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Category: Technology

Analytics, Change Management & Technology

What Should be the Career Goals of a Business Analyst

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

Before applying for any job, it is necessary to be sure of the professional goals so that a balance can be maintained in the job catering and position advancement. There are several goals both technical and non-technical that must be kept in mind while working as a business analyst or before stepping into the shoes of a business analyst.

best big data analytics course

Given below are some of the important goals that should be adhered to by every individual in the field of business analysis.

  • Analytical and technical skills: While working on an analytics project it is necessary to have an individual in the team who knows the technical stuff such as databases(SQL, Oracle, etc.) or a person who is well equipped with business software such as visualization tools, programming languages like R, Python, etc. Apart from these technical skills, an individual knowing the core analytical concepts serve as a boost to the team.
  • Good communication skills: There is no point in working on something that cannot be explained to the general public or other officials working in the same organisation. A particular project involves several aspects of business analysis which may not be understood by the other members of the team as everyone is working on different components of the team. So, to deliver the idea effectively, communication skills are a must. Also, the product that is designed needs to be delivered to the client which requires communication skills again.
  • Problem handling skills: Any idea that is proposed to a business analyst either as a project or assignment, must be solved before proceeding with the solution. This requires problem-solving ability as a quality of the business analyst.
  • Flexibility: As business analysis involves several aspects such as the technical domain, product delivery, model construction, etc. an individual should have the ability to switch from one task to another. This is not a mandatory goal but it is always better if an individual possesses it. This goal showcases the ability of a person to work without getting stressed in any given atmosphere.
  • Improving business analysis skills: When an individual is working in a field, there should be a zeal in the individual to progress each day and improve the skills that they learn or apply in their day to day job life. Several business analysis courses teach the skills in all levels- basic, intermediate and advanced. Continuous up-gradation of the skills serve as a boost in the business analysis career and gives new heights to an individual in the job field.
  • Sharing of knowledge: We have often heard of the proverb “Sharing is caring”. An individual should always possess the tendency to share knowledge with other colleagues of the institution. While sharing whatever we know, we get to learn new things. Not only this, but it also helps us find out if we learned anything wrong and shows proof of the leadership skills of an individual.
  • Ability to adapt to other domains: In drastic situations, an individual might be expected to perform a duty other than the business analyst work. In such a situation, instead of panicking an individual should calmly work with their assigned portion of the job. After their job is done, they can proceed with the other duties different from the assigned duties. This not only shows the flexibility of an individual but also portrays the leadership skills and ability to adjust to any environment.
  • Continuous learning: Even after working for many years in the field, an individual should not stop with what they have learnt. They should keep learning every day to upgrade their knowledge in the field. Moreover, there might be a day when a new requirement involving a completely new requirement pops up. In that kind of situation, the attribute of continuous learning will be highly helpful to an individual.

The career goals of a business analyst are not limited to the above-mentioned points. It goes far beyond the points that are mentioned above as the scope of business analysis is vast. However, the above-mentioned points do give a brief idea of what should be the goals of a business analyst.

What Is the Life like for a Business Analyst in India

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A business analyst or a BA is someone who plays a key role in every business around the world. They are the ones who understand the changes that are needed in a business, assess the business for the impact of these changes, document and analyze them and hence communicate and deliver these necessary changes to the relevant stakeholders. In other words, it is similar to being a doctor; you listen to the patient’s issues, understand their problems, and give them a solution. Here, the business analyst is the doctor and the patient being the business itself.

In simple terms, a business analyst acts as a bridge between the IT and the stakeholders for an efficient output. They elicit, analyze, communicate, document, and validate the requirements of a company. In India, being a business analyst is the same as being a business analyst elsewhere, if you are working for an Indian company that is.

However, if working for a multinational company, you might not get to work with the business as closely as that of an Indian company and can be faced with other drawbacks like the timing, lack of direct contact with the mother company, and working for a third party company.

Since India is considered one of the leaders in the Big Data analytics market, surpassing China and Europe, there is a huge demand for Indian business analysts around the globe.

A good business analyst can easily find their place in a firm like Wipro, IBM, and Accenture with an attractive pay scale, given they have an impeccable grasp on language, communication, problem-solving ability, understanding of new technology, is flexible with good research skills and most importantly, being a graduate and also finishing a business analyst course.

