❓ What should you do if the customer keeps suggesting new (even good) ideas during the design approval process?

It’s quite common for a BA or designer to find themselves in a situation where stakeholders keep coming up with new (sometimes even interesting) ideas during the design approval process. Here are a few tips to keep the process smooth and efficient.

🤌 Don’t implement every stakeholder’s request blindly.
Align the ideas with business goals and user needs. The BA’s role here is to filter ideas or ‘solutions’ and not confuse them with actual requirements and needs.

🤌 Emphasize the designer’s role.
The designer is an expert in UI/UX and the final contributor to the visualisation.

🤌 Set boundaries for the discussion.
If new ideas keep coming up, the BA can outline a clear plan of action. For example:
“We have two options. The first is to proceed with the current design and test the solution on real data right away. The second is to go for another round of design, which will require one more sprint of analysis and design and then come back for approval.”

🤌 Maintain an idea backlog/change log
Write down new ideas and reduce stakeholders’ resistance by postponing them instead of rejecting.

What approaches do you use in such situations? Share your thoughts in the comments!

#BA #designer #design #stakeholderrequirements #solutionrequirements #BusinessAnalysis #BusinessAnalyst #UXDesign #UIDesign #AgileBusinessAnalysis

❗️ Digital Intensity Among SMEs: Missed Opportunities Analysts Shouldn’t Ignore

While Europe pushes toward its 2030 goals, one fact is clear: SMEs are still lagging behind in digital adoption.

📊 According to the latest EU data:
Only 73% of SMEs reached a basic digital intensity level in 2024 — 20 pp short of the 2030 target (90%).
Just 6% of SMEs show very high digital intensity.
In contrast, 98% of large companies already meet the minimum threshold.

🔍 What does “digital intensity” mean?
It tracks how many digital tools a business uses — like AI, cloud computing, CRM, or e-sales. The more adopted (out of 12), the higher the score.

📉 Most SMEs are stuck in the low (40%) or very low (27%) intensity categories.
Yet regional contrasts are huge:
Finland (93%) and Denmark (90%) lead
Bulgaria (50%) and Greece (53%) trail far behind

🎯 Why this matters for business and systems analysts:
This is not just about tech gaps.
It’s about identifying untapped markets where:
- digital consulting is in demand,
- legacy system replacement is overdue,
- product-market fit hinges on understanding real client maturity.

Whether you’re mapping requirements, modernizing processes, or designing future-ready platforms — knowing your client’s digital reality is everything.

📌 SMEs aren’t a monolith — and digital readiness varies dramatically across Europe.

💬 Are you seeing these gaps in your projects? How do you account for digital maturity when building solutions?

#BusinessAnalysis #SystemsAnalysis #DigitalTransformation #SMEs #EU2030 #TechStrategy #ProductDesign #DigitalMaturity #ConsultingOpportunities #BAcommunity

💡 AI tools to build BPMN diagram

Not everyone dreams in pools and gateways. With today’s AI helpers you can jump from rough notes to a first draft in minutes, then spend your brainpower on the parts that really decide quality

BA Copilot
Feed it a short denoscription or snap a whiteboard and you get three BPMN drafts that can be exported as a BPMN XML or a PNG. Each new prompt replaces the whole diagram rather than editing through chat. Auto layout can leave crossing connectors, so I still do a quick tweaking, which, to be fair, forces a check of gateway rules and often exposes small gaps.

Pricing starts around 7 USD per user per month

Miro AI
Best when a team is looking at the same board. A draft appears fast during a call, people react in real time, and you can switch shapes to a BPMN set right there. It does not validate BPMN and it does not export BPMN XML, large boards feel busy and credits on entry plans can limit heavy use. I use it to get agreement, then move the model to a stricter BPMN editor for the finishing pass.

