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Role of a Business Analyst in Agile Mode

What is an Agile Business Analyst ?

In an Agile environment , a Business Analsyt is a KEY developer. Now the first question that
comes to our mind is how is a Business Analyst a key developer? Agile is a software development
methodology that depends on establishing a direct link between developers and users. This Is
very unlike the traditional models where requirements have to be clearly defined in Specification
Documents before system development can begin. And Agile BA are expected to produce
requirements faster by analyzing through observation or trial-and-error instead of attempting to
find out all the facts before development begins.

Role of an Agile BA vs Waterfall BA

Waterfall BA Agile BA

Facts known before development begins Analysis on the basis of expertise and
observation
No collaboration between IT and Business Collaboration between Bas, IT and Business
Clients
Detailed requirements High level requirements
New requirements cannot be taken up Iterative and allows new/change of
after the planning / elicitation stage is requirements
completed
Focus on Sign Off from Clients on Focus on meeting business needs by
Documents capturing the correct requirements

Characteristics of an Agile Business Analyst

1. Communication :
Key. Absolute key to accomplish the desired tasks/goals.
Clear communication is half the battle won. To communicate your questions to the
Business clients by not confusing them with Jargons ; to interpret the business jargons
correctly ; to document skilfully and completely ; to capture key points ; to communicate the
correct interpretation to the Developers and to ensure their interpretation is as what the
original need was.
That completes the communication cycle.
2. Master Technology & Business domains:
The primary role of the BA is to facilitate communication and understanding between the
business and the project team. A BA may not be able to understand every line of code, but
the BA should know how the different components of the system interact and visualize what
the system would look like when completed.
3. Identify Risks:

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In Agile teams, requirements that are high-risk are addressed first, allowing the team to
mitigate any ensuing problems. Identifying risks early on will ensure that those risks can be
addressed to reduce rework.
4. Assume the role of a Stakeholder:
The best way to know what is needed is by stepping into the consumer’s shoes. It would
give you a perspective of what is expected and why. It gives extensive clarity on the needs
of the Business and leads to correct interpretation.
5. Strong relationships :
Gone are the times when the word Professional relationship entailed only Clients. In Agile ,
especially in the role of a BA you need to have a great rapport with every single person
involved who makes the project tick. It is the BA who is “go – to” person in the whole cycle
of a project. From the Business to the Technical Architect to the Developer to the Database
to the Tester to the End User. Every person directly or indirectly involved with the project.

Role of an Agile Business Analyst:

1. Requirement Elicitation with Business

2. Track/Document Requirements ( Solution Plans , Business Requirements , System
Requirements , Impacted Systems )
3. Set a Road Map from the start of development to delivery of the product with approx.
timelines
4. Prioritization of requirements as per dependencies
5. Active participation in Test Planning and Testing
6. Key contributor in providing solutions to Defects ( in terms of getting the requirement
from wrong to right )
7. Assume role of Product Owner and communicate needs to the Developers
8. Ensure the IT interacts with the Business for the right things and support them to get the
communication loop completed.
9. Play the role of a Scrum Master -> to facilitate the progress. Track and maintain the
tasks of team members , solve the issues affecting the team , sprint plannings ,
encouraging collaboration

Key Tools for an Agile Business Analyst :

1. EXCEL
Love it , loathe it.Excel is the most versatile and powerful tool that can come to your
rescue in ways you do not know. Excel’s pivot tables allow you to drill down to see more
detail, creating dynamic views of a data set satisfying both big picture and down-in-the-
weeds audiences. The canned charts and graphs leave much to be desired
aesthetically, but in the just-in-time world of Agile delivery, sometimes they’re all you
need.

2. RALLY
Rally's Agile project management solutions drive early and consistent delivery of
customer value by enabling cross-functional teams to efficiently plan and manage
software releases that propel the business.

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From uploading Business Documents to creating User Stories to Test planning to

tracking defects to Delivery Estimation to Client Approvals to generating Reports. Rally
is an extensive tool which provides a singular platform that promotes team collaboration.

3. MS Visio
The best way to illustrate your process or vision to the Business. Be it a home screen
and the colors that would be used or the way a functionality works behind the scenes.
Visio is a saver. And the best part about MS Visio is – it is not just a diagram. It is a
functional diagram. So as part of your planning phase you can demo simulations to the
Clients instead of showing them boring blocks with text inscribed.

Future of Agile Business Analysts :

Business Analysts may find that their typical roles and responsibilities change. While
there is undoubtedly still the same work to be done, it may take on different forms and
involve different people .
Business Analysts play an important role in any team, Agile or otherwise. As the world
continues to find ways to deliver value in shorter timeframes with less cost, Business
Analyst can continue to leverage their communication, business knowledge and
analytical skills to meet the needs of their organization.

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