the business analyst profession

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

The Business Analyst Profession:An Update and an Outlook

Presented byStace Williams, CBAP®

Westminster, CO

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

Stace Williams, CBAPStace is…• A consultant with > 25 years of BA

experience• A former developer and technical lead• Co-founder of The Center for Requirements

Excellence, LLC• Author of dozens of courses and workshops

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

Copyright Notice

• IIBA®, the IIBA® logo, BABOK® and Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® are registered trademarks owned by International Institute of Business Analysis.

• CBAP® is a registered certification mark owned by International Institute of Business Analysis.

• Certified Business Analysis Professional, EEP and the EEP logo are trademarks owned by International Institute of Business Analysis.

• All other marks used herein are the property of their owners.

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

Today, We’ll Look At…• The current state of the BA profession:

– Trends in BA jobs– Current salary information– The IIBA® and the CBAP® designation

• The future of the BA profession:– The value of the business analyst– Hints about how the BA profession

seems to be evolving

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

A Business Analyst…• Performs business analysis activities• May have one of several job titles• Works as a liaison among stakeholders• Studies organizational structure, processes,

and operations• Defines and validates solutions that meet

business objectives

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

How Many People are BAs?Employment by Year

400,000

450,000

500,000

1999 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

Year

CSA

's

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

How Much Are BAs Paid?

Mean Annual Salary

$68,370$64,890

$72,230$78,830

$61,210$57,920$50,000

$60,000

$70,000

$80,000

$90,000

1999 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

How Much Are BAs Paid?

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

How Much Are BAs Paid?

• Survey of >2,000 professionals• Data analyzed by third-party

statistician• Includes demographic results, salary

analysis, and BA trends• Found growth in need for and value

of BAs • Results at:

http://www.aspetech.com/sdlc/offers/survey_offer_3.html

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

Business Analysis is Truly a ProfessionAn occupation that…• Requires systematic proficiency• Has a complex body of knowledge• Has defined standards and a

licensing procedure• Serves the public• Inspires public confidence through

adherence to a code of ethics

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

Standards and Licensing• International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®) is

the main body• Maintains the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge®

(BABOK®)• Awards the Certified Business Analysis Professional™

(CBAP®) designation

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

Business Analysis is Maturing• It meets the definition of a profession• The job trend has been upward, as has the

salary trend• It has a recognized professional designation• Organizations are beginning to see the value

of business analysis

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

So What’s the Outlook?• Organizations are increasingly recognizing

the value of the BA• The role of Business Analyst is changing• Business analysis is becoming more

structured• The profession is maturing in competencies,

industries, and functions

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

Organizations See the Value• Projects are increasingly complex• Companies’ technology needs span multiple

departments, functions, and systems• It’s vital to understand strategic problems and

opportunities• Good decision making demands good analysis

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

Changes in the BA Role

• Practiced within a framework and body of knowledge

• Ad hoc or newly defined

• A strategic contributor to business success

• Focused on problem and requirements definition

• Dependent on many more competencies

• Based on communicationand analysis skills

• Business architecture or business technology analysis

• Defined as business or systems analysis

Is becoming…Has been…

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

Increasing Structure of BA• No longer just tools and skills of individual

Business Analysts• Now there are…

– Methodologies– Frameworks– Knowledge management– Governance– etc.

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

Three Dimensions of Maturity• Competencies

– Increasing skills in a greater number of areas• Industries

– Moving from data-intensive industries toother types of enterprises

• Functions– Shifting from heavily IT to a much broader base

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

Now It’s Your Turn…

What questions or comments do you have?

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

Conclusion

• Have other questions or comments?• Want more information?

– info@www.tcfre.com– www.aspe-sdlc.com

© 2009, The Center for Requirements Excellence, LLC

Requirements for CBAP Certification• Five years (7,500 hours) of business analysis work in the prior

10 years of experience• Demonstrated experience and knowledge (at least 900 hours) in

4 of the 6 BABOK Knowledge Areas• 21 hours of BA professional development in the last 4 years• Minimum high school diploma or equivalent• Two professional references • Signed CBAP Code of Ethical Conduct & Professional

Standards