Paid tiers start under 10 USD per user per month, and a free tier exists

Lucidchart with Lucid AI
You work inside a mature editor with a proper BPMN 2.0 library. Sharing to Confluence or slides is simple and the picture is clear for people who are not modelers. Lucid AI can draft a general flowchart, but lanes and correct connector types are better set by hand. Huge diagrams take patience to style, and there are no automatic BPMN checks or execution focus, so a short standards review before sign off is still on you. Individual plan starts around 9 USD per month, free tier is available

Bonitasoft AI BPMN Generator
Paste a few lines of text and a BPMN file is ready to download within seconds. Good for prototypes and training, or as a jump start if you plan to automate in Bonita later. The file follows the notation, but the tool will not enforce team naming or style rules and the wider Bonita suite takes setup effort in bigger companies, so pair the generator with a light governance checklist.

The generator is free to try, the open source edition is free and commercial plans are by quote

Camunda BPMN Copilot
On paper this is text-to-runnable BPMN inside Web Modeler with smart follow-ups. Though on my side it times out on every prompt, which is painful because the platform itself is excellent. If your stack is Camunda, run a small pilot in your own tenant and collect feedback before you rely on it.

Modeling is free to try in the SaaS tier, production execution sits on enterprise plans

AI can sketch the early part while you make coffee. The finish still needs careful work, clear lanes and pools, message flows that make sense, explicit gateway conditions, proper end events, and solid error and timeout handling. Use these helpers to save time while you keep quality in your hands

#bpmn #BA #SA #diagram #businessanalysis #systemanalysis

👩‍💻 From Traditional BA to Data-Driven Analyst: how to get more attractive job offers?

Data Analysis is becoming a vital direction for Business Analysts, transforming how we understand and contribute to projects. Companies increasingly seek professionals who can not only understand business needs but also extract actionable insights from data and collaborate effectively with technical teams.

What is Data Analysis?
Data Analysis is the process of collecting, organizing, and examining data to uncover patterns, trends, and insights. It involves working with raw data — often from databases, spreadsheets, or AI-generated reports — and transforming it into meaningful information that supports decision-making. This can include data cleaning, statistical analysis, visualization, and interpretation.

What does Data Analysis include?
✅Data collection and preparation: Gathering data from various sources and ensuring it is clean and structured.
✅Querying databases: Writing SQL queries or using data tools to retrieve the right information.
✅Statistical analysis: Using techniques to quantify patterns and relationships within data.
✅Data visualization: Creating charts, dashboards, and reports that clearly communicate insights.
✅Interpreting results: Turning numbers into narratives that stakeholders can act upon.

Why is it important for Business Analysts today?
Increasingly, projects demand BAs to bridge the gap between technical data teams and business stakeholders. The ability to speak “data” fluently allows BAs to validate requirements, prioritize features based on real usage or market trends, and identify risks or opportunities early.

📈 How to get started or improve?
- Learn SQL basics and practice querying real datasets;
- Explore data visualization tools like Power BI, Tableau, or Looker;
- Understand statistical concepts and how they apply to business data;
- Collaborate closely with data scientists and engineers on your projects;
- Take advantage of online courses and community forums dedicated to data skills

Well, being proficient in data querying, visualization, and interpretation opens doors to more challenging and rewarding projects, especially in areas like AI, digital transformation, and business intelligence. This makes you a more competitive candidate and increases your chances of receiving multiple attractive job offers or project opportunities.

❓How is your team incorporating data skills into their BA work? What challenges or successes have you experienced?

#DataAnalysis #BusinessAnalysis #BACommunity #DataSkills #AI #Databases #DigitalTransformation

❓ In every project, one of the greatest challenges isn’t the lack of requirements, but it’s the abundance of ambiguity.

Stakeholders often express needs in abstract terms: “We want faster processes,” “We need a better user experience,” or “The system should be more reliable.” These statements are valid, but they are not requirements. They are aspirations wrapped in uncertainty.

🧠 This is where the Business Analyst plays a critical role.

1. Translating Ambiguity into Clarity

A skilled BA doesn’t dismiss vague input as unusable. Instead, they recognize it as an entry point into deeper discovery. Through the right questions, contextual analysis, and scenario exploration, ambiguous desires are gradually shaped into precise, measurable, and testable requirements.


