In this episode, we talk about the power of visual communication in business analysis. We are joined by Paddy Dhanda of the Superpowers School podcast and frequent speaker on visual communication with his colleague, Grant Wright (who has not able to join for this episode). Visual communication is all a component of visual thinking. Paddy talks about why visual thinking is important and how you can build those skills. Visual Jam - https://www.thevisualjam.com/ Paddy's Podcast -...

Are Business Analysis Roles the Gateway to Project Management? Discover How BA Skills Can Propel You into Leadership! Wondering if your skills as a business analyst could open doors to leadership opportunities? Join us in this week's episode as we talk with speaker, educator and business analysis practice lead, Priyanka Agrawal, about how you can leverage your business analysis skills in formal leadership roles. We answer questions such as: - How to become a leader? - What skills do you...

Is there just one way to do business analysis? Is there a right way? How do we bring together all these techniques and tasks to achieve the right outcomes? Susan and Scott chat with Howard Podeswa about how to do business analysis work. Howard is an author of three books for business analysis professionals (see list below). You can follow Howard on LinkedIn. Howard's Books: - The Business Analyst's Handbook - The Agile Guide to Business Analysis and Planning - UML for the IT Business...

Susan and Scott talk with Eno Eka, Founder of Business Analysis School, about the Global State of Business Analysis (GSBA), the report from IIBA's annual survey that shares insights from business analysis professionals from all over the world. Resources: The video version of this podcast includes the report slides. Get a free GSBA infographic of the report. IIBA members have access to the full report Connect with Eno on LinkedIn Do you have questions about this topic or have...

In this episode of our podcast, Susan and Scott discuss the recent book launch of Futureproof: Amplifying Agility with AI and Insightful Business Analysis focusing on AI and business analysis. They are joined by Angela Wick and Tim Coventry, authors of the book, who share insights on the urgency of business analysis in an AI environment, the AI Accelerator Framework, and the upskilling needed for BAs in an AI-driven world. Here are three key takeaways from our conversation: Continuous...

Scott and Susan interview Jenn Bedell, business analysis practitioner, speaker and IIBA Regional Deputy Director, as she shares insights about managing requirements. In this podcast she discusses the importance of thorough exploration, stakeholder collaboration, and understanding project goals to uncover and prioritize requirements as why we need to manage and track requirements over the life of the project. If you geek out about creating requirements management systems, you won't want to...

Ever wondered how organizations bridge the gap between IT and business operations? You'll discover the intriguing journey of business architects as they navigate through different departments, from IT to strategy, in pursuit of organizational excellence. Join Scott and Susan and special guest, Roger Burlton, business architecture practitioner, author, speaker and trainer, as we answer the question "What is Business Architecture?" RESOURCES: Short videos and articles by Roger at Process...

How can neuroscience research help us be better communicators, better leaders and build better relationships? Scott Helmers joins Scott and Susan for a rich discussion on some methods and principles that can make us more aware of how we, and others, think. RESOURCES: - Contact Scott Helmers - [email protected] - Connect with Scott on Linkedin - Scott's LinkedIn Learning courses Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question...

What do we mean by nimble? Is that just another word for agile or does it mean something else? According to our guests, Fabricio Laguna and Filip Hendrickx, it is a way of thinking about an organization's ability to sense and respond with speed and precision. Learn more about nimble, how it applies to organizations and how business analysts can be nimble. You can meet Fabricio Laguna and Filip Hendrickx, who will be running a tutorial about Nimble at the upcoming 2024 Building Business...

In this episode, we dive into artificial intelligence and the role it plays in business analysis with our guest, Vince Mirabelli. Get ready for an insightful conversation on leveraging AI to enhance your BA skills and improve efficiency. Here are some highlights from the episode: 🔹 The role of AI in business analysis and its potential impact🔹 The importance of getting started with AI and overcoming apprehension🔹 The power of prompt engineering and crafting effective prompts for AI tools🔹...

Susan and Scott are joined by special guest Tamara Copple, Product Owner for Children International, to talk about Working with Developers. Key take-aways: When working with developers (or software engineers), do your homework. Bring your research and be prepared to share what you've learned about the problem or opportunity to get the developer up to speed. Provide business context. As a business analysis professional, you may understand more about the business than the developer....

In this episode, Susan and Scott delve into the importance of kindness and empathy in the field of business analysis. Our guest, kindness advocate, business analysis professional and author, Jane Osemwegie, shares her insights on how kindness can positively impact our professional communication. We also discuss the role of empathy in understanding and connecting with clients and colleagues, and how it can lead to better outcomes. Jane shares 5 main areas to focus on to build your...

