BA Brew - A Business Analysis Podcast (AssistKD)

The BA Brew crew tackle the age old dilemma of delivering immediate vs. longer term outcomes. If you think MVP is the ‘go to’ acronym of the day, you might want to think again. Prepare yourself for OMBO and for the very switched on cookies amongst you, OMBOC (Optimal Mutually Beneficial Outcome in Context) might become your new mantra. Listen on!

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul, Jonathan Hunsley and Mike Williams.

Karl Wiegers is back! In this latest BA Brew, Karl and the crew discuss his new book ‘Software Development Pearls: Lessons from Fifty Years of Software Experience’.

Topics include quality (including Karl’s experience of 9th grade woodworking, where he learnt an important lesson about taking the time to ‘do it right’); estimating the time a project will take; the user centred vs. product centred approach to requirements; the value of the peer review process (setting the ego aside) and the necessity of multiple iterations in both requirements and design.

Participants: AssistKD’s Jonathan Hunsley and Mike Williams with Karl Wiegers, software developer, requirements analyst, quality engineer, consultant, trainer and author of books including ‘The Thoughtless Design of Everyday Things’ and now ‘Software Development Pearls’

You can buy ‘Software Development Pearls’ here.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and online courses.

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

If you have ever wanted to know more about psychological safety this brew is a one not to be missed. Jonathan Hunsley and Philippa Thomas are joined by Emma Lee (Chief Psychologist at Matthew Syed Consulting and registered psychologist) to discuss this important topic.

Collectively they explore questions such as:

▶️What is psychological safety?

▶️Why is psychological safety important?

▶️How does psychological safety impact individuals and teams?

▶️How might an absence of psychological safety impact creativity and organisational learning?

▶️How might we develop a culture of psychological safety?

FURTHER RESOURCES

The following BA Brews may be of interest:

BA Brew 80 - Bravery in Business Analysis (feat. Kay Hardy & Charlie Payne)

BA Brew 76: The Human Element (feat. Helen Holder)

BA Brew Episode 60: Imposter Syndrome: Are you an imposter in BA clothing? (feat. Jo Fahy)

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

BA Brew 30: Confidence (feat. Philippa Thomas)

BA Brew 20: Resilience (feat. Corrine Thomas)

Books Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean – Kim Scott

Rebel Ideas - Matthew Syed

The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness – Stephen R Covey

#businessanalysis #businessanalyst #baprofessional #psychologicalsafety #MatthewSyed

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

The crew are in fine form, celebrating the brand new edition of Business Analysis Techniques. With 123 tools and techniques for the BA to choose from, the skill is in knowing which to use in different contexts. MoSCoW, POPIT™, CATWOE, Johari Window and more… Debbie, Jonathan and Andrew share their favourites and those they think are underrated.

They go on to discuss why some techniques are controversial and how the best can be applied to our day to day as well as our work lives. Andrew Kell ends the podcast with an exceptionally cheesy joke, which may (or may not) be worth listening to the end for.

Click here to buy Business Analysis Techniques: 123 essential tools for success.

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul, Jonathan Hunsley and Andrew Kell.

Artificial Intelligence: a powerful ally with mind-blowing potential… or a threat to our jobs? @John Wisner joins the BA Brew crew for a lively discussion on where we are right now, and the possibilities and challenges ahead.

Topics include: AI and automation; brainstorming with AI; machine learning and data analytics; asking AI the right questions; why BAs need to be aware of the new AI tools, and more.

John Wisner is Managing Principal Consultant at Capco, Business Analysis Capability Lead and BA of the Year Finalist 2022.

If you enjoyed this BA Brew you may be interested in this BA Blog.

You may also enjoy the following BA Brews on AI and on the future of business analysis:

BA Brew 63: The AI Brew (Hosted by ChatGPT)

BA Brew 10: Is there a Future for Business Analysis?

#artificialintelligence #AI #businessanalyst #businessanalysis #servicedesign #BA #AItools #AIforbusiness

What is Business Service Design and is it the next big thing? If you’re curious about this powerful new human-centred approach you will be interested in this BA Brew where Jonathan, Kerry and Kate share their thoughts on the subject.

Topics covered include: Systems, Service, Design and Lean Thinking; Business Service Design tools, frameworks, techniques and more.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s Service Design courses.

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

Daniel Squire and Jonathan Hunsley are passionate about business analysis… and martial arts (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Taekwondo respectively). In this fascinating BA Brew, they discuss some of the misconceptions about martial arts and the many parallels between the disciplines.  

Topics include: situational awareness; control, discipline and practice; inclusivity and respect... and much more.  

Daniel Squire is Principal Business Analyst at Just Eat. 

If you enjoyed this BA Brew you may be interested in ‘The Black Belt BA’ article in our Learning Zone, based on a talk of the same name given by Jonathan Hunsley.

And you can find Daniel Squire’s article ‘Mind Meets Mat: The Digital Dojo’ here.

If you are interested in Agile, you won’t want to miss this. This BA Brew is all about the second edition of ‘Agile Business Analysis: Practical guidance for IT professionals’ by Lynda Girvan and Debra Paul.

Watch as the authors discuss what readers can expect from the revised and updated edition, including:

⭐ the latest Agile developments

⭐ new techniques

⭐ new thinking

⭐ real-life case-studies where experienced practitioners share challenges and lessons learned.

The wide-ranging discussion covers organisational agility and the role of the BA; the relevance of the Agile Manifesto; how to apply Agile in an informed and relevant way; the increased focus on the customer and much more.

#agile #IT #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #businesschange #digital #agilebusinessanalysis

In our Season 1 Finale, what other subject could our illustrious foursome tackle but “Is there a future for Business Analysis?” Join us for an informed discussion on the integrity and necessity of the BA skillset. Listen out for the BA ‘awkward teenage years’ and just how BAs might save the planet. The revolution starts here!

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul, Jonathan Hunsley and Mike Williams with Adrian Reed of Blackmetric Business Solutions.

Moon, Rose, Fish is the English translation of Maan, Roos, Vis, a well known Dutch phrase connected to the early stages of learning to read and write. It’s the equivalent of ‘A, B, C’.

In this episode the Brew Crew discuss the value of having a mental checklist of the basic elements when looking at the requirements of an IT system. Moon or Maan stands for the data model, Rose or Roos stands for how things look, the User Interface and Fish or Vis stands for the activities, rules and process changes to be specified in any IT system.

