10 business analysis trends to watch
6. Business analysts will need to measure results to prove results
The trend for business analysts to quantify their efforts continues as they will be under enormous pressure to quantify their work. Unless they apply their skills in elicitation and requirements management—graphical modelling, cost estimates, risk analysis and other measurements—they, and ultimately, the organisation, will not be able to quantify the business analyst’s impact on the business.
7. Centres of excellence will continue to spread
The resurgence of centres of excellence is continuing to proliferate as organisations look to a centralised and focused group of specialised individuals to manage very complex enterprise-wide engagements. We will see even more articles and whitepapers on the subject and growth in these centres as organisations focus on business architecture, business rules and processes to drive improvements.
8. Business process organisations to invest in the development of business analysis practices
Recognising the opportunity to improve project outcomes and mitigate risks with better requirements while selling value added services, business process organisations will increase their investment in developing business analysis capabilities.
India will emerge as the shining star of this trend through their global customer reach. Bonus trend: More business analysis certifications will come out of this country than any other in the world.
9. Rise of tablet tools for business analysts
Business analysts will put the awesome visual power, functionality and portability of tablet tools to work in their practice, particularly in client interactions. This will prove to be a sweet spot for software vendors as demand increases for analysis tools, educational tools, modelling, mapping and other applications we didn’t even know we needed.
10. The International Institute of Business Analysis conference will gain prominence for professional development
The International Institute of Business Analysis Building Business Capability conference will double in attendee size and attract more delegates from all over the world as the business analysis discipline continues to mature, define specialised niches of practice and gain recognition among practitioners’ organisations.
The advancement of the business analysis profession will elevate the Building Business Capability conference to a position of prominence among all project management events.
Conclusion
Business analysts are dealing with a Rubik’s Cube of variables as they consider tasks, responsibilities, stakeholders and other factors in the requirements mix.
The increasing demands and expectations for requirements management and development require business analysts to shift to a new way of thinking. In order to recognise and accommodate the endless permutations for managing requirements effectively, business analysts will need to discard narrow viewpoints and approach their work from a three-dimensional perspective.
