Michiel contacted me to be interviewed for this podcast series, and we met last week. He has posted the first part of the podcast (which is number 27), and it is available for your listening pleasure You can also explore the other interviews in the series.

http://thebusinessanalystpodcast.blogspot.com/

You can post comments on his blog and if you choose to, you can make a donation to help him pay for creating the series.

I hope you enjoy this great resource from Michiel Erasmus.

Geri

Book: XP Explained, Kent Beck
Certified Scrum Master training – http://www.implementingscrum.com
Book: The Inmates are Running the Asylum, Alan Cooper
IIBA and certifications: http://www.theiiba.org

Analysis is a very important skill, analysis on the problem, the requirements, the solution

Requirements Management Tools
Spirateam from Inflectra:  http://www.inflectra.com
IBM Rational Requisite Pro, http://www.ibm.com
IBM Telelogic Doors, http://www.ibm.com

Free UML Modeling Tool
BoUML, http://bouml.free.fr/

Requirements Writing and automatic activity diagram generation
Ravenflow, http://www.ravenflow.com

Free Documentation Tool
OpenOffice,  http://www.openoffice.org

LinkedIn Group: Starting A Business Analyst Career
Laura Brandenburg – good resource as a BA, and helps people with tuning a resume and job hunting. Her blog is http://www.bridging-the-gap.com/

Network in the Local IIBA chapters – meet other BA’s  http://www.theiiba.org

Business Process Modeling Standard, http://www.omg.org

I was asked recently how to increase productivity and performance as a BA. Here are some ideas based on my own experience.

1. Before acting ask yourself the best approach to something.
   • For example, when collecting information we often assume that interviews are the best approach. Before scheduling interviews, think about the information you need. Maybe you can get the information you need more quickly from a document.
   • Another example could be effectiveness. It may be more effective to collect 5 people in a room together where they can discuss an issue, rather than you asking questions of each of the 5, then following up to resolve differences. Acting as a go-between is less effective than letting the people work it out for themselves.
2. Do only what you have to do at each  point in time and no more.
   • Early in a project, we identify just the architecturally significant requirements so that the project architect can do his or her work.  The rest of the requirements are discovered later.
   • When I write use cases, I start with the basic flow. Sometimes I do not have to write any more, but if I do, I write the alternatives when they are needed.
3. Keep focused on the goal of the project.
   • You should not be working on things unrelated to the goal of the project. If you are asked to do so, talk about it with your Project Manager.
4. Keep learning your craft and get better at it.
   • Take classes in areas where you are weak.
   • Look for ways to get additional experience. Many of the skills of the BA can be practiced outside of work. For example, you can practice interviewing by asking a grandmother to tell you stories of her life while you write them. You get to practice asking questions, listening, and writing, and you have stories from grandmother that you can share with the family.

=====================================
Now it is your turn.

What do you do to be more productive? What things have you found that help you work faster?
=====================================

You are invited to re-publish articles from this blog, in your publication or website, as long as the article is intact and you include the following Byline paragraph (with live links) after each article you use…

START BYLINE

* Article used with permission from Wyyzzk, Inc.’s Resources for Business Analysts site at http://www.ResourcesForBusinessAnalysts.com This website of reports and tips contains information to help you succeed as a Business Analyst in IT.

END BYLINE

You can post questions here:
Ask Geri

I look forward to your questions!

Geri

In the context of the BA role, I see so much published on the internet that is just nonsense. How can you know who to believe and what to trust?

You have to trust in your own experience and common sense.

• If something seems reasonable, some technique or process, then try it for yourself, and judge the results.
• If it does not seem reasonable, then it might be the wrong thing for you in that situation.
• If you do not have the experience to judge, then find someone else with more experience and ask his or her opinion.

Having said that, I also want to encourage you to keep an open mind. Something that seems reasonable, but that does not work today, might be just the right thing in a new situation. Re-evaluate what you know in the context of the current job, the current project.

