The Better Business Analyst Podcast

The Better Business Analyst Podcast

By Benjamen Walsh from The Better Business Analysis Institute (BBAI)Education
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The Better Business Analyst Podcast episodes

  • BA Bites - “The Business wants this......”

    But “the business” isn’t a person.
    It doesn’t make decisions.
    And it certainly doesn’t own the consequences.

    In this episode, Benjamen breaks down why abstract language like “the business needs” quietly destroys accountability, hides real trade-offs, and leads to bloated, expensive solutions.

    You’ll learn:

    • Why vague language is a red flag in analysis and strategy

    • How “the business” masks customer impact, revenue decisions, and risk

    • The real role of a Business Analyst as a decision enabler—not a note taker

    • Practical language shifts that instantly improve clarity and outcomes

    If you’re tired of unclear requirements, endless compromise, and projects that drift, this episode will change how you listen in meetings—and how you respond.

    Because great analysis doesn’t start with what the business wants.
    It starts with customers, revenue, and risk.

    11 min
  • The Business Case Is Dead. Long Live the Opportunity Canvas.

    Traditional business cases are slowing organisations down — and most of them were never telling the truth anyway.
    They’re political documents dressed up as analysis, full of predictions nobody can validate and assumptions nobody ever checks.

    In this episode, I break down why business cases have become relics, what modern companies are using instead, and how you can shift your organisation toward faster, clearer, evidence-driven decision making.

    We cover:
    • The five fatal flaws of traditional business cases
    • Why companies like Amazon, Atlassian, and Spotify use lightweight decision tools
    • What an Opportunity Canvas is and how it replaces months of “business casing”
    • Real stories of failures caused by business cases… and wins created by canvases
    • Practical steps BAs and leaders can take right now

    If your organisation is still writing 30-page business cases, this episode will give you the tools — and the confidence — to push for a better way.

    14 min
  • The Brutal Truth: How Business Analysts Should Approach a Custom ERP Implementation

    Custom ERP implementations aren’t “just another project.” They’re an organisational reconstruction. They expose every broken process, every data issue, every shortcut, and every assumption the business has been getting away with for years.

    In this episode, I break down the real approach Business Analysts need to take when stepping into a custom ERP implementation — the most complex and high-stakes work you’ll ever do as a BA.

    You’ll learn:

    • Why ERP isn’t a system upgrade — it’s an operating-model rebuild

    • How to analyse end-to-end processes properly (not the PowerPoint version)

    • Why configuration choices are more dangerous than code

    • How to avoid the traps that sink ERP projects globally

    • The exact steps BAs must take to deliver a stable, future-proof ERP foundation

    • The BA mistakes that quietly destroy ERP financial integrity

    • What “good” looks like in process design, data design, and readiness

    If you want to sharpen your skills, avoid ERP nightmares, and confidently lead in the most challenging BA environment — this episode is a must-listen.

    —

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    13 min
  • BA Bites - How Business Analysts Should Approach a Salesforce Implementation

    Salesforce can transform a business — or turn into another expensive tool nobody actually uses. The difference almost always comes down to how the Business Analyst approaches the implementation.

    In this episode, I break down the practical, no-nonsense approach BAs should take when dropped into a Salesforce project: understanding the real business problem, mapping processes properly, setting clear scope, writing usable user stories, sorting out data, managing configuration vs customisation, and driving adoption through testing and change management.

    If you’re a BA, product owner, or IT leader working with Salesforce (or about to), this episode gives you the blueprint to keep the project grounded in business value — not shiny objects.

    14 min
  • BA Bites - When Human-Centred Design Isn’t What It Seems: From Users to Customers and True Innovation

    We all say we’re doing human-centred design — but what happens when the “human” turns out to be our internal process, not our actual customer?
    In this episode, Benjamen Walsh dives into how real innovation starts with the customer’s job to be done — not our internal agenda.
    Learn how to spot fake HCD, how to reframe discovery around customer value, and why true innovation lies in understanding why people do what they do, not just how we think they should.

    17 min
  • BA Bites - Going Deep with The 4P+ Framework: People, Processes, Projects and Products

    In this episode of The Better Business Analyst Podcast, Benjamen Walsh revisits one of his most powerful models — The 4P+ Framework: People, Processes, Projects and Products.

    You might have heard of it before, but this time we’re going deeper.

    Discover how the best business analysts connect these four dimensions to move from task taker to value creator — shaping outcomes, not just outputs.

    Benjamen unpacks each “P” with real-world examples, practical talking points, and mindset shifts you can apply immediately. Whether you’re working on digital transformation, agile delivery, or strategic analysis, this episode will help you see your work — and your impact — in a whole new way.

    🎯 Learn how:

    • People define the problems worth solving

    • Processes reveal the inefficiencies and opportunities

    • Projects deliver structured change

    • Products create lasting business value
      …and how they all loop back in the 4P+ cycle of continuous improvement.

    Tune in and elevate your BA thinking today.

    14 min
  • BA Bites - Bridging Strategy and Delivery: The Missing Middle for BAs

    Every great strategy needs someone to turn it into action — and that’s where Business Analysts shine.

    In this episode, Benjamen Walsh explores how BAs can bridge the gap between strategic intent and delivery execution. Learn the deliverables, tools, and thinking frameworks that make you the “missing middle” every organisation needs.

    Listen now on The Better Business Analyst Podcast.

    16 min
  • BA Bites - Making Sense of Jira Goals — Connecting Strategy to Delivery

    Ever felt like your Jira projects are running on autopilot with no clear link back to business outcomes? You’re not alone. In this episode, Benjamen breaks down Jira’s new Goals feature — what it is, how it works, and why it finally gives Business Analysts, Product Owners, and Delivery Teams a way to connect work to strategy.

    We’ll explore:

    • How Jira Goals change the way we track progress

    • Practical examples of linking initiatives and OKRs

    • Common pitfalls and smart workarounds

    • The role of the BA in bringing clarity, context, and alignment

    If you’ve ever been asked “how does this project tie back to our business goals?” — this episode is for you.

    🎙️ The Better Business Analyst Podcast — practical insights for real-world BAs, every week.

    12 min
  • BA Bites - 10 things every BA should know about Git, GitHub, and Continuous Delivery/Integration

    In this episode of the Better Business Analyst Podcast, Benjamen Walsh shares 10 things every BA should know about Git, GitHub, and Continuous Delivery/Integration.

    From version control for requirements to collaborating via pull requests, and even how GitHub can be your go-to place for the latest AI models and open-source tools — this episode breaks down the essentials every modern BA needs.

    Perfect if you’re working in agile teams, or just want to boost your technical confidence.

    13 min

About The Better Business Analyst Podcast

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The Better Business Analyst Podcast covers all the most important and latest Business Analysis (BA) news, top tips and interviews.

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