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New Post 10/20/2009 4:58 PM
User is offline Tom Miller, CSPO
45 posts
www.linkedin.com/in/tlgalenson
8th Level Poster


What tools are you currently using? 

This thread is to get a current summary of what tools Business Analyst's are using.

Here are some guesses to help stimulate thinking:

Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Project(?)

Prototyping: Ms Access GUI, WYSISYG html editor(s), Microsoft Expression Blend, Arise

Requirements Management with good integration: Enterprise Architect, Ibm's Rational Rose

Database Design/Support: Toad 2.5?

Collaboration tools (especially useful when you can't hold a meeting in one location): Groupwise?, Exchange?, Microsoft Live, ?

 

Tom

 

 
New Post 10/21/2009 2:57 AM
User is offline KJ
243 posts
6th Level Poster


Re: What tools are you currently using? 

Tom,

 

Pen + paper.

In really fancy situations, I use an electronic whiteboard to capture the user's thoughts. Once I have agreement,  I'd record it in agreed repository that the user/IT department can use. Its much easier to throw away a piece of paper or to clear the whiteboard and start again to capture the right requirement then to "cement" the wrong requirement in one of the above tools. Analysts will fight you when you tell them that their beautiful visio diagram is wrong!

I do use Enterprise Architect for my artefacts; its a very cheap (oops inexpensive) portable option.

warm regards,

K

 
New Post 10/21/2009 4:16 AM
User is offline Craig Brown
560 posts
www.betterprojects.net
4th Level Poster




Re: What tools are you currently using? 
Modified By Craig Brown  on 10/21/2009 6:17:21 AM)

RM Tools my team is using:

  • Post it notes
  • Whiteboards (non printing)
  • Phone cameras
  • Paper and pen (and textas)
  • 3*5 inch cards
  • Powerpoint
  • Excel
  • Sharepoint
  • Emails
  • Team Foundation Server
  • Visio
  • Optimal Trace and other Microfocus test tools
  • Word
  • iPlotz
  • Compedium
 
New Post 10/21/2009 8:28 AM
User is offline Tony Markos
493 posts
5th Level Poster


Re: What tools are you currently using? 

Hi:

Tools definetly can help.  However, it is important to realize their limitations.   When I do a larger scale functional analysis, the first iternation or two looks like a bloody mess.     Trying to use a software tool at this stage of analysis can be a real initiative killer.     Best to use paper, pencils, and Scotch tape.  (Often there ain't no white board big enough.)

Later, particuarly, when I have an adequate high-level understaning of the essentials and how these essentials interrelate, automation tools are great.  I like Visio.

Tony

 
New Post 1/16/2010 6:47 PM
User is offline Marc Thibault
7 posts
10th Level Poster


Re: What tools are you currently using? 
  • Cambridge quad paper pad and HB pencil for interviews and noodling.
  • Wikidpad to collect and organize everything.
  • Word with embedded Visio for documentation.
  • R and Excel for crunching numbers. I recently added XLSim to handle uncertainty.
  • Rational Suite or Visual Paradigm for really formal work where the client requires tools that cost thousands of dollars per seat to be credible.
  • Slidy for slide presentations.
  • DeskPdf for safe distribution.


 
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