2. Ambiguity as a Natural Part of Innovation

Ambiguity is not a flaw—it’s a sign of unexplored opportunity. New products, digital transformations, and disruptive ideas often begin with unclear visions. By embracing ambiguity instead of resisting it, BAs enable organizations to explore alternatives, uncover hidden assumptions, and design solutions that stakeholders themselves couldn’t articulate at the start.


3. Techniques for Managing Ambiguity

- Contextual observation: Observing real user behavior to move beyond assumptions.
- Prototyping & Storyboarding: Transforming abstract ideas into tangible models for discussion.
- Scenario Analysis: Mapping multiple “what if” paths to test the boundaries of the requirement space.
- Progressive Elaboration: Accepting that not all answers are available upfront, and requirements maturity grows over iterations.


4. Why This Matters

Organizations that fear ambiguity risk oversimplifying problems or rushing into poorly defined solutions. Organizations that leverage ambiguity, guided by skilled Business Analysts, uncover innovation paths, prevent costly rework, and build systems that truly resonate with user needs.

Ambiguity is not the enemy of requirements. It is the raw material from which clarity, alignment, and innovation are forged. The Business Analyst is the architect who makes that transformation possible.

💬 How do you personally approach ambiguity in your projects—do you see it as a challenge, or as an opportunity?

#BusinessAnalysis #RequirementsEngineering #Leadership #DigitalTransformation #BACommunity

📈 The Rise of the Product Owner Role for Business Analysts

In today’s fast-paced Agile world, roles and responsibilities on projects can sometimes blur, especially between Business Analysts (BAs) and Product Owners (POs). Many BAs find themselves stepping into PO responsibilities, especially in product-focused or smaller teams. According to recent surveys, nearly 40-50% of Business Analysts are reported to take on PO duties in some capacity, particularly in Agile environments (source).

Key Differences and Responsibilities
✅ Product Owner (PO): Responsible for maximizing the value of the product by managing the product backlog, prioritizing features, defining user stories, and making critical product decisions. POs act as the voice of the customer and are accountable for the product’s success;
✅ Business Analyst (BA): Focuses on identifying and analyzing business needs, documenting detailed requirements, facilitating communication between business and technical teams, and supporting solution validation.

💳 Does the Salary differ?
According to salary data (2025), Product Owners earn on average 20-30% more than Business Analysts, reflecting their strategic influence and leadership roles (source).

In some projects, particularly in smaller teams or startups, a BA may double as a PO, but it is important to understand the scope, responsibilities, and skills each role demands to avoid burnout and ensure effectiveness

#BusinessAnalysis #ProductOwner #Agile #BACommunity #ProductManagement #CareerGrowth #AgileTeams #Scrum #ProjectManagement

🤖 AI Strategy Development Accelerates Globally: What This Means for Business

2024 marked a significant inflection point in AI governance. According to Oxford Insights' latest Government AI Readiness Index, 12 new national AI strategies were published this year—triple the number from 2023.

The trend is particularly striking among emerging economies: over half of these new strategies came from lower-middle-income and low-income countries, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan. This represents a fundamental shift from AI being primarily a developed-nation priority to becoming a global imperative.

🌐 For business analysts and IT professionals, this expansion signals:
- Growing regulatory frameworks requiring compliance considerations
- New market opportunities in previously underserved regions
- Increased demand for AI governance and risk management expertise
- Need for solutions that work across diverse regulatory environments

Countries are recognizing that AI readiness isn't optional—it's essential for economic competitiveness and national development. The question isn't whether your organization will encounter these regulatory frameworks, but when and how prepared you'll be.

❓The race for AI leadership is becoming truly global. Are your systems and strategies ready?

#ArtificialIntelligence #AIGovernance #BusinessAnalysis #DigitalTransformation #TechPolicy #GlobalMarkets #RiskManagement #EmergingTech #ITStrategy

Hey, BA Community! 👋

Thinking about starting your IT career or just want to level up your skills? Andersen has got your back, offering FREE courses for beginners that are perfect for anyone who’s ready to dive into the world of IT.

