What AI tools do you use as a BA? Business change consultant Mick Brian is an early adopter and expert on the subject. In this thought-provoking BA Brew, he discusses the challenges and rewards of introducing an LLM (Large Language Model) into a large organisation.

Topics covered include: why the input of BAs is essential when introducing AI tools; the intangible benefits of LLMs; why you need to prompt AI to your level of expertise; the government’s ‘AI Playbook’ and more.

As promised in the BA Brew, Mick Brian has shared these useful links for BAs with an interest in using AI tools.

AI Playbook for the UK Government

The Leader in Agentic Process Automation System | Automation Anywhere

Lucidchart | Diagramming Powered By Intelligence

Process Intelligence and Process Mining | Celonis

Rory Sutherland Podcast

Mick also recommended the book ‘Alchemy’ by Rory Sutherland.

If you liked this BA Brew, you may also enjoy the following articles and blogs:

AI Alchemy: Turning Change into Gold - based on the presentation by Mick Brian and Will Izzard at the Business Change and Transformation Conference Europe 2024.

BOOK REVIEW: Hello World by Hannah Fry

AI and the Business Analysis Role

The following BA Brews may be of interest:

BA Brew 63: The AI BA Brew (Hosted by Chat GPT)

BA Brew 75: Business Analysis and AI (Feat. John Wisner)

BA Brew 81: The Benefits, Risks and Opportunities of AI in Business Analysis (Feat. Donald Farmer)

Have you ever wrestled with a box of tangled cables and leads… or tried to get the knot out of the chain of a necklace? Some business change problems can be as challenging. Change expert and BA leader Karen Newnham joins the crew to discuss engaging with stakeholders to tackle complex, persistent problems (otherwise known as ‘Mischief Management’.)

Karen Newnham was also the special guest on BA Brew 25: The Solution Standoff.

If you liked this BA Brew, you may also enjoy the following articles and blogs:

The Problem Solving Duck

Stakeholder Engagement: Beware of ‘Nodding Along’ Syndrome

You’re Speaking, But Are You Being Understood?

Process Woes

The following BA Brews may be of interest: BA Brew 26 on Stakeholders and BA Brew 76 on The Human Element.

#businessanalyst #stakeholdermanagement #businessanalysis #solutions #changemanagement #stakeholders #businessproblems

What’s all the fuss about cybersecurity? And why do business analysts need to understand it? Cybersecurity and business analysis expert Bindu Channaveerappa is the special guest on this week’s BA Brew, where she argues that an understanding of cybersecurity is now integral to the work of the BA.

“When we create the value, why leave the security to someone else?”

Bindu Channaveerappa is a highly respected author, trainer and international speaker on business analysis and cyber security. Her book, ‘Cyber Security and Business Analysis: An essential guide to secure and robust systems’ is available from BCS Publishing.

AssistKD runs a 1-Day Cybersecurity and Business Analysis workshop for Business Analysts and Business Change professionals.

In this article Embracing a Security Mindset: The Next Frontier of Business Analysis cybersecurity expert Mark Cross urges BAs to focus on security against cyber threats.

You may also enjoy this AI focused BA Brew, hosted by ChatGPT.

#cybersecurity #cyberthreats #businessanalysis #businesschange #digitalsolutions

This BA Brew focuses on the newly published ‘Business Architecture: a comprehensive guide.’

Authors Jonathan Hunsley and Debra Paul and contributing author Victoria Banner discuss the ‘why’ of the book; the joy of collaborating and sharing ideas; and some of their favourite content including:

- leveraging capability to meet goals and outcomes using the CALM model

- comparing the business architecture service framework to the business analysis service framework and other service frameworks for role clarity

- information concepts including data protection and security

- case studies showing the positive impact of business architecture

‘Business Architecture: a comprehensive guide’ is available from BCS publishing and other retailers.

You may be interested in the following articles, BA Brews and bitesize learning on the topic of Business Architecture.

This article compares the Business Analysis and Business Architecture roles, in particular their respective Service Frameworks.

Find out more about AssistKD’s Architecture courses.

 This BA Brew on Business Architecture features Wouter Nieuwenburg.

This BA Brew on Strategy and Business Architecture features Vicky Rothwell.

Business Architecture: a comprehensive guide is available from the BCS book shop, and also on Amazon.

Scroll through our bitesize learning videos and you will find ‘What is Business Architecture’ and ‘What is Enterprise Architecture’.

#businessarchitecture #businessanalysis #businessarchitectureguide #businessbooks #businessstrategy #businessarchitecturetraining #whatisbusinessarchitecture

Difficult stakeholders or colleagues? Help is at hand! How we (and others) react in response to challenging situations at work – especially where there is resistance to change – is explained by the Transactional Analysis model.

This week’s special guest, and an expert on #transactionalanalysis, is Leadership Development Consultant and MD Mandy Green.

Watch the Brew to find out more about the ego states of (Critical) Parent, Adult and (Fractious) Child and how insight into those states can help us break free of the ‘Drama Triangle.’

