General Business Analysis

Vibe Coding is a new paradigm in coding, where developers and non-developers use natural language prompts to generate functional code.  Vibe Coding can be leveraged in business analysis by accelerating and enhancing Rapid Prototyping, Automating Technical Tasks, and Enhancing Requirement Validation.

“For here or to go?” What’s going on? Isn’t this a term from the food and restaurant industry?? Of course, we all are familiar with this term all across the world. What does this have in common with the role of a Business Analyst? Or am I mixing up something? Not really. It is a similar question to whether, as a BA Manager, it is better to have the BAs from my team come to the office (for "here") or that they work from home or remotely ("to go" meaning allow to work from home or anywhere)?

I measure the success of my 50+ year career in IT by the positive feedback I’ve received from colleagues, stakeholders, students, and readers. I started as a Cobol programmer, progressed to software analyst/designer, and for the last 30 years have performed the role of business analyst. Interspersed in those years I’ve shared what I’d learned through writing, teaching, presenting, and mentoring. This article discusses the top seven “Takeaway Points” from the over-30 BA resources I’ve produced related to requirements for information systems.

If you’re a Business Analyst assigned to a medical device development project, intended for the US market, understanding the FDA’s approval process is critical to ensure that product requirements, documentation, and risk controls are aligned with compliance expectations. This article outlines the FDA’s classification framework, approval pathways (510(k), De Novo, PMA), and the risk management process. It also highlights how a Business Analyst contributes to hazard identification, traceability matrices, and risk control measures, while preparing submissions under FDA regulations and ISO 14971.

Tariffs are not just economic instruments—they’re strategic signals. For business analysts, Trump's latest trade measures are more than policy—they’re a masterclass in navigating disruption, identifying leverage, and transforming systemic friction into strategic insight.

By adopting the General Contractor mindset and the practices described in this article, you move from “requirements writer” to builder of business value. The next time someone questions the need for a BA, invite them to imagine a skyscraper with no contractor on site. Once they picture the chaos, they will hand you the hardhat—and the authority—to orchestrate delivery the way only a seasoned GC‑style Business Analyst can.

In today's business world driven by data, companies rely more and more on precise, well-managed, and protected data to stay ahead and meet regulatory requirements. Business analysts (BAs) are crucial in connecting business objectives, data governance plans, and cybersecurity measures. Their ability to comprehend technical and business factors allows them to create data governance strategies that guarantee data quality and availability while also protecting it from changing cybersecurity risks.

Being a Business Analyst on a healthcare project requires more than just expertise in requirement management; it demands a deep understanding of the regulatory landscape in the target market for medical device release. Compliance with industry standards, such as FDA regulations in the U.S. or MDR in Europe, is critical to ensuring the device meets safety, quality, and legal requirements. A Business Analyst must bridge the gap between technical teams, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies, ensuring that every requirement aligns with market-specific guidelines. This dual responsibility makes their role essential in navigating the complexities of healthcare projects and driving successful product launches.

In Mastery, Robert Greene reveals a profound truth: greatness is not a gift bestowed upon a select few but a journey accessible to all who commit to it. A celebrated author and strategist, Greene is renowned for distilling timeless principles of power, influence, and mastery into compelling narratives. For business analysts, his insights are particularly resonant, reflecting the natural progression from a novice seeking knowledge to a creative problem solver and, ultimately, a true master of the craft. Greene’s three stages of mastery—Apprenticeship, Creative-Active, and Mastery—serve as a practical roadmap for those striving for excellence in their field.

Businesses increasingly depend on smooth data integration, efficient product development, and perceptive analytics to drive innovation, smart choices, and customer value in today's fast-moving, data-centric world. Guaranteeing the three key components work together as "a single, unified entity" requires dealing with many challenges. These challenges relate to organization, communication, technology, and culture. Connecting all data, every product, and all analytics requires a thorough approach. Highly meaningful teamwork, precisely adjusted efforts, and advanced tools are key to success. This post explains how to close this gap and it offers a solution to the problem.

I listened to a group of developers who were working in Scrum as they discussed some of the challenges they faced.  The focus of the discussion seemed to be on “Sprint Fatigue”.  They explained that “Sprint Fatigue” was what developed with the constant reiteration and focus on the bi-weekly iteration such that the routine became boring and the bi-weekly results not as fulfilling as they had been at the beginning of the project.

Business analysts (BAs) are critical in ensuring that security issues are pegged into business processes as early as possible. One of the best methods in eliminating security risks is through threat modelling. It is one of the best strategies for reducing the risks associated during the undertaking of systems operations in a company.

By and large, threat modelling is an effective methodology that analysts can apply to address security risks within business processes. With this technique, BAs can work more effectively with security and development teams to ensure that processes are secure, compliant and well designed.

As a business analyst, your role is to act as the compass, steering projects toward their true north. By managing scope, aligning stakeholders, strategizing effectively, mitigating risks, and knowing when to stop, you can ensure that your projects deliver real value without collapsing under the weight of ambition.

The next time you find yourself in a high-pressure project, ask yourself: How much scope does this project truly need? The answer might just be the key to its success.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has drastically changed the business world, allowing companies to get useful information from huge amounts of data. The job of business analysts is very important in this change because they connect raw data to strategy decisions. One new skill that can help them make a bigger difference is prompt engineering, which is the art and science of making exact inputs to get the best results from AI models. By acquiring this skill, business analysts get insights that have never been seen before, Utilize AI solutions to fit the needs of their organizations, and stay necessary in a time when technology is fast pacing.