Pete, Jonathan and Danny discuss the importance of getting the fundamentals right; why some BAs struggle with data; the danger of assuming a data model has been fully thought through; how to present data in an understandable way; using scenario analysis and prototyping to explore whether the data model is adaptable to the business needs; the use of tools such as the information concept model and more.

Participants: AssistKD’s Pete Thompson and Jonathan Hunsley, with Danny Kalkhoven, Business Analyst, Trainer and Consultant at VNG via Le Blanc Academy. Danny is also a keen amateur photographer with an international reputation.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and e-Learning courses.

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)

We look at the book Switch by Chip and Dan Heath, recommended by our latest podcast guest Jo Gray. It’s a beast of a book but we look at the big themes and some well-thought out tactics for realising change. Listen out for the “bright spots” (a nice twist on the normal focus on problems) and Jo’s example of how powerful a visual demonstration of a situation requiring change can be.

Participants: AssistKD’s Jonathan Hunsley and Mike Williams with Jo Gray, Senior Consultant at Socitm Advisory.

The pandemic and new technology have changed the way we work, but how are we responding as humans? Special guest Helen Holder considers the human element of our professional lives in this fascinating BA Brew.

Topics include: how we respond to our work, interact with stakeholders and deal with change; the personal attributes of BAs, business architects and service designers; investing in personal growth; the strength inventory; resilience and the growth mindset and more.

Helen Holder is a Senior Business Analyst and BA of the Year Finalist 2022.

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

Resilience Resources

You can’t spell Challenge without Change

Helen referenced the following books during the conversation:

Leadersmithing by Eve Pool

Who You Are is How You Lead by Rachel L. Rider

The following BA Brews may be of interest. BA Brew 20 on Resilience; BA Brew 30 on Confidence; BA Brew 50 on Stepping out of your Comfort Zone; BA Brew 62 on Advice that Got Us Through Life and BA Brew 69 on Self Assessment and Development tools.

#charactercrafting #growthmindset #businessanalyst #businessanalysis #servicedesign #BA #personalitytools

Are you an Activist, a Theorist, a Pragmatist or a Reflector? Our latest BA Brew could help you find out and get the most from your learning.

The Brew Crew are joined by former Apprentice and now BA at the Environment Agency Cat Warren to talk about some of the different learning models (Kolb, Bloom and Honey and Mumford).

They look at how the different learning approaches work with training courses, course manuals and eLearning and explore how understanding other people’s different learning styles helps with facilitation and stakeholder engagement.

The following resources are relevant to the learning models mentioned in this podcast:

Kolb’s Learning Styles

The Honey and Mumford Learning Model

Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning

You can find quick overviews of how to use Mind Maps and Rich pictures in the Bitesize Videos section of the AssistKD Learning Zone.

#learningstyles #elearning #businesstrainingcourses #businessanalysis #servicedesign #kolb #honeyandmumford #bloomstaxonomy #learning #training #businesstraining

When good business analysis happens nothing goes wrong, but there’s a danger that the extensive work behind a project running smoothly is not seen, understood or appreciated. Stefan Bossuwé joins the Brew Crew to talk about how, as a profession, we can turn the invisible BA into the visible BA.

The chat touches on professionalism and competency; thinking holistically; the importance of the question ‘why’ and the idea of a platform or forum where BAs could share tangible, real-life examples of problems they have helped avoid and the money they have saved organisations.

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul and Jonathan Hunsley chat with Stefan Bossuwé | LinkedIn, coach, speaker and holistic business analysis expert.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and online courses.

GIVEAWAY COMPETITION ALERT! Listen or watch to the end of this BA Brew for some festive chat and our not-to-be-missed Christmas stocking filler competition.

Taking the time to understand who stakeholders are and what they need is key to the success of any project. In this Brew, our intrepid crew chat with Pip Hall about why she dislikes the term ‘stakeholder management’, and discuss how BAs can establish, maintain and enhance relationships with stakeholders.

Useful thinking techniques touched upon include CATWOE analysis, empathy maps, world view analysis, the Thomas-Kilmann conflict positions model, the Covey Think Win-Win model and the BATNA technique.

The following books are recommended in the podcast: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

by Yuval Noah Harari and Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell.

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul and Jonathan Hunsley. With Pip Hall, BA at Telent Technology Services Ltd.

Think “value” is a word you can bandy around loosely? Think again! In our latest podcast we provide that ‘stop and think’ moment to consider what value really means for organisations and customers. The crew look at how value is co-created and the critical role the business analyst has to play in this process. Listen on…

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul, Mike Williams and Pete Thompson.

Today’s chat over a brew is all about the BA mindset. Debbie, Christina and Fabricio discuss how the BA mindset extends much further than the business analyst role.

Topics include curiosity and thinking analytically; how SWOT analysis has escaped professional boundaries; the danger of action for action’s sake and the value of sharing the BA mindset with others.

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul chats with Fabricio Laguna, business consultant, teacher and professional speaker and Christina Lovelock, BA leader and co-author of Delivering Business Analysis: The BA Service Handbook.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. View AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and online courses.

In this latest BA Brew, the Brew Crew debate the value of data. Jonathan plays the role of Devil’s Advocate… can Debbie and Pete convince him that data is more than simply a means to an end?

Topics discussed include: why data is fascinating; what data tells us; the difference between data and information; metadata; quantitative vs. qualitative data; data models; ethics and more.

Participants: AssistKD’s Jonathan Hunsley, Debra Paul and Pete Thompson.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and e-learning courses.

It’s the Season 2 finale! In this episode the crew discuss Resilience with an expert on the subject, Corrine Thomas. Corrine talks about how BA tools can help build resilience at work and in our personal lives, for example the ‘Sarah Curve’ as a framework for dealing with emotions during times of change.

Jonathan comes up with the term ‘Resilience well’, which Debbie thinks should be patented immediately. The team share their ways of dealing with difficulty including talking to trusted friends, box sets during lockdown, NLP techniques, having something to look forward to, running, meditation and even bee keeping.

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul, Jonathan Hunsley and Mike Williams. With Corrine Thomas, Leadership, Careers and Resilience coach and mentor.

You can watch our BA Manager’s Forum webinar on Understanding and Building Resilience h

ere, and download the handout accompanying the forum with useful reference materials here. For support in dealing with difficulty and mental health challenges at work, find free resources from Mind. Click here to buy Business Analysis Techniques: 123 essential tools for success.

Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed. Could the RACI technique be the most misunderstood and underrated technique in business? In our latest podcast passions run high as we look at how making roles and responsibilities crystal clear is key to empowerment, collaboration and business success. Enjoy the listen.

