COEPD – Center of Excellence for Professional Development Happy Learning
AS a BA DO and don’ts that every business analyst should consider are-
1-QUESTION EVERYTHING-
Never feel sorry for asking questions, ask the right questions and get clear information from clients .BA can ask questions until you figure it out. Sometimes, unless you ask a question, the client may not say the complete request.
Example: A client will say that I need a login page. But here, you need to ask the client multiple questions to figure it out. Let’s look at some example questions here.
2-NEVER SAY NO TO CLIENT-
When the client is explaining his problem or making a request, listen carefully and try to understand what he/she wants to explain. Do not say “no” to the client offensively, because the client is explaining his problem here, and he hopes that we can provide some solutions plan.
Therefore, rather than saying “no”, it is better to provide alternative solutions after talking and discussing with our internal team.
3-NEVER IMAGINE IN TERMS OF GUI
Never imagine the demand by seeing the graphical representation asking the right questions to the client and clearly understanding the demand.
The login page of most websites may be the same, but the function is different.
4-CONSULT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT FOR MORE CLARIFICATION
If the requirements are not clear and you need more specific requirements, then we can discuss with the SME (Subject Expert). And make sure to record the requirements you discussed with the SME and get the solution owner’s approval. And explain your understanding to him by discussing with SMEs.
5-EVERY PROBLEM OR DEMAND OF CLIENT IS UNIQUE-
Every client’s problem is unique, so talk to clients with an open mind and don’t make any assumptions based on your previous experience.Before listening or understanding all aspects of client requirements, never draw any conclusions. If you have slight questions about any needs or changes, it is best to resolve them together with clients, subject matter experts, or your team members.
6-DO NOT INTERRRUPT THE CLIENT-
Listen to the opinions of clients and end users very carefully and completely, and then ask questions without interrupting them.
- Try to extract the clues of the solution from the client to the greatest extent.
8-BA SHOULD NOT MISS ANY REQUIREMENT-
Make sure that you have collected all requirements from the stakeholders. Omitting any information may result in unnecessary redo work, delays in the project, and increased costs.
9-HE SHOULD KNOW THE SCOPE/BUDGET OF PROJECT
Sometimes, due to budget or time constraints, the client’s non-functional requirements are not feasible, so it’s best to contact your PM to find out the content so that everything is on the same page and avoid misunderstandings.
10-BA SHOULD NOT BE IN HURRY
You should not rush to gather requirements, hold meetings at a convenient time, and spend time understanding or gathering requirements. Because if you are eager to capture the requirements, then you have the opportunity to misunderstand the requirements, which may lead to project failure. As a business analyst, you should keep an open mind when gathering requirements.