Since outsourcing has become a major support in our global economy, big firms divide their work and outsource it for a lower price in the pursuit of cutting down operational costs. This also creates a high demand for countries that provide high quality and more exact analysis, including document creation and functional specifications. Thus the requirements for business analysts from India have increased, mainly due to its manpower.

As of date, the opportunity for business analysts in India are constantly increasing and new sub categories are being actively created; this includes job titles such as Enterprise Architects and Business Architects, where the responsibility of both is directed towards a better and more efficient output.

Work Life

The life of a business analyst is not an easy one, but it can be an excellent career opportunity for those who have a nach for evaluating and analyzing data, developing solutions, handling numerous individuals while being exceptional in IT. It is a 9 to 5 job where you are responsible for handling complex business problems, troubleshoot when necessary, engage with stakeholders, and respond to their needs according to the ever-changing business environment.

Being a business analyst means being able to multitask and have an acute presence of mind. It is a task that can be carried out easily with years of experience; however, if you are someone new to this field, it might take you some time to get adjusted and to climb the corporate ladder.

Major Responsibilities

In India, business analysts are expected to:

  1. Work with the business to recognize the possibilities and opportunities for the improvisation of the business process and the operations.
  2. Design technical solutions and assist in solving business problems.
  3. Document functional and technical designs of business systems.
  4. Gather, document, and analyze various business requirements.
  5. Modify and design the business system.
  6. Work alongside stakeholders and subject matter experts to understand their problems and needs.
  7. Interact with system architects and developers to make sure the system is implemented correctly.

Conclusion

There is a great opportunity for business analysts in India because of the booming economy, and they are well wanted in every firm because of their efficiency and their usefulness. For every person who is career-oriented, if you are experienced in this field, a wide variety of doors are open, all across the globe.

The possibilities are endless, and India is no more a country that sticks to its old believes that doctors, engineers, or lawyers are the only ones who can reach heights.

Being a business analyst may be considered a task by many, but it is a task that can take you to places with endless opportunities. Go and enroll in a business analyst course today and take your career to new heights.

Also Read: Why Business Analyst is Important

How Does a Business Analyst Career Progress

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Every existing entity in the universe takes its route to reach a final stage. The process of taking a new step each time for achieving some advancement is called progress. Progress is a must in every career and no doubt desired by every individual. The same goes for the career of a business analyst. There are several categories or rather you can stay stages for an individual who has stepped in the shoes of a business analyst.

The career of a business analyst is that of a game player. They are not only endowed with the duties of analysis of trends, patterns or stock market but also need to bring the technical resources together with the business terms. A person interested in the field of business analysis can always go ahead with it as there are several business analysts courses online ready to deliver any enthusiast knowledge about the business analysis field.

Stepping into the Business Analysis Field

A business analyst career has a wide variety of career options. It can either be the role of consultant, analyst, manager or even a technical writer. For a fresher, particular domain expertise is often advised as the beginner’s job is mostly observed as data pre-processing related tasks with subsequent analysis of the constructed model in addition to the documentation needs, testing and so on.
After working as a business analyst for a few years, it is often observed that there is a career transition into becoming something we call a subject matter expert. Hence, this transition is of utmost importance especially for the people who want to take their career to new heights in the field of business analysis.

Time to go to the next step
After completing a duration of three to five years in the industry, an individual can go ahead with the next step upgrading themselves as a product manager, senior analyst or subject matter expert. A person who is has attained such a high position is entrusted with the responsibilities of fulfilling the complex assignments and projects. An individual can progress in this field as much as they want by becoming better and better each day. It all depends on the talent and dedication of the individual.

Levels of seniority in the field

• Junior business analyst– Technical aptitude is necessary for an individual working as a junior business analyst. The compulsion of a degree in management or engineer is not needed as such but they should possess attributes such as critical thinking, strong interpersonal skills, collaborative and teamwork nature, negotiation skills etc. Also, complete knowledge of the business software is not needed but a basic idea is necessary. The beginners in the field of analytics should also know basic analytical methods.
• Business analyst– Since this position is one step higher as compared to the business analyst, the individual is expected to have information regarding analytical concepts in a broader manner. He/She is expected to devise and apply new techniques for analysis and prediction purposes. This position is generally allotted to an individual after they have finished around five to seven years in the job industry as a junior business analyst. Skills required include time management skills, business knowledge, teamwork, leadership skills etc.
• Senior business analyst– After spending another 6 to 10 years in the ob industry as a business analyst, finally an individual gets to serve as a senior analyst who is not only expected to have good knowledge of the analysis and prediction techniques but also acts as a mentor to other colleagues working under him. The skills which should be present in a senior business analyst include leadership (most important), technical aptitude, mentorship etc.

