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New Post 8/14/2013 2:28 PM
User is offline ravi
2 posts
No Ranking


need to know if im right before i take the plunge? 

 

hi everyone

brand new user to the site here. looks likes great place for aspiring BA's like me

heres my situation, ive been in the tech support game for a bout 8 years, mixed in with that i have experience in being a team leader, a bit of sales and marketing thrown in,

Ive reached a point in my career where im tired of the over technical elements (networking, servers etc)..i really want to focus more on the people aspect and the "bigger picture".

Im simply not enjoying the hardcore tech side and want out..

So im simply wondering if what ive got is enough for me to get a good "head start" as a junior BA?

Im been discouraged by freinds telling me i need to know programming languages etc...is this true?

To be very straight foward im not prepared to learn aanything like that, i hope that dosent sounds negative but ive reached a point in my career where i would like to use my current skills and of course upskill where needed.

Really trying to keep positive and get some great advice from people who read this and underdstand where im coming from

 

thanks for reading this and I look foward to some feedback.

 

Cheers

 

 
 
New Post 8/15/2013 11:30 AM
User is offline NitWitNick
259 posts
5th Level Poster


Re: need to know if im right before i take the plunge? 

First, a business analyst is a name that means different things to different companies. Some use “Business Analyst (BA)” and “Business System Analyst (BSA)” to describe the same job. When refering to a BSA, they have a stronger technical background.

 
You don't need to master a programming language, that is for programmers ... But, Some knowledge of software development and programming might help you as a business analyst ... I would look at SQL and Reporting Tools (ie: Crystal Reports). Study MS Office: Excel, Word, Visio, Access and PowerPoint for presentations.
 
You should at least know how a project gets started and progresses through the various phases towards implementation and support: Project Life Cycle (PLC) and Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) ... There is also a product life cycle, that takes whatever was developed through being Obsolete. 
 
You said: "ive been in the tech support game for about 8 years, mixed in with that i have experience in being a team leader".
 
So you already have stuff that other companies need ... and you could use that to get your foot in the door of another company ... make a deal saying that you want to be a BA ... but could assist the company with technical stuff too.
 
Don't try to learn everything at once before you apply to jobs ... or you will never get done and find a job ... technology is changing as I type this and when I get to work, there will probably be something new they want to try.
 
If being a BA turns out to be something you don't like ... you still have your Tech Support Career to fallback on.
 
 
http://www.modernanalyst.com/Careers/CareerForums/tabid/77/forumid/8/threadid/7570/scope/posts/Default.aspx
 
New Post 8/15/2013 4:34 PM
User is offline ravi
2 posts
No Ranking


Re: need to know if im right before i take the plunge? 
Modified By Chris Adams on 8/16/2013 12:33:02 PM)

thanks NitWitNick

ill take youre thoughts on board for sure, it makes sense =)

...another question..im assuming youre in a BA role already, what are the 3 core strenghts you would need as a "generalist" BA, more technical or more "common sense/people skills"?

 
 
New Post 8/16/2013 10:18 PM
User is offline NitWitNick
259 posts
5th Level Poster


Re: need to know if im right before i take the plunge? 
Modified By NitWitNick on 8/16/2013 11:20:22 PM)

 ".im assuming youre in a BA role already"

I consider myself a Generalist, able to take a project from Idea to implementation. I serve in various roles during the Project Lifecycle .... from Developer to Project Management ... depending what they need at the moment in a particular phase. Sometimes I'm the Product Owner and produce deliverables independently ... "Hey NitWitNick - go see what Sammy wants and help her out".

To be a BA and get things done, you need Great Soft Skills, Listening, Communications, Collaboration ... someone who can talk to both Technical and Non-Technical people. When you have both sides working with you (instead of trying to be a Stuck-Up, Tech-Talking Guru), then it is easy to do project work. Remember, you don't work in secrecy and then come out of a room with a hand-full of documentation and say "Develop This" ... you need to go talk to people, brainstorm, get project advice and see if you are on the right track with the users or not. Don't be afraid to ask questions ... you need to know the details.

Analytical skills would be next - analyzing the problem and suggesting a solution. This does not have to be technical, but has to be stated clearly for someone to understand what has to be done to solve a problem - (ie: a billing system: The total amout due for each month shall be displayed on the right side of the payment screen whenever 3 or more months are delinquent for customers with the exempt code "ZZY").

Documenting stuff for others to develop the system from. 

Remember - system work can go from Chaos to smooth sailing ... or the other way.
 
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