Business Analysis for Project Managers

𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝘀. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿: 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 In today's dynamic work environment, the lines between various roles can often blur, leading to a rich, interconnected workspace. One such significant overlap occurs between the roles of a Business Analyst (BA) and a Project Manager (PM). Understanding the extent of this overlap and the skill set required can be crucial for both roles. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗠𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗽 𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀? 🤔 The overlap between a Business Analyst and a Project Manager varies from one organization to another. However, it is quite common to see Project Managers engaged in business analysis activities. This integration of roles is particularly prevalent in smaller organizations where the PM may take on dual responsibilities due to resource constraints. In larger organizations, while roles might be more distinct, some overlap still exists, particularly in the areas of requirement gathering, solutioning, and stakeholder communication. 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀: 📊🤝 1. 𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙂𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜: Project Managers often find themselves working closely with clients to understand their requirements and craft solutions. This involves eliciting, documenting, and validating requirements, traditionally a Business Analyst's responsibility. 2. 𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: Project Managers are frequently the bridge between the client and the technical team. They help clients understand the overall project requirements and solutions, ensuring that the project aligns with the client's business goals. 3. 𝘿𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚: To effectively manage projects, PMs need a solid understanding of the business domain. This knowledge enables them to comprehend the client's needs and translate them into actionable project plans. 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗠𝗣 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺: 📚🎓 For those preparing for the PMP exam, it's important to note that the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification recognizes the importance of business analysis skills. About 8% of the PMP exam content focuses on the business domain, expecting project managers to develop the competency to communicate effectively with stakeholders. Additionally, project scope management, a significant component of the PMP curriculum, covers various techniques essential for exploring and defining requirements. 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀: 𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 🚀 Enhances their ability to: - Communicate effectively with stakeholders. 🗣️ - Develop comprehensive project scopes. 📝 - Ensure alignment between project deliverables and business objectives. ✅ - Facilitate better decision-making processes. 🧠 #ProjectManagement #BusinessAnalysis #PMP #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment

Why Every Project Needs a Business Analyst. This Cartoon Says It All... If you’ve ever worked on a digital or tech project, this image probably feels very familiar. Let’s walk through it: What the customer had already: A functional rope, but barely usable. What the customer wanted: A simple wooden swing with three seats. How the vendor described it: A luxury armchair on a swing and not even close. What the project team delivered: A basic swing, but attached to the wrong branch. How the consultant fixed it: Adjusted the structure but still misaligned. What the customer really needed: A basic tyre swing... simple, safe and cost-effective. This is the reality of many projects without a proper Business Analyst at the centre. A BA’s role is not just about gathering requirements, it’s about translating what is said into what is actually needed. The BA bridges the gap between business needs, user expectations, technical feasibility, and stakeholder goals. Here’s what a skilled BA brings to the table: Clarifies what the customer really needs, not just what they ask for. Aligns teams (vendors, devs, stakeholders) so they all see the same picture. Uncovers assumptions, gaps, and contradictions before they cost time and money. Translates business goals into clear, actionable user stories and technical requirements. Facilitates feedback loops, ensuring the final delivery solves the right problem. Projects risk becoming a game of Chinese whispers that everyone thinks they understand, but the outcome tells a different story without a BA in the middle of it. So next time someone asks, “Do we really need a BA on this project?” Show them this never old cartoon! #BusinessAnalysis #ProjectDelivery #DigitalTransformation #StakeholderEngagement #RequirementsElicitation #BusinessAnalyst #ProductOwnership #CustomerNeeds #OluwasegunAjibola

