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Lead community of business and system analysts.

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🌐According to the State of the API report, nearly 86% of developers prefer using REST APIs for their projects, while newer protocols like GraphQL have gained traction with a 29% adoption rate.

What API protocols do you prefer to use for your project?💬
Anonymous Poll
87%
REST 🌍
15%
GraphQL 📊
8%
gRPC 🚀
11%
SOAP 📜
0%
RPC 📞
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📌 Bridging the Generation Gap in Requirements Elicitation 📌

🚀 Analysts, did you know that how you communicate and gather requirements can significantly differ based on the generation of your users? 🤔

💡 What is Requirements Elicitation?

It’s the process of engaging with stakeholders to uncover what they truly need from a project or system. Sounds simple? Not quite! Different generations come with distinct communication preferences and expectations.

🌟 Generational Preferences in Action
1️⃣ Silent Generation (Born Before 1945):
Best Techniques: Face-to-face interviews, document analysis, structured workshops.
Avoid: Rapid brainstorming or digital-only tools.
💬 They value thoroughness and personal interaction.

2️⃣ Baby Boomers (1946–1964):
Best Techniques: SWOT analysis, workshops, formal interviews.
Avoid: Quick, tech-heavy methods.
💬 Professionalism and clear structures resonate most.

3️⃣ Generation X (1965–1980):
Best Techniques: Prototyping, use cases, competitor analysis.
Avoid: Few limitations—they’re highly adaptable!
💬 Efficiency and specificity are key.

4️⃣ Millennials (1981–1996):
Best Techniques: Brainstorming, dynamic prototyping, user stories.
Avoid: Lengthy meetings or traditional document-heavy approaches.
💬 Tech-savvy and flexible, they thrive on engagement.

5️⃣ Generation Z (1997–2012):
Best Techniques: Interactive brainstorming, online surveys, interface analysis.
Avoid: Static, text-heavy methods.
💬 Raised in the digital age, they expect fast feedback and visuals.

6️⃣ Generation Alpha (2013 and Beyond):
Best Techniques: Gamified workshops, visual storytelling, interactive prototypes.
Avoid: Traditional formalities or dull documents.
💬 The future workforce loves innovation and gamification.

🔑 Key Takeaways for IT Professionals
• No “one-size-fits-all” approach exists.
Tailor your methods based on generational preferences.
• Younger generations crave interactivity and visualization.
Use tools like prototyping software, gamified workshops, and digital brainstorming.
• Older generations appreciate structure and personal communication.
Leverage interviews, SWOT analysis, and document analysis.

#UserRequirements #GenerationalDifferences #ITStrategy #RequirementsElicitation #UserExperience #StakeholderEngagement
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RESTful APIs: The Clear Choice for Analysts! 🌐

In our recent poll within the community, it’s no surprise that REST APIs received the most votes as the preferred API protocol among analysts and developers. It's clear that this architectural style remains a cornerstone of modern web services. 🚀💻

What is a RESTful API? 🤔
A RESTful API (Representational State Transfer) is an application programming interface that adheres to the principles of REST architecture. It allows different software applications to communicate over the internet using standard HTTP methods. This approach promotes stateless communication, where each request from a client contains all necessary information for the server to fulfill it.

Architectural Constraints of REST 🏗
REST is defined by several key constraints that ensure its effectiveness:
🔹Client-Server Architecture: The client and server operate independently, allowing for separation of concerns.
🔹Statelessness: Each request is treated independently; no client context is stored on the server between requests.
🔹Cacheability: Responses must define themselves as cacheable or non-cacheable to improve performance.
🔹Uniform Interface: A standardized way of interacting with resources simplifies and decouples the architecture.
🔹Layered System: The architecture can be composed of multiple layers, enhancing scalability and security.

