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The Evolution of Business Analysts: How to Drive Successful IT Projects Through Non-Technical Expertise

When you hear "Business Analyst," what comes to mind? If you picture someone who just gathers requirements or who just makes JIRA tickets, you’re not alone. However, the reality is that the role of the Business Analyst (BA) is much more significant and impactful than many realize.


As an instructor at IT Bootcamp, as well as an Agile Coach, I often get the chance to emphasize the true value this role brings to the table.



What is a Business Analyst?


A Business Analyst is a crucial link between the business, users, and the development team. My students often ask: What does that really involve? Essentially, it's about understanding business needs, digging in and asking questions until its clear what and why something is needed, presenting that in a clear way (often in written and visual formats) to the technical teams, then digging in with those engineers to understand capabilities and possibilities (what is or is not possible). Its that act of understanding, simplifying, documenting, presenting, and translating back and forth over and over that ultimately drive things forward through to the finish line.


This includes scheduling meetings, following up with stakeholders, taking notes, creating and updating tickets, identifying project dependencies, drawing user flow diagrams with the business, creating data flow diagrams with the developers, and presenting out the feature or idea to both sides once its clear. It can even include following that request downstream through testing, release, and even customer support.


High angle view of notebook and pen on a wooden desk
Documentation is a key part of business analysis, both written and visual.

The Need for a Non-Technical Perspective


In today’s fast-paced IT industry, the need for a customer-focused viewpoint can easily be overlooked. At The IT Bootcamp - we are nurturing a new type of Business Analyst by training students from other careers to be Business Analysts in IT.


It's inspiring to see people from various backgrounds—such as nurses, bartenders, therapists, police officers, construction workers, and engineers—transition into IT roles. These individuals not only bring valuable experiences that can greatly enhance project outcomes, they ARE your customer at times. For instance, a former nurse's deep understanding of patient care is invaluable when developing software for healthcare providers. We have plenty of technical folks in IT, what we are missing is the ability to make software that customers actually want and actually use. Career change individuals do not bring an IT mindset to IT projects, therefore their insights can lead to identifying critical user needs that may be missed by someone solely focused on technical aspects.


Imagine the difference this could make in user satisfaction. Research shows that software developed with user input sees a 68% increase in adoption rates, significantly impacting overall project success, saving time, and money.



The Shift Towards Agile and User-Centric Development


Many software projects don't fail because they’re poorly built but rather because they simply aren’t used. This fact always fascinated me, while many believe the problem in IT or App Dev lies in something technical, in truth, it lies in the human element, connecting to our end-users wants and needs.


In Agile environments, the input of a Business Analyst from a different career who brings real-world insights can be crucial. We need to involve more customer perspectives in our teams instead of allowing engineers to work in isolation, in fact, most engineers want to know more about their customers, the why behind the need. The role of BAs has and needs to evolve to guarantee that technology solutions are grounded in real user needs.


Focusing on customer expectations should be a priority in any IT project. A BA should expertly ensure that the deliverables align with these users needs. Pushing back, asking questions, and not being afraid to mention the issues that no one else does.


Eye-level view of a stack of colorful sticky notes on a desk
Visual aids like sticky notes help in understanding user needs better.

Skills that Define Modern Business Analysts


The skills expected from a Business Analyst today go far beyond just gathering requirements. When teaching at IT Bootcamp, I stress the importance of developing a diverse skill set that makes IT more about People and Relationships such as:


  • Empathy: Understanding different user perspectives, and those of the business and technical teams.

  • Communication: Effectively linking technical and non-technical teams.


  • Problem-Solving: Analyzing challenges and exploring solutions with technical teams.


  • Analytical Thinking: Utilizing or seeking out data to inform decision-making processes, suggesting data tracking areas where there may be gaps.



Embracing the Future of Business Analysis


The role of the Business Analyst has transformed, evolving from a simple task-gatherer to a key player in bridging the gap between users and development, and it will only become more and more important.


As technology continues to advance, we need BAs who possess both technical know-how and a rich understanding of how to connect with others with empathy.


At IT Bootcamp, we are creating this new style of BA, and we believe they will foster revolutionary changes in our approach to IT projects.


For anyone considering a career change, stepping into the shoes of a Business Analyst means entering a field where your past experiences can be leveraged to make a meaningful impact.


Ultimately, successful IT projects are built on understanding, communication, and empathy. Most importantly, they require the right people in the right roles. The rise of the new Business Analyst represents a shift towards putting people first and ensuring that IT projects truly meet business, customers, and users needs.


If you are contemplating a career transition into IT, consider embracing the Business Analyst path—you might just find the ideal fit for your unique set of skills :)

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