You may be interested in the following BA Brews,

BA Brew 20: Resilience (feat. Corrine Thomas)

BA Brew 30: Confidence (feat. Philippa Thomas)

BA Brew 36: If You Don't Do Politics, Politics Will Do You (feat. Niven Postma)

BA Brew 45: Developing Positive Habits and Behaviours

BA Brew 49: Mental Health (feat. Petra Velzeboer)

BA Brew 52: Books that Changed the Way We Work

BA Brew 54: Neurodiversity (feat. Simon Platt)

BA Brew 69: Self Assessment and Development Tools (feat. Corrine Thomas)

BA Brew 71: Neurodiversity: The BA Survival Guide (feat. Nicola Pinkney & Paul Haywood)

BA Brew 86: Psychological Safety (feat. Emma Lee)

BA Brew 89: Character Crafting (feat. Helen Holder)

In AssistKD’s latest Business Analysis podcast the team discuss why every touchpoint of the customer journey matters... and how a deeper understanding of the customer experience can only benefit organisations and the wider economy.

Kerry, Mike and Jonathan get some serious mileage out of a restaurant analogy and Mike gets extra brownie points for mentioning POPIT™️within the first two minutes of the podcast.

Topics covered include: what is the customer experience; the difference between CX and UX (User Experience) and which elements of POPIT™️relate to each; plus useful techniques such as empathy maps, customer journey mapping and Jonathan’s favourite – the Zone of Tolerance.

AssistKD's CX Analysis course takes and in-depth look at the customer experience, and how an organisation can transform its existing processes to create engaged, responsive and connected customer experiences. It’s ideal if you want to deepen your understanding of CX, and the module counts towards the new A4Q Service Designer qualification. CX Analysis is now also available as an eLearning course.

You may be interested in this article by Debra Paul. The Rise of the CX Professional. 

You can find out more about AssistKD’s Service Design courses here:

https://www.assistkd.com/courses/service-design-courses

Enjoy bitesize learning? Watch our short learning videos  here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEvIolukjraxfTJfMou8axtos6ec_0z2s

#CX #CXanalysis #voiceofthecustomer #surveys #interviews #storytelling #focusgroups #observation #ethnographicstudies #empathymaps #customerjourneymaps #customerjourney #servicedesign #servicedesigner  #customerexperience #businessanalysispodcast

Are you a Business Analyst considering your next career move? Our latest BA Brew considers an academic route for BAs and how a Master of Business Administration (MBA) postgraduate degree could revitalise your career.

AssistKD’s Debbie Paul and Lisa Hudson are joined by IIBA UK Director and Transformation Consultant at Burendo Christina Tan to talk about their respective MBA journeys.

They discuss the rationale for studying towards an MBA, the different business subjects typically covered, learning methods, time management, challenges, valuable takeaways and networking opportunities.

If you enjoy this BA Brew, the following podcast may also be of interest: BA Brew 17 - The Love of Learning (Feat. Sam Merrick)

#businessanalysis #businessanalyst #mba #mbalife #masterofbusinessadministration

In AssistKD’s 2024 BA Brew Christmas message the Crew discuss what they are most looking forward to about Christmas and share some very cheesy jokes. Lisa and Kerry are excited about Christmas Day; Mike (or is it Santa?) is going to parkrun, Pete does not need any more socks, and Jo is looking forward to playing Cards Against Humanity with her 90-year-old Grandad! #merrychristmas #BABrew #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #servicedesign #businesschange

Do we need a rebrand of the business analyst role? Experts in the field Debra Paul, Jamie Toyne and Michelle Shakesheff put their heads together to discuss the current BA market, and the ongoing implications for BAs.

Topic discussed include: the current demand for BAs; recruitment challenges; the need for a broad BA skillset; rebranding the BA role; changing the narrative; role clarity; the need for BAs to keep learning; and more!

If you enjoyed this BA Brew, you may find the following resources of interest.

ARTICLES

Filling the Business Analysis Skills Gap

BA Recruitment and Retention: A Multi-Faceted Approach

BA BREWS

Bravery in Business Analysis

BA Skills and How to Develop Them

#businessanalysis #userstories #requirements #BA #BArecruitment #businessanalyst #theBAmarket

The Double Diamond approach is a popular (and fun) design thinking technique designed to help you generate ideas; problem solve; challenge and even reverse assumptions. Our latest BA Brew with Jonathan Hunsley, Lisa Hudson and special guest Liza Laya introduces the framework – discussing its uses, benefits and some real-world applications.

Liza Laya is Head of Technology and Digital Reform at a state government agency in Melbourne, Australia. She has almost 25 years of local and international experience and currently oversees teams responsible for delivering technology and data reforms. 

FURTHER RESOURCES 

This podcast includes mention of the Service Design Consultancy Framework, covered in this article by Jonathan Hunsley: Winging It Doesn’t Work: We Need Professional Service Design | Assist Knowledge Development (assistkd.com) [PLEASE MAKE THIS AN INTERNAL LINK]

Find more useful videos on Service Design in AssistKD’s Service Design playlist. Service Design Playlist Introduction (youtube.com)

Visit AssistKD’s Learning Zone for more Service Design learning resources. You can search by topic in our articles and BA Manager Forum sections. Learning Zone | Information and Articles | Assist Knowledge Development (assistkd.com)

#businesschange #doublediamondframework #servicedesign #service designer #doublediamond #designthinking #cx #customerexperience