Business Analyst for the Small Business

STERLING – Business Analyst for the Small Business – Small business owners may not think they need a business analyst.  Small businesses are sometimes caught up in trying to survive and overlook a key element in their success.  The business analyst can actually come in and determine what the small business owner can do to expand  his or her business.  The small business owner can benefit just as much from a business analyst as a large corporation.  There may be times when the business analyst sees the big picture when the small business owner can only see the bottom line.  The new small business may not feel the added expense of a business analyst is worth justifying.  In fact this is just the case.

The small business can benefit from the business analyst in many ways.  The business analyst may be able to offer an unforeseen income generating avenue.  Advertising techniques the small business is using may be proving fruitless.  The business analyst may be able to implement bluetooth advertising.  The small business could target specific clients instead of a general population with his or her advertising dollar.  The business analyst may be able to suggest point of sale income not thought of by the small business owner.  Other elements the business analyst could suggest would be repackaging in different sizes, where appropriate.  Offering complimenting sales items may have not occurred to the small business owner.  The business analyst is there to show a different perspective.

The business analyst will be able to assess the small business and determine what business decisions should be made.  He or she can instruct the small business owner of new programs available.  The business analyst will be able to offer advice as to new technology the small business owner is not taking advantage of.  The small business is able to be aided in several ways by the business analyst.

The business analyst is a visionary.  He or she can show the small business how to implement innovative business techniques.  These techniques may have never been before thought of by the small business owner.  The business analyst can view the broad scope of things to determine a need by the customer.  The small business owner may have no idea these areas of opportunity exist.  It is up to the business analyst to show the small business what will work and what will not work for the business.

Building profits and customer relations are the two key components that make up what the small business is focused upon.  A good business analyst will be able to integrate these key elements into a plan of action for the small business.  The business analyst can act as the liaison between the small business and the customer to determine if the needs of the customer are being met.  A report can then be generated to determine how the small business can use this information.  

The small business and it’s customers can benefit from the knowledge a business analyst brings to the table.  The added expense of a business analyst can significantly raise the profits of a small business.  It is worth researching whether a business analyst will be able to use his or her skills when it comes to a small business.

8 Questions every Business Analyst Should Ask

It does not matter what project you are going to undertake.  It is not important what industry you are going to be assessing.  What is important is you know what you are going to do.  You must as questions.  You must find what it is the client wants.  Presented is a list of obvious questions every good business analyst should know the answer to when starting a project.

1. What problem is this business having that you hope to solve by developing this project?  It should be obvious as to why you would ask that question.  If you do not understand what the problem is then you can not help to solve it.  Also, when reading the project program it may not be clear as to what the client actually wants.  The scope may only tell you what they would like to see happen.  It could and often times is not focused on what the true issues are.

2. What is the business doing at present to alleviate or solve the issue?  What has been tried in the past?  You must understand what the client is doing in order to understand what must be done. You do not want to develop a project plan overview only to have someone tell you it has been tried.  Listen to the customer.  Find out what they have done.  Ask questions while you are listening.  On your toes brainstorming so to speak.  Listen to what has not worked.

3. What inside resources will this project be utilizing?  What outside resources will be necessary? You will want to determine where your help and team players are coming from.  You may be familiar with most of the IT, but if the client wants to outsource it is a different game.  You may have to make a list of external interactions.  Define the company’s strengths and weaknesses. This can be most advantageous.

4. Have you determined a vision for the project?  The business analyst will compare this scope with the one he or she will develop to ensure consistencies and a parallel outlook.  In other words make sure you are on the same path.  This is sometimes easier said than done.  Communication is the key to success with this question.

5. What risks to you foresee and are you willing to take them?  A conservative client may not be inclined to take large risks.  Getting them to be specific can help when generating the project program.  You may also be able to overcome some of their fears or doubts by explaining the risk factor more thoroughly.

6. Are you under any type of time constraint?  There has to be a set time frame for the outcome.  A goal can be reached for any project if time is not a factor.  Most clients have time constraints which affect every avenue of business.  You will want to know what these are and plan accordingly.

7. What is the projected cost of the program?  An aggressive business analyst may be blunt and honest by wording the question like this. What is the projected budget and can it be deviated from?  There are times certain steps must be taken which can cause a project to run over budget. Other plans of action may not need implemented because management was not fully aware of certain assets available.  It is best to know exactly what is going into this project for the project program to succeed.

8. Who is the end user?  What support will they have? You will need to know this in order for the program to even fulfill it’s purpose.  Marketing data must also be collected to incorporate what the end user is asking for.  The goal is to reach the objective with everyone satisfied.  A business analyst can not do this without talking and listening to everyone involved.