The three levels mentioned above summarizes the levels that can be attained working as an analyst. The career field in business analysis is vast and progresses each day. None of the positions as which individual works are should be considered lesser than the other. It all depends on the hard work and diligence of the individual as to what height they reach in their field of work. If an individual continuously works hard in the position allotted to them, they are sure to progress and reach new heights.

Also Read: Career Goals of Business Analyst

What is the Scope of a Career as a Business Analyst in India

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Who is a Business Analyst?

In the simplest of terms, a business analyst can be described as a professional who bridges the gap between IT and the organization using analytical tools to evaluate the processes, discover the requirements, provide data-driven reports and suggestions to the executives and stakeholders.

In India, there are various institutions who provide business analyst courses and train people. Most Indian companies are on the hunt for a good business analyst, mainly due to the varied skill set they bring to the table. The pay scale is really good, and the experience it can give you is even better.

Having a business analyst career has now become the next big thing as the requirement for the same has increased in India since people have come to understand the full potential of a business analyst and how it can benefit businesses. Being a business analyst should be purely functional and do not need any technical skills; however, in India, the opportunity is better when you have technical skills too because you can serve in multiple roles.

The modern business analyst career includes a professional who is good at multitasking, communication, and reasoning, someone with both soft skills and hard skills. The reason being, there are multiple roles a business analyst needs to serve. Since the market is always expanding and a new business is starting every other day, the requirement for the same is never-ending.

Scope of Business Analyst

The scope of being a business analyst is endless in India. Top tier companies like Accenture, Wipro, Infosys, IBM, and TCS are using business analytics tools to generate intelligent business solutions for making a larger profit.

There are various private universities and colleges’ that offer full-time courses on business analysis, and if you are looking for specific job oriented programs, then there are many certification courses that are available in the market.

Career Path:

  1. Business Analyst or BA: Purely concentrating on being a business analyst can help you in many ways. Once you are thorough in being a BA, you can easily change or switch industries to find the one you are comfortable with or that suits you and start working at all levels of the company once you have enough experience.
  2. Business Analysis Manager: For someone who likes to manage people and teams, being a business analysis manager is a good place to start. You will be assigned a team to manage, and you will have the role of a leader which you can ascend in career growth.
  3. Project Manager: Being a project manager makes you someone who has a diverse set of skills. These skills are completely different from being a business analyst. If you are someone who is looking for a change of skills, this position is worth checking out. This is a route that business analysts traditionally aim for because of the very satisfying and highly rewarding career path.
  4. Relationship Manager: If you are a good speaker, listener, and influencer, this is the job for you. In this post, you are expected to make great connections with stakeholders, listen to them, understand them, and answer their questions about various things, according to the ever-changing business environment.
  5. Business Analysis Competency Manager: This career option deals with the theoretical and developmental aspects of business analysis. Here, you do not get any practical and hands-on experience. The role of a BA competency manager is to improve the business, analyze proficiency, and also track development within the company.
  6. Business Architect: Another career option for a Business Analyst is to become a business architect. In this role, you get to work closely with the company, along with a combination of informal requirements. This role is best suited for senior analysts who have an understanding of the enterprise and has the ability to observe the company from a general point of view.
  7. Subject Matter Expert: Here, you have the role of being proficient in a particular domain, industry, or subject matter. For those who are interested in a specific field and want to make their career in that area, this can be an exciting and stimulating career path.

Conclusion

The scope for business analysts is ever-growing in a country like India and so are the number of business analyst courses available online. There are multiple roles available once you have successfully completed your course. Each time you climb the ladder, the pay scale increases, and so do the benefits and work. There is no shortage of work in this field, and the opportunities are growing every day.

Also Read: What is Technical Business Analyst

Difference Between Full Stack Developer and Software Engineer

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Difference Between Full Stack Developer and Software Engineer

Technical jobs and designations may appear confusing, but they have clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Similarly, technical courses also specifically focus on a specific layer of developing an application. Some of them deal with front-end development while some deal with the back-end aspects. Though most of the roles are overlapping, each role demands an area of expertise that every professional can contribute. Recently, the demand for full-stack engineers is increasing. Though the term appears familiar, it is often mistaken for a software engineer. Both are not the same, there is clear differentiation in the job roles and the contributions of a full stack developer and a software engineer. You need to understand about the job scope of both roles to understand the difference between the two. Let’s have a closer look at what a full-stack developer and a software engineer do.

