15 Minute Business Analyst University

Here are the key points from my talk about being a Business Analyst, arranged in sequential order from selecting a system, implementing it, and supporting it.

  • Selecting Solutions
    • Find the best solution you can afford, and adapt to it
    • Focus on the 20% that is abnormal - it will be 80% of the effort!
  • Configuration
    • Plan for growth and changes
    • Reference codes form the foundation
  • Testing
    • Test the Modify and Delete scenarios (Adding records is easy…)
    • Test the User Xperience
  • Reporting Issues
    • Get to tier 2 support
    • Pictures and Videos
  • Documentation
    • Documentation is a selfish act
    • Crowdsource it: “Import from Word”
  • Data Management
    • Interfaces and conversions
    • Own the data, rent the system
  • Emergency Planning
    • System’s down - users should…?
    • Vendor goes out of business?
  • Data Analysis (requires three things)
    • A Question to Answer
    • Access to Data
    • Understand the Data's Structure