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  • In this special BA Conference Europe BA Brew, AssistKD CEO Debra Paul is joined by three BA Conference legends: Shane McGlynn, Rachel Levermore, and James Archer (who started the ball rolling in the first place!)

    The BA Conference Europe is Europe’s foremost Business Analysis conference, which has evolved over the past 16 years to over 500 attendees and 6 streams of talks.

    This BA Brew celebrates:

    the dedication and enthusiasm of the Advisory Board who tune in to the latest thinking and different perspectives everyone behind the scenes who helps to make this wonderful conference happen the bravery of new speakers, stepping up for their first ever BA Conference presentations and most of all, the amazing BA community

    Topics discussed include: how the conference has grown, kept current and pushed boundaries; inspirational speakers over the years; memorable moments… and more.

    #BA2024 #ProfessionalGrowth #BASkills #Networking #BusinessConference #BAConferenceEurope #businessanalyst #servicedesign #servicedesigner #BA

  • Are you an Activist, a Theorist, a Pragmatist or a Reflector? Our latest BA Brew could help you find out and get the most from your learning.

    The Brew Crew are joined by former Apprentice and now BA at the Environment Agency Cat Warren to talk about some of the different learning models (Kolb, Bloom and Honey and Mumford).

    They look at how the different learning approaches work with training courses, course manuals and eLearning and explore how understanding other people’s different learning styles helps with facilitation and stakeholder engagement.

    The following resources are relevant to the learning models mentioned in this podcast:

    Kolb’s Learning Styles

    The Honey and Mumford Learning Model

    Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning

    You can find quick overviews of how to use Mind Maps and Rich pictures in the Bitesize Videos section of the AssistKD Learning Zone.

    #learningstyles #elearning #businesstrainingcourses #businessanalysis #servicedesign #kolb #honeyandmumford #bloomstaxonomy #learning #training #businesstraining

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  • This BA Brew is AssistKD’s second BA Question Time. Many of the questions focus on role clarity, a hot topic for BAs. Mike Williams is host, with expert panellists Jo Frances and Jonathan Hunsley providing the answers and insights.

    This week’s questions are:

    ❓What is the difference between a Business Analyst and a Business Architect?

    ❓What is the difference between a Business Analyst and a Service Designer?

    ❓How can a growth mindset support change professionals in general?

    ❓ What are the overlaps between a Business Analyst and a Functional Analyst?

    Do you have a question our the next BA Question Time? If so, please email us on [email protected] or post on our wall on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

    The following BA Brews and articles are relevant to the topics discussed:

    This article on Business Analysis and Business Architecture is based on the workshop run by Victoria Banner and Jonathan Hunsley at the BA Manager Forum in June 2024.

    This is an interesting BA Brew on Business Architecture.

    BA Brew 22: Business Architecture (Feat. Wouter Nieuwenburg)

    This article compares the BA Service Framework and the Service Design Service Framework and addressed the ‘grey area’ between the roles.

    This book review is relevant to the growth mindset.

    This output from the BA Manager Forum provides some useful information on the growth mindset.

    #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #baqt #growthmindset #businessarchitecture #businessarchitect #servicedesign #servicedesigner #functionalanalyst #dataarchitecture #roleclarity

  • If you’re concerned about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on your business or your job, this BA Brew is a must-watch. Debra Paul and Pete Thompson discuss the benefits, risks and opportunities with Donald Farmer – one of the foremost thinkers, researchers and presenters in the field.

    Topics discussed include: automating processes; cost savings; intellectual property; caring about the human element; inherent bias in AI; the need for new requirements; mitigating for unexpected adverse effects and more.

    Donald Farmer is a visionary data and analytics strategist with over 30 years’ experience designing data and analytics products. He has led teams at Microsoft and Qlik Technologies and is now the Principal of TreeHive Strategy where he advises software vendors, enterprises and investors on data and advanced analytics strategy.

    FURTHER RESOURCES

    This short article lists the top takeaways from Donald Farmer’s talk at the Business Change and Transformation Conference Europe: Generative AI and Business Strategy: Innovation or Imitation?

    You may also be interested in the following articles and BA Brews on AI:

    Articles:

    AI Alchemy: Turning Change into Gold

    AI and the Business Analysis Role

    Book Review of Hello World by Hannah Fry

    BA Brews:

    Business Analysis and AI

    The AI Brew

    #AI #artificialintelligence #AIautomation #requirements #dataanalytics #dataanalysis #businesschange #servicedesign

  • This BA Brew is all about bravery, asking what bravery is and how we can develop it. Charlie Payne and Kay Hardy join the Brew Crew to try to answer these questions and more. The discussion includes: how elements of police training can also apply to business analysis; a great skiing analogy; building resilience; psychological safety; power poses; and more.

    During the BA Brew, Amy Cuddy’s TED talk Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are is referenced, and also her book Presence.

    #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #bravery #challenging #businesschange #bodylanguage #managingstakeholders #designthinking #BA

  • If you are interested in Agile, you won’t want to miss this. This BA Brew is all about the second edition of ‘Agile Business Analysis: Practical guidance for IT professionals’ by Lynda Girvan and Debra Paul.

    Watch as the authors discuss what readers can expect from the revised and updated edition, including:

    ⭐ the latest Agile developments

    ⭐ new techniques

    ⭐ new thinking

    ⭐ real-life case-studies where experienced practitioners share challenges and lessons learned.

    The wide-ranging discussion covers organisational agility and the role of the BA; the relevance of the Agile Manifesto; how to apply Agile in an informed and relevant way; the increased focus on the customer and much more.

    #agile #IT #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #businesschange #digital #agilebusinessanalysis

  • 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 [email protected] 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)

  • 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