What Does a Full Stack Developer Do?

Full stack developers handle both front end and back end – from the database, servers, and clients to system engineering. They are technical masters who create a design prototype according to the requirements. They focus on products and their technical features. They lead the technical team and help reduce and fix the issues.

What Does a Software Engineer Do?

A software engineer is a master of software programming, They are well-versed in the programming languages. They are concerned with creating codes in a computer program. Unlike a full-stack developer who focuses on the end-to-end process, a software engineer focuses only on coding and programming.

Listed below are the Important Differences Between a Full-Stack Developer and a Software Engineer. 

Full Stack Developer Software Engineer
A full stack developer has both front end and back end knowledge and is also able to write APIs Software Engineers deals with creating codes using a programming language and test them to check if they can bring about the desired results.
A full stack developer can access an application any time. They can help the team to reduce cost and time. In an application, software engineers are capable of access only those steps created by them.
Full stack developers create a fast prototype for a product. Software Engineers focus only on a particular step to eliminate possible errors while deploying an application.
Full Stack Developers collaborate with clients, servers, database and system engineering. They collect sub-modules to create an individual project and leverage all processes to execute it. Software engineers work with specific programme language and its application every step. They are programming language experts.
Full Stack Developers lead the team and guide the team in developing an application. Software Engineers work as a part of the team which develop the app and take part in building the steps of an application.
Full stack developers are responsible for developing applications that can be accessed by multiple users from anywhere across the globe. Software engineer deals with limited functions and the programmes they develop can be used by a single user after downloading it in a device such as a phone or a computer.

 Conclusion

You now know the difference between a full-stack developer and a software engineer.  You need to have a firm knowledge on the entire process, from front end to back end as well as the programming to become a full stack developer. On the other hand, a software engineer is only concerned with the coding of a programme.

Industry Updates – Change Management

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

With massive leaps in technology, we are having to rethink our ideas on change management. This is a tough task considering Change Management was an academic concept only a decade ago. In this edition of our newsletter, we spend some time with aviation giant, British Airways, and understand how they’re applying change management to overcome the challenges presented by culture and status.We follow Walmart’s successful attempts at restructuring its U.S. store operations and the failures of Mercedes Benz to implement their CM strategy.

Industry Updates – ( January – 2019 )

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

Business Analysis is the practice of enabling change in an organizational context, by defining needs and recommending solutions that deliver value to stakeholders. Organisations have begun to realise the importance of Agile methodologies in the framework of business analysis. This leads to the question – ‘What is a Business Analyst and what are the responsibilities of an Agile BA?’ In this edition of our newsletter, we answer these important questions and also bring you a case study on the adoption of Scrum.

Industry Updates – April

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

Business Analysis is the practice of enabling change in an organizational context, by defining needs and recommending solutions that deliver value to stakeholders. Organisations have begun to realise the importance of Agile methodologies in the framework of business analysis. This leads to the question – ‘What is a Business Analyst and what are the responsibilities of an Agile BA?’ In this edition of our newsletter, we answer these important questions and also bring you a case study on the adoption of Scrum.

What is Difference Between Web Developer and Full Stack Developer

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

What is the Difference Between Web Developer and Full Stack Developer

Web developers, front-end developers, back-end developers, full stack developers – technical career has many designations that are difficult to differentiate, especially for a common man. Web developers, as the name of the designation suggests, design and develop websites.

They could be front end developers, back end developers or webmasters. On the other hand, full stack developers are concerned with the front end and back end, and they lead projects that involve databases. Let’s learn more about the difference between a web developer and a full stack developer.

What do web developers do?

In simple terms, web developers design and develop websites. They decide how the website should look, what all elements should be displayed and where. They are responsible for the technical aspect of the website, its speed and the quantity of traffic it can handle. Some developers take care of the content creation as well. When a client needs a website, the web developer meets them to discuss their needs and about the design of the site.

Then they start developing applications for the website and test them. They also do coding using languages like XML or HTML. They work with the graphic designers to decide the layout of the website. If there are audio, video or graphics, web developers integrate that also to the website. Once the website is ready, the developer monitors the traffic to the website as well.