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul, Mike Williams and Jonathan Hunsley.

AssistKD’s Kate Biddle joins us for today’s BA Brew, her first as part of the Crew. It’s a good one, discussing how to break those bad habits and build positive behaviours instead.

Topics covered include: the power of habits; self awareness; the habit loop; habit stacking; planning ahead; good BA habits and the value of moral support from friends, colleagues and family.

Books recommended during the podcast are The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, Atomic Habits by James Clear and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and e-learning courses.

Neurodiversity is a word we hear, but how much do we really understand it and recognise neurodivergence in ourselves and others? Only by better understanding can we support and champion people with neurodiversity and appreciate what they can offer the BA community. In this awareness-raising BA Brew, guests Nicola Pinkney and Paul Haywood share some personal insights and helpful tips.

You can find AssistKD’s recent article based on Nicola and Paul’s inspiring talk at BA Conference Europe 2023 here.

Helpful organisations:

Daisy Chain (Autism and Neurodiversity Support)

Mind (Mental Health Charity)

S4Nd (Society for Neurodiversity)

The Brain Charity (Neurological Support)

The BA Brew crew get to grips with the tricky question of the necessity of requirements. They argue that, when engineered appropriately for the working context, requirements should stand the test of time and not be thrown out with the waterfall bathwater. Listen out for Jonathan’s mini-rant (pattern emerging here) and Debbie’s Use Case Diagram confession. One not to be missed!

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul, Jonathan Hunsley and Mike Williams.

The new series of the BA Brew kicks off with a cracker of an episode. Author, life coach and business consultant Byron Morrison challenges us to learn from the CEO mindset in order to reach our full potential in life and in business. It’s inspiring stuff.

Topics covered include: the decision framework; thinking holistically; risk aversion; the value of trying and failing; maintaining momentum vs. staying in your comfort zone; energy management; reflection; self-awareness and more.

Byron Morrison is the author of bestselling business books The Effective CEO and Think Like a CEO.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and face-to-face) and e-learning courses.

#ceo #mindset #success #businessanalysis #leadership #goals

If you’re concerned about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on your business or your job, this BA Brew is a must-watch. Debra Paul and Pete Thompson discuss the benefits, risks and opportunities with Donald Farmer – one of the foremost thinkers, researchers and presenters in the field.

Topics discussed include: automating processes; cost savings; intellectual property; caring about the human element; inherent bias in AI; the need for new requirements; mitigating for unexpected adverse effects and more.

Donald Farmer is a visionary data and analytics strategist with over 30 years’ experience designing data and analytics products. He has led teams at Microsoft and Qlik Technologies and is now the Principal of TreeHive Strategy where he advises software vendors, enterprises and investors on data and advanced analytics strategy.

FURTHER RESOURCES

This short article lists the top takeaways from Donald Farmer’s talk at the Business Change and Transformation Conference Europe: Generative AI and Business Strategy: Innovation or Imitation?

You may also be interested in the following articles and BA Brews on AI:

Articles:

AI Alchemy: Turning Change into Gold

AI and the Business Analysis Role

Book Review of Hello World by Hannah Fry

BA Brews:

Business Analysis and AI

The AI Brew

#AI #artificialintelligence #AIautomation #requirements #dataanalytics #dataanalysis #businesschange #servicedesign

In this special edition of our BA Brew, it’s BA Question Time! Mike Williams presides as AssistKD’s Fiona Bruce with Debra Paul and Jonathan Hunsley as the panellists.

This week’s questions are:

❓Should BAs understand commerce/business?

❓How can a BA team of 20 balance sharing knowledge and experience as a team with time on their own projects?

❓How do I bring together a group of professionals working in and around the business analysis space together to add value to the business?

❓Business Analysts often feel overlooked. How can we raise the profile of the profession?

❓What’s going to be in fashion in the BA World this year?

Do you have a question for our next BA Question Time? If so, please email us on BABrew@AssistKD.com or post on our wall on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

The following BA Brews and articles are relevant to the answers given:

Adair’s model of action centred leadership addresses balances the team, the task and the individual.

This article on inclusive leadership.

This article on establishing a centralised Community of Practice.

This article on creating a BA Service Definition.

BA Brew 68: Stepping Beyond the BA toolbox

BA Brew 44: Building a BA Community

#BAQT #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #BAtoolkit #leadership #teamwork #business

The best BAs are passionate about the subject and their specialisms, constantly updating their skills and techniques ‘toolkit’ and growing their understanding throughout their careers.

Our guest on this BA Brew is the ever inspiring Sam Merrick, who talks to the crew about how he developed a hunger for learning, taking ownership of his career and self-funding many of the courses he has taken.

Topics discussed include: the ‘virtuous circle’ of sharing learning; motivation and rewards; how to learn from life experiences; the importance of developing self-awareness and the importance of a great mentor.

Participants: AssistKD’s Mike Williams and Jonathan Hunsley with Sam Merrick, Lead Business Analyst at Shell Energy and Director at IIBA UK.

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

Have you heard about job crafting? It’s where you make small changes to and personalise your role to make the most of your strengths, passions and experiences. Charlotte Axon is an expert on the subject and shares her wisdom in this first BA Brew of the new season.

Topics discussed include: the five types of job crafting; self-actualisation and job crafting in the face of the Great Resignation.

Charlotte is Lead People Scientist at Tailored Thinking, a positive psychology, well-being and HR consultancy. For more advice, a free downloadable guide to job crafting and other useful resources such as the job canvas for developing your role and career, visit their website.

Job crafting is discussed in Delivering Business Analysis: The BA Service handbook.

Christina also explores why job crafting for is so relevant for business analysts in her BA Times article Job Crafting for BAs.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. View AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and e-learning courses here

In the new ‘normal’, for many of us our homes have become our offices. Join us for an honest discussion about the many joys, perils, frustrations and practicalities of working from home including the temptations of the biscuit tin. Expect a useful share of experience… and who knew virtual charades was a thing! Happy listening.

Participants: AssistKD’s Jonathan Hunsley, Mike Williams and Nicole Rayner.

In today’s BA Brew, our Crew talk with Sarah Gale about developing core business analysis skills, and how to use BA tools and techniques with confidence.

Topics covered include softer skills including communication, relationship building and listening skills; business architecture; customer experience analysis and design thinking; mentoring and coaching; the need for BAs to sell their services; skills frameworks such as the Business Analysis Competency Model®; how to develop BA skills and which skills are transferable.

