COEPD – Center of Excellence for Professional Development Happy Learning
Tools used in Business Analysis
Business Analysis – is a discipline of identifying needs and determining solutions to the business needs.
Business analysis is used to facilitate the change that identifies the need for change in how the organization works. Business analyst finds the solution that will maximize the value delivered by an organization to its stakeholders.
Business analyst is one who deal with the requirement gathering, elicitation, analysis and modelling into his/her day-to-day activities. For achieving these task various business analysis tools helps in quick & efficient manner.Every business analyst needs to use certain BA tools to succeed in his/her profession. Business analyst use business analysis tools for performing the following functions:
- To track requirements
- To manage requirements
- To describe requirements in details
- To model requirement diagrammatically where feasible such as Business process modelling
Various tools used to cover up these functions are:
- Documentation tool includes MS office, Think free, Adobe Buzzword
- UML Drawing tools includes MS Visio, Rational Rose, Smart draw, Magic Draw, Concept Draw, StarUML etc.
- Prototyping/wireframing tools includes Axure, wireframe sketcher, pencil, Justin mind Prototyper etc.
- Screen capturing tools – Snaggit etc.
- Business Modelling tools – Agilpro, Active modeler etc.
- Process modelling tools – RUP
- Requirement traceability – Rational Requisite pro, Analyst Pro etc.
Some of tools that each BA must know are:
- MS PowerPoint
Used to prepare and deliver formal presentations. Used for communicating ideas and deliver project updates to stakeholders. Communication becomes more effective in the form of a presentation.
- MS Excel
MS excel a spreadsheet type tool used for requirement traceability, data analysis, sort & filter data.
- MS Word
It serves the purpose of requirement specification document. Organizations can create their specific template for documenting the requirement.
- MS Visio
It is a modelling tool that is used to effectively capture and present stakeholder’s ideas in the form of business functions and user interactions. MS Visio used to create
UML diagrams such as use case, Sequence diagram and activity Diagram
To prepare process flow charts
To generate architectural models.
- Jira and Confluence
Every Business analyst must be familiar with the basics of JIRA for effective project management and requirement sharing. All the documents will be stored in repository termed as confluence. All the business stakeholders can see the status of the projects and communicate with the teams with the use of these tools.
- Rational Requisite Pro
This one is used for business requirement management of large projects. It makes tracing requirements with their changes and priority.
- Balsamiq
This is a prototyping or wireframing tool used to showcase mock-ups of a proposed system. Basically, focuses on content & user interactions. It is one of the top business analysis tools for creating wireframes. It helps business to work faster and smarter.it works as a collaboration tool between team and clients.
It presents mock-ups using PDF, provides fast & intuitive UI’s. It allows to build wireframes.
- SWOT
It is used for strategic analysis and to evaluate a business.
- Axure
Axure can create wireframes diagrams, software prototype and functional specifications. Easy to use tool used drag and drop facility.
