subject: The Emergence Of It-oriented Business Analysts [print this page] The significance of business analysts in every company is undeniable. The two types of business analystsbusiness and IT oriented are expected to come together as more and more businesses adopt information technologies in their operations. Though the distinction will remain, IT-oriented business analysts are seen to dominate the industry in the coming years.
Business-Oriented VS IT-oriented
A business-oriented analyst is involved within the context of the business including business processes, cost-management and business decisions. When the business analyst is more involved in the IT side of business such as choosing and purchasing software, he or she is considered an IT-oriented business analyst.
Roles of an IT-Oriented Analyst
Stakeholders of software system can be different kinds of people or organizations who directly or indirectly use some sort of software. They may not have the right expertise to choose the right software. This is where IT-oriented analysts come in. They liaise communications between the stakeholders and the developers of software. They assist in discovering new software and analyze them by testing them and checking if they meet the requirements of the stakeholder. In the entire process, the analyst represents the interest of the stakeholder.
Training for IT Business Analysts
Business analysts may come from different professions and background. IT business analysts in particular are however preferred to be with graduate degrees and with background in related fields. Related fields for business analysts in general may include accounting, economics and business management. For IT, more relevant fields are mathematics, engineering and physical sciences.
Moreover, the nature of the job dictates which training and skills are required from an analyst. Basically, analysts are involved in simultaneous tasks and get minimal supervision. They also constantly communicate with technical people such as the developers. With these in mind, they need to be able to concentrate and focused on details even when handling multiple tasks. They must also be able to work independently. Their ability to communicate at a technical level must be paralleled with a knack for translating technical language to laymans terms especially when explaining to non-technical stakeholders.
Knowing the constantly evolving nature of technology, such analysts need to keep up with the latest trends and updates. They may have to undergo continuing education trainings and even sign up for journals and conferences that are relevant.
Employment Opportunities
Business analysts in general are sought after in the business world. Whether business-oriented or IT-oriented, their presence will continue to be needed for many businesses to run effectively and efficiently.