During the chat, Jonathan mentions the book ‘Mindset’ by Carol Dweck.

Participants: AssistKD’s Jonathan Hunsley and Kerry Adams with Sarah Gale, Software Asset Management Lead at SSE plc. Sarah was a 2018 finalist of the IIBA (UK) Business Analyst of the Year Award, was the second person to complete the BCS Advanced International Diploma in Business Analysis and is a member of the Business Analyst Manager’s Forum.  

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and online courses.

When speaking in public, challenging authority or dealing with negative feedback, business analysts need to feel and appear confident. But how do you build that confidence? In our Season 3 Finale, the Crew, with guest Philippa Thomas, come up with some top tips that include doing what you fear, visualising success and being selective about the criticism you pay attention to.

During the podcast, Philippa mentions ‘Playing Big’ by Tara Mohr [Playing Big: A practical guide for brilliant women like you: Amazon.co.uk: Mohr, Tara: 9780099591528: Books], while Jonathan refers to ‘The 8th Habit’ by Stephen R. Covey [The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness: Amazon.co.uk: Covey, Stephen R.: 9780743206839: Books]

Participants: AssistKD’s Jonathan Hunsley and Nicole Rayner with Philippa Thomas, owner of management training company Skills Shift. [(52) "philippa thomas" | Search | LinkedIn].

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and online courses.

Have you heard of Character Crafting and how it can be used to build resilience and leadership skills? In this enlightening chat our special guest, Helen Holder, discusses the positive character traits and behaviours central to the BA role… and how we can develop and maintain them.

Topics discussed include: the Personal Strength inventory; character vs. the cult of personality; identifying your character strengths and weaknesses; developing through practice; and the power of theT Lego persona.

Helen Holder has over 10 years’ experience working as a BA for public sector organisations. Passionate about elevating the BA profession, she volunteers with the @IIBA UK Midlands chapter.

You may find the related articles, blogs and videos of interest

Who Do You Think You Are? Business Analysts and Impostor Syndrome | Assist Knowledge Development

Business Analysts and the Feedback Mindset | Assist Knowledge Development

BOOK REVIEW: Mindset by Carol Dweck | Assist Knowledge Development

BA Brew 76: The Human Element (Feat. Helen Holder) | Assist Knowledge Development

AssistKD’s Team Leadership course covers positive communication, time management, leading a team through change, and more. Team Leadership Training Courses | Business Analysis | Assist Knowledge Development

#businessanalysis #businessanalysis #personalstrengthinventory #BAcompetency #characterstrengths #personaldevelopment #growthmindset

Who better to discuss the key aspects of leadership with than the 2020 BA of the Year? No need then to shell out on a pile of leadership books (unless you want to impress with your Zoom background). ‘Hollow leadership’ is rightly called out and a simple word count will tell you just how important passion, empathy, trust and transparency are, particularly in troubled times.

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul and Jonathan Hunsley with Tazeem Wafa, Business Analyst Manager at the Bank of England and BA of the Year 2020.

Fuelled by freshly made coffee, Steve Wright and the Brew Crew discuss the difference between functional and non-functional requirements; why it pays to have non-functional requirements on the agenda from the start; the joy of checklists and more.

During the chat Pete Thompson recommends the book Software Requirements Patterns by Stephen Withall, for its useful contextual checklists.

Participants: AssistKD’s Mike Williams and Pete Thompson with Steve Wright, Business Analysis Mentor and Trainer at Reflect Ltd.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and online courses.

Are you a natural networker or does it feel like a chore? Here the AssistKD crew discuss the joys (and perils) of networking in both face to face and virtual environments such as LinkedIn. There are top tips and important watch words along the way for people from all backgrounds. Listen on!

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul, Jonathan Hunsley and Nicole Rayner.

This week the Brew Crew are joined by guest Jamie Toyne, who explains how he has adapted the BA Service Framework to define and promote the services offered by his BA team.

Topics covered include: how the BA Service Framework was developed (Debbie’s ‘lightbulb moment’); creating a common language to define the BA role; the shift from product focus to a service level view and the importance of “setting out your stall’ and selling your BA services.

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul and Mike Williams with Jamie Toyne, Digital Leader and Head of Business Analysis at the Ministry of Justice.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in-house) and E-learning courses.

For more on the BA Service Framework, read ‘Delivering Business Analysis: The BA Service Handbook’ by Debra Paul and Christina Lovelock.

‘Creating a BA Service Definition’ summarises Chris Pyatt’s talk at the BA Conference 2021

And you can take our FREE course ‘Introducing the BA Service Framework’ on AssistKD’s Learning Zone.

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

It just takes one person to gather people together to help each other. Today the Brew Crew chat with Lou Powell about how she set up and grew the BA Crowd, a Meet Up group for her local BA community.

Topics covered include: the value of community, how to get sponsorship, finding speakers and more.

Louise Powell is a Senior Business Analyst at BGL Insurance and Co-founder of the BA Crowd. AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and e-learning courses.

What is your ‘Why?’. In this inspiring BA Brew, Joe Newbert joins the Crew to talk about how we can create purpose and meaning in our personal and professional lives.

Topics covered include: Jacob Morgan’s framework for purpose and meaning; values driven leadership; bringing our personal purpose and meaning to work; finding consensus on purpose and values; intent-based leadership and helping others to find their purpose and meaning.

The books recommended in this BA Brew are: The Future Leader by Jacob Morgan; Start with Why by Simon Sinek and The 8th Habit by Stephen R. Covey.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and face-to-face) and e-learning courses.

In our latest brew Jonathan Hunsley and Nicole Alderton are joined by Michelle Shakesheff and Tim Clark of Close Bros to share their thoughts on getting started in a BA career.

They share insights on the different modes of learning available to build the professional toolkit, the importance of mentoring and stepping out of your comfort zone to take on new challenges. Handily, they also delve into the sources and benefits of ongoing self-development.

With so many structured routes into business analysis, including the BA apprenticeship, perhaps gone are the days of simply drifting into the BA career.

#businessanalysis #ba #businessanalysis #growthmindset #mentor #apprenticeships

It’s our 50th BA Brew! To celebrate this momentous milestone Producer Tom finally steps out from behind the camera… but he’s not sure how comfortable he feels about it.

From taking up bee-keeping to playing music on an open mic night the Crew share how they’ve stepped out of their respective comfort zones. And they discuss some useful strategies, including some from the business analysis toolkit.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and face-to-face) and e-learning courses.