HTTP Methods in RESTful APIs 🔍
RESTful APIs utilize standard HTTP methods to perform operations on resources:
GET: Retrieve data from the server (e.g., fetching user information). 📥
POST: Create a new resource (e.g., adding a new user).
PUT: Update an existing resource (e.g., modifying user details). 🔄
DELETE: Remove a resource (e.g., deleting a user).
PATCH: Apply partial modifications to a resource. ✏️

Practical Example 💡
To illustrate how we can use RESTful APIs in practice, let’s consider a simple user management system. Here’s how you might interact with the API:

1️⃣GET Request: To retrieve all users:
GET /api/users


2️⃣POST Request: To create a new user:
POST /api/users
Content-Type: application/json

{
"name": "John Doe",
"email": "john.doe@example.com"
}


3️⃣PUT Request: To update an existing user:
PUT /api/users/1
Content-Type: application/json

{
"name": "John Smith",
"email": "john.smith@example.com"
}


4️⃣DELETE Request: To delete a user:
DELETE /api/users/1


Let’s continue the conversation! What has been your experience with REST APIs? How have they impacted your projects? Share your insights below! 💬👇

#APIs #REST #SoftwareDevelopment #BusinessAnalysis #WebDevelopment #TechTrends
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📊 HTTP Status Codes: The Silent Communicators of the Web

Did you know? While there are over 60 defined HTTP status codes, studies show that just 10 of these codes account for over 99% of all HTTP responses on the web. The ubiquitous 200 OK status alone makes up around 90% of all responses! This highlights how a small set of status codes play a crucial role in web communication. Research 🔗

These three-digit numbers are the silent communicators between servers and clients, providing vital information about the success or failure of requests.

Key Categories of HTTP Status Codes:
1️⃣ 1xx (Informational): The request was received, continuing process
2️⃣ 2xx (Successful): The request was successfully received, understood, and accepted
3️⃣ 3xx (Redirection): Further action needs to be taken to complete the request
4️⃣ 4xx (Client Error): The request contains bad syntax or cannot be fulfilled
5️⃣ 5xx (Server Error): The server failed to fulfill a valid request

🔍 Common Status Codes You Should Know:
200 OK: The request has succeeded
🔀301 Moved Permanently: The requested resource has been assigned a new permanent URI
👉302 Found: The requested resource resides temporarily under a different URI3
400 Bad Request: The server couldn't understand the request due to invalid syntax
🔐401 Unauthorized: The request requires user authentication
⛔️403 Forbidden: The server understood the request but refuses to authorize it5
🤷‍♀️404 Not Found: The server has not found anything matching the Request-URI
🚧500 Internal Server Error: The server encountered an unexpected condition which prevented it from fulfilling the request

💡 Why are HTTP Status Codes Important?
- They help in debugging and troubleshooting web applications
- They improve user experience by providing clear feedback
- They are essential for SEO and web crawling efficiency

📌 Save This Cheat Sheet!
I've attached a comprehensive HTTP Status Codes cheat sheet image to this post. Save it for quick reference during your development and analysis tasks!

#WebDevelopment #HTTPStatusCodes #BusinessAnalysis #TechTips #WebCommunicatio
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👋 Hello BA Community!

For those of you who encounter language barriers when communicating with English-speaking customers, as well as if the people you communicate with have specific accents and you feel that you understand your opponent is not 100%, here are some helpful tips to ensure you catch all the information and don’t miss a word! 🗣

1️⃣ Use Teams for Meetings: If your meetings are conducted in Microsoft Teams, take advantage of the recording feature with subnoscripts. To enable this:
🔻Click on the three dots in the upper panel
🔻Select “Language and speech”
🔻Choose “Show automatic subnoscripts”

2️⃣ Zoom Subnoscripts: A similar option is available for calls in Zoom. Here’s how:
🔻To the right of the “CC” button, click the arrow
🔻Select “Show subnoscript”

3️⃣ Transcribe with Otter: A great alternative to subnoscripts is the Otter application https://otter.ai, which allows you to transcribe voice or video files into text. If you’re recording a meeting, follow these steps:
🔻Register on the platform
🔻Go to the Home tab
🔻Click on the “Import” button
🔻Select the file you want to transcribe
🔻Click on “Transcribe”

This way, you’ll have the entire speech presented as text, organized by each participant’s lines. Plus, with the search function, you can quickly find specific words or phrases!

⚠️ Note: The Otter app allows you to transcribe only three files for free. After that, there's a monthly subnoscription cost of $30.

If you use any other tools that help you overcome language barriers, please feel free to share them in the comments! 💬👇

#BusinessAnalysis #LanguageBarriers #Communication #Teamwork #RemoteWork #TechTools #BACommunity
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📊 Hello, BA Community!

