Have you ever had trouble describing your profession? In the 90s sitcom 'Friends', no one understood what Chandler Bing did for a living. After four seasons, in a high stakes trivia game to decide who gets the big apartment, no one could come up with the answer. They still had no idea even after Chandler described his job as an IT procurements manager specializing in statistical analysis and data reconfiguration.
The "BABOK® Guide" (1) describes business analysis in Section 1.2 as “… the practice of enabling change in an enterprise by defining needs and recommending solutions that deliver value to stakeholders. Business analysis enables an enterprise to articulate needs and the rationale for change, and to design and describe solutions that can deliver value.”
I like the phrase 'enabling change'. When an enterprise has a need, we enable the change.
We are agents of change
We meet needs
We deliver value
Hang on...if there's a clear need and we can enable the change and deliver something valuable, why is there resistance to change? If you look at most project risk registries, there's one common entry in all of them: the risk that there will be a lack of stakeholder adoption - resistance to change.
Psychologists tell us that resistance to change is normal. Agnesia Agrella of Symetize Ltd. spoke with the IIBA® Brussels Chapter in December. (2) Agnesia is a Business Architect who facilitates change in businesses. In the presentation, she posed the questions, "Why is change so difficult?". Change is like stepping into the dark. We have no previous experience to guide us, no matching neural pathways to follow. It takes time to build new pathway so, in the meantime we move to survival mode: 'Fight, Flight or Freeze'. It is our normal reaction whenever we face change. The extent to which we experience it may differ but it is always there.
We understand that resistance to change is normal, even inevitable, so how do we mitigate it? One common approach is to have all of the reasons for the change clearly articulated so that the stakeholders can see the importance of addressing the need, understand the change and how it will address the need. But that doesn't always work. The stakeholders still exhibit resistance.
Then we appeal to the sponsor to mandate the change. The logic being if the stakeholders know this is going to happen with or without them, then they'll have to stop resisting. That doesn't always work either. Instead, the resistance simply goes underground, creating resentment and frustration.
Mike Jones, President, IIBA Calgary Chapter
Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP®), Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA®-AAC)
Mike has been active in the Calgary Chapter over several years, most notably as a 'Mentor' in the Mentorship program. He held the position of Director of Education from January 2018 until October 2019 and moved into the role of President in November 2019.
NEW from International Institute of Business Analysis™ IIBA®
IIBA has released its introduction to Product Ownership Analysis with the full guide set to launch in the Spring of 2021.
It is the latest product that will show how product ownership can be accomplished from a business analysis perspective. The new certification program is targeted for release in the May-June timeframe. Exciting stuff!
Come out to a virtual presentation where you'll gain a better understanding of the difference between business analysis and business relationship management. Our presenter will dive deep into each role's responsibilities and deliverbles, and where they overlap!
Non-Members: $10.00 CAD
Members: $ 5.00CAD
(see email discount code to be mailed out prior to Feb 20, 2021)
Troy Ronmark, Senior Business Analyst
Troy has worked in IT for 28 years in various roles including Developer, Architect, Project Manager and BA.
He started specializing in Business Analysis as he found various business and IT projects struggling to identify business needs. Asking 'simple/dumb' questions and looking at business opportunities from people, process and technology perspectives has been the key to successful project delivery throughout his career.
Hello, we are Improving. A complete IT services firm, offering training, consulting, and project services. Formerly known in the Calgary market as 'Quadrus Development', we are the Canadian headquarters of this growing company that spans across North America.
Our diverse network of Improving enterprises allows our company to provide a diverse range of expert-level services.
Meet our team and you will discover an interconnected group of passionate experts in areas such as Agile training and coaching, technical consulting, business analysis, business intelligence, web and software development.
Being made up of over 14 offices, each with their own expertise, we are able to provid our clients and communities an experienced array of skillsets. However, with strong, long-standing roots in each city we operate in, working with our team will always feel like working with an old friend.
At Improving, we are committed to establishing and maintaining trusting relationships with everyone who may intereact with our business, including our local community groups such as our IIBA® Calgary Chapter.
Many Chapter members will no doubt remember Michael McCullogh, (now President, Improving), who in years past participated as an excellent workshop leader for several Professional Development Days providing expertise in business analysis techniques.
We are pleased to be a part of your IIBA Calgary Chapter community and to be able to support the members in achieving great things within their roles, careers, and businesses. We look forward to meeting you at upcoming IIBA® events and workshops.
IIBA® Calgary Chapter
PO Box 2474 Station M
Calgary, AB T2P 3C1
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(1) “IIBA®, the IIBA® logo, BABOK® Guide and Business Analysis Body of Knowledge® are registered trademarks owned by International Institute of Business Analysis. These trademarks are used with the express permission of International Institute of Business Analysis.”
(2) IIBA® Brussels Chapter. (2020, December 17) How to tackle businesses' biggest challenge: Resistance to change and employee performance by Agnesia Agrella [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AliLXDeeuac