I love this quote from over 2000 years ago:

“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”
Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.

=====================================
Now it is your turn.

When have you trusted your judgment, tried something new, and it worked? What about the times where it did not work? In a new situation, have you applied something that did not work before and had it work for you in that new situation?
=====================================

You are invited to re-publish articles from this blog, in your publication or website, as long as the article is intact and you include the following Byline paragraph (with live links) after each article you use…

START BYLINE

* Article used with permission from Wyyzzk, Inc.’s Resources for Business Analysts site at http://www.ResourcesForBusinessAnalysts.com This website of reports and tips contains information to help you succeed as a Business Analyst in IT.

END BYLINE

This class is particularly targeted to Career Changers, so we are spending time throughout the course teaching you the skills of a BA and also helping you with techniques for tuning your resume and looking for a BA position. Homework assignments are things you can do from home, even if you are unemployed.

I know it was a holiday weekend, so some of you might have forgotten to register and now think it is too late.

It is not too late to join us!

The first class is recorded, and the replay is posted. The first question and answer session is on Thursday. So you have time to join the class and review the notes and recording before then.

Since this is the only time I am offering this class in 2010, I want to make sure you have the opportunity to join us.

You can register here: http://www.wyyzzk.com/bafundysales.html

I am looking forward to you joining us!

Geri

Now you can find my fanpage here: http://www.facebook.com/ResourcesForBAs

When you are on Facebook, you can post comments and questions on the Fan Page. I look at that page regularly and answer what is posted.

See you there!

Geri

First, I am very excited to tell you about a bonus session I have added to the course. Laura Brandenburg has agreed to host a class and Q&A on resume writing and job hunting. She is including a copy of her ebook “How to Start a Business Analyst Career”, templates for helping your evaluate your resume, and a $50 discount on her resume evaluation service.   This is a very generous offer!

Second, I challenged myself to come up with the lowest price I could for this course. I have been out of work myself in the past, and know how hard it can be.  And because the class is a teleseminar, my costs are fixed, and I can spread them among more students.

So I have cut the price almost 45% – from $1750 the price has been reduced to $970. (Anyone who has already purchased the class is getting a refund for the difference.) I am hoping this means more of you can take the class.

Visit http://www.wyyzzk.com/bafundysales.html and join us for this class.  And as the class goes along, let me know what you need to help you find your new Business Analyst position.

I’m looking forward to having you in the class!

Geri

Starting May 31, 2010 I am offering a new course just for you – Business Analyst Fundamentals.

Imagine it is late summer and you are starting a new Business Analyst position. You are relaxed and confident, because you know just what to do. You make a good impression on your new boss, because right away you identify the most important tasks and start to work on them immediately.

That is what I want to help you achieve through this class – the skills and knowledge that will give you the confidence for your new position. I am offering the class as a 10 week teleseminar series starting 31 May 2010. All the class sessions are recorded, so if you have to miss a day, you can listen to the recording at a time convenient to you. Live Q&A sessions give you the opportunity to ask anything you want, and my Facebook fan page provides a place for everyone attending to interact.

All the details about the class and how to register are here:
Business Analyst Fundamentals

Be sure to look at the bottom of the page for my special benefits: 4 week money back guarantee, free study buddy, and Alumni status means you can retake the class free!

I’m looking forward to interacting with you in this class!

Geri

PS – Not sure about teleseminar training or how it works? Over 200 people have tested teleseminar training in my free May classes. You can do the same here: Free May Classes

You have to check this out. It is a great product on a solid foundation with a sexy new user interface.

Very sweet!

http://www.ravencloud.com

I have known the folks at Raven for many years – I think around 10 years now – and I have done some work for them over the years. I just love their products, which is why I do some occasional work for them. It is a way for me to help them continue to do what they do best.

I do not yet have a copy of the current product, but Raven has set up with Silverlight so you can try out the product in your web browser. I like what I see. I’m looking forward to the release of this product!