beyond average: becoming a master business analyst

Copyright © 2015 Equinox Limited

Beyond Average:Becoming a Master Business AnalystIIBA New Zealand ChapterBA Development Day – Auckland SymposiumJohn Barris and Paul Ramsay – 18 November 2015

Copyright © 2015 Equinox Limited 2

Too many ‘average’ BAs

Acknowledgement: IBM Corporation


• Fixed ‘solution’ perspective

• Tell me what you want• Tell me what to think• Tell me what to do• “Would you like fries

with that?”

‘The order taker’


• Fixed ‘process’ perspective

• Tick all the boxes• Use all the templates• Follow the process• “Don’t ask me to think!”

‘The methodologist’


‘The SME’

• Fixed ‘business’ perspective

• Limited experience outside area of expertise

• Often lacks formal analysis training

• “We’ve always done it that way, so why change?”


• Fixed ‘vision’ perspective• Passionate and

enthusiastic• The answer to every

problem• Can’t understand when

others don’t follow• “What’s the next shiny

new thing?”

‘The evangelist’


So what is a master BA?

Head

Heart

Hands


Head

• Critical – problem solving• Creative – opportunity and innovation• Conceptual – putting things in context


Head – critical


Head – creative


Head – conceptual


Heart

• Curious – why and why not?• Courage – are you up for the challenge?• Collaborative – ‘plays well with others’• Empathy – not another ‘c’ word!


Heart – curious

Acknowledgement: Margret and H A Rey


Heart – courage


Heart – collaborative

Image: Mitch Gunn


Heart – empathy


Hands – tools and skills


Master BAs

• Always learning• Adapt to circumstances• Commit to excellence• Own the outcome• Enable others


The ‘T’ profile

Breadth

Depth

Strategic

Tactical

Operational

Value


Becoming a master BA

• The order taker – LEAD• The methodologist – LISTEN• The SME – LEARN• The evangelist – LET GO


Know – self-knowledge

Know what you know

Know what you don’t

know

Don’t know what you

know

Don’t know what you

don’t know

Know Don’t Know

Know

Don’

t Kno

w

https://youtu.be/GiPe1OiKQuk




Do – competence

Unaware of a skill you lack

Aware that you lack a skill

So skilled that you no longer have to think

about it

Actively gaining a skill

through thoughtful application

Unconscious Conscious

Inco

mpe

tent

Com

pete

nt


Perform – roadmap to mastery

Lost opportunity Mastery

Failure Wastedeffort

Doing Things Right

Doin

g th

e Ri

ght T

hing

s


Summary

HeadHeartHands

KnowDo

Perform


John [email protected](04) 494 3740

Paul [email protected](04) 494 3716www.equinox.co.nz

Thanks

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.equinox.co.nz/


Only one whodevotes himself to a cause

with his wholestrength and soul

can be a true master.For this reason

mastery demandsall of a person.


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