The crew are joined by Karl Wiegers, who challenges us to think more purposefully about good and bad design. Indeed there is so much poor design to be found in the everyday that Karl has published a book on the subject. Lots to consider for any BA who is serious about championing the user and customer experience, and a wake up call for all requirements engineers.

Buy Karl Wiegers' new book The Thoughtless Design of Everyday Things here https://tinyurl.com/54zvjave

Participants: AssistKD’s Mike Williams and Jonathan Hunsley with software consultant and author Karl Wiegers.

In AssistKD’s very first BA Brew we put the kettle on and kicked off by discussing Spencer Johnson’s famous book “Who Moved My Cheese?” and how it speaks to the role of Business Analyst. The book challenges “the way things have always been done around here” and is a timely prompt to rethink how we adapt to radical change. A lively 20 minute discussion, hope you enjoy it!

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul, Mike Williams and Jonathan Hunsley.

It’s the last BA Brew of 2022 and this one’s incredibly inspiring. Coach, speaker, psychotherapist and mental health consultant Petra Velzeboer shares her extraordinary story and talks to the Brew Crew about looking after our mental wellbeing and how we can ‘check in’ with friends, family and colleagues.

Topics covered include: Growing up in a religious cult; the recent rise in depression and anxiety; connection and a sense of belonging; taking small steps out of your comfort zone; setting boundaries; habit stacking; reflection vs. rumination; normalising talking about mental health; the work-life balance and much more.

Petra’s new book Begin with You: Invest in Your Mental Health and Satisfaction at Work is available for pre-order on Amazon.

Mike Williams mentions VMOST. You can find a Business Alchemist’s blog which mentions this technique here.

You can find the NHS list of emergency mental health helplines here.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and face-to-face) and e-learning courses.

Our latest BA Brew guest is the wonderful Fae Marcano, Business Analyst of the Year 2022. In this episode Fae and the crew talk about how they became business analysts and their experiences of the BA of the Year awards.

Topics include: how Fae, Jonathan and Lisa became BAs; the ‘why’ of becoming a BA; the Business Analyst of the Year experience and why it’s worth entering; the joys of networking and knowledge sharing; why mentoring matters; promoting the BA role and much more.

Fae may well inspire you to apply for the BA of the Year award yourself!

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and face-to-face) and e-learning courses.

When business analysts work at one organisation for a long time, they can lose sight of their value and transferable skills. They may even find it difficult to move on. This BA Brew In this BA Brew Chris Pyatt talks about how BAs can regain their professional confidence.

Topics covered include: the ‘comfort zone’ of subject matter and organisational expertise; the skills you have which you may take for granted; taking the ‘leap of faith’; engaging with the BA community; the value of training, certification and mentoring and much more.

Chris Pyatt, BA at DWP Digital, first talked about ‘The Institutionalised BA’ at the BA Conference Europe 2023.

Tricky business problem? Get those (creative) thinking caps on! In this week’s BA Brew the Crew discuss how creative thinking can help business change professionals challenge the status quo, think expansively and come up with effective solutions.

Questions addressed include:

• What is creative thinking?

• How can you create an environment for creative thinking?

• What are the potential barriers?

• What are your top 3 creative thinking techniques?

You may find the following articles, course, free learning and BA Brews useful:

ARTICLES

Zombie Penguin Business Analysts: Creativity Techniques and Divergent Thinking

Creative Thinking/Divergent Thinking

COURSE

Design Thinking Course

FREE LEARNING

NEW Free Learning Course - Creative Problem Solving

BA BREWS

BA Brew 21: Design Thinking (Feat. Kay Hardy)

BA Brew 82: The Double Diamond (feat. Liza Laya)

#servicedesign #divergentthinking #creativityinbusiness #businessanalysis #businessanalyst

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’ve thought ‘You just could not make this up’? Today Jonathan, Mike and Lisa discuss their experiences as customers and as business analysts. They range from the sublime (luxurious upgrade, anyone?) to the ridiculous (a multi-million pound project with no agreed scope… two years in).

Hear about Jonathan’s nightmare coach journey, Lisa’s broadband switch horror and Mike’s discovery of a business process involving a rubber-stamp and a shredder. You won’t be disappointed!

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and e-learning courses.

Do you love a success story? BA Apprentice of the Year 2024 Lorna Mylett is this week’s special BA Brew guest. She shares her experience of the Business Analyst Apprenticeship supported by her employers DWP, and AssistKD.

Topics discussed include: learning and applying new skills and understanding; the value of learning as part of a group and having a mentor; and what it’s like to be thrown at the deep end at the IRM UK BA Conference Europe.

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

ARTICLES

Meet Lorna Mylett, Business Analyst Apprentice of the Year 2024

The Business Case for Apprenticeships

My Experience of the Business Analysis Apprenticeship

VIDEOS

BA Brew 27: The BA Apprenticeship

AssistKD’s Business Analyst (Level 4) Apprenticeship Scheme

#BAapprenticeship #apprenticeships #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #talentpipeline

For the those of you in need of a BA pick-me-up this podcast is for you. Learn about the Young Business Analysts (YBA) initiative and how this has grown from an initial idea to over 400 members in the space of only a few months. Lots of energy in the room and far too much fun. Sit back and enjoy hearing from the stars of the future; your profession is in good hands.

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul and Jonathan Hunsley with Emma Myers and Lauren Howes, two of the founders of the YBA group. Find out more about YBA here: https://coy.gdt.mybluehost.me/

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)

If you want to see Mike Williams wearing a very bad wig and (later on) a horse’s head, you won’t want to miss this extra entertaining BA Brew. Georgiana Mannion, known for her ‘Playful BA’ talks, very generously shares her inspirational ideas on how to bring play, fun and games into your BA practice.

Topic discussed include: how to energise a Teams meeting; branding your BA team; flipping the process-mapping process on its head; engaging exercises to generate ideas and solve problems; moving furniture around in the boardroom; using Lego and other tools for solution architecture, change management and coaching and whether it’s possible to have too much fun as a team.

Participants: AssistKD’s Mike Williams and Debra Paul with Georgiana Mannion – consultant, speaker, thought leader and an IIBA ‘BA to Watch 2022’.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and e-learning courses.

The Brew Crew are never shy about thorny issues, so were happy to rise to the challenge when Karen Newnham got in touch about the tricky topic of solutions. In recent years BAs have been advised to avoid talking about solutions, yet nobody wants to ‘shut down’ stakeholders.

