Business Analyst Roles & Responsibilities in Software Development

BAs in software development teams

The importance of a business analyst (BA) in a software development team is hard to overstate. A business analyst helps to shape the project from its very inception by facilitating communication between the development team, and executives. Effective communication is what makes managed teams work; it allows customers to save resources on management while allowing teams to deliver software on time, within budget, and according to requirements.

However, the world of software outsourcing has only recently caught up with the practice of providing business analysis services. And while the majority of larger outsourcing companies include business analysts as part of their managed teams, some clients still have certain misconceptions about the role and importance of a business analyst.

IT business analyst VS a technical writer

The role of business analysts in an IT company, is sometimes intertwined with the role of technical writers. There are organizations where these two terms are used interchangeably, these positions have similar job descriptions, and technical writers and business analysts perform one another’s functions.

Business analyst skills

There are main components that distinguish the role of a business analyst from other roles on the project:

These essential components, when combined, produce a professional that’s able to successfully fulfill the role of a business analyst.

A business analyst’s role in the project

The business analyst role in software development is usually a key role for any given project. Due to the ever-changing nature of modern markets, there’s always a need to adapt and seize opportunities as soon as they arise. For this purpose, it’s important to establish effective communication between all team members and make sure team members are on the same page and moving toward the same goal. This is the main role that business analysts perform.

A business analyst’s responsibilities

A business analyst is one of the key team members for any project. Typically, their responsibilities within a research and development project in an IT company include:

Common tools for business analysts

Apart from this range of deliverables, a BA also should follow a number of standards and best practices. The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) issues the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK), which gathers the best techniques and practices the industry has to offer. Business analysts around the world, including our staff at Apriorit, follow these recommendations.

Why is it best to outsource business analysis?

There are several reasons to outsource business analysis, and companies of any size can benefit from it:

• Small and medium-sized companies often have limited budgets and limited capacity to hire and train their own staff. Outsourcing business analysis services is a great way to get experienced professionals on board and save money at the same time.
• Large companies can benefit from BA outsourcing as it simplifies management, provides stronger communication between the engineering team and stakeholders, and saves the time of valuable in-house specialists who can be assigned to other tasks.

By outsourcing business analysis, you’ll get a professional with the right set of skills and expertise, extensive experience from participating in many projects, and the ability to communicate directly with the development team and make sure your requirements are understood at each stage of the project. They will act as your representative in the development team, working on-site on a daily basis.

Final thoughts

While acquiring a business analyst might seem excessive to some decision-makers, it actually helps to reduce the time and money spent on a project. A BA can analyze your competitors and define growth opportunities. Read the full article about Business Analysis on our blog: Business Analyst Roles & Responsibilities in Software Development.