As a Business Analyst you can prepare different documents depending upon the project that you are working on. Attaching a FRD that I prepared for one of the freelancing project that I worked in 2021 as a BA. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐁𝐀: 1. Business Case: A justification for a proposed project or initiative based on its expected benefits and costs, used to guide decision-making and secure necessary approvals. 2. Scope Document: It defines the boundaries of a project, outlining its specific objectives, deliverables, features, functions, tasks, deadlines, and ultimately, the project's overall goals and limitations. 3. Business Process Document: A detailed, step-by-step guide that outlines the procedures and workflows necessary to complete a specific business process or function. 4. Gap Analysis Document: It identifies the difference between the current state of a business process, system, or capability and the desired future state. 5. Root Cause Anaysis Document: It is used to identify, understand, and address the primary or underlying cause(s) of a problem or issue, rather than just addressing its symptoms. 6. Change Request Document: It is a formal proposal for an alteration or modification to an existing system, project, or process. 7. Test Case Document: It outlines the specific conditions and variables under which a tester will assess a system or part of a system to determine its functionality. 8. Release Plan Document: It is a strategic roadmap that outlines the schedule, scope, and resources required for the release of a product or a set of features. 9. Post Implementation Verification Document: It is a structured document used to verify and validate that a system, product, or feature has been successfully implemented and is functioning as intended after deployment. 10. Requirement Tracebility Matrix: It maps and traces user requirements with test cases. 11. Business Analysis Plan: It outlines the approach, activities, tools, and deliverables for the business analysis effort within a project or initiative. 12. Project Vision Document: It provides a high-level overview of a project's objectives, scope, and key stakeholders. 13. Solution Approach Document: It outlines the proposed solution to address a specific business problem or opportunity. 14. Impact Analysis Document: It assesses the potential consequences and implications of a proposed change on various aspects of a business or system. 15. Stakeholder Management Plan: It outlines strategies and actions to effectively engage, communicate with, and manage the expectations of individuals or groups impacted by a project or initiative. 16. Use Case Document: It details specific scenarios of how users interact with a system to achieve a particular goal or function. BA Helpline #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #businessanalysts #ba

Shallow Planning, Deep Problems ~ 🌱 Start with clarity: Define every project goal and deliverable in detail to set a strong foundation. 🔍 Explore deeply: Dive into requirements thoroughly. What seems minor today could be major later. 💡 Ask "What if?" Challenge assumptions and identify potential issues upfront to prevent obstacles later. 🛠️ Test solutions early: Pilot ideas, gather feedback, and adjust to ensure the approach aligns with real-world scenarios. 📈 Invest time in research: Accurate data and stakeholder insights today prevent costly rework tomorrow. 🚀 Prioritize adaptability: Plan for flexibility so you can pivot without breaking project momentum. 📆 Map out timelines: Factor in dependencies and resources to keep projects on track and well-coordinated. 🤝 Engage stakeholders early: Involve the right people to uncover needs and align expectations before moving forward. 🗣️ Communicate frequently: Keep updates clear and transparent to prevent misalignment and project drift. ✅ Focus on outcomes: With deep, structured planning, every decision is a step toward delivering real value. Visit www.AdaptiveUS.com for more insightful BA contents #businessanalysis #planning #baplanning #businessanalysisplanning

Business Analysts aren't just "note-takers." They are the difference between success... and project failure. I’ve lost count of how many times I hear this phrase: "We just need someone to 'gather the requirements'. But the BAs I know? They do more. It looks something like this: → Develops the requirement document → Conducts User Discovery → Stakeholder Analysis → Stakeholder management → Spot the edge case → Writes the user stories → Map As-Is Processes in BPMN → Map To-Be Processes. → Requirements Elicitation → Use Case diagram → User Story Writing → Data Flow Diagrams → Design Wireframes → Conducts Gap Analysis → Root Cause Analysis → Facilitates Workshop Facilitation → Conducts Agile Ceremonies → Grooms the Backlog → Writes Acceptance Criteria → Supports with Test Scenarios → Data Analysis → Cross-Functional Alignment → Change Impact Assessment → Risk & Dependency Mapping → Stakeholder Communications → Supporting UAT & Rollout → Functional & Non-Functional Requirements → Continuous Improvement & Feedback Loops → Handles back & forth between tech and business Most of the work isn’t glamorous. It’s not just sitting behind a computer creating pretty diagrams (there is some of that to be honest) Business Analysis is invisible until it goes wrong. When it’s done well, nobody notices. That’s the job. But here’s the secret: If you learn to thrive in this chaos, you become indispensable. Because the person who can cut through confusion and bring clarity? That person is gold. -- Are you a BA who relates? Or still think we just write user stories? ♻️ Repost to help someone understand what BAs really do. ➕ Follow Patrick Giwa for more.