Susan Moore and Scott Bennett are joined by guest speaker Mindy Bohannon, to delve into the challenges of difficult conversations. They share their own reactions and triggers when faced with such conversations and discuss how to approach them in a productive and empathetic manner. Mindy highlights the role of empathy in diffusing tension and getting everyone back on the same page. The hosts and guest emphasize the importance of acknowledging and managing emotions during these encounters.

Resources:

Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ or leave us a ⁠⁠⁠voice message⁠⁠⁠ on our podcast homepage. 

A Business Model Canvas is an analysis technique in the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge (BABOK Guide) and is a technique taught in business schools.  Susan and Scott talk with Connor Estabrooks, who is a recent MBA graduate, to discuss how the Business Model Canvas is used to analyze a business, or part of a business.

The discussion is framed around the nine parts of the Business Model Canvas:

- Customer Relationships

- Customer Segments

- Key Partnerships

- Key Activities

- Key Resources

- Value Proposition

- Channels

- Cost Structure

- Revenue Streams

RESOURCES:

Business Model Canvas (IIBA Members Only) https://www.iiba.org/knowledgehub/business-analysis-body-of-knowledge-babok-guide/10-techniques/10-8-business-model-canvas/

Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or leave us a ⁠⁠voice message⁠⁠ on our podcast homepage. 

Business Analysis Live is hosted by:

- Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA

- Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA

The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis.  As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.  

#businessanalysis #businessmodel #businessmodelcanvas

How you do you effectively manage the backlog?  Susan and Scott talk with Steve Adolph, one of the authors of The Rock Crusher, about were backlogs fail to deliver on their value.  They chat about where the Analyst role fits in this agile space to meet the needs of the team and organization.

In the book, it describes “Many organizations eliminated analyst roles in their rush to adopt agile as a development cost-reduction strategy.  In the minds of many, the product owner role made analysts redundant.  Unfortunately, many organizations that followed this path were soon harshly reminded of why the analyst role emerged in the first place.”  Steve shares his views on this an many more in this Business Analysis Live episode.

RESOURCES:

Book - https://www.iiba.org/career-resources/business-analysis-resources/iiba-bookstore/#purchase-rockcrusher

Brochure - https://www.iiba.org/globalassets/career-resources/business-analysis-resources/iiba-bookstore/files/rock-crusher-brochure.pdf

Infographic - https://www.iiba.org/contentassets/67f0d367b1ba4b0c9ba089f6667284b3/rock-crusher---backlog-infograph.pdf

Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or leave us a ⁠⁠voice message⁠⁠ on our podcast homepage. 

Business Analysis Live is hosted by:

- Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA

- Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA

The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis.  As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.  

#businessanalysis #backlog #agile #backlogmanagement

Susan and Scott talk to the organizers of the Festival of Business Analysis in Australia about the 3 E’s of business analysis.  They also talk with three of the speakers that will be at the festival in person and online to get a sense of what to expect from this conference.

1) Evolve – Sam Bowtell, who will be speaking about effective hybrid working techniques

2) Empathise – Phil Delalande, focusing on UX design

3) Emerge – Ruth Lewis, who is a qualified futurist, and will be speaking about ethical AI use and a certification program for AI auditors

Get more information on the Festival of Business Analysis, the agenda and incredible list of speakers here: https://festivalofbusinessanalysis.org/

RESOURCES:

Australia IIBA Chapter https://australia.iiba.org/

Sam Bowtell - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-bowtell-cst-b92a56/

Phil Delalande - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phildelalande/

Ruth Lewis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-lewis-4239385/

Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ or leave us a ⁠⁠voice message⁠⁠ on our podcast homepage. 

Business Analysis Live is hosted by:

- Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA

- Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA

The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis.  As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.  

In our recent livestream discussion, we talked with Laura Brandenburg from Bridging the Gap about transferable skills. This is for both the aspiring business analysis professional and the experienced professional looking to grow their team. We started the discussion about crafting resumes. To highlight transferrable skills, we should prioritize showcasing our achievements over merely listing responsibilities. By spotlighting our accomplishments, we can effectively shine a light on our soft skills and underlying competencies, presenting a more holistic view of our abilities.

Laura’s website https://www.bridging-the-gap.com/

Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or leave us a ⁠voice message⁠ on our podcast homepage. 

Business Analysis Live is hosted by: - Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA - Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA

The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis.  As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.  

