BA Brew - A Business Analysis Podcast

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

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

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

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

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.

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  

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.

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)

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

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

Self-assessment and development tools provide useful insights which can benefit individuals, teams and organisations. This BA Brew features special guest Corrine Thomas (business analysis leader, coach, mentor, writer and author) and looks at some of the tools including MBTI Myers Briggs, StrengthsFinder, Engage, Strengths Profile, the Strengths Deployment Inventory and Mindset Advantage. Useful links: Myers Briggs Experts in business psychology and personality assessment (themyersbriggs.com) StrengthsFinder StrengthsFinder 2.0 | EN - Gallup Engage https://www.engagecoach.com/ Strengths Profile What are your Strengths? | Strengths Profile Strength Deployment Inventory Strength Deployment Inventory 2.0 | Core Strengths Assessment Mindset Advantage Mindset Advantage Psychometric - Matthew Syed Consulting, Mindset Cultures That Empower People You may enjoy the following BA Brews: BA Brew Episode 41: Job Crafting (Feat. Charlotte Axon) BA Brew 41: Job Crafting (Feat. Charlotte Axon) - YouTube BA Brew Episode 30: Confidence (Feat. Philippa Thomas) BA Brew 30: Confidence (Feat. Philippa Thomas) - YouTube BA Brew Episode 20: Resilience (Feat. Corrine Thomas) BA Brew 20: Resilience (Feat. Corrine Thomas) - YouTube Read AssistKD’s book review of StrengthsFinder by Tim Rath BOOK REVIEW: StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath | Assist Knowledge Development (assistkd.com) 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 #personalitytools #myersbriggs #selfawareness #mindsetadvantage #engage #strengthsprofile #strengthsfinder #SDI #psychometrictest #growthmindset #personalitytests #selfassessmenttools

Newly crowned IRM UK Business Analyst of the Year winner Pip Hall joins the Brew Crew this week. Pip talks about her BA journey and those key life skills to be found beyond the standard BA toolbox. The inspiring and heartwarming chat covers what we can learn from our hobbies, interests and relationships; the importance of empathy and why Pip thinks we should take our whole selves to work. You may enjoy the following BA Brews: BA Brew Episode 26: Stakeholders (Feat. Pip Hall) BA Brew Episode 47: Creating Purpose and Meaning (feat. Joe Newbert)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 #servicedesign #communicationskills #empathy #BAtoolbox #BAskills #stakeholderengagement

In this fascinating BA Brew, business consultant and communications specialist Miruna Ursache talks about the different ways we communicate, and the power of understanding where our personal communication styles, habits and patterns come from. Miruna is the founder of training and coaching company Refraiz, and has led fun, interactive communications workshops at the BA Manager Forum and the BA Conference Europe. You may enjoy the following BA Brews: BA Brew 48: The Benefits of One Pagers BA Brew 61: 50 Mighty Words to Grow Your Business 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 #servicedesign #communicationskills #businesscommunication #communications #verbalcommunication #writtencommunication #nonverbalcommunication

Between them, our Brew Crew have decades of presentation-giving experience. In this eye-opening chat they share some useful and practical advice… and a few embarrassing stories. From testing the tech to the best throat pastilles, discover some handy hacks and hints to make sure your presentations go without a hitch. Find out about AssistKD’s Presentation Skills course here. 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. #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #presentations #presentationskills #businesspresentations #presentationhacks #presentationtips #presentationpreparation #givingpresentations

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.

How do you become a BA professional? In today’s BA Brew, the crew talk about their respective journeys and business analysts can gain certifications, increase their skills and raise the standard of their business analysis work. Topics covered include: Training and development in business analysis; the pros and cons of the multiple-choice question and the oral exam; the difference between qualifications and certifications; the many routes to becoming a BA; creating a tailored professional development plan; reflection and knowledge sharing; learning from failures and more. Plan your BA career path with AssistKD’s FREE and newly updated Career Planner tool. Find out more about the professional certifications and examinations you can achieve through AssistKD. Watch this video about the BCS International Diploma in Business Analysis. For all the latest business analysis, business change and service design content including AssistKD’s bitesize learning videos please like, subscribe and share. #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #careeradvice #certification #businesstraining #businessintelligence #growthmindset #traininganddevelopment #professionalism #multiplechoice #knowledgesharing

🤖💼 The Future of Work: AI & Human Collaboration 🤝 This week's BA Brew is taking a futuristic turn, as we host an exclusive session led by a ChatGPT Avatar! Yes, you heard that right—a digital entity ready to explore, engage, and enlighten us on the potential and pitfalls of AI in the workplace. Join us to dive into topics like: How AI is reshaping industries 🏭 The balance between human intuition and machine efficiency 🧠⚙️ Ethical considerations in the age of automation 🎗️ Building a future where humans and AI thrive together 🌐 The above summary was written by ChatGPT. Further reading/viewing: Coded Bias (A Netflix documentary) Hello World: How to Be Human in the Age of the Machine#BA_Brew #FutureOfWork #AI #Technology #Innovation #EthicsInAI

You know you’ve had great advice when you remember it and feel inspired by it throughout your life. This week the Brew Crew and special guest Julie Walker share some valuable gems of wisdom – including how to eat an elephant (one bite at a time). Julie Walker is the author of the historical novel ‘Bonny & Read’, about the lives of the famous women pirates Ann Bonny and Mary Read. Further reading: By Julie Walker: Bonny & Read: The stunning new feminist historical novel for 2022

Communications failure is behind most business disasters, where people are afraid to admit they don’t fully understand what they are supposed to be doing, and why. Luckily, our latest BA Brew guest is on the case. In this fascinating discussion, Felicity Cowie –communications consultant, multi-award winning investigative news journalist and former Panorama editor – shares useful insights from her decades of experience. Topics covered include: the power of stating what you are doing and why concisely, clearly and understandably; authentic communication and feeling safe enough to say ‘I don’t know’; making every word count; avoiding scope ‘creep’; the reassurance of repeating the message at the start of every meeting and more. Felicity’s latest book, ‘Exposure’ includes the 50 Mighty Words technique. You can find it here.

This week our intrepid crew are joined by Jo Fahy to talk about Imposter Syndrome, something 80% of us admit to having experienced. The discussion includes what Imposter Syndrome is; the many ways it can manifest itself; personal experiences; gender and age factors; why a little self-doubt is useful but a lot is prohibitive; the power of being authentic; asking for feedback; silencing the inner critic and more. Jo Fahy is a Senior Business Analyst at the University of Manchester, and a member of the Young Business Analysts Senior Leadership Team. Further reading: Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). “The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention.” Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), p.241–247  Young, Valerie Dr. (2011) “The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer from the Imposter Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It”, Crown Publishing Group, Division of Random House Inc  More tools and resources available from Mandy Green at https://www.mandygreenleadership.com/ Dweck, Carol “The Power of Believing You Can Improve” TED Talk   Fahy, Jo (2022) “It’s Not You, It’s Me – Impostor Syndrome”, BA Digest, available at https://heyzine.com/flip-book/a5dc676452.html#page/5  Tulshyan, Rushika and Burey, Jodi-Ann (2021) “Stop Telling Women They Have Impostor Syndrome”, Harvard Business Review, available at Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome