Business Analysis

Business Analysis

Business Analysis Jonathan Poland

Business analysis is the practice of researching and developing strategies, plans, solutions, and studies to support the goals and objectives of a business. Business analysts are responsible for gathering information about the needs of the business and using that information to develop recommendations and solutions.

Business analysis involves several key steps, including defining the scope of the project or problem, conducting research to gather information, analyzing the information to identify trends and insights, and developing recommendations and solutions based on the analysis. Business analysts may use a variety of techniques and tools to support their work, such as interviews, surveys, market research, and financial analysis.

One key aspect of business analysis is the ability to identify and prioritize the needs of the business. This involves understanding the business’s goals and objectives, as well as the challenges and opportunities it faces. By identifying the key issues and priorities, business analysts can develop solutions that align with the business’s goals and address its most pressing needs.

Another important aspect of business analysis is the ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders. This involves presenting findings and recommendations in a clear and concise manner, and working with stakeholders to ensure that the solutions developed align with the business’s goals and objectives. By effectively communicating with stakeholders, business analysts can help ensure that their work is understood and implemented effectively.

Overall, business analysis is a crucial practice for supporting the decision-making process and driving business success. By conducting research and analysis, business analysts can provide valuable insights and recommendations that can help businesses to achieve their goals and stay ahead of the competition.

Strategic Planning
Developing strategies to achieve goals in the context of constraints and competition.

  • Budget Planning
  • Business Models
  • Competitive Intelligence
  • Critical Success Factors
  • Estimates
  • Market Research
  • Reference Class Forecasting
  • Scenario Planning
  • Strategic Drivers

Techniques
Core business analysis methods and approaches.

  • Black Box
  • Business Needs Analysis
  • Business Process Analysis
  • Business Rules
  • Capabilities
  • Capacity Planning
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Dredging
  • Data Mining
  • Decision Analysis
  • Fishbone Diagram
  • Ishikawa Diagrams
  • Key Performance Indicator
  • Mece
  • Metrics And Measures
  • Operations Analysis
  • Pain Points
  • Premortem
  • Problem Analysis
  • SWOT Analysis
  • Technology Analysis
  • Voice Of The Customer
  • Workflow Analysis

Requirements
Capturing requirements for programs, projects and initiatives.

  • Behavioral Requirements
  • Business Needs
  • Business Requirements
  • Business Requirements Document
  • Context Of Use
  • Customer Interviews
  • Functional Requirements
  • Needs Analysis
  • Non-Functional Requirements
  • Productive Assumptions
  • Requirements Elicitation
  • Requirements Gathering
  • Specifications
  • Story Points
  • Use Case
  • User Stories

Other Deliverables
Other common work products delivered by business analysts.

  • Audience Analysis
  • Brand Analysis
  • Business Architecture
  • Business Case
  • Business Plan
  • Business Process Mapping
  • Customer Journey Map
  • Feasibility Analysis
  • Gap Analysis
  • Project Charter
  • Proof Of Concept
  • Statement Of Work
  • Terms Of Reference

Management Accounting
Numerical methods for business analysis and management.

  • Baseline
  • Benchmarks
  • Best In Class
  • Bottleneck
  • Cost Benefit Analysis
  • Forecasting
  • Net Present Value
  • Quantification
  • Rate Of Return
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Time Value Of Money
  • Total Cost Of Ownership

Business Theory
A few key business concepts that are often relevant to business analysis.

  • Choice Architecture
  • Line Of Business
  • Organizing Principle
  • Strategic Dominance
  • Structure Follows Strategy
Learn More
Types of Win-Win Jonathan Poland

Types of Win-Win

Win-win, also known as mutually beneficial, refers to a situation or plan that has the potential to benefit all parties…

Bias for Action Jonathan Poland

Bias for Action

Bias for action is a mindset or approach that emphasizes the importance of taking action quickly, without extensive thought or…

Objection Handling Jonathan Poland

Objection Handling

Objection handling is the practice of addressing and overcoming concerns or hesitations that customers may have about making a purchase.…

Strategic Goals Jonathan Poland

Strategic Goals

Strategic goals are the specific outcomes that an organization or individual hopes to achieve through their strategy. The strategic planning…

Law of Demand Jonathan Poland

Law of Demand

The law of demand is a fundamental principle in economics that states that, all other factors being equal, the quantity…

Employee Costs Jonathan Poland

Employee Costs

Employee costs refer to all of the expenses that are incurred when hiring and employing an individual. These costs go…

Supply Chain 101 Jonathan Poland

Supply Chain 101

A supply chain is the network of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in the production, handling, and distribution…

Analytics Jonathan Poland

Analytics

Analytics is the practice of analyzing data in order to draw insights and inform business decisions. This can include analyzing…

Product Rationalization Jonathan Poland

Product Rationalization

Product rationalization is the process of reviewing and optimizing a company’s product portfolio in order to streamline operations and reduce…

Search →

There are two ways

to work with me…

for business

Key Bridge

“A platform for building better assets…”

for investing

Wall Street Pig

“Unfiltered commentary across the capital markets…”