The requirements of the clients are different. The design of the website depends upon the need of the client – it could be anything from news to e-commerce and gaming. The applications needed for different requirements are different.

For instance, a website for gaming should have advanced graphics, while if you are building an e-commerce site, it could have an application which supports payment processing. So a web developer needs to know the requirements of the client. While some web developers can handle end-to-end support of a website, others focus in one aspect.

Front end developer:

They handle the look of a website and work on the website’s layout and integrate applications and graphics. They are responsible for the website’s basic framework. They could write web design in many languages like Java or HTML.

Backend developers:

They take care of the website’s overall technical construction. They create the site’s basic framework.

Webmasters:

They take care of the maintenance of a website and keep it updated. They ensure the smooth working of the website and they test for errors such as broken links. Some webmasters also spend some time responding to the comments.

What does a full-stack developer do?

Full stack developer handles everything – it is a full package. They know about the server-side and work to enhance the client-side as well. They know databases and are responsible for creating user-facing websites. A full stack developer should be familiar with programming languages like CSS, HTML, JavaScript and backend languages. Most of the full stack developers specialize in one programming language.

A full stack developer should have a firm understanding of all elements constituting a website – be it the front end, design, visual design, project management or user experiences. Most of the full stack developers work for either front-end or back end code of a website. They essentially know everything and can step into any of them in case there is a problem.

Conclusion
There are many aspects of web development. IT professionals like web developers deal with a certain aspect of website development while full stack developers offer wholesome support right from the front end and back end. Hope this helped you differentiate a web developer and a full-stack developer.

What are the Best Change Management Strategies?

Posted on by Imarticus Learning

Change is the only constant! Organizations have to introduce timely changes in their strategies, structure and operations to evolve and to match the ever-changing business environment. However, any attempt to change will have to deal with the inertia, and this is possible only with a diligently planned strategical approach. An announcement on introducing a change could stir panic in employees if they have no clue about what the change is all about. To avoid this, you need to communicate with the employees and educate them on the changes you’ve planned and why those changes are important. We are going to discuss some strategies to make changes as smooth as possible.

Change Management Strategies

Plan carefully
Planning is everything. Before introducing any change or even announcing it, you need to have a clear idea about what you want to achieve and how are you going to introduce it among the employees. Document the changes and things to do to achieve them, craft a detailed timeline and have a clear response to the potential concerns of the employees.
Be transparent
Confidentiality is a part of the change. It is a usual practice to keep the plan confidential among the top management. However, it is wise to announce the change before any rumour makes rounds among the employees. Rumours make it even more difficult to convince the employees as they have already made up their minds that the change is going to affect them and that’s the reason the management wants to keep it confidential. Announcing the change and promote discussions about it will help clear the doubts and prepare them to deal with it.
Tell the truth
Never try to sugarcoat the facts or try to be overly optimistic. This will only help to make the employees suspect the worst is to come. If there are any short-term negative outcomes, discuss them. Acknowledging the potential; drawback sand the effort to mend them will induce confidence among the employees and they will appreciate the efforts of the management.
Communicate
Communication is the key to win the game. Explain why the change is important and what benefits do the management expect from this. Be open to questions, hold team meetings to discuss the changes.
Build a Roadmap
This is important to make the employees understand the current situation of the organization and what is the organization aiming at. This will also help you communicate that the management has a clear thought and strategy to deal with the change.
Conduct Training Sessions
If the plan of change involves the introduction of new technology, make sure that you arrange adequate training sessions for the employees. Announce that the training will be available for them. This will eliminate the insecurities among employees that they will be left behind when the organization introduces the new technology because they do not have the skill or experience to use it.
Proposals for Incentives
One effective way to introduce the change is to propose some incentives to the employees. This will send out a message that the change could be beneficial for them and encourage them to engage with the plan and to adapt to the change with time.
Redefine Organizational Values
Employees would be ready to adapt and fit in with the organizational values. So, introduce a change in the cultural values of the organization and make it a culture of continuous improvement. The employees may respond positively to a new way of working if you introduce the new organizational value of a continuous improvement.
Conclusion
Change is a big thing, especially for employees. So do not expect them to change overnight. You need to help them prepare for the change and to deal with it. Ensuring their participation in every stage of the change is the best way to be transparent and to convince them that the change will bring positive outcome to them as well as the organization.