subject: The Importance Of Reviewing The Past [print this page] History has taught many lessons throughout the ages. Leaders throughout the world have faced issues and solved problems, only to pass their lessons on to the rest of the world through books, writings, and even business practices.
For these reasons, history is a phenomenal tool for the business analyst. You are able to examine previous scenarios, make educated decisions, and essentially become a far more effective expert in your field of practice. This is why it is so important to review the past- so that you can succeed in the future.
History in the workplace
Working in business situations means that there will always be new methods and practices to be found. Some of them will work while others will not. It is up to you to eliminate that which is not feasible before you waste time trying to make it work. An already proven wrong decision shouldnt waste your time, especially when all you had to do is review your history to find that it wasnt going to work in the first place.
Reviewing and analyzing your history allows you to effectively become far more time efficient. If you follow the patterns of history, youll find that history tends to have a repetitious attitude, which means that your present situation likely has already been solved or simplified. It is up to you as a business analyst to study what has already been tried and proven and applying that to your own endeavors today. This makes the process simpler, saves time, and eliminates set-backs that can all be costly to a business progress.
Learn from your past
Not all of historys scenarios are outside of your control. In fact, it is you and your own pursuits that provide the most effective source of learning. Consider what youve done. Did your solutions work? Did they work well? Is there room to improve? Learning from your own past is essential to success. If you do and then proceed to forget or disregard what youve learned, then you have failed to truly succeed. This is perhaps why history is notorious for repetition, because many people do not take the time to learn from their own past. Consider the person that regularly has to get their car towed because it breaks down. As it turns out, he is neglecting to put gas in it regularly. While the tow truck does get the job done and is a solution, it is not the best solution. A business analyst would learn from the mistake and in the future, put sufficient gas in their vehicle to avoid unnecessary breakdowns again. Take the time to learn from yourself and openly share it with others.
History throws a curve, be ready
While in most situations, history does have a talent for repetition; it does not always mean you will find yourself going through the same exact motions. It is in fact important to understand that trends change with the time, and though history once proved a solution correct, it doesnt mean that the puzzle will fit together perfectly in these times. Dont rely on a template to define your project because there are often too many different scenarios that can take place or change factors. You want to have a clear and focused agenda that is specific to your projects needs. Organize a plan by working with the past to create solutions for the future.
What about moving to a conclusion before you understand what it is that the business truly needs? Remember that you cannot force a question to define your answer. You would basically be trying to change the world around you to fit your solution, which is not possible. Each situation has its defining solution. It is up to you as a business analyst to find an answer that fits the question and therefore make the solution work in conjunction with the equation. Analyze history and apply your knowledge and skill to creating a unique solution for your unique pursuit.
Taking the time to review history is a crucial part of business analysis. Certain target areas are important for a business analyst to focus on such as focusing on learning from the past and applying it to todays situations. It is important to keep in mind that just because a scenario has presented itself before, does not mean that the same answer will apply to todays situations. We are in a world that is always changing with each new trend, and while history provides a lesson to be learned, it is up to us to apply it to future pursuits.