Mike, Jonathan and Karen discuss where the ‘anti-solution’ mindset comes from, and how to engage with stakeholders when they suggest solutions at an early stage in a project. Ideas discussed include reframing solutions, future-thinking and even role playing how a solution could play out (banana suits are not compulsory).

Jonathan suggested the Zachman framework as a tool for exploring solutions in context.

Participants: AssistKD’s Mike Williams and Jonathan Hunsley. With Karen Newnham, Head of Business Analysis at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

AssistKD’s Design Thinking course addresses both the problem and the solution space, with a focus on customer-centric solutions that meet the needs of all stakeholders.

Put the kettle on, the hot topic of virtual facilitation is up for discussion. There’s plenty to think about including the preparation, hard work, behaviours and props required for effective facilitation. Expect a few gems from guest David Beckham (not that one) along the way including Celebrity Squares and what he calls the ‘Depeche Mode’ moment…

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul and Jonathan Hunsley with David Beckham, Principal Consultant at ChuDo Consulting.

We’re joined by Lynda Girvan for a thought-provoking chat about what ‘Organisational Agility’ really means. The popular buzz-phrase ‘has been well and truly put to the test in the last 18 months, as businesses have adapted (or not) to changes brought about by the global pandemic. We discuss how business leaders have had to ‘walk the walk’ and how the Business Analysis toolkit can be used to challenge assumptions, change mind-sets and achieve successful outcomes.

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul, Jonathan Hunsley with Lynda Girvan, Head of Business Analysis at CMC Partnership Consultancy.

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

In this special BA Conference Europe BA Brew, AssistKD CEO Debra Paul is joined by three BA Conference legends: Shane McGlynn, Rachel Levermore, and James Archer (who started the ball rolling in the first place!)

The BA Conference Europe is Europe’s foremost Business Analysis conference, which has evolved over the past 16 years to over 500 attendees and 6 streams of talks.

This BA Brew celebrates:

• the dedication and enthusiasm of the Advisory Board who tune in to the latest thinking and different perspectives

• everyone behind the scenes who helps to make this wonderful conference happen

• the bravery of new speakers, stepping up for their first ever BA Conference presentations

• and most of all, the amazing BA community

Topics discussed include: how the conference has grown, kept current and pushed boundaries; inspirational speakers over the years; memorable moments… and more.

#BA2024 #ProfessionalGrowth #BASkills #Networking #BusinessConference #BAConferenceEurope #businessanalyst #servicedesign #servicedesigner #BA

In... or out? This BA Brew looks at the differences and common ground between the in-house and the external BA consultant roles.  

Our special guest is Liz Calder, highly experienced BA and IIBA UK Chapter President.  

Topics covered include: different agreements and expectations; skills sets; organisational culture and implicit rules; organisational knowledge; financial considerations; investing in your skills and knowledge... and much more. 

#BAconsultancy #internalBA #businessanalyst #businessanalysis #BA #businessconsultant #IIBA #BAskills #businessanalysisconsultancy #stakeholderengagement #organisationalculture  

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

“Failing fast” is a software engineering term which has become part of management speak, but does this widely accepted mindset serve any real purpose? We challenge the term and discuss the better approach of “test and learn” where there’s an opportunity to reflect and to find alternative ways forward. Listen out for the Rice Krispie incident – one not to be missed!

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul, Mike Williams and Jonathan Hunsley.

Are you happy at work? It makes all the difference. Today the crew talk about the impact of workplace culture on our happiness and productivity. James Robertson – author, problem-solver and requirements engineering guru – is our expert guest. We discuss the differences between positive and toxic cultures; how measuring performance can be counter-productive; the importance of a supportive and confident team; Belbin’s team roles (https://www.belbin.com/about/belbin-team-roles) and more… including the cathartic benefits of a good old moan. Click here (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Happy-Work-Here-Understanding-Improving/dp/0989282066/ref=asc_df_0989282066?tag=bingshoppinga-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80127011834779&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726552512524&psc=1) to buy James Robertson’s book: Happy to Work Here: Understanding and Improving the Culture at Work. Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul and Mike Williams with James Robertson, consultant, author and principal of the Atlantic Systems Guild (https://systemsguild.eu/) think tank.

On the first of Season 4 of the BA Brew podcast, Systems Thinking comes under the spotlight. Topics covered by the Brew Crew and guest Dr Alison Rodrias include whether Systems Thinking can be learned; scenario and impact analysis; reductionist thinking; user stories and applying Systems Thinking within the BA role.

During the podcast, Debbie refers to ‘Systems Thinking, Systems Practice’ by Peter Checkland.

Participants: AssistKD’s Jonathan Hunsley and Debra Paul with Dr Alison Rodrias, scientist turned Business Analysis lead at Parkinson’s UK.

Parkinson's UK is the largest charitable funder of Parkinson's research in Europe. The charity is driving forward research to develop better treatments and a cure for the condition. For more information, please visit https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and online courses.

Now you can get everyone on the same page… literally. Chris Ingold joins the Brew Crew all the way from Melbourne to share his passion for the ‘one pager’.

Topics covered include: The power of the one pager; A3 management; establishing the ‘why’ and the purpose; the misuse of small fonts and overcrowded PowerPoint slides; the one pager as a validation document; compatible BA techniques including Timelines, Scope, Process Mapping, Capability Maps, User Story Maps, the Value Chain and the ‘How Now Brown Cow’ technique.

Chris Ingold is a digital expert, change agent and Head of Solutions Design at ReadyTech.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and face-to-face) and e-learning courses.

It took Ian Richards and Filip Hendrickx five days and an entire wall of Post-It notes to create the storyline for the business novel Brainy Glue. It then took them three years to write it, around their many commitments. In this BA Brew, Filip and Ian talk about the main themes explored in the novel – business analysis, innovation and change… and how they managed to weave 25 BA techniques into the 52 chapters.

Topics discussed include: Understanding people’s drivers to inform stakeholder engagement; co-creating change; bringing the BA role to life in novel form and more.

Ian Richards is BA Director at Peregrine and a member of the BCS BA Leadership board. Filip Hendrickx is a global speaker, President of the IIBA Brussels chapter and founder of Altershape.

You can read the first sixteen chapters of Brainy Glue for FREE, on www.brainyglue.com and buy the book direct from the website. You can also order the book in paperback or Kindle form on Amazon.

Love to learn? You might enjoy our bitesize learning playlist – short videos explaining key BA tools and techniques.

