Name:
Irene Du
Title:
Business Systems Analyst
Company:
BMO, Toronto
What is your main role at your current company?
As a Business Systems Analyst (BSA), I am asked to translate high level business requirement into technically implementable functional specifications which entails maintaining the documents, creating diagrams/flow charts, mocking up screens, etc. In my role I participate in or facilitate requirement review meetings and related JAD (Joint Application Development) sessions, talk to the end users to elicit information, and interact with technical people to come up with feasible solutions. I am also required to perform many other activities such as test design, creation of requirement traceability matrices, creation of test cases and execution of test cases. At times, I also help with other support tasks such as analyzing change requests, tickets or any raised issues.
What do you find challenging about your job?
Being able to sell a good idea, negotiate and convince other people is always something easy to say, but not easy to do. Since English is not my mother tongue, sometime I struggle to find a better word or way to express myself. I hope that the more time I stay here and the more effort I put in, I will eventually become will be more and more confident.
What have you found that makes your job easier?
Support from my manager, coworkers; knowledge sharing with peers.
How did you become a Business Systems Analyst?
I used to be a programmer who, at the same time, was very interested in business logic. After I got an MBA degree, I officially moved to a BSA role since I believed a Business Systems Analyst role could best fit my interests and skills. Years ago when I felt I needed to see more of the world, I went to the States and got another degree in computer science. Now I am in Canada still doing something I am passionate for.
What is one piece of advice that you would like to pass on to other Business Analysts?
In addition to the hard skills a BA needs to possess, soft skills actually play a very important role in communicating and getting things done. It is also important to keep learning and refreshing your knowledge in order to keep up-to-date on technical trends.
What does a day in your role as Business Analyst look like?
Check and send emails; participate in meetings; talk with coworkers; document, read or run/test the systems, etc. For more than half of my office time I work in front of the computer.
If you were to learn a new skill or competency what would it be and why?
I want to improve my cooking skills and get better knowledge on foods. I believe a healthy and balanced life is the most important thing. Although this is not something new, I should have done this better and spent more time on it. I also want to learn typing. Since I need to use computer a lot every day, better typing skills should help me capture information easier and type things faster.
Anything else about yourself which you want to share with the BA community?
I am new to the country (Canada). It's not only English that I need to put extra effort on, I also need to learn and adapt myself to this new society, which makes me think that I need to work 3 times harder than my peers. I want to be a real great BSA. I appreciate the help I get from this BA community.