This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
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
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
❤4🔥2👏2
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
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
❤6🔥2👍1👏1
🌟 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
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
❤4🤩2
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
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
👍6🔥2👏1
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:
✅ 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:
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:
✅ 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:
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:
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
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=USAIn 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
❤5👍2🔥1👏1
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
🧠 Insights into team management psychology
🤣 Memes, jokes, and real-life corporate stories
Stay ahead of the curve with fresh ideas and trends!
Follow us on:
🔥 Telegram 🔥
"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
🧠 Insights into team management psychology
🤣 Memes, jokes, and real-life corporate stories
Stay ahead of the curve with fresh ideas and trends!
Follow us on:
🔥 Telegram 🔥
🔥2👏2
☁️ 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
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
🔥1👏1
🌟 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
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
🔥5❤2
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
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
❤4🔥3👏1
💡 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
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
🔥11👏2
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
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 💬 )
🤔2
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?
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
🔥6👏3
📚 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
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
❤7🔥7
This shift towards microservices is driving the adoption of innovative design principles like "smart endpoints and dumb pipes," which are revolutionizing how we build and integrate software systems. [report]
💻 What are Smart Endpoints and Dumb Pipes?
In the context of microservices architecture, "smart endpoints and dumb pipes" is a design principle that emphasizes decentralizing logic and complexity to the endpoints, while keeping the communication mechanisms (pipes) simple and lightweight. This approach contrasts with traditional Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) systems, which often embed significant logic and processing within the communication infrastructure itself.
▪️Smart Endpoints:
Each microservice acts as a smart endpoint, encapsulating its own business logic and rules.
💡 Services are designed to be independent and self-contained, allowing for parallel development and deployment without affecting other services.
▪️Dumb Pipes:
Pipes are used merely for message passing between services, without any additional logic or processing.
💡Dumb pipes ensure that communication remains efficient and reliable, even in complex distributed systems.
#SmartEndpoints #DumbPipes #MicroservicesArchitecture #BusinessAnalysis #SoftwareDevelopment #TechTrends #BACommunity
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
🔥4❤2
Hey, everyone!
We all use BPMN to describe business processes to our clients, team members, and other colleagues. But what if you need to create BPMN diagrams on platforms like Camunda, which uses diagrams as instructions for automated execution of processes? In this article we will give you a few useful tips for the start.
1. Camunda has a free trial of the Web Modeler.
Camunda has developed its own solution for BPMN modeling, which is called Camunda Modeler. You can download it for free and use it offline without any problem.
However, to test your BPMN diagram, you will need a set-up environment with a few services connected. But if you want to have a taste of what it looks like, you can sign up for a 30-day free version of the Web Modeler. It has a special “Play” mode, where you can try to run your diagram, see if the process stops somewhere, or if the diagram brings you results as expected.
2. BPMN has an extension with DMN.
DMN stands for “Decision Model and Notation”. It is an extension of the BPMN that allows you to avoid using gates with multiple conditions and combine a few parameters into one task.
This task gives you a table of inputs and outputs, where you can add multiple conditions and results. Also, you can control the decision-making process by choosing a Hit policy.
You can try to work with it using the online DMN simulator. To learn more, you can easily find courses on educational platforms like Udemy.
3. Camunda uses its own programming language - FEEL.
This is one more thing that you will never touch until you start to create BPMN diagrams for automation. When you needed to do some comparisons, calculations, or specify conditions for the process execution, you would discover that Camunda uses FEEL to describe it. FEEL stands for “Friendly Enough Expression Language” (yes, it is a funny name 😊) and it is heavily documented, so you can learn how to use it from the official Camunda documentation or Camunda Community Forums.
4. You can use AI to improve your diagrams.
Even with extended documentation and community support, you still can be stuck in your modeling process. To figure this out, you can use AI! Most popular services, such as ChatGPT or Copilot, are able to check and correct FEEL expressions or even diagrams that you can paste in the chat in the form of XML. So, feel free to use it!
We hope these recommendations will improve your acquaintance with Camunda.
Good luck in your BPMN creation journey!
#BPMN
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Please open Telegram to view this post
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
🔥9👏2❤1