Who
Ben Warsop is my real name but, confusingly, I’m not a bloke. There are a number of girls’ names that abbreviate down to Ben and my parents liked one of them. Lucky me. You wouldn’t believe how many black labradors are also called Ben.
I’m a Business Analyst. I used to say “I sit between business people and technical people and translate” but recently I defined the role as “helping businesses avoid the law of unexpected consequences in a world where most people have never had to do any systems thinking”.
I’ve almost completed an in-my-own-time MSc in Strategic Management at Bristol University. I’ve just got my dissertation to go, and feel rather smug to have achieved a Distinction in 6 of my 9 modules.
Good blogs aren’t monologues, so feel free to comment, challenge or diss. I’ve got broad shoulders.
Oh and one more thing: I’ve been on the internet far too long to assume that my employer’s legal department can’t find this blog. I write in my own name and the photos of me are of me. So I don’t write about my employer or about what I’m working on now or the people I’ve worked with at any time. Enough to say that I work for a living.
The opinions here are my own, and likely to change when I find out more about the subject in question.
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Often operating as Business analysts or Project managers, Bridgers are committed a philosophy that says "1+1>2" and going the extra yard to speak simple English, Spanish, French, German . .
Hi my name is DeEtta and I have been a business analyst for over 20 years. I have recently started publishing business analysis books. Thats the new thing Analyst do when the retire. These are easy how to guides and they are selling really well on lulu.com. I would like to invite you to visit my website )(www.echoicesolutions.com). On the services and products link you will find information on how to purchase electronic eAnalyst Redbooks. I priced them really low – 25.00. I guess that is why everyone is buying. I have and Introduction To Business Analysis and a Business Analysis Templates books. These books combined are great resources for conducting business analysis. I will like to get your thoughts.
Hi DeEtta –
I’m just back from my holidays and catching up with all sorts of backlogs, but I’ll take a look at what you’ve done there. Anything that gets the word out about the benefits of good business analysis has my support. Thanks for dropping by.
Ben
Ben – hello , i would like to pursue the CBAP certification but when i had a look at the handbook in the iiba site , it seemed that my experience does not align with the requirements of iiba and hence i feel my application would be rejected , can you help in my case pls .. perhaps i am unable to translate properly . I am in the Telecom domain and with 14 plus years experience. Let me know though… thanks for your time and consideration.
Hi Bhasker
I’m not the best person to ask about this because I am just a random BA with links on her blog.
The best advice I can give is to have a real dig around the IIBA site and ask there.
Good luck.
Ben
Great to see another blog by a Business Analyst.
For those interested in improving their business analysis skills and network with other BAs, they should visit ModernAnalyst.com.
ModernAnalyst.com is the premier online community and resource portal for business analysts, systems analysts, and other professionals involved in business/systems analysis.
For more info visit: http://www.ModernAnalyst.com
Hello of ben, I can you give me pair of advices.
It would appear that the Internet haz indeed stolen our brainz. I’d like to help, Alex, but I’m not sure how.
Hi Ben, I want to promote a level English and to know anymore at business analysis. we can speak in skype, if you will want.
Good luck with finding someone to practice your English with Alex.
but I hoped that you will tell about work business of analyst in USA.
Alex, I’m not an English teacher and I don’t live or work in the USA, so I am not the best person to help you on either of the things that you ask for.
*chuckle*
hey,
i’m a future analyst also and i’m very interested by your experience in USA … i’ll follow your blog
Hey Ben,
I am looking to become a Business Analyst and i would like your honest opinion.
I am close to 40yrs of age, i have been an entreprenuer and in sales all my career. After researching into the BA profession, i feel i will do good since i have a vast knowledge of diffrent business and have good communication skills. The only downside i see in doing this is 1) i am not from the IT background and have no knowledge about the IT infrastructure. 2) being at the age i am, i know i will be up against tough competition.
I dont know if this much info is enough for you to advice, as a BA what would be your honest advice.
Also if you have a link where the BA role is described in detail, i would greatly appreciate if you could email that to me.
Thank you
ZC
Depannage Informatique – I hate to tell you this, but I am a Brit working in the UK, not in the US. Thank you for your comment though.
ZC, the first thing that struck me about your comment is that you really should capitalise those letter Is. So much IT work requires absolute accuracy that I would not consider employing a BA who wrote that sloppily.
You say that you don’t have a background in IT and no knowledge of IT. Why not apply or a job as a doctor since you’ve got good people skills? Or look for work as a bio-scientist because you’re good with numbers? Of course you couldn’t be a doctor or a bio-scientist without training, and IT is the same. Like it or not, IT is technical, and you do need to know what you are doing and have some value to add.
For the record, I moved in to IT from a technical sales role, and did it in a recession too. Note the word technical in that sentence. I happened to have skills which were in short supply in the BA community at that time, and I was fortunate, I made the move in the middle of the exact 9 month window when it was possible. Yes, IT really can move that fast. It wasn’t easy though: I worked very very hard at finding a job.
You’ll be up against people with 5, 10, 15, 20+ years’ experience, and if you were the employer, which one would you choose? The guy with 20+ years in IT who writes accurately, or the guy without any IT skills who can’t be bothered to type? It would be morally wrong to employ the newbie – unfair on colleagues and unfair on you.
On a more positive note, have you considered becoming a trainer in a subject you do know about? I think that sales skills transfer to the role of the trainer really well. Also, I always recommend the exercises and techniques in the book ‘What color is your parachute?’ to people who want to make a career change.
Good luck.
Ben
Hi Ben,
Well Thank You for your honest response!
It was to the point, and i (I) do appreciate it. I will look up the book you recommended, but after reading your reply, it has made me a bit more adamant towards becoming a BA.
When it comes to interviews I know, I will kill my competition not with experience as a BA but with the knowledge and logical thinking method I have developed over the years, all i need is good training to become a BA…any suggestions?
Thank you for your response.
ZC
How kind.
These comments are priceless. Are 85% of the people out there completely brain dead? It looks like it. And why can’t they spell properly? Is it a disease?
They’re great, aren’t they?