Business analysts have to learn all the time.
It is part of the job, part of the challenge, and a big part of the attraction.
At the beginning of my career, I would never have expected some curious things
I had to learn (and quickly) when working as a business analyst.
I also could not have predicted which knowledge and experience
I will end up using again later under different circumstances.
I realize now how all that not only added to my knowledge
but helped me shape how I look at problems – shape my mindset.
I’m Yulia Kosarenko, and this is the concluding video about the BA mindset,
and its twelfth principle: Learn, Adapt and Thrive.
Today we will talk about learning new things
and getting satisfaction from your professional growth.
Let me share a few of my stories about learning on the job.
Once, new to a business analyst job, I had to figure out complex rules
for determining funding eligibility for a government program –
after two other analysts gave up on it.
To do that, I’ve created my first decision tree,
which made out development team happy, because it provided much-needed clarity.
Decision tree also became one of my favourite analysis tools,
and I’ve used them many times since.
If you would like to learn more, I have a video about creating decision trees.
As another example, I had to learn what a bitmap data format is
and how it reduces the overall file size.
I had to figure it out because this was a mandatory format for one of the new system integrations.
As a side product, I’ve understood the importance of having tools
that can simulate test data in the prescribed format.
Doing it manually or in Excel is not always feasible.
I had one excellent French translator explain to me, and ingrain in me,
the finer points of French punctuation, including the placement of spaces
relative to other punctuation signs (before, not after).
I’ve used this knowledge quite a few times to help save on rework
and validate correspondence templates instead of wasting test cycles.
And I have followed a delivery courier during their morning runs
and observed how they used their knowledge of the territory,
client schedules and the gut feel about traffic situations to optimize their route.
This allowed me to appreciate the complexity of defining performance indicators,
especially when your performance is influenced by the factors you cannot control.
Some career business analysts say that they will never be bored with the job
as long as they get to move and explore different industries.
Others find deepening their expertise in a particular field most satisfying.
One thing is certain though – however much you learn,
you can never learn enough to last you a whole career.
As technologies develop, industries are disrupted by new business models,
and corporations experiment with new ways of organizing their business,
the world around us keeps changing, and we have to keep up.
Every project that a business analyst works on would have a new and unique element –
otherwise, why is the project even needed?
To be successful in this profession, you have to enjoy and welcome the new and the unknown
and be ready to learn and adapt. Let’s break it down a bit.
First of all, upgrade and expand your professional knowledge:
Learn about new industries, and don’t be afraid to switch industries with the job.
Expand your expertise in the domains you already know well –
for example, laws and regulations, complex business rules,
calculations, and understanding of emerging trends.
Become an expert in specific technology or software platforms.
Brush up on math, logic, and statistics to specialize in analytics and decision intelligence.
Learn more about the business side – you can focus on disciplines
such as organizational behaviour, operations, finance, human resources, sales or marketing.
Go deeper into data analysis, systems design or quality assurance
if you are interested in information technology.
As a practitioner, you will also learn more skills through training,
experience and adaptation. Seek out these opportunities:
Master product development and delivery methodologies – waterfall, agile, Kanban, and others.
Practice project management skills.
Learn new business analysis techniques such as process and data modelling,
scenario and business rules analysis.
Explore various architecture frameworks and seek opportunities
to work closely with an architect to learn from them.
Whatever you do, keep learning more about people and practice your leadership skills.
And finally, remember that wherever you go, you will meet people
that are better at some things than you are.
Learn from them, and there will be no limit to what you can achieve.
Business analysis is about learning and growing.
And the concluding principle of the BA mindset reflects this: Learn, adapt and thrive.
Don’t resent feeling like an apprentice or a student sometimes.
Even with many years of experience as a business analyst,
you may find yourself a novice in a certain industry, area of business or technology.
It is not a setback, and it will not slow you down.
Anything new you learn will expand your horizons,
boost your marketability and will add to your confidence.
Embrace the challenge of continuous learning,
and you will enjoy the business analysis profession and thrive as a professional.
On that note, it’s time to wrap up the BA mindset videos.
If you have been following me from the beginning – thank you so much for watching.
If you have not seen the previous episodes – check out the BA Mindset playlist on this channel.
I want to wish you the best of success on your business analysis journey –
with the BA mindset to support and guide you.
Take care and see you again soon!