methods & tools used by great ba s. what’s a great ba look like?
TRANSCRIPT
METHODS & TOOLS USED BY GREAT BAS
What’s a Great BA Look Like?
DEFINITION: “GREAT” BAResearch & Survey Said
“Collaborative. Partner with PM. Passionate. Great facilitation skills. Brave. Use the right tool. Creative problem solver. Know how to ask the right questions to get the root cause. Solid analytical skills. Conceptual Modeling Skills. Excellent communication skills. Can define needs at the 10,000 foot level as well as in great detail. They mentor.
They take the initiative. They can figure it out. They remain neutral. Develop great probing questions. Their meetings are productive and well attended. They are well liked by
the business and by IT. They have the background needed to lead change. They can synthesis a lot of information
quickly. They make everyone feel comfortable. They just have it. They serve the organization. They are flexible.
They stay out of the drama. They produce solid deliverables all of the time. Able to step into Project
Manager role. Expressive. Professional. Accountable. Solid conflict management skills. They meet deadlines. No
surprises. Great at UAT – understands testing concepts….….. ”
WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO DEFINE?
BAs must master a significant number of competencies and appreciate when and how to use those competencies while working with ever changing technology and people.
Five Families of BA Competencies Requirements Identification
• Problem Solving • Analytical • Elicitation • Knowledge/Background
Facilitation • Presentation Style• Diplomacy/Neutral• Ability to engage others• Meeting management
Professionalism• Appearance• Punctuality• Formality• “It” Factor
Communication Skills • Listening • Verbal • Writing • Visual
Relationship Management• Credibility• Cross Organizationally• Conflict Management • Collaborative
NO WONDER IT’S A CHALLENGEBecoming a Great BA
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FIVE COMPETENCY FAMILIESGet out your BA Career Dial
Requirements Identification• Problem Solving – The ability to apply various thinking
styles and methods to develop viable solutions
• Analytical – The ability to break larger items into elemental parts and, through applied reasoning, uncover and validate truths
• Elicitation – Draw out requirements and capture the correct level of detail representing the real business need
• Knowledge/Background – Exposure to multiple business and IT disciplines
Facilitation• Presentation Style – Pace, depth of information, comfort
level, use of materials/tools
• Diplomacy/Neutral – Maintaining the appearance of being neutral even if you harbor a bias and when you might be influencing a decision
• Ability to Engage – Draw in participants and create a desire within each one to participate fully
• Meeting Management – Organized, time management, prepare participants, address human factor
Professionalism• Appearance – Appropriate level of dress and grooming
for the culture
• Punctuality – Self and deliverables arrive on time
• Formality – Proper level of etiquette displayed within both personal behavior and deliverables
• “It” Factor – Your personal magic. How you consistently “show up”, your confidence, humility and likability.
Communication Skills• Listening – Accurately receive and interpret audible
messages
• Verbal – Clarity, pace, grammar, stress and tone, thoughtfulness, humility, confidence
• Writing – Grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting, clarity, level of detail, humility, geared toward the receiving audience
• Visual – Ability to add clarity through the appropriate use of visual aids/diagramming technique(s)
Relationship Management• Credibility – Widely considered a trustworthy resource
• Cross Organizational – Ability to establish a network of contacts that spans the organization
• Conflict Management – Prevent oneself and others from engaging in conflict, coupled with the ability to lead others away from conflict and towards collaborative resolution
• Collaborative – Work well with everyone (EI) and willing to step into additional roles as needed
TAKE A LOOK AT TOP RESPONSESGood Vs. Great BA
GOOD VS. GREAT BA
“Great BAs have ‘it’ but I’m not sure how
to define it.”
Number 1 Response:
The “It” Factor?
• Confidence with humility• Genuine interest in others• A personal mission or "why" that is bigger than them - passion
• Attractive personality - likable• Trustworthy
It’s about how you are “being”
How You are “Being” Impacts• How smoothly your day flows• How quickly, efficiently and effectively you're able to
transform challenges into accomplishments• How you are received and perceived by others
How you are “being” is how you choose to use and impact the energy around and within
you.