🌟 Business Analysis — November 2025
Want to be the bridge between business and tech? This course’s got you covered!
Apply here

🌟 UX/UI Design Intensive — September 2025
Get hands-on with design and create awesome user experiences!

🌟 QA Manual & Java — October 2025
Learn the ropes of quality assurance and get started with Java programming.

No catch, just good learning and great opportunities! ✨

Hey, dear Community! The much-awaited and biggest event is happening soon this October! 🔥

On October 16, we’ll reveal the secret at a BA meetup with experts from Andersen and IREB.

🎙 Radosław Grębski, Lead Business Analyst and Business Analysis Trainer, will speak on: “From Communication to Validation: Why Model Requirements?”
We’ll take a closer look at best practices and common mistakes in requirements modeling.

🎙 Emil Abazov, PSPO I™, Senior Business System Analyst and Product Owner, will share his experience: “Turning Requirements into Action: Modeling in Practice.”
Through diagrams and models, we’ll explore how to prevent misunderstandings and improve collaboration between business and technical teams.

➡️ Register here

Live discussions, insights from experts, and a professional community — all this at our BA Meetup!

⏰ Time: 18:00 (CEST)
⏳ Duration: 2 hours
🗣 Language: English
📍 Offline: Andersen’s office in Warsaw
💻 Online: The link to the stream will be sent to your email specified in the registration form.

See you!

📊 BPMN 2.0: Simplifying Complex Processes and Driving Digital Transformation

✨ We all, of course, know and have used bpmn 2.0 for modeling to show how a business process works or sometimes to show how different components of a process are connected to each other.

👌 We have used it as a visual representation that helps us explain complex processes in a simple and understandable way for everyone.Thanks to its rich notation, BPMN 2.0 is used today not only as a process modeling technology, but also as a process automation tool where no code is needed or sometimes simple code is needed.

✅ It allows people without much technical knowledge to create practical backend processes, perform various integrations such as databases, message brokers, third-party systems, perform logical checks, etc.

👉 This model is widely used in industries such as fintech as they modernize their technologies, they are designed to use such tools to minimize complex logic in their backend and make future changes easily. Startups that want to quickly test new business models without a backend team and so on.

📍Here is the list of platforms that I have used during my work: Camunda 8, Smart Vista Integration Platform, ProcessMaker. Have you ever used such technology, and what do you think about its future?

#WorkflowAutomation #ProcessAutomation #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfAutomation #ProcessOrchestration #AutomationStrategy

📎Data mapping tool for smooth legacy transfer

❗️Orphaned records, inconsistent data formats, unclear parameters - sounds familiar?

For a BA on a migration project, such challenges are routine. Data mapping is the key tool to reduce risks by linking Source and Target systems, defining transformation logic, and documenting parameters.

In order to bring it to action, follow these seemless steps:

Step 1: Define Source and Target systems
Source system - the existing system that currently stores the organizational data.
Target system - the destination system where the data must be migrated.

Step 2: Identify Data Entities and Attributes
Extract a data inventory of entities, tables, fields, and attributes from both systems. For example:
Source entity: Customer → Attributes: Customer_ID, Name, Address, Phone
Target entity: Client → Attributes: Client_ID, FullName, Street, MobileNumber

Step 3: Define Transformation Rules
Map how each source field aligns to a target field. Transformation rules may include:
Data Type Conversion (e.g., VARCHAR(50) -> TEXT)
Format Change (e.g., date format DD-MM-YYYY -> YYYY-MM-DD)
Data Cleansing (removing duplicates, correcting errors, trimming spaces)
Business Rule Adjustments (e.g., combining First Name + Last Name into FullName)

Step 4: Define Mapping Relationships
Establish 1:1, 1:Many, or Many:1 mappings between fields/entities. For example: One "Customer" record in the legacy system may map to multiple "Client_Contacts" in the new system (1:Many).

Step 5: Validate and Document Business Rules
Document mandatory vs. optional fields. Identify default values if data is missing.