Did you know that the demand for System Analysts is projected to grow by 11% from 2023 to 2033, significantly faster than the average for all occupations? This growth translates to approximately 37,300 new job openings each year! 🚀 With organizations increasingly relying on technology to drive business success, skilled System Analysts are more crucial than ever.

As we continue to grow and share knowledge within our community, we want to hear from you!

What type of posts would you like to see more often?
🔹 Business Analysis: Focuses on identifying business needs, analyzing processes, and proposing solutions that deliver value to stakeholders.
🔸 System Analysis: Concentrates on understanding and specifying the technical requirements of systems, ensuring they align with business objectives and user needs.

📍Conclusion: Understanding the Differences
Roles and Responsibilities:
🔹BAs gather requirements, analyze workflows, and document business goals.
🔸SAs translate those requirements into technical specifications and design system solutions for implementation.

Focus and Scope:
🔹BAs take a broader view of the organization, emphasizing process improvement and stakeholder engagement across different business areas.
🔸SAs dive deep into the technical side, ensuring that systems are designed effectively to meet business needs.

But let's be honest—most of the time, one person ends up doing both jobs anyway! 😄

💬 Share your thoughts in the poll below!

#BusinessAnalysis #SystemAnalysis #BACommunity #Poll #TechTrends #CareerDevelopment #BusinessIntelligence #Agile #StakeholderEngagement
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What type of posts would you like to see more often?
Anonymous Poll
55%
More about Business Analysis 📊
52%
More about System Analysis 🏦
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Demystifying APIs: A Guide for Business Analysts 💡

Did you know that APIs drive a massive amount of web traffic? 🤯 According to Akamai, 83% of web traffic is through APIs! That's how crucial they are to modern applications and data exchange!

🚀 An API (Application Programming Interface) is a set of rules and specifications that allow different software applications to communicate and exchange data with each other. Think of it as a digital handshake between systems. 🤝

What is a Web API? 🌐
APIs are commonly used to enable communication between computers over the internet. These are referred to as web APIs.

What is API Integration? 🔗
API integration involves connecting different software systems so they can exchange data and functionality. Instead of building everything from scratch, developers can integrate existing services and data sources into their applications. For example, instead of a business building direct capabilities into their website or app to enable customers to make payments, they integrate a payments API to provide that functionality.

Types of APIs (Based on Accessibility):
🔸Open APIs (Public APIs): 🌍 Freely available APIs that developers can use to access data and services from third-party providers. They have defined API endpoints and request/response formats.

🔸Internal APIs (Private APIs): 🏢 Used within an organization to connect internal systems and applications. These are not available for users outside of the company. Organizations use them to improve productivity and communication across different internal development teams.

🔸Partner APIs: 🤝 APIs shared with strategic business partners to enable collaboration and data exchange. Typically, developers access these APIs through a public API developer portal but need to complete an onboarding process and obtain login credentials.

🔸Composite APIs: ⚙️ Combine multiple data or service APIs, allowing programmers to access several endpoints in a single call. These are useful in microservices architecture where running a single task might require information from several sources.

What is an API Address and Why is it Important? 📍
An API address, or endpoint, is a specific URL where an API can be accessed by a client application. Think of it as the precise location where you send your request to get a particular service or piece of data.

API endpoints are critical because:
🔹Security: They can be vulnerable points of attack, requiring careful monitoring.
🔹Performance: High-traffic endpoints can cause bottlenecks, affecting system performance.
🔹Functionality: The API endpoints performs fuzzy searches and will return exact and/or close matches.

Key Steps to Create an API: 🛠
Define the API's Purpose: Determine what functionality your API will expose and what problem it will solve.
Design the API: Plan the API's endpoints, data structures, and authentication methods.
Implement the API: Write the code that handles requests and responses, ensuring it's efficient and secure.
Document the API: Create clear, concise documentation to help developers understand how to use the API.
Test the API: Thoroughly test the API to ensure it functions correctly and handles errors gracefully.
Deploy the API: Make the API accessible to developers through a gateway or platform.
Maintain the API: Continuously monitor and update the API to address bugs, improve performance, and add new features.

