Starting a project as a BA?

Have you ever been confused about how to start the project as a BA in a new company or been assigned to a new project?

Let’s use a practical example and correlate how to put the Business Analysis Core Concept Model into the picture.

“Ben joined a company as a Senior BA in a client's location. They entrusted him to start the project from scratch to automate a process in the CRM system which has some inclusion of performance improvement. What should he do?”

However, Ben is a senior resource when he got hired. He is trying to put the project in 6 concept areas —

BACCM Model

Ben has thought to start the project with a basic understanding. He is trying to accumulate the information and put it in the right area of concept.

Let’s have a high-level thinking of what this concept area provides -

1. NEED — A problem or opportunity to be addressed. In other words, the problem or constraint.
2. SOLUTION- The way to address one or more contexts according to the need of stakeholders.
3. CHANGE — The act of transformation in response to a need.
4. CONTEXT- The circumstances that influence, are influenced by, and provide an understanding of the change.
5. VALUE- The worth, importance or usefulness of something to a stakeholder within a context.
6. STAKEHOLDER — A group or individual with a relationship to the change, the need, or the solution.

Now that the concept is clear, let’s put what Ben can synchronize his thought into these areas according to his assigned project-

1. NEED — Automating CRM process in the system
2. SOLUTION — Need a CRM system
3. CHANGE — From Current to CRM system
4. CONTEXT — Local customers in South Africa need multi-lingual support.
5. VALUE — Improved customer experience, Increased Revenue
6. STAKEHOLDER — Customer Service(Users), Marketing head(signing off authority) , Project Manager etc.

Ben is now clear on the concept and knows that he can start the project with the Business NEED, and Business CASE and start collecting the requirements.

“Is this enough?” Have you thought about how Ben came to these conclusions in the concept model? While planning or performing a task or technique, Ben has considered how each core concept is addressed by asking questions such as —

1. What are the kinds of changes we are doing?
2. What are the needs we are trying to satisfy?
3. What are the solutions we are creating or changing?
4. Who are the stakeholders involved?
5. What do the stakeholders consider to be of value?
6. What are the contexts that we and the solution are in?

Ben has been smart enough to curate the questions to come up with all the information to start the project as a BA.

Remember, If any of the core concepts experience a change, it should cause Ben to re-evaluate these core concepts and their relationships to value delivery.

About the Author:
Arabinda Das is a Business Analyst here at Version 1.