Plan for success in your BA career with AssistKD’s FREE Career Planner tool.

For all the latest business analysis, business change and service design content, including bitesize learning videos, please like, subscribe and share this podcast.

In this final podcast of 2021, the Brew Crew discuss the Business Analyst Level 4 Apprenticeship scheme. Guest Claire Carroll gives an employer’s perspective, while Kuldip Kang shares her experience of going through the 18-month programme. Topics discussed include the different styles of learning involved, time-management challenges and more. Listen to the end for some useful tips from our guests for apprentices-to-be and employers. Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul and Nicole Rayner. With Claire Carroll and Kuldip Kang from Allianz.

How can you make your customers or end users feel real, empathise with them and better understand what they really want and need? In this Brew Kerry, Mike and Pete discuss the power of Personas, and how BAs can create and use them effectively.

The chat covers: what are Personas; avoiding stereotypes; customer research; using photos and names; how Personas link to other techniques such as User Stories and Empathy Mapping; and more.

If you’re interested in Personas you may be interested in watching AssistKD’s recent Service Design webinar on ‘Roles, personas and customer journeys: challenges and misconceptions’. You can find it on our YouTube channel here.

Are BAs leaders or followers? Jonathan, Debbie and guest Emily Tom explore this challenging question in today’s BA Brew.

Topics discussed include: the importance of context; why BAs are more than scribes or translators; the new vs. the mature BA; lifelong learning; giving back to the BA community; growing your skillset and challenging stakeholders.

Regional Director of IIBA Americas Northeast region, Emily Tom is a senior consultant with over 18 years’ experience in business analysis and business change.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in house) and e-learning courses.

Move over Game of Thrones, in this episode of the BA Brew we discuss the sometimes dynastic struggle between the Business Analyst and Product Owner roles. Who will be King (or Queen) and will BAs truly rule the world one day? Listen in to find out.

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul and Mike Williams with Geertje Appel, Business Analyst and Trainer at Le Blanc Advies.

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

Mike and Jonathan welcome guest Wouter Nieuwenburg to talk all things Business Architecture. The crew discuss the differences between the Business Architect and Business Analyst roles and what happens in that ‘grey area’ where respective toolkits overlap.

Topics covered include knowledge sharing, co-creation and collaboration; the Business Architect as the BA’s ‘independent, critical friend’; the pathway from BA to Business Architect and how the Business Architecture toolkit can benefit the Business Analyst.

Participants: AssistKD’s Mike Williams and Jonathan Hunsley. With Wouter Nieuwenburg, Competence Developer and Business Analyst at PanCompany. Wouter is part of the team behind the BA&Beyond conference and was one of the first in the Netherlands to achieve the Advanced International Diploma in Business Analysis.

Want to expand your skills set? AssistKD offers a choice of Business Architecture courses.

This BA Brew is all about bravery, asking what bravery is and how we can develop it. Charlie Payne and Kay Hardy join the Brew Crew to try to answer these questions and more. The discussion includes: how elements of police training can also apply to business analysis; a great skiing analogy; building resilience; psychological safety; power poses; and more.

During the BA Brew, Amy Cuddy’s TED talk Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are is referenced, and also her book Presence.

#businessanalysis #businessanalyst #bravery #challenging #businesschange #bodylanguage #managingstakeholders #designthinking #BA

The Brew is back! Debbie and Jonathan launch Season 3 in style with guest Kay Hardy. The topic of the day is Design Thinking, an exploratory human-centric approach that offers a useful framework for business change.

It’s all too easy to go back to the same BA tools time and time again. The crew talk about how Design Thinking helps BAs to refresh their approach, encouraging them to challenge assumptions, to elevate their thinking and to focus on people and outcomes.

Related BA techniques discussed include the Double Diamond approach, Empathy mapping and the ‘5 Whys’. Don’t miss Kay’s brilliant explanation of the ‘lorry under the bridge’ challenge in the first five minutes (she even brought her own whiteboard).

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul and Jonathan Hunsley. With Kay Hardy, Senior Service Designer at Capita Experience and founding member of Young Business Analysts (YBA).

Jonathan Hunsley recently piloted AssistKD’s new Design thinking course. Find out more here.

Building your BA toolkit? Click here to buy Business Analysis Techniques: 123 essential tools for success.

Can a book really change the way you work, or even how you look at life? The Brew Crew certainly think so. Watch this podcast to hear about the books that have made them think differently, and that they return to again and again for inspiration.

Topics discussed include: how our reading choices evolve; people taking away different messages from the same book; books on self-awareness and mindset; books about dealing with change; insights from works of fiction; books with practical tips, frameworks and methodologies; consolidating learning by watching talks by authors on YouTube;

Here is a list of the books recommended in this episode:

📖 Reengineering the Corporation by Michael Hammer and James Champy

📖 Mindset by Dr Carole S. Dweck

📖 Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr Julie Smith

📖 Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr Spencer Johnson

📖 Atomic Habits by James Clear

📖 Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed

📖 Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury

📖 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

You can also find a list of AssistKD publications here.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and face-to-face) and e-learning courses.

Editor Tom found this BA Brew ‘mind-blowing’ and we think you will too. If you have ever felt ‘put in your box’ as a BA, you need to hear what Enterprise Architect and Strategy Delivery Consultant Vicky Rothwell has to say.

Vicky challenges business analysts to push for a strategic role, to be bold with our BA toolkits and to build our understanding of business architecture and service design.

Topics covered in this BA Brew include:

• The overlap between the business architecture and business analysis toolkits.
• The rise of the strategic business analyst.
• Business architecture as an opportunity for BAs.
• Self-limiting beliefs and how to resist being put in the ‘BA Box’.
• Why business analysts, business architects and service designers are a powerful alliance.
• The capability lens and the value proposition.
• Responding to business events.
• Microservices and macroservices.

Vicky Rothwell works as Strategy Lead at Airelogic Limited.

You may enjoy the following BA Brews:

BA Brew 22: Business Architecture (Feat. Wouter Nieuwenburg) BA Brew 22: Business Architecture (Feat. Wouter Nieuwenburg) - YouTube

BA Brew 42 Business Analysts - Leaders or Followers? (Feat. Emily Tom) BA Brew 42 Business Analysts - Leaders or Followers? (Feat. Emily Tom) - YouTube

BA Brew 46: Business Service Design BA Brew 46: Business Service Design - YouTube

BA Brew Episode 50: Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone BA Brew 50: Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone (Feat. Producer Tom) - YouTube

For all the latest business analysis, business change and service design content, including bitesize learning videos, please like, subscribe and share this podcast.