Great BA “Being” Traits• Charming• Passionate• Flexible• Courageous• Empathetic• Relentless• Optimistic• Confident• Humble• Professional• Helpful
• Present• Genuine• Trustworthy• Reliable• Calm• Realistic• Honest• Engaging• Vulnerable• Creative• Driven
EXERCISEYour desired BA state(s) of “being”
Define Your Desired BA “Being” Traits• Get out a sheet of paper
• On the left side, write down the names of BA’s and other people who inspire you
• On the right side of the paper, list traits you admire about the people you listed
Joe HenryJenny JayBob JannyMary MannLonnie Jane
Loyal ✓✓Courageous✓✓✓Truthful✓✓Compassionate✓Kind
Define Your Desired BA “Being” Traits• Look at the list of traits and think about each trait one at a
time. Ask yourself:• Is this how I want to be perceived and received?• Am I inspired by BA’s and leaders with this trait?
• If you answer “yes” to either question, circle the trait.
Joe Henry Loyal ✓✓Jenny Jay Courageous✓✓✓Bob Janny Truthful✓✓Mary Mann Compassionate✓Lonnie Jane Kind
Your Desired BA “Being” Traits
CreativeFair
TruthfulCalm
Positive
“These are my desired states of Being. I will consciously choose these states throughout my
day because I am a great BA.”
• Take out a 3X5 card
• Across the top of the card write:
• List the traits you circled
HonestBrave
CuriousCalm
Passionate
Great BAs have inspirational ways of being.
GOOD VS. GREAT BA
“They come up with viable creative options when others are stuck.”
Popular Response:
Creative Problem Solvers
• Care – passionate – motivated• Exposed to and aware of current state• Come at problems from different perspectives• Overcome “functional fixedness”
EXERCISEOvercoming Functional Fixedness
Overcoming Functional Fixedness
Mount the candle to the wall so that when it’s lit, wax doesn’t drip onto the table.
Overcoming Functional Fixedness
Mount the candle to the wall so that when it’s lit, wax doesn’t drip onto the table.
Overcoming Functional Fixedness
Great BA’s can identify viable creative options.
GOOD VS. GREAT BA
“Great BAs are able to effectively
manage conflict.”
Popular Response:
How People Approach Conflict• Confrontation• Avoidance• Compromise• Accommodation• Collaboration
Conflict Resolution StylesHigh Value
Low Value High ValueRELATIONSHIP
TASK/GOAL
CONFRONTATIONAVOIDANCECOLLABORATIONACCOMMODATION
COMPROMISE
Conflict Resolution StylesHigher
Lower HigherCONCERN FOR OTHERS
CONCERN4 SELF
CONFRONTATION
AVOIDANCE
COLLABORATION
ACCOMMODATION
COMPROMISE
Additional Tips for Conflict Management
1. Separate the people from the problemBe soft on the people - address the problem
2. Focus on the task or goal, not the person’s positionWhen you hear things like “It can’t”, “It won’t”, “we need”
When you see people close down, turn away, look upset
3. Identify options for mutual gainLook for ways to advance common goals
Develop multiple options and decide later
Managing conflict effectively is a competency of great BAs
GOOD VS. GREAT BA
“Great BAs lead well managed meetings.”
Popular Response:
Definition of Great Meetings• Objective is realized• Time contract is kept• Everyone leaves happy & whole
Set Meetings up for Success• Define the specific purpose of each and every meeting
prior to building the agenda, then build an agenda
• Engage the SME’s to lead talking points• Agree together on the needed time allotment for each topic
• Set everyone up for success!• Meeting(s) before the meeting• Get ahead of potential conflict
• Meeting rules are covered as part of opening house-keeping items
Simple and Effective Meeting Tool
Meeting PAL’s
• Purpose: Explain why the meeting is taking place and what you hope to accomplish.
• Agenda: List planned topics. Identify who is leading the discussion. Time box duration.
• Length: X hour(s)/minutes
Sample PAL
Purpose: To define business rules specific to year-end accident claims processing
Agenda
Review accident policy – Sally Joe. 10 min.
Review quarter-end business rules - John Bee. 5 min.
Review state and federal requirements - John Bee. 15 min.
Define year-end processing business rules – Paula Mau. 20 min.
Length: 50 min.
Great BA’s lead well managed meetings.
GOOD VS. GREAT BA
“They have an extraordinary balanced set of competencies.”
In Summary
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GET OUT THERE AND BE GREAT!