Editing Business analyst (section)

== Role ==
Business analysis has been defined as "a disciplined approach for introducing change to organization"<ref name=":2" /> through [[management]], processing, and [[Data Interpretation|interpretation]] of data in order to "identify and define the solution that will maximize the value delivered by an organization to its stakeholders".<ref name=":2" />

A business analyst's job description tends to include "creating detailed business analysis, outlining problems, opportunities and solutions for a business, budgeting and forecasting, planning and monitoring, variance and analysis, pricing, reporting, and defining business requirements and reporting back to stakeholders".<ref name=":3" />

Business analysts are involved in various business activities.. Some areas in which business analysts can have an important role are in [[financial analysis]], [[quality assurance]], [[training]], business policy and procedures, market analysis, [[Organization development|organizational development]] and solution testing.<ref name=":1" /> More specifically, business analysts analyze collected data to derive meaningful insights for the business..<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fosso Wamba |first1=Samuel |last2=Akter |first2=Shahriar |last3=Edwards |first3=Andrew |last4=Chopin |first4=Geoffrey |last5=Gnanzou |first5=Denis |date=July 2015 |title=How 'big data' can make big impact: Findings from a systematic review and a longitudinal case study |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2014.12.031 |journal=International Journal of Production Economics |volume=165 |pages=234–246 |doi=10.1016/j.ijpe.2014.12.031 |s2cid=154510222 |issn=0925-5273|url-access=subscription }}</ref> This can then be used to improve business performance through identifying areas for potential growth, [[cost reduction]], understanding [[Consumer behaviour|customer behavior]], and observing economic trends and forecasts, and then reacting appropriately.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Park |first1=Joon |last2=Jeong |first2=Seung R. |date=2016-08-31 |title=A Study on the Relative Importance of Underlying Competencies of Business Analysts |journal=KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems |volume=10 |issue=8 |doi=10.3837/tiis.2016.08.031 |s2cid=10396219 |issn=1976-7277|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":3" />

Successful business analysts should influence the business environment by providing reliable guidance in decision making for the future through observing data which reflects the [[Behavior|behaviour]] of the business in the past.<ref name=":1" /> Business analysts are essential at all levels of a business, as both [[Tactic (method)|tactical]] and [[Strategy|strategic]] planning require analysts who help with "incremental improvements to products, business processes, and application".<ref name=":1" />

Business analysts have an increasing need to provide a business with [[Sustainability|sustainable]] solutions. The Business Analyst "plays a key role in making sustainable choices, providing direction to business and influencing demand for specific [[Technology|technologies]]".<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Richards |first1=Debbie |last2=Marrone |first2=Mauricio |last3=Vatanasakdakul |first3=Savanid |date=2011-01-01 |title=What does an Information Systems Graduate need to know? A focus on Business Analysts and their role in sustainability |url=https://aisel.aisnet.org/acis2011/15 |journal=ACIS 2011 Proceedings}}</ref> Business analysis practices have the opportunity to use business data in a positive way, which can lead to the transition of a sustainable world.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Seidel |first1=Stefan |last2=Bharati |first2=Pratyush |last3=Fridgen |first3=Gilbert |last4=Watson |first4=Richard |last5=Albizri |first5=Abdullah |last6=Boudreau |first6=Marie-Claude |last7=Butler |first7=Tom |last8=Kruse |first8=Leona |last9=Guzman |first9=Indira |last10=Karsten |first10=Helena |last11=Lee |first11=Habin |date=2017-02-01 |title=The Sustainability Imperative in Information Systems Research |url=https://aisel.aisnet.org/cais/vol40/iss1/3 |journal=Communications of the Association for Information Systems |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=40–52 |doi=10.17705/1CAIS.04003 |issn=1529-3181|doi-access=free }}</ref>