Stay Tuned! 📣
In future posts, we’ll dive deeper into how to document and design APIs effectively. Keep an eye out for more insights! 😉

#API #BusinessAnalysis #Integration #WebAPI #Tech #Innovation #SoftwareDevelopment #Microservices #CloudComputing #DataExchange #SoftwareArchitecture #DigitalTransformation #APIDesign #Programming #TechCommunity
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Continuing the API Conversation: Key Principles for Developers & Business Analysts! 💡

Building on our previous discussions about APIs, I wanted to share a fantastic resource I came across by @Brij Kishore Pandey.

Brij created an insightful infographic 📊 highlighting the key principles of API development and management, and it's a must-read for anyone working with APIs - whether you're a developer, data engineer, or, yes, even a Business Analyst!

Here are some key takeaways from Brij's infographic:
API Fundamentals: Understand different API types (public, private, composite) and their applications.
Architectures Explained: Learn when to use REST, GraphQL, and Webhooks.
Security Matters: Implement security measures like OAuth, JWT, and encryption.
Tools & Testing: Leverage tools like Swagger for documentation and Postman for debugging.
Frameworks That Matter: Choose the right framework (Flask, Spring Boot, FastAPI) to streamline development.
Design for Scalability: Follow best practices like versioning and RESTful standards.

As Business Analysts, understanding these principles helps us:
🔺Better define API requirements.
🔺Communicate effectively with development teams.
🔺Ensure that APIs align with business goals.
🔺Make informed decisions about API integrations.

What's your go-to tool or best practice for API development? Share in the comments! 👇

📱Follow our LinkedIn channel

#API #APIDevelopment #APIManagement #BusinessAnalysis #Tech #Infographic #REST #GraphQL #Security #Swagger #Postman
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Understanding Requirements: A Structured Approach with BABOK® and Karl Wiegers' "Software Requirements" 🧐

Hey Analysts! 👋 Let's dissect the crucial skill of understanding and classifying requirements using two key resources: the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK®) and Karl Wiegers' "Software Requirements."

First, let's review the requirement types as defined by BABOK®:
🔹 Business Requirements: High-level statements of goals, objectives, and needs of the organization.
Why do I want it?
🔹 Stakeholder Requirements: These requirements reflect the needs of discrete stakeholder groups and what they expect from a particular solution.
What are the needs?
🔹 Solution Requirements: These describe the capabilities and qualities of a solution that meets the stakeholder requirements.
What do I want?
📝 Functional Requirements: Define what the system must do.
Example: "The system must allow users to create various reports".
⏱️ Non-Functional Requirements: Describe how well the system performs its functions.
Example: The system should have a "response time improves by 70% in the next 6 months".
🔹 Transition Requirements: Describe the capabilities needed to transition from the current state to the desired future state.
What are the conditions?
Example: Data Migration Requirements or Training Requirements.

Now, let's look at requirement types emphasized by Karl Wiegers in "Software Requirements":
Levels of Requirements: Wiegers' three level of requirements are:
🔻Business requirements: describe why the organization is implementing the system—the business
benefits the organization hopes to achieve.
🔻User requirements: describe goals or tasks the users must be able to perform with the product that
will provide value to someone (User stories/Use cases).
🔻Functional requirements: specify the behaviors the product will exhibit under specific conditions.
+ every system has an assortment of nonfunctional requirements: what a system must exhibit or a
constraint that it must respect.

And also some terms commonly encountered in the requirements domain:
🔸Business rule: A policy, guideline, standard, or regulation that defines or constrains some aspect
of the business. Not a software requirement in itself, but the origin of several types of software requirements.
🔸Constraint: A restriction that is imposed on the choices available to the developer for the
design and construction of a product.
🔸 System Requirements: describe the requirements for a product that is composed of multiple components or subsystems (ISO/IEC/IEEE 2011).
🔸 External Interface Requirements: A denoscription of a connection between a software system and a user, another software system, or a hardware device.
🔸 Feature: One or more logically related system capabilities that provide value to a user and
are described by a set of functional requirements.
🔸Quality attribute: A kind of nonfunctional requirement that describes a service or performance
characteristic of a product.

BABOK® vs. Karl Wiegers: Key Differences? 🤔
BABOK® provides a more comprehensive and structured classification schema, encompassing a wider range of requirement types and emphasizing the role of the business analyst in managing requirements. Wiegers, on the other hand, focuses more on the practical aspects of eliciting, documenting, and validating requirements, with a strong emphasis on software-specific considerations.

