How The Evolution Of The Business Analyst Role Has Changed The Way British Businesses Operate

In recent years a significant change has occurred in the way businesses in Britain - and elsewhere in the developed world - operate. Oddly enough, this change has been galvanised by, and indeed facilitated by, the rise of one key role – that of the business analyst.

Over the last half a decade, the business analyst role has evolved and developed far beyond what was deemed to be its ‘traditional’ remit i.e. eliciting, analysing and documenting software requirements. Today, business analysts are responsible for performing strategic problem and opportunity identification, conducting gap analysis and feasibility studies, and driving business solutions within their companies.

Role of the modern business analyst

In essence, the business analyst is the vital link between business executives and IT staff - translating business goals into IT requirements and communicating those requirements to key IT personnel.

Ever since IT became an integral part of modern business operations, most IT requirements normally originated in the IT department. Whilst this may seem logical enough, it is a simple fact that IT departments are likely to develop ill-advised business solutions if they are not given clearly defined business expectations. This concern can be offset completely when there is a business analyst to call on as they are able to provide clear and effective communication between business stakeholders and IT personnel.

A win-win investment

The return on investment for business organisations that recognise, nurture and harness the skills of business analysts is likely to be very significant indeed. By utilising the unique skill sets these talented individuals bring to the table, companies and enterprises can create a win-win situation for all involved, namely a career path is provided for highly skilled and talented resources while organisations develop a means to understand strategic problems and opportunities which will inform and improve their decision making processes.

Meeting demand

Given the benefits they provide, it’s no wonder demand for business analysts — and business analyst training - is growing. This can be seen clearly in the nation’s capital as demand for business analysis training in London has gone through the roof in recent years. Indeed, training providers delivering business analyst training courses in London have reported a consistent upsurge in interest in this area, so much so that some of them are endeavouring to put on extra courses to meet demand!

Needless to say, this surge of interest in business analysis courses in London is not just the result of ambitious individuals trying to get a foot in the door of a potentially lucrative career; it is also a consequence of business organisations sending suitable individuals away to receive the training they need to become a key cog in their organisation’s operations. Indeed, it is often the case that organisations with programmers, quality assurance professionals and IT project managers who are looking to expand their roles, stand to benefit the most from sending suitable candidates away to become fully qualified business analysts.

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