#businessanalysis #transferableskills #softskills

Is facilitating change easy?  No!  Susan and Scott dig into the topic of change management with the authors of Brainy Glue, Ian Richards and Filip Hendrickx. They emphasize the importance of introducing and managing change effectively within organizations and highlight the role of Business Analysis professionals in facilitating this process.

For effective change management, it’s important to have a clear vision when initiating change.  This requires the participation of stakeholders to understand different perspectives and generate ideas for solutions.  Change doesn’t happen without impact and resistance.

The book “Brainy Glue: Making Change Stick”, is written different than others in that it is a story.  It has a plot that follows a business analyst through her challenges throughout her assignment and includes various characters that bring various perspectives to live.  There are over 30 techniques illustrated, so the book is not only entertaining and insightful, but it’s also very practical.

One of the areas that appealed to Scott is the concept of the "first follower" - a supporter who can rally others behind a new idea or initiative. Filip discusses the QR code in the book that links to a video featuring a lone dancer at a festival who is eventually joined by others, demonstrating the power of followership in driving change.

The book itself is a powerful example of a change management tool, storytelling.  It’s a technique that can be used tor convey the importance of change, making it relatable, and building rapport with stakeholders.

One question from the audience revolves around the evaluation of the need for Organizational Change Management (OCM) in a project. The hosts suggest that the scale of the impact, the number of people affected, and the readiness of individuals for change should be considered when determining the level of OCM required. They also emphasize that even smaller projects can benefit from some level of change management.

Another audience question addresses the challenge of getting people to express their true opinions during change initiatives. The hosts recommend focusing not only on what people say but also on their actions. Encouraging individuals to actively participate in small parts of the change process can reveal their true sentiments and level of commitment.

A final question relates to customizing change initiatives to an organization's culture. The hosts express the desire for change management to become an integral part of an organization's culture. They advocate for smaller, more frequent changes, as they are often easier to adapt to and provide opportunities for individuals to contribute to improvements.

Effective change management is a critical component of any successful organization. It involves clear communication, engaging stakeholders, identifying and addressing resistance, and making change relatable through storytelling. Business Analysis professionals are seen as essential players in this process, helping organizations navigate the complex landscape of change and ensuring that it aligns with their goals and culture.

RESOURCES:

Learn more about the book and where to buy it https://brainyglue.com/

Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or leave us a ⁠voice message⁠ on our podcast homepage. 

Business Analysis Live is hosted by: - Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA - Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA

The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis.  As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.  

​This is a discussion about building confidence, imposter syndrome, and self-doubt. Susan and Scott talk with Paula Bell about the multifaceted nature of confidence, highlighting its impact on personal and professional success. Confidence isn't just a surface-level trait but is deeply connected to one's self-awareness and understanding of their value.Imposter syndrome is a common phenomenon where individuals doubt their abilities and fear being exposed as a fraud. Paula shares her thoughts on how individuals tend to compare themselves to others' achievements and metrics. She stresses the importance of embracing one's uniqueness and focusing on personal growth and value rather than external validation. Confidence is a critical trait essential for career advancement. It affects people differently depending on their background – their upbringing, environment, and culture. But how do you stop worrying about what other people think about you? Susan, Scott, and Paula chat about channeling energy into self-awareness and introspection, suggesting that understanding one's own value is key. We all need time for self reflection and personal growth. 

RESOURCES: Support Paula on her YouTuber journey and subscribe to her channel  @BAMartialArtist  where she shares rich information about business analysis 

Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at ⁠[email protected]⁠ or leave us a ⁠voice message⁠ on our podcast homepage.

Learn more at ⁠https://www.iiba.org/⁠ 

 #businessanalysis #confidence #career

We discuss effective problem solving with Khethelo Malinga, who presented at the Building Business Capabilities (BBC) conference on the topic. We talk though challenges of why problem solving can be difficult and how to overcome them in organizations. We also take live questions from viewers on LinkedIn live.

Susan and Scott talk with Laura Paton about strategy analysis. They discuss the role of business analysis professionals in strategy analysis and the skills required for this work. They highlight the need for experience and the ability to work with executives, facilitate meetings efficiently, use various techniques for eliciting and analyzing information, and effective communication. They also mention specific techniques like the Business Model Canvas and SWOT analysis used in strategy analysis.

Are you curious why Strategy Analysis is Chapter 6 and not before the other knowledge areas in the BABOK Guide? Tune in to find out!

- Find more of Laura's LinkedIn Learning courses - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructors/laura-paton

Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at [email protected] or leave us a voice message on our podcast homepage.