📱Follow our LinkedIn channel

#BusinessAnalysis #SoftwareRequirements #RequirementsElicitation #KarlWiegers #SoftwareRequirementsBook #BABOKGuide #RequirementTypes #FunctionalRequirements #NonFunctionalRequirements #StakeholderAnalysis
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🌟 Join Us on LinkedIn: Analyst Hub 🌟

Dears, did you know that our #BACommunity extends beyond Telegram? 🤩 We have a thriving LinkedIn group called Analyst Hub where Business Analysts from around the world come together to share knowledge, experiences, and insider tips. 💡

👉 Join here

In Analyst Hub, you’ll find:
Engaging discussions on BA best practices
Insights from experienced professionals
Opportunities to network and grow your career
Exclusive inside information and resources

💬 Let’s start a conversation!
When you join, drop a comment in the group introducing yourself and sharing experience

Your experience could inspire others in the community! 🌍
Let’s build a stronger BA network together. See you in the group! 🚀

#BusinessAnalysis #LinkedInGroup #Networking #CareerGrowth #AnalystHub
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7 essential diagrams for BA: What's Your Go-To Visualization Tool?

Happy Valentine's Day to all our amazing Analysts! 💖 Did you know that people remember 65% of visual content compared to only 10% of text-based content? 🤯 Diagrams are a critical part of our toolkit. Let's explore some common diagram types:

BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) Diagrams: 📊 These diagrams visually represent business processes, showing the sequence of activities, decision points, and actors involved. They're great for process improvement and automation.
🔸Key Elements: Start event, activities, gateways, sequence flows, end event.
🔹When to Use: To model, analyze, and improve business processes; to document process workflows for automation or training.

Use Case Diagrams: 🙋 These diagrams illustrate the interactions between actors (users or external systems) and a system to achieve specific goals. They help define system scope and requirements.
🔸 Key Elements: Actors, use cases, relationships.
🔹When to Use: To capture user requirements; to define the boundaries of a system; to communicate high-level system functionality.

Sequence Diagrams: These diagrams show the interactions between objects in a system over time, highlighting the order in which messages are exchanged. They're useful for understanding complex system behavior.
🔸Key Elements: Objects, lifelines, messages.
🔹When to Use: To model the dynamic interactions between system components; to understand the flow of messages in a specific scenario; for real-time applications.

ER (Entity-Relationship) Diagrams: 🗄 These diagrams depict the relationships between entities (data objects) in a database. They're essential for database design and data modeling.
🔸Key Elements: Entities, attributes, relationships.
🔹When to Use: To design and document databases; to model data structures for applications; to understand relationships between data elements.

Data Flow Diagrams (DFD): ⚙️ DFDs provide a visual representation of how data moves through different processes in a system.
🔸Key Elements: Processes, data stores, data flows, external entities.
🔹When to Use: To analyze data flows and transformations within a system.

Flowcharts: 🗺 These diagrams use symbols to represent steps, decisions, and inputs/outputs in a process. They're simple and versatile for visualizing workflows.
🔸Key Elements: Start/end points, process steps, decision points, input/output, connectors.
🔹When to Use: To document simple processes; to visualize decision-making logic; for basic workflow representation.

Context Diagram: 🏢 Provides a visual view of how the organization fits within the outside world and is viewed at the highest level.
🔸Key Elements: The external entites an organization interacts with and the type of those interactions.
🔹When to use: Provides a high-level view.

What's your favorite type of diagram to use in your projects, and what tool do you use to create it? Share your examples and tips in the comments below! 👇

#BusinessAnalysis #Diagramming #Visualization #BPMN #UML #Flowcharts #BusinessProcess #DataModeling #SequenceDiagrams #UseCaseDiagram #DFD #ContextDiagram
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Structure of an HTTP Request 🌐💻

Hey, Community! 👋 Today, let's dive into an essential topic for all Business Analysts working with web applications: the structure of an HTTP request.

What is an HTTP Request? 🤔
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is the foundation of data communication on the web. An HTTP request is a message sent by a client (like a web browser or mobile app) to a server to request resources or perform actions.

