Business analysts are change agents

By Adam S. Kamras

Known as the father of modern management for his numerous writings and teachings as a management consultant, educator and author who stressed innovation, entrepreneurship and strategies for dealing with a changing world, Peter Drucker said, “To survive and succeed, every organization will have to turn itself into a change agent.”

For many organizations, the leading change agent role is played by the business analyst. In his book, Business Analysis: Best Practices for Success, Steven P. Blais wrote, “The business analyst adopts the role of change agent to make sure the solution is accepted by stakeholders throughout the development process and then efficiently placed into production and used to generate value for the organization.”

Fundamental business analysis is now more important than ever to help companies navigate through change. —Delvin Fletcher

Described by the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) as the practice of enabling change in an organizational context by defining needs and recommending solutions that deliver value to stakeholders, business analysis touches all levels of an organization. Working in the profit, nonprofit and government sectors, a business analyst may be involved in defining strategy, creating the enterprise architecture, and taking a leadership role by identifying the goals and requirements for programs and projects or supporting continuous improvement in technology and processes.

Earn a UD Certificate of Completion

The University of Delaware’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies (UD PCS) continues to educate current and aspiring change agents with its Business Analysis Certificate program. Utilizing version 3.0 of A Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK Guide), students will learn the importance of value creation in the role of the business analyst.

Though the modules build on each other, participants can enroll in the series at any point and still benefit from the lessons. Students who register for all four modules in a single transaction will qualify for a bundled rate and be eligible to earn a University of Delaware Certificate of Completion.

Business analysis more important than ever

Like many professions, business analysts have been confronted with the challenges initiated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are being tasked with assessing the changes that need to be made to organizations’ products and services. With the need to manage profit and loss being as critical as it has ever been, business analysts can help reduce waste from operations as well as within project teams.

Delvin Fletcher, IIBA president and CEO, wrote about the growing need for business analysts in a July blog, “Good Business Analysis Is More Important Than Ever.”

Every day now brings a news item or business article about the opportunities and risks that COVID-19 is bringing to companies and sometimes entire industry sectors,” wrote Fletcher. “Fundamental business analysis is now more important than ever to help companies navigate through change. Not only do I need to understand what I could or should do but also how and when—and how fast.

One of ‘best jobs in America’

At a median base salary of $73,022 and an overall job satisfaction rating of 3.6 out of 5, business analyst is ranked No. 26 on Glassdoor’s list of 50 Best Jobs in America for 2020. In 2019, the BA Times reported that the number of jobs for U.S. business analysts will increase from 364,000 to 2,720,000 by 2020. Based on a 2019 review of its jobs and an analysis of hiring data from its U.S. workforce, Amazon’s fastest growing highly skilled jobs over the previous five years were data mapping specialist (832% growth), data scientist (505%), solutions architect (454%), security engineer (229%) and business analyst (160%).

Visit https://www.pcs.udel.edu/business-analysis/ to learn more.