Don't miss our regular blogs from AssistKD's resident Business Alchemist. Industry insights, new perspectives and some stellar use of alliteration.
9 March 2022 Business Analysts and the Feedback Mindset Feedback - when properly considered and embraced by both giver and recipient—leads to useful growth and development. However, for feedback to be useful expectations need to clearly be set on both sides and both giver and receiver need to have a 'feedback mindset'. In this blog, our Business Alchemist considers the how, as recipients of feedback, we can foster this mindset.
24 January 2022 Business Problems: Moving beyond the 'Obvious' to the 'Possible' In this blog our Business Alchemist explains why business analysts should challenge what may seem to be the obvious solution and why questionning is a crucial part of the business analyst role.
12 January 2022 Confidence, Credibility and Complacency in Business Analysis Modesty is supposed to be a virtue, however too much modesty could actually undermine the credibility of the business analysis team. Our Business Alchemist encourages business analysts to step into the limelight and take credit for their work.
1 December 2021 Calling Out Bad Behaviours in the Workplace Have you ever worked in a place where the culture is toxic and where people do not feel able to speak their minds? The sort of environment where there is disloyalty, backstabbing, extreme covert agendas and other bad behaviours? Help is at hand. Our Business Alchemist shares some useful advice, including 5 ways to tackle conflict and bad behaviours.
9 November 2021 The Outward Looking Business Analyst When a stakeholder raises an urgent problem or concern, there can be pressure for an early solution. However initiating change without an adequate understanding of the business context and the problem is risky. Our Business Alchemist looks at how business analysis makes a difference, balancing internal and internal perspectives and using techniques such as PESTLE.
7 September 2021 Business Analysis: Strategic or Tactical? Our Business Alchemist examines the strategic and tactical elements of business analysis, highlighting the importance of BAs having a range of strategic analysis techniques in their toolkits, as well as staying informed about the strategy of their employer organisation.
4 August 2021 Filling the Business Analysis Skills Gap There is a 50% skills shortage in the business analysis field, which means it is increasingly difficult to recruit experienced and highly motivated BAs. Our Business Alchemist considers the future of BA recruitment and training.
3 August 2021 Requirements in Business Analysis: Who's Afraid of the 'R' word? In this blog our Business Alchemist argues that Requirements Engineering is a valuable tool in the hands of the expert Business Analyst, requiring expertise far beyond recording what stakeholders say. Is it time to give the term the respect it deserves?
6 July 2021 Reductionist and Systemic Thinking: The Yin and Yang of Business Analysis There are various 'lenses' that can be used to look at a business situation, and in this blog our Business Alchemist explores two: comparing a reductionist viewpoint to a systemic viewpoint and describing how they cab usefully coexist...
24 June 2021 The Dynamic Rich Picture In the league table of useability Rich Pictures is a high scoring technique. But, as with all useful tools, it's still wise to read the instructions. In this blog our Business Alchemist provides some light touch guidance for the skilled practitioner.