst/Project Manager a valuable contribution in your ability to be successful on the complex projects of the 21st century.

Up and to the Right

Up and to the Right
Author: Richard Stiennon
Publisher: It-Harvest Press
Total Pages: 188
Release: 2012-05-01
Genre:
ISBN: 9780985460709

UP and to the RIGHT is the first book written to guide technology marketers and executives in their journey to the Leaders Quadrant. Written by industry insider Richard Stiennon this is required reading for anyone responsible for leading and growing a technology firm. Topics explained in depth include: Leveraging Social Media, the Influence Pyramid, the creation of Magic Quadrants, responding to the MQ Questionnaire, the analyst day, the analyst inquiry, and the analyst briefing. Each chapter is informed with the author's personal experience - both as an analyst and as a marketer at a major IT vendor. It contains the first ever publication of the author's guerrilla techniques for influencing analysts.

Business Analysis and Leadership

Business Analysis and Leadership
Author: Penny Pullan
Publisher: Kogan Page Publishers
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2013-09-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0749468637

21st century organizations, across all sectors and of all types, have to cope with an international marketplace where change is frequent and customer expectations continue to rise. The work of business analysis professionals is crucial if organizations are to succeed and grow. If change programmes are to be successful, stakeholder engagement and situation analysis are vital, and to achieve this, senior business people need to display competence in a range of areas, not least of which include the ability to challenge, lead and influence. Business Analysis and Leadership is for anyone involved in business analysis working in any organization worldwide, from financial services to charities, government to manufacturing. It takes the reader beyond standard textbooks full of techniques and tools, advising on how to lead and gain credibility throughout the organization. It will help you with the tricky role of working with people from the shop floor to board directors and give readers the confidence to challenge the easy way forward and point out what will really work in practice. This inspirational book consists of contributions from leading thinkers and practitioners in business analysis from around the world. Their case studies, practical advice and downloadable appendices will help the reader to develop leadership skills and become an outstanding catalyst for change.

Business Analyst's Mentor Book

Business Analyst's Mentor Book
Author: Emrah Yayici
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2013-07-22
Genre:
ISBN: 9786058603714

Business Analyst's Mentor Book includes tips and best practices in a broad range of topics like: Business analysis techniques and tools Agile and waterfall methodologies Scope management Change request management Conflict management Use cases UML Requirements gathering and documentation User interface design Usability testing Software testing Automation tools Real-life examples are provided to help readers apply these best practices in their own IT organizations. The book also answers the most frequent questions of business analysts regarding software requirements management.

Clausewitz on Strategy

Clausewitz on Strategy
Author: Tiha von Ghyczy
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 209
Release: 2001-05-07
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0471415138

Think about strategy and sharpen judgment in an unpredictable environment Carl von Clausewitz is widely acknowledged as one of the most important of the major strategic theorists; he's been read by Eisenhower, Kissinger, Patton, Chairman Mao, and numerous other leaders. In Clausewitz on Strategy, the Boston Consulting Group's Strategy Institute has excerpted those passages most relevant to business strategy from Clausewitz's classic text On War, the most general, applicable, and enduring work of strategy in the modern West and a source of insight into the nature of conflict, whether on the battlefield or in the boardroom. This book offers Clausewitz's framework for self-education--a way to train the reader's thinking. Clausewitz speaks the mind of the executive, revealing logic that those interested in strategic thinking and practice will find invaluable. He presents unique ideas, such as the idea that friction--unexpected interference--is an intrinsic part of strategy. The Boston Consulting Group is one of the world's leading management consulting firms whose clients include many of the world's industry leaders. Tiha von Ghyczy (Charlottesville, VA) has been a faculty member and Director of Business Projects at the Darden School of Business since 1996. While with The Boston Consulting Group, he assumed responsibility for the practice groups in manufacturing/time-based competition and high technology. He has published numerous articles and books on vision and strategy. Bolko von Oetinger (Munich, Germany) is a Senior Vice President of BCG. Christopher Bassford (Washington, DC) is presently a Professor of Strategy at the National War College in Washington, DC, and the author of several books, including Clausewitz in English: The Reception of Clausewitz in Britain and America, 1815-1945.

A Practitioner's Guide to Business Analytics (PB)

A Practitioner's Guide to Business Analytics (PB)
Author: Randy Bartlett
Publisher: McGraw Hill Professional
Total Pages: 289
Release: 2013-01-25
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0071807608

Gain the competitive edge with the smart use of business analytics In today’s volatile business environment, the strategic use of business analytics is more important than ever. A Practitioners Guide to Business Analytics helps you get the organizational commitment you need to get business analytics up and running in your company. It provides solutions for meeting the strategic challenges of applying analytics, such as: Integrating analytics into decision making, corporate culture, and business strategy Leading and organizing analytics within the corporation Applying statistical qualifications, statistical diagnostics, and statistical review Providing effective building blocks to support analytics—statistical software, data collection, and data management Randy Bartlett, Ph.D., is Chief Statistical Officer of the consulting company Blue Sigma Analytics. He currently works with Infosys, where he has helped build their new Business Analytics practice.