Attending a recent Business Analysis Community of Practice (BACoP) meeting, it was clear I was among a group of strategic thinkers dedicated to asking important questions, listening for answers, seeking to understand, and ready to use the knowledge they gather to inform business decisions. It was also apparent the BACoP recognizes the tenets of the IT strategic plan, ImpacT. This community is open and available to those outside the job classification of Business Analyst.
This group welcomes Project Managers, Program Managers, Communications Specialists and Strategists, and those in other positions. The Community of Practice explores what methods of communicating and solving problems are working, and what areas might need some modification to reflect modern trends and industry standards. Important conversations are taking place to help guide how decisions are made across the organization.
The Business Analyst role helps customers identify and resolve business issues. They are responsible for making processes better and informing the direction of business decisions.
The business analyst asks questions to find out what their customers want and how they can deliver on those needs.
The role of the business analyst is critical in the continuous improvement process. Through soliciting and gathering feedback from users and stakeholders, business analysts are constantly on the lookout for ways to address challenges and enhance service delivery.
They document workflows, identify improvement opportunities such as gaps in service or inefficient practices. These professionals are responsible for documenting processes and changes, and socialization efforts.
The next BACoP meeting will take place from 2-2:45 p.m. CT Tuesday, March 12. To learn more, contact Deb Graslaub or Regina Sykes through email or Teams.
Beth Behrhorst, Communications Strategist