Key Components of an HTTP Request 📦
An HTTP request consists of several key components:

Request Line:
This includes the HTTP method (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, etc.), the requested URL (Uniform Resource Locator), and the HTTP version.
Example: GET /api/v1/users HTTP/1.1

Query Parameters:
Query parameters are used to send additional information to the server. They are appended to the URL after a question mark (?) and are separated by ampersands (&).
Example: /api/v1/users?age=25&country=USA

In this example, age and country are query parameters that provide additional context for the request.

Headers:
Headers provide additional information about the request. They can include metadata such as content type, authorization tokens, user agent, and more.
Example:
text
Content-Type: application/json
Authorization: Bearer <token>


Body (Optional):
The body contains data sent to the server, typically used with POST or PUT requests. This can include JSON data, form data, or XML.
Example:
json
{
"name": "John Doe",
"email": "john@example.com"
}


Why is This Important for Business Analysts? 📊
Understanding the structure of an HTTP request helps BAs to:
🔹Gather Requirements Effectively: Knowing how data is sent and received allows BAs to ask better questions during requirements gathering sessions.
🔹Communicate with Technical Teams: A solid grasp of HTTP requests enables clearer communication with developers and engineers about project needs.
🔹Identify Potential Issues: Recognizing how requests are structured can help in troubleshooting issues related to data transmission.

Full Example of an HTTP Request 📄
Here’s a complete example of an HTTP GET request to retrieve user information from a server:
text
GET /api/v1/users?age=25&country=USA HTTP/1.1
Host: example.com
User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/58.0.3029.110 Safari/537.3
Accept: application/json
Accept-Language: en-US,en;q=0.9
Connection: keep-alive

In this example:
▪️The request method is GET, indicating that we want to retrieve information.
▪️The requested resource is /api/v1/users, and it includes query parameters age=25 and country=USA.
▪️The Host header specifies the domain of the server we're requesting data from.
▪️Additional headers provide context about what kind of response we expect.

What experiences do you have with HTTP requests? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments below! 👇

📱Follow our LinkedIn channel

#BusinessAnalysis #HTTP #WebDevelopment #APIs #RequirementsGathering #TechnicalCommunication #DataExchange #BACommunity
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Hello, friends! 👋

"Typical Manager" invites you to join our Telegram channel:

📚Videos, articles, and books on resource management 📚
🎬 Movies and series about the world of management
🎤 Useful meetups and conferences to boost your skills
🎧 Podcasts on team leadership and management
🔥 Real case studies: how to allocate resources effectively?
📋 Tips, life hacks, and checklists for top managers
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Stay ahead of the curve with fresh ideas and trends!

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☁️ Data integration: how to choose between Azure, AWS, and GCP?

On February 27, Phuzo Soko (BI/Data Engineer with over 20 years of experience) will compare leading cloud platforms: Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud Platform.

Phuzo will speak about key aspects for choosing a platform – compatibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness – as well as share knowledge from reputable resources like research by Gartner. We’ll look at examples from real-world projects to help you make the right choice for your tasks and needs.

🎟 Register here

Tech Talk details:
Time: 18:00 (CET)
🕒 Duration: 1 hour
🗣 Language: ENG
💻 Online: The link to the stream will be sent to your email specified in the registration form

Join our IT Community:
📱 BA/SA LinkedIn
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🌟 Key Project Phases🌟

Analysts, did you know that organizations with strong business analysis practices are 2.5 times more likely to deliver successful projects? [Source] Understanding the different phases of a project is essential for Business Analysts to navigate effectively and deliver value.

Here are 3 main phases: presale, discovery, and launch.

1. Presale Phase 📝
During the presale phase, the focus is on understanding client needs and preparing tailored solutions. This phase is crucial for converting leads into clients.

🔍Activities Include:
🔸Conducting customer research and gap analysis.
🔸Engaging with stakeholders to clarify requirements.
🔸Analyzing market trends and competitor offerings.
📄Artifacts Created:
🔹Vision and Scope Document (V&S): Captures project objectives, boundaries, and high-level requirements.
🔹Wireframes/Prototypes: Visual representations of proposed solutions.
🔹Feature List: Detailed list of features in scope and out of scope.
🔹Case Studies: Examples showcasing previous successes relevant to the client’s needs.

2. Discovery Phase 🔍
The discovery phase involves deep exploration of project requirements to define the project scope clearly.

