Editing Business analyst (section)

== Skills and qualifications ==

=== Skills ===

* [[Oral Communication|Oral]] and [[written communication]] skills
* [[Facilitation (business)|Facilitation]], and [[Interpersonal relationship|interpersonal]] and consultative skills
* [[Analytical thinking]] and [[problem solving]]
* Being detail-oriented and capable of delivering high level [[Accuracy and precision|accuracy]]
* Organisational skills
* Knowledge of [[business structure]]
* Stakeholder analysis
* [[Requirements engineering]]
* [[Cost–benefit analysis|Cost benefit analysis]]
* Processes modelling
* Understanding of [[IT network assurance|networks]], databases and other technology

These skills are a combination of [[hard skills]] and [[soft skills]]. A business analyst should have knowledge in IT and/or business, but the combination of both of these fields is what makes a business analyst such a valuable asset to the business environment. As a minimum standard, a business analyst should have a "general understanding of how systems, products and tools work" in the business environment.<ref name=":0" />

Some IT employees may transfer from the area of IT into a business analyst role, as their skills are often applicable in both.<ref name=":3" />

There are broader categorized skill sets which business analysts require in the work place.

# [[Mediation]] - business analysts are a useful "liaison support role" between business professionals and IT professionals in the [[workplace]]. The business analyst role is an overlap of these two [[profession]]s, and therefore the business analyst plays an essential role in [[communication]] and understanding between these two groups.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last1=Vonsavanh |first1=A. |url=https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/handle/10453/11938 |title=The Roles and Skill Sets of Systems vs Business Analysts |last2=Campbell |first2=B. R. |publisher=University of Canterbury |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-473-14528-6}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Milani |first=Fredrik |title=Guiding Principles for Business Analysts |date=2019 |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05719-0_20 |work=Digital Business Analysis |pages=363–385 |editor-last=Milani |editor-first=Fredrik |place=Cham |publisher=Springer International Publishing |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-3-030-05719-0_20 |isbn=978-3-030-05719-0 |s2cid=115599172 |access-date=2022-05-27|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
# [[Requirements elicitation]] - this refers to "analyzing and gathering the needs of both [[Computer-based information technology|computer-based]] systems as well as the business".<ref name=":6" /> Successful requirements elicitation can help to improve and eliminate quality and defective requirements respectively at an early point in the [[product lifecycle]], and can therefore minimize [[wastage]] and maximize business success simultaneously.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hossenlopp |first1=Rosemary |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GBhFDwAAQBAJ&q=elicitation&pg=PT1 |title=Unearthing Business Requirements: Elicitation Tools and Techniques |last2=PMP |first2=Rosemary Hossenlopp |last3=Hass |first3=Kathleen B. |last4=PMP |first4=Kathleen B. Hass |publisher=Berrett-Koehler Publishers |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-5230-9653-4 |language=en}}</ref>
# Solution designer - business analysts can contribute to the design of business functions and processes through the analysis of [[past performance]] and certain areas for improvement.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite book |last1=PMP |first1=Lori Lindbergh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UBlFDwAAQBAJ&dq=business+analyst+solution+design&pg=PT10 |title=From Analyst to Leader: Elevating the Role of the Business Analyst |last2=PMP |first2=Richard VanderHorst |last3=PMP |first3=Kathleen B. Hass |last4=PMP |first4=Kimi Ziemski |date=2007-12-01 |publisher=Berrett-Koehler Publishers |isbn=978-1-56726-348-0 |language=en}}</ref>
# [[Business modeling|Business modelling]] - forecasting, modelling and analyzing current and future business performance, functions and processes are essential to the business analyst role. These skills enable the business analyst to make educated business decisions.<ref name=":6" />
# Business [[problem analysis]] - a business analyst must be able to analyze the issues a business is facing in order to determine how they impact business performance, and how the business can overcome these problems with maximum efficiency.<ref name=":6" />
# [[Information system|Information System (IS)]] [[strategy evaluation]] - business analysts are required to continually monitor and control the strategic plans of a business, so that it is able to best meet its needs and goals.<ref name=":6" /> Part of this involves comparison with competitors and industry trends.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Leidecker |first1=Joel K. |last2=Bruno |first2=Albert V. |date=1984-02-01 |title=Identifying and using critical success factors |url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0024-6301%2884%2990163-8 |journal=Long Range Planning |language=en |volume=17 |issue=1 |pages=23–32 |doi=10.1016/0024-6301(84)90163-8 |s2cid=153974817 |issn=0024-6301|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=== Qualifications ===
There are a number of qualifications that can lead to a career as a business analyst.

* Completing a [[bachelor's degree]] - this could be in information technology, [[business administration]] or [[economics]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=How to Become a Business Analyst (With FAQs and Answers) |url=https://au.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-become-business-analyst |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=Indeed Career Guide |language=en}}</ref>
* Completing a [[master's degree]] - masters degrees "help add more skills and significantly increase your [[salary]]".<ref name=":7" /> Examples of masters degrees which are relevant to business analysts include [[business analytics]], business informatics, business intelligence & analytics, [[data science]], [[management information system]]s or [[information technology]].<ref name=":7" />

The combination of all these skills and qualifications provides the business environment with deeper understanding into the behaviour of [[Market (economics)|markets]], products, competitors, [[Economy|economies]], and operations within and around a business.