This is probably the last IT role that I will write about, and in fact it is on the borderline between the business planning and strategy roles, and those of information systems. That is as it should be, as information technology is not a function by itself, businesses regard it as a service that allows them to achieve their business objectives - something that is easily forgotten in the excitement of new technologies.
A business analyst takes the business functions and maps them on to information systems. You could regard the information systems that we use in computing as a model of what happens in the real world, recording actions that have happened or are going to happen, and also recording the results of these actions. It is the role of the business analyst to make sure that this model is as accurate as possible, and that it contributes to the business process, rather than being a brake on it.
Most business analysts have a background in management and business studies. They need knowledge of the computer systems, but no real in-depth understanding. They are interested in the data that is input and the information that is output.
If you are interested in being a business analyst, you will need a good business or management degree, and experience in business planning. You may need a graduate qualification, and many business analysts study MBAs online so that they can combine this with their full-time jobs.
# posted by Mary @ 6:25 AM
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