🔍Activities Include:
🔸 Conducting workshops and interviews with stakeholders.
🔸 Gathering detailed functional and non-functional requirements.
🔸Identifying potential risks and constraints.
📄Artifacts Created:
🔹 Software Requirements Specification (SRS): Comprehensive document detailing all gathered requirements.
🔹 User Stories: Denoscriptions of features from the end-user perspective.
🔹 Process Flow Diagrams: Visual representations of current and proposed processes.

3. Launch Phase 🚀
In the launch phase, the focus shifts to implementing the solution and ensuring it meets all requirements.
🔍Activities Include:
🔸Coordinating with development teams during implementation.
🔸 Conducting User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to validate functionality.
🔸 Preparing for deployment and user training.
📄Artifacts Created:
🔹 Test Cases: Documents outlining how to validate that requirements are met during UAT.
🔹 Deployment Plan: A detailed plan for rolling out the solution to users.
🔹 Training Materials/User Manuals: Resources to help users understand how to use the new system.

What experiences do you have in these phases? Share your thoughts below! 💬

#BusinessAnalysis #ProjectManagement #BACommunity #Presale #Discovery #Launch #ProjectPhases #StakeholderEngagement #ContinuousImprovement #Agile #Success
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The Role of Business Analysts in Pre-Sales🚀

Before discussing the role of BA in pre-sales, first, let’s define what pre-sale is.
In simple words the pre-sale phase is the period before a customer officially buys a product or service. The client does not always know what exactly they want, and we do not always whether we can realize the client’s desire- therefore, it is necessary to try to understand the client’s request as much as possible and offer the most suitable solution for them 🤔

But what about a BA and their role during the pre-sale phase

In today’s world, winning a deal goes beyond just having a great product or service—it requires an understanding of customer needs, clear communication, and a well-structured approach to solution design. This is where Business Analysts can play a crucial role.

Traditionally, pre-sales activities have been conducted by sales teams and solution architects, with BAs stepping in later during requirements gathering and solution implementation. However, more and more organizations are recognizing the value of involving BAs earlier in the process.
Here’s why:
🔹Bridging the gap between sales and delivery
🔹Deep understanding of customer needs
🔹Making data-driven proposals
🔹Improving solution design
🔹Enhancing stakeholder communication

Key activities of a BA in pre-sales 💼
A Business Analyst’s role in pre-sales can vary depending on the domains and organizations, but some common activities include:
🔸Conducting stakeholder interviews and workshops to gather business needs.
🔸Identifying gaps between the client’s current state and desired state.
🔸Evaluating if the proposed solution is technically and operationally viable.
🔸Documenting high-level workflows to visualize the impact of the proposed solution.
🔸Assisting in creating business cases, RFP responses, and solution presentations.
Organizations that involve BAs into their pre-sales process experience higher success rates in closing deals, improved customer satisfaction, and smoother project transitions post-sale. Their ability to validate and refine solutions early reduces risks and enhances long-term client relationships.

Tips for BAs💡:
- Be proactive: Suggest ideas and solutions to clients; take initiative which involves identifying opportunities and taking action before being asked
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions: Asking questions is a sign of a desire to find out all details to gain clarity and avoid misunderstanding
- Be prepared: Be ready to show your expertise and remember to study materials that were provided for you.

Having a BA in the pre-sales phase leads to better requirement clarity, stronger proposals, reduced risks, and increased client confidence. Their analytical skills and structured approach significantly improve the chances of winning deals.

#BusinessAnalysis #PreSales #BAs #CustomerSuccess #StakeholderEngagement #DataDriven #SolutionDesign #WinningDeals #BusinessGrowth
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💡 How to switch from monolith to microservices

Switching to microservice architecture is not just a technical change but a complex process that involves the entire team. See you on March 6 in Minsk to discuss how to prepare documentation correctly, mind nuances, and avoid difficulties.

👨‍💻 Speaker: Diana Krylovich, Senior System/Business Analyst. Based on her experience, she will share insights and best practices, as well as answer your questions.

🎟 Register here
This meetup will be useful for system and business analysts, product owners, and product managers.

