| The term business analysis refers to the discipline of | | | | technique: |
| identifying needs within a business, and determining the | | | | Customers (who benefits from the highest level |
| appropriate solution. | | | | business process and how does the issue affect |
| These solutions may include changes in the | | | | them?) |
| organization itself, strategic development or | | | | Actors (who is involved in the situation? Who is |
| development of new policies. The person who takes | | | | implementing solutions? What will impact their |
| on the responsibility of business analysis is called a | | | | success?) |
| business analyst. | | | | Transformation Process (what processes or systems |
| When the time inevitably comes for some sort of | | | | are affected by the issue?) |
| change, the business analyst has several techniques at | | | | World View (what is the big picture and what are the |
| his disposal. Precisely which techniques are used will | | | | wider impacts of the issue?) |
| depend on the nature of the problem, and the scope | | | | Owner (who owns the process or situation being |
| of the solution. Here are five that are used | | | | investigated and what is their role in the solution?) |
| successfully by business analysts to help solve an | | | | Environmental Constraints (what are the limitations that |
| array of different problems. | | | | will impact the solution and its success?) |
| MOST | | | | SWOT |
| The MOST technique is an internal analysis. It contains | | | | A SWOT analysis is used to give a more complete |
| four attributes that are defined by the business analyst | | | | overview of both internal and external factors |
| to ensure the project you are working on is aligned | | | | affecting a business. There are four attributes to |
| and on track. These attributes are as follows: | | | | SWOT: |
| Mission (where the business intends to go) | | | | Strengths (examine advantages and what is done well |
| Objectives (the key goals that will help achieve | | | | within the company) |
| mission) | | | | Weaknesses (examine the disadvantages and areas |
| Strategies (the different options for moving forward) | | | | that need improvement) |
| Tactics (how the different strategies are put into | | | | Opportunities (examine opportunities for improvement |
| action) | | | | in all areas, including market share) |
| PESTLE | | | | Threats (examine the obstacles the business faces in |
| The PESTLE technique is an external analysis | | | | accomplishing their goals) |
| designed to examine the many different external | | | | FIVE WHY'S |
| elements affecting a business and its operations. It | | | | The Five Why's technique is used to help get to the |
| includes six attributes: | | | | root of any given problem within the business. It is a |
| Political (Current and future political influences) | | | | question asking method to examine the cause and |
| Economic (The local, national and world economy | | | | effect of a particular situation. |
| impact) | | | | You will start with a problem, such as "my car won't |
| Sociological (Different ways society can affect an | | | | start," then ask a succession of why questions until the |
| organization) | | | | root of the problem is uncovered and a solution is |
| Technological (The effect of new and emerging | | | | evident. |
| technology) | | | | Business Analysis can be a complex and intricate |
| Legal (The effect of national and world legislation) | | | | process. Within this broad spectrum lie several |
| Environmental (Local, national and world environmental | | | | sub-disciplines, roles and even more techniques. |
| issues) | | | | All businesses encounter situations and problems that |
| CATWOE | | | | need attention to help keep them moving forward. |
| CATWOE is a technique used to encourage critical | | | | With a skilled business analyst employing the right |
| thinking about what the business is trying to achieve. | | | | techniques, a solution won't be far behind. |
| There are six different elements included in this | | | | |