Dear modern analyst community.
I have been a Business Systems Analyst for a couple of years now and recently started thinking about possible certifications that I could obtain. Currently I am trying to decide what would be better: CCBA or Six Sigma? I am working more on requirements specifications for systems rather than process analysis and improvement so it'd almost make more sense to go for CCBA and then Six Sigma. For sure I am going to work on obtaining both as I think to be an efficient BSA you also need to understand the business process and work to improve it.
I was hoping to obtain advise from some of the industry professionals on what they think would be better to obtain first.
Thank you,
R.
Hi Roman,
I would go with the CCBA certification first as you mentioned. Since your focus is requiremetns specifications that is the better choice.
Six Sigma is a more widely recognized certification so in the longer term that will also help you out.
Adrian
Thank you Adrian!
I agree with Adrian. Given your situation I would start with the CCBA and then work on the Six Sigma certification (and then eventually get your CBAP). The CCBA will show that you have a broad understanding of analysis principles, but it is new and will take time to be recognized throughout the industry. Here is some more info on the CCBA.
Six Sigma is highly respected and can probably open up more doors for you over the next few years. Its a good longer term goal. One thing everybody should understand is that Six Sigma certifications are not consistent across the industry. Six Sigma is implemented by each organization that adopts it and they all tend to put there own spin on it, placing emphasis and higher importance on different techniques and stages of the Six Sigma process.
Never-the-less organizations do try to follow the same best practices when adopting Six Sigma. There just isn't a single organization which drives standardization of the process and certification.
Finally, after the CCBA if you plan to position yourself for the CBAP, keep in mind that the application process requires VERY detailed information about the precise business analysis work you have completed. The IIBA is well intended as they are trying to ensure that practitioners can prove they have an appropriate level of experience (thereby maintaining the prestige of the CBAP certification), but its also a bit unrealistic to think that people can remember that kind of detail so far back. So do yourself a favor and track all of your work experience over the next few years down to the level that the CBAP application looks for. It will save you tremendous headache in the future.
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