✅ Once these steps are completed, your Data Mapping Document is good to go. Your team has a formal artifact describing how data fields in the legacy (source) system correspond to those in the new (target) system.

#SystemAnalysis #DataMapping #LegacySystems #BusinessAnalysis

Hi, dear Community! 👋

We together with BA Community representatives recently attended the IIBA Poland Summit 2025 and brought back a wealth of valuable insights for all of you - here are some moments we captured from the event for you! 📸

This remarkable event provided us with practical knowledge and fresh perspectives on how business analysts and change professionals can unlock potential, align with strategic goals, and create measurable impact. 💡

Organized expertly by the IIBA Poland Chapter, the summit united passionate, talented professionals who are deeply committed to their craft. Throughout the event, our team engaged with industry experts, learned about the latest trends—including AI’s transformative role in business analysis—and explored innovative approaches that will improve our work.

Stay tuned for more detailed takeaways and updates from our team as we continue to learn and grow together!

#IIBA2025 #BusinessAnalysis #BACommunity #ProfessionalGrowth #Networking

📊 How State machines make businesses more transparent

One of SA goals is to kill ambiguity in the product’s business logic and documentation. And one of great weapons for creating crystal-clear understanding is the State Machine Diagram.

It’s a powerful communication tool that builds a bridge between business stakeholders and developers, fostering incredible transparency.

Where Do We Use State Machines?

💡Order Management: Draft → Paid → Shipped → Delivered

💡Loan Application: New → Under Review → Approved/Rejected

💡Support Ticket: Open → In Progress → Resolved → Closed

State Machine Diagram describes the discrete states an object or system can be in and the events that cause transitions between those states.

The key elements include:

1. State: A distinct stage in the life cycle of an object (e.g., Shipped).
2. Initial State: The solid circle representing the starting point.
3. Final State: The bullseye circle representing the end of the life cycle.
4. Transition: The arrow showing movement from one state to another, triggered by an event.
5. Event: The trigger that causes a transition (e.g., Customer Pays, Shipment Scanned).
6. Guard Condition: A boolean condition (in [brackets]) that must be true for the transition to occur (e.g., [payment validated]).

The finalized diagram becomes a precise spec for Database (The status field's allowed values), UI (Which buttons to show based on the current state), Analytics ("Why do orders get stuck in Awaiting Response?") etc.

You move from messy, paragraph-long denoscriptions to a single, shared visual. Everyone - from the CEO to the intern - understands the rules. This eliminates confusion, ensures the system is built right, and builds trust.

#SystemsAnalysis #BusinessAnalysis #UML #StateMachine #ProcessImprovement #TechTransparency #SoftwareDevelopment #BusinessProcess

📊 Why the Wrong Diagram Can Mislead Your Project

Diagrams are a powerful tool for system analysts — but also a dangerous one. A wrong diagram can be the root of major mistakes.

❗️ A common trap: choosing the wrong type. Drafting a UML use case to show system interactions instead of a sequence or context diagram. Result? Clients imagine one thing, developers build another, and QAs are left guessing.

The problem isn’t the notation. It’s forgetting that a diagram is not the end goal — it’s just a way to communicate.

Here’s the hidden risk: an over-detailed diagram can mislead more than a simple one. It creates an illusion of completeness — the team stops asking questions and assumes the picture is final. But truth is born in questions.

Practical tips:

💡 Always ask: who is this diagram for?
💡 Match the level of detail to the audience.
💡 Sometimes a short text or table explains more than a polished diagram.

✅ Diagrams should clarify, not confuse. And it’s the analyst’s job to make sure they work for the team, not against it.

#SystemsAnalysis #BusinessAnalysis #UML #VisualThinking #AnalystMindset

🌐 AI Integration in Business Analysis: From Prompts to Practical Workflows

Artificial intelligence has become an integral part of business and systems analysis — no longer a curiosity but a daily necessity.

From processing large datasets to automating reports, prototypes, and forecasts, analysts increasingly rely on AI-powered tools for text generation, coding assistance, image processing, and behavioral analytics.
To stay effective and influential in shaping business decisions, it’s not enough just to use these tools — it’s crucial to understand how they evolve and how to embed them into real analytical workflows.
Keeping your ear to the ground is key: regularly tracking updates and new features helps analysts stay ahead of the curve.