📅 When: March 6, 19:00 (Minsk)/17:00 (CET)
🕒 Duration: 1 hour
📍 Where: Andersen’s office in Minsk and online
🗣 Language: Russian

Join IT Community:
📱 BA/SA LinkedIn
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What's your stance on the certifications? 🤔
As business analysts we're constantly looking for ways to enhance our skills and advance our careers. Certifications like PSPO, PAL, SPS, CBAP etc. are highlighted as valuable investments for our development
Anonymous Poll
17%
Yes, I already have one or more of these certifications 🎉
57%
I plan to get certified soon 📚
24%
I don't see the point/value in these certifications 🤷‍♀️
13%
Other (please comment below 💬)
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🤔 Rushed Pre-sale and Skipped Discovery: A Recipe for Project Disaster

It’s easy to underestimate the early stages of a project. Pre-sale feels like a sales team concern, and discovery seems optional. Our young BA once thought the same—until a challenging project changed their perspective.

The Project that changed everything
💡 Task: Redesign the front-end of a complex product modified over the years by different teams using different technologies.
Timeline: 2 months.

Pre-Sale artefacts:
Comparative analysis of old vs. new designs
User Story Mapping
Work estimation— N epics
Assumptions
A defined tech stack
A selected team

Discovery phase skipped.

Everything seemed clear. But reality proved otherwise.

What went wrong?
🔸 Mismatched designs – pre-sale vs. final design differed, and the designs themselves contained errors and inconsistences. Later, the client’s designer admitted: “It’s just a concept.”
🔸 Incomplete data – some pages on the staging environment were empty, even though the product being 80% data-driven.
🔸 Tech stack mismatch – only 30% of the product was in the agreed programming language.
🔸 Misaligned expectations – N epics were estimated, but the client expected at least N+2, plus subpages.
🔸 Communication barriers – establishing smooth collaboration with the client took time, and the team often had to make decisions independently.

➡️ The Result: constant blockers, shifting scope, and team burnout.

But this project became one of the most valuable experiences of our BA’s career.

Here’re the 📜 8 lessons learned:
1️) Pre-sale is not just about the client—it’s about the team too. A well-prepared pre-sale reduces risks for everyone involved.
2️) Discovery is not a luxury. If the client lacks a clear project vision, the risks will fall on the team.
3️) Documentation is a lifesaver. Keep track of decisions, staging updates, date/ time/ cause/ suggestions to any blockers, when access was lost/ granted — it’ll let you close client’s complaints.
4) Most blockers can be worked around. In challenging situations, solutions matter:
✔️ The team documented general design rules and got them approved by the client—this became their single source of truth.
✔️ Where data was missing, mock-ups were created.
✔️ If a page wasn’t written in the agreed programming language, worked with what was available.
5) Be cautious with design requirements. Each request can expand the scope—choose words wisely.
6) The team is the most important success factor. Support and collaboration help navigate even the toughest projects.
7) Escalating issues is okay. Sometimes, it's the only way to move forward.
8) Ask for help. No one benefits if the BA becomes the project’s bottleneck.

No one builds a house without a blueprint. Projects work the same way—the clearer the foundation, the smoother the execution. The extra time spent on pre-sale and discovery is never wasted; it’s an investment in the project’s success.

Have you had a similar experience? What was your biggest takeaway?
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📚 Community, here are 6 Essential Books for Business Analysts!

Check out these must-read books that every Business Analyst should have on their radar!

1. BABOK® Guide - a comprehensive guide to the business analysis body of knowledge, offering best practices and techniques for anyone performing business analysis tasks.

2. Software Requirements by Karl Wiegers - a practical guide to requirements engineering that offers valuable insights for managing project requirements and expectations.

3. Business Analysis Techniques: 99 Essential Tools for Success - a collection of key tools for business analysts to accomplish their tasks effectively.

4. Business Analysis for Dummies - a great book for explaining the difficult subject of Business Analysis. Provides the methods, strategies, and pointers necessary to define your project's goals and steer it toward success.

5. Soft Skills - the Software Developer's Life Manual - a guide to help software developers and other IT professionals improve their soft skills.

6. Agile and Business Analysis - a book that explores the intersection of agile methodologies and business analysis practices, offering insights for BAs working in agile environments.

Dive into these resources to enhance your skills, adapt to evolving methodologies, and boost your career! 🏄‍♀️

#BusinessAnalysis #Skills #Books #ReadingList #ProfessionalDevelopment #BACommunity #Agile #SoftwareDevelopment
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