Benjamin Horsman
Chief Blogger
My name is Benjamin Horsman. I have practiced Business Analysis for over 13 years. I have worked in both Waterfall and Agile based delivery environments. The bulk of my experience has been dedicated to custom web application development, working closely with IT delivery staff.
However, I have also been involved in many projects related to strict process analysis and improvement. In addition to analysis work, I have managed my fair share of projects and have typically been involved in all phases of the SDLC. As we all know, BA's tend to wear many hats.
I am a former CBAP, but I currently hold multiple certifications in project management, including my PMP and CSM certifications. In terms of philosophy, my approach to Business Analysis is very practical. My experience has been that success is much more dependent on the skill, dedication, and quality of project teams, than it is on methodologies or delivery frameworks. People matter more than tools, techniques, or templates. Overall, everyone that I know that has been successful in this discipline are very practical individuals. Do what works to get the job done is the mantra of very successful people in this field.
A Profession in Transition
The Shift
Over the past 5 to 10 years, there has been a growing shift in the way projects are executed, primarily in the software application development arena. For many years, projects were run using a Waterfall methodology. Requirements were gathered up front, many times, using a traditional Business Requirements Document. These documents were often structured in a very logical, top down approach, from the highest level Business Requirement to lower level Solution/Technical Requirements. While many organizations still use this approach, a growing number have turned to Agile-based approaches, primarily SCRUM.
SCRUM on the other hand, does away with a "Big Upfront Design", in favor of an incremental approach to requirements gathering and product delivery. This transition, while extremely positive in terms of results, has caused some confusion within the Business Analyst profession. Some have even claimed the Business Analyst profession is going away - in fact, the opposite is true. Today more than ever, organizations need strong Business Analysts to be apart of and contribute to their SCRUM Teams. For a Business Analyst to survive this transition, education is required. That's where we come in, we hope to be with you every step of the way to ensure your transition is successful and you take your skills to the max.
Our Mission
We help Business Analysts with all levels of experience, technical expertise, and domain knowledge to become better at identifying business problems or opportunities, and to implement solutions that work. The educational materials and resources we provide are designed to be practical, knowledge which is immediately actionable on your project. Our mission is to make you, and all of your projects, a success.