#businessanalysis #businessanalyst #businessarchitecture #enterprisearchitecture #businessstrategy #PESTLE #VMOST #SWOT #requirements #requirementsengineering #servicedesign #designthinking #userstories #usecases #outcomesfocus #technologyarchitecture #businessoutcomes #leadership

As BAs and business change professionals, how can we make an impact in our organisations and the wider business analysis community? That’s the question the Crew tackle in today’s BA Brew, with the help of our guest Christina Tan (and freshly brewed coffee or tea of course).

Topics covered include: Leaving a legacy; making an impact on multiple levels; the purpose of the BA; giving and receiving support, ideas and learning through the wider BA community; the value of curiosity.

During the pod, the book ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey is mentioned.

Participants: AssistKD’s Jonathan Hunsley and Mike Williams, with Christina Tan, Director of IIBA UK.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in-house) and E-learning courses.

IIBA UK is the membership organisation for business analysts in the UK and is run entirely by volunteers.

This BA Brew is AssistKD’s second BA Question Time. Many of the questions focus on role clarity, a hot topic for BAs. Mike Williams is host, with expert panellists Jo Frances and Jonathan Hunsley providing the answers and insights.

This week’s questions are:

❓What is the difference between a Business Analyst and a Business Architect?

❓What is the difference between a Business Analyst and a Service Designer?

❓How can a growth mindset support change professionals in general?

❓ What are the overlaps between a Business Analyst and a Functional Analyst?

Do you have a question our the next BA Question Time? If so, please email us on BABrew@AssistKD.com or post on our wall on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

The following BA Brews and articles are relevant to the topics discussed:

This article on Business Analysis and Business Architecture is based on the workshop run by Victoria Banner and Jonathan Hunsley at the BA Manager Forum in June 2024.

This is an interesting BA Brew on Business Architecture.

BA Brew 22: Business Architecture (Feat. Wouter Nieuwenburg)

This article compares the BA Service Framework and the Service Design Service Framework and addressed the ‘grey area’ between the roles.

This book review is relevant to the growth mindset.

This output from the BA Manager Forum provides some useful information on the growth mindset.

#businessanalysis #businessanalyst #baqt #growthmindset #businessarchitecture #businessarchitect #servicedesign #servicedesigner #functionalanalyst #dataarchitecture #roleclarity

In AssistKD’s 2023 BA Brew Christmas message, the Crew compare their favourite Christmas songs and share their highlights of the year.

Another chance to put the business world to rights over a refreshing brew. This week our Brew Crew are joined by author and BA thought leader Ian Richards, to discuss the necessity for the business case.

Debbie, Jonathan and Ian discuss the value of the business case; why there is some controversy with some saying the business case is ‘anti-agile’; the succinct vs. the detailed business case; who ultimately should have ‘ownership’ and the different approaches of smaller and larger organisations.

Participants: AssistKD’s Debra Paul and Jonathan Hunsley. With Ian Richards, member of the BCS BA Leadership panel, author, international speaker and the 2016 winner of the IIBA (UK) Business Analyst of the Year award. Ian is the co-author (with Filip Hendrickx) of ‘Brainy Glue’, a unique business novel bringing business analysis and business change to life. For more details see www.brainyglue.com.

Check out AssistKD’s one-day intensive course Making the Business Case where you can learn how to develop the outline of a business case, using your own projects as a basis for the practical exercises.

This week, the Brew Crew are joined by guest Niven Postma, author of the highly acclaimed book If You Don’t Do Politics, Politics Will Do You.

“If you think your work speaks for itself… Think again.” Niven and the crew discuss how, whether we like it or not, we all have to navigate office politics. Niven shares her valuable tips, leaving the crew wishing that the book was available at the start of their careers.

Participants: AssistKD’s Mike Williams and Lisa Hudson with Niven Postma, Author and Lecturer on office politics.

AssistKD provides training, apprenticeships and consultancy services throughout the UK and internationally. Click here to view AssistKD’s extensive choice of classroom (virtual and in-house) and E-learning courses.

This week we welcome two very special guests aboard the good ship BA Brew. 🏴‍☠️Novelist Julie Walker shares the incredible story of notorious female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read while facilitator, speaker and author Alex Barker encourages us to learn from the Be More Pirate’s pirate code (see below). Are you brave enough to find your inner pirate and challenge the status quo?

Topics discussed include: what motivated Ann Bonny and Mary Read to challenge the norms; the freedom and equality of the pirate life; how the Pirate Code and questioning rules applies to innovation and change; the power of collaborative rule setting and collective values; the impact of lockdown on attitudes to leadership and more.

🏴‍☠️ HOW TO BE MORE PIRATE 🏴‍☠️

1. Rebel – but not for the sake of it. 2. Rewrite – bend, break but most importantly, rewrite the rules. 3. Reorganise – collaborate to achieve scale rather than growth…small is beautiful. 4. Redistribute – fight for fairness, share power, and make an enemy of exploitation. 5. Retell – weaponize your story and ‘tell the hell’ out of it.

Further reading:

How To: Be More Pirate: Amazon.co.uk: Conniff, Sam, Barker, Alex: 9781916052345: Books

Bonny & Read: The stunning new feminist historical novel for 2022: Amazon.co.uk: Walker, Julie: 9781529395723: Books

A trailer for AssistKD's BA Brew podcast, which is launching on Friday 20th November at 1030. Tune in to hear informal discussions about various topics relevant to business change professionals.

Having just discussed the Business Case Necessity in the last podcast, this week the Brew Crew tackle the perfect follow up subject: the value and challenges of benefits planning and realisation.

Jonathan, Sandra and guest Simon Harbisher (who approached AssistKD with the idea) discuss the importance of learning from successes and failures; the role of the business analyst as negotiator; POPIT; the danger of change resistance; the importance of communication and more.

Make sure you listen out for the BA Brew’s first guest cat, India (nicknamed Villanelle as she is apparently noisy, tiny and deadly). India made herself heard but was too shy to appear on camera.

Participants: AssistKD’s Jonathan Hunsley. With Sandra Leek, winner of the IIBA (UK) Business Analyst of the Year award 2014 and Simon Harbisher, Business Analyst at the People’s Postcode Lottery.

During the discussion Simon recommended the book Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior by Ori Brafman and Rom Brafman.

Learn how to identify, manage and realise business benefits effectively with AssistKD’s Benefits Planning and Realisation course.