What is Business Analyst? Needed skills to become a good BA?

The term Business Analyst (BA) is not new to any industry today. It is not uncommon to see many people who studied languages or marketing switch to become Business Analysts. Let’s find out with SmartOSC Careers about what makes this profession so “hot” and why many people pursue it!

What is a Business Analyst?

A Business Analyst (or BA), often abbreviated as BA, plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the business domain and the technical realm, ensuring seamless integration between business operations and technology solutions. They act as catalysts for organizational transformation, meticulously examining and evaluating existing business processes, systems, and projects to identify areas for improvement, streamline operations, and enhance overall performance.

Business Analysts are armed with a unique blend of business acumen and technical expertise, enabling them to effectively translate business needs into actionable requirements. They possess a deep understanding of business strategies, objectives, and challenges, empowering them to align technology solutions with the organization’s overall goals.

Tasks of a Business Analyst in a company?

The tasks of a Business Analyst (BA) in a team or company often relate to analyzing and improving business processes, systems, and projects. The main tasks of a BA can be the following:

• Gathering requirements: BA collects information from stakeholders, including end users, to understand the needs and requirements of the project or system. This includes listening to and interacting with users to understand what they want and need from the product or project.
• Analyzing requirements: After collecting requirements, BA analyzes the requirements to ensure that they are fully clear and meet business objectives. They identify challenges, risks, and opportunities that may arise during development.
• Designing solutions: Based on the analysis, BA proposes solutions, creating detailed documentation on how the system or product should work. This may include creating process diagrams, technical documentation, and requirements specifications.
• Working with stakeholders: BA works closely with other stakeholders such as the development team, project management, and users to ensure that they understand the requirements and support the users throughout the development process. They have the ability to interact with many people in the organization.
• Testing and quality assurance: BA often participates in testing the product or system to ensure that they meet the requirements set out and work correctly.
• Change management: In the event of changes to requirements or unexpected situations, BA is responsible for ensuring that the project continues to proceed effectively and does not affect the project progress.
• Support for deployment and training: BA can participate in deploying the product and training users on how to use the new product or system.

In addition to the above tasks, Business Analysts often need to have strong communication skills, logical thinking, teamwork skills, and problem-solving skills to perform all tasks effectively and smoothly. BAs typically work in IT, project management, and product development environments.

Requirements skills for a BA

To become a good BA, you need to develop many technical and software skills. Here are some important skills that a BA should develop:

• Requirements analysis: The ability to collect, analyze, and edit technical and functional requirements from stakeholders. This includes the ability to understand and be creative in finding out and describing specific requirements for the project or product.
• Communication skills: Strong communication skills are essential, as BAs must work with a variety of stakeholders, including end users, development teams, and project managers. They need to know how to present ideas, listen and understand the opinions of others, and create clear requirements and solution documentation.
• Logical thinking skills: Business analysts need to be able to think clearly and carefully to solve complicated problems, figure out how different needs are related, and come up with practical solutions that make sense for the company.
• Business knowledge: Understanding the business area in which the organization operates is important to be able to understand the requirements and business objectives of the project.
• Information technology knowledge: A basic understanding of information technology is necessary to be able to understand and propose solutions related to technology. However, it is not necessary to be an expert in technology.
• Diagramming and documentation skills: BAs often have to use tools to create process diagrams, data flow diagrams, and requirements and solution documentation. This skill requires meticulousness and the ability to work with software tools.
• Time management and project management skills: The ability to manage time and work is important, as BAs often have to work on multiple projects at the same time and ensure that progress is maintained.
• Teamwork skills: BAs often work in project teams, so teamwork skills are essential to collaborate with other members and ensure understanding and collaboration within the team.
• Problem-solving skills: Problem-solving skills are crucial in the business analysis field, as they entail the capacity to proficiently recognize and address issues during the rigorous phases of requirements analysis and solution design. This ability holds immense significance in ensuring the successful development and implementation of effective business solutions.
• Patience and perseverance: In the realm of business analysis, the attributes of patience and perseverance play a fundamental role. Business analysts frequently encounter evolving requirements and intricate scenarios, demanding a steadfast demeanor and the resilience to navigate through such challenging situations, thereby underscoring the indispensable nature of these qualities in this profession.
• Foreign language: Proficiency in a foreign language, particularly in the context of working with international clients or being part of multinational corporations, holds notable value for business analysts or professionals across various sectors. The acquisition and mastery of language skills, especially in English, emerge as a pivotal component in fostering effective communication and collaboration in the global business landscape, thereby enhancing professional opportunities and success.

You can learn and develop these skills through courses, reading books, and by working directly on real-world projects. Additionally, participating in professional communities and seeking opportunities for practical experience is a great way to build skills and gain expertise.

SmartOSC is currently recruiting for Business Analyst positions in Vietnam and several SmartOSC offices overseas. This is a great opportunity for BAs interested in relocating to another country. You can find more job opportunities at SmartOSC Careers and apply now!