A business analyst helps you determine your project's scope and set a roadmap so that you can deliver a solution with the most value in the least amount of time. Having a business analyst on board your software development process is an excellent way to optimise your workflow to ensure your team is working as effectively as possible.
Before you start plotting your project deadlines, it's best to know where you're going. Business analysts start their work at the beginning of the project and work with stakeholders to define project goals, objectives, and priorities. They determine project requirements and features, ensuring they are scalable and the most pertinent for the job.
If you’re looking to develop software in a way that’s quality-oriented, yet efficient, a business analyst could be just what you need. Here’s how they can solve your key problems:
A business analyst works with your key stakeholders to understand the vision and purpose of your software while keeping your team on track by eliminating non-value-adding actions. They will discover the questions and problems that the software needs to answer through various methods, such as conducting interviews and facilitating workshops.
Once they have gathered all the relevant information, they will document the data on the current processes and concerns to and from the software development team. This will help your staff brainstorm suggestions to make effective revisions on their working draft.
Without a business analyst to assist your team, it’s easy to miss out on cost-saving opportunities by failing to center efforts on the key features of the software that stakeholders look for. Their assistance prevents your team from wasting time on the wrong software, saving valuable resources in the process.
Miscommunication is a common issue with any project. However, this barrier is even more present when software developers need to communicate with stakeholders and vice versa. Developers are no replacement for analysts, seeing as their primary role centers on coding. Spreading them too thin could, again, inhibit an effective workflow. When business analysts step in and coordinate, software developers can focus on what they do best: transforming an idea into an actual working program.
A business analyst will work as a middleman to coordinate between the two groups to translate their updates and requirements to each other. As an interpreter, a business analyst can ensure that both parties' goals remain aligned and consistent with the project's vision.
All projects require investment capital for development and delivery—a principle that applies to any facet of your business or organisation. A business analyst's data collection at the beginning and at the end of the project timeline will help you have an accurate figure of all your expenses.
Any project is at risk of going over budget if you can't keep tabs on the costing of various expenses. A business analyst can convey this information at the start of every stakeholder meeting. This ensures that necessary logistical and financial considerations will apply to the final product.
It's best to avoid having tunnel vision during software development. Although finishing a complete product is your main objective, you should be mindful of the other facets of its production. A capable business analyst is a vital addition to your team that will help facilitate the development's different steps, from conception to finalisation.
Fabric is an Australia-based software company that provides innovative solutions through custom software and quality consultancy services. With our diverse team of professionals, we ensure that your projects will fit your business's needs. Contact us today, and our engineering experts will solve any of your software-related concerns!
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