Below are three of the most relevant AI updates from the past week that may be useful for business and system analysts 👇
💻 Microsoft 365 Copilot introduced a new “Copilot Actions” mode in Windows 11, allowing analysts to delegate app, file, and task management to the system with minimal human input.
⚙️ Google Gemini updated its Code Assist feature — improving code support and adding new capabilities for developers, analysts, and system integrators.
☁️ YandexGPT, part of Yandex Cloud, expanded its model quotas and limits — a significant update for analysts working with scalable cloud-based AI solutions.

For business analysts, these updates mean three things:
1️⃣ Faster execution of routine tasks and reduced manual input.
2️⃣ A chance to test new AI features and adapt workflows accordingly.
3️⃣ The need to evaluate which innovations truly add value — by improving accuracy, saving time, or enhancing integration between systems.

Keep track of such developments every week — and let AI work for you, not the other way around. 💡

#BusinessAnalysis #SystemAnalysis #AIforBA #PromptEngineering #ArtificialIntelligence #AIAssistants #DataAnalysis

Operationalizing Dark Data: How to Get from Use Cases to Value Cases

🌠 “Dark matter” is not only about physics. Thousands of companies and organizations sit on piles of dark data - collecting and storing tons of data but never using them. Whether it is ancillary data or data required for compliance, their storage and handling incur more expense than benefit. So why not monetize them or at least extract business value?

Approaching dark data with traditional use cases (describing behavior) might be painful early on. Shifting to value cases (stating measurable outcomes) can help spark better ideas. This move is from “what the system does” to “what business result it delivers”, and dark data is the fuel.

✅ Example: “Cut the contracting cycle by 20% by activating legacy contract PDFs and emails to auto-surface clauses, risks, and owners” instead of pure scenario thinking “User uploads contract; system stores PDF; legal reviews.” This rephrasing helps to prioritize the highest-value uses of dark data and tie it to a decision.

While structured, contextualized data eases generating value cases, most of the untapped data remains unstructured. To make it actionable, AI can provide a solid support in these steps:

1. Digitalization (if needed): for example, OCR (Optical Character Recognition) for physical documents, ASR (Automatic Speech Recognition) for audio.

2. Classification: indexing and labelling data so the system retrieves the right pieces of information to the right people (permission-based access).

3. Retrieval + generation: using RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) to provide reliable answers, and routing the edge cases to humans.

4. Non-functional requirements: tracking latency, accuracy, coverage, measuring cost per query, monitoring model/data drift (→ reindex/retrain regularly).

❗️ Check everything works correctly
Acceptance criteria: answers include clickable citations; access controls enforced; low-confidence responses escalate by rule.

📏 Measure impact on business
Business metrics: faster cycles and shorter time-to-resolution, fewer do-overs and escalations, happier users (better user satisfaction scores), more value cases and insights for business initiatives.

💡 Takeaway: activate one dataset against one decision, measure impact, and iterate. Prove the value case, then scale.

#BusinessAnalysis #SystemAnalysis #DarkData #BusinessValue #ValueCases #DataLineage

Hello, BA Community! 👋

Congratulations to all of you on the recent Global Business Analysis Day celebrated on November 14, 2025! We are proud that together we have created such a large and vibrant community of business analysts worldwide. Your passion, dedication, and knowledge make this network a place where we learn, grow, and support each other from day to day. 🫂

In honor of this special occasion, I’m excited to share a presentation of Key Takeaways from our recent joint Meetup with IREB, where we explored "Why Model Requirements?" and shared practical techniques on how modeling simplifies the analyst’s work. This session sparked great discussions and provided valuable insights for all participants (check below)!

Moreover, if you still have any questions for our speakers Emil Abazov and Radosław Grębski - feel free to ask them here or in our LinkedIn channel!

Thank you for being part of this incredible community. Let’s continue growing and elevating the profession together! 💛