After over 50 episodes of Business Analysis Live, Susan & Scott look back at the most popular episodes and a fun event in Las Vegas that didn't make it into a Business Analysis Live episode. As always, we answer your questions live during our broadcast! You can view this podcast on YouTube Find the top podcasts we mentioned plus more at our Spotify homepage! Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ or leave...

Join Susan and Scott as they talk about to how to best work with teams across different cultures. They talk with the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) Account Managers from around the globe to get advice and practical tips: - Europe - Andy Grazebrook - Africa & Middle East - Koketso Chaba - India - Suvarna Veluthakkal - Asia, Pacific - Xavier Treguer - Latin America & Southeastern United States - David Rosales - Canada & Northern United States - Lia...

"Business Analysts are professional learners." Learning is a key skill (or is it a trait?) in business analysis, given that we often find ourselves in scenarios with limited information. Teaching is also important to the work we do. Do you know the differences between learning and teaching and how to incorporate these skills into your business analysis work? Susan and Scott are joined by Victoria Cupet, a business analysis practitioner, consultant, speaker and trainer, who has a doctorate...

Susan and Scott chat with a new business analysis professional, Sachin Bhoria, about his experience preparing for and landing his first job in business analysis. Sachin has been in his role for over a year now and shares his perspective as a new business analysis professional. Resources: Entry Certificate to Business Analysis (ECBA) Certification - https://www.iiba.org/business-analysis-certifications/ecba/ Business Analysis Competency Model -...

Susan Moore and Scott Bennett are joined by guest speaker Mindy Bohannon, to delve into the challenges of difficult conversations. They share their own reactions and triggers when faced with such conversations and discuss how to approach them in a productive and empathetic manner. Mindy highlights the role of empathy in diffusing tension and getting everyone back on the same page. The hosts and guest emphasize the importance of acknowledging and managing emotions during these encounters. A...

Influencing is an advanced communication skill that is helpful for change management in the business analysis field. Susan and Scott talk with guests that have had success with influencing skills. Abigail Gaddy and Heath Butler share the benefits of using influencing skills as well as the potential pitfalls if it’s overused. Business analysts often need to work with various stakeholders, including executives, project managers, subject matter experts, and technical teams. Effective...

A Business Model Canvas is an analysis technique in the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK Guide) and is a technique taught in business schools.  Susan and Scott talk with Connor Estabrooks, who is a recent MBA graduate, to discuss how the Business Model Canvas is used to analyze a business, or part of a business.   The discussion is framed around the nine parts of the Business Model Canvas: - Customer Relationships - Customer Segments - Key Partnerships - Key Activities - Key...

How you do you effectively manage the backlog?  Susan and Scott talk with Steve Adolph, one of the authors of The Rock Crusher, about were backlogs fail to deliver on their value.  They chat about where the Analyst role fits in this agile space to meet the needs of the team and organization.   In the book, it describes “Many organizations eliminated analyst roles in their rush to adopt agile as a development cost-reduction strategy.  In the minds of many, the product owner role made...

Susan and Scott talk to the organizers of the Festival of Business Analysis in Australia about the 3 E’s of business analysis.  They also talk with three of the speakers that will be at the festival in person and online to get a sense of what to expect from this conference. 1) Evolve – Sam Bowtell, who will be speaking about effective hybrid working techniques 2) Empathise – Phil Delalande, focussing on UX design 3) Emerge – Ruth Lewis, who is a qualified futurist, and will be speaking...

In our recent livestream discussion, we talked with Laura Brandenburg from Bridging the Gap about transferable skills. This is for both the aspiring business analysis professional and the experienced professional looking to grow their team. We started the discussion about crafting resumes. To highlight transferrable skills, we should prioritize showcasing our achievements over merely listing responsibilities. By spotlighting our accomplishments, we can effectively shine a light on our soft...

Is facilitating change easy?  No!  Susan and Scott dig into the topic of change management with the authors of Brainy Glue, Ian Richards and Filip Hendrickx. They emphasize the importance of introducing and managing change effectively within organizations and highlight the role of Business Analysis professionals in facilitating this process.   For effective change management, it’s important to have a clear vision when initiating change.  This requires the participation of stakeholders to...

​This is a discussion about building confidence, imposter syndrome, and self-doubt. Susan and Scott talk with Paula Bell about the multifaceted nature of confidence, highlighting its impact on personal and professional success. Confidence isn't just a surface-level trait but is deeply connected to one's self-awareness and understanding of their value.Imposter syndrome is a common phenomenon where individuals doubt their abilities and fear being exposed as a fraud. Paula shares her thoughts on...