Tag: IT

Software application development has only been around since the late 1970s. Compared to other industries and professions the software industry is still very young. Ever since organizations began to use computers to support their business tasks, the people who create and maintain those “systems” have become more and more sophisticated and specialized. This specialization is necessary because as computer systems become more and more complex, no one person can know how to do everything.

One of the “specialties” to arise is the Business Analyst. A Business Analyst is a person who acts as a liaison between business people who have a business problem and technology people who know how to create solutions. Although some organizations have used this title in non-IT areas of the business, it is an appropriate description for the role that functions as the bridge between people in business and IT. The use of the word “Business” is a constant reminder that any application software developed by an organization should further improve its business operations, either by increasing revenue, reducing costs, or increasing service level to the customers.

History of the Business Analyst Role

In the 1980s when the software development life cycle was well accepted as a necessary step, people doing this work typically came from a technical background and were working in the IT organization. They understood the software development process and often had programming experience. They used textual requirements along with ANSI flowcharts, dataflow diagrams, database diagrams, and prototypes. The biggest complaint about software development was the length of time required to develop a system that didn’t always meet the business needs. Business people had become accustomed to sophisticated software and wanted it better and faster.

In response to the demand for speed, a class of development tools referred to as CASE (Computer Aided Software Engineering) were invented. These tools were designed to capture requirements and use them to manage a software development project from beginning to end. They required a strict adherence to a methodology, involved a long learning curve, and often alienated the business community from the development process due to the unfamiliar symbols used in the diagrams.

As IT teams struggled to learn to use CASE tools, PCs (personal computers) began to appear in large numbers on desktops around the organization. Suddenly anyone could be a computer programmer, designer and user. IT teams were still perfecting their management of a central mainframe computer and then suddenly had hundreds of independent computers to manage. Client-server technologies emerged as an advanced alternative to the traditional “green screen,” keyboard-based software.

The impact on the software development process was devastating. Methodologies and classic approaches to development had to be revised to support the new distributed systems technology and the increased sophistication of the computer user prompted the number of software requests to skyrocket.

Many business areas got tired of waiting for a large, slow moving IT department to rollout yet another cumbersome application. They began learning to do things for themselves, or hiring consultants, often called Business Analysts, who would report directly to them, to help with automation needs. This caused even more problems for IT which was suddenly asked to support software that they had not written or approved. Small independent databases were created everywhere with inconsistent, and often, unprotected data. During this time, the internal Business Analyst role was minimized and as a result many systems did not solve the right business problem causing an increase in maintenance expenses and rework.

New methodologies and approaches were developed to respond to the changes, RAD (rapid application development), JAD (joint application development), and OO (object oriented) tools and methods were developed.

As we began the new millennium, the Internet emerged as the new technology and IT was again faced with a tremendous change. Once again, more sophisticated users, anxious to take advantage of new technology, often looked outside of their own organizations for the automation they craved. The business side of the organization started driving the technology as never before and in a large percentage of organizations began staffing the Business Analyst role from within the operational units instead of from IT. We now have Marketing Directors, Accountants, Attorneys, and Payroll Clerks performing the role of the Business Analyst.

In addition, the quality movement that had started in the 70s with TQM, came into focus again as companies looked for ways to lower their cost of missed requirements as they expanded globally. The ISO (International Standards Organization) set quality standards that must be adhered to when doing international business. Carnegie Mellon created a software development quality standard CMM (Capability Maturity Model). Additionally, Six Sigma provided a disciplined, data-driven quality approach to process improvement aimed at the near elimination of defects from every product, process, and transaction. Each of these quality efforts required more facts and rigor during requirements gathering and analysis which highlighted the need for more skilled Business Analysts familiar with the business, IT, and quality best practices.

Future of the Business Analyst Role

Today we see Business Analysts coming from both the IT and business areas. In the best situations, the Business Analyst today has a combination of IT and business skills. Each organization has unique titles for these individuals and the structure of Business Analyst groups is as varied as the companies themselves. However, there is a core set of tasks that most Business Analysts are doing regardless of their background or their industry.

The Business Analyst role becomes more critical as project teams become more geographically dispersed.
Outsourcing and globalization of large corporations have been the driving factors for much of this change recently. When the IT development role no longer resides inside our organizations, it becomes necessary to accurately and completely define the requirements in more detail than ever before. A consistent structured approach, while nice to have in the past, is required to be successful in the new environment. Most organizations will maintain the Business Analyst role as an “inhouse” function. As a result, more IT staff are being trained as Business Analysts.

The Business Analyst role will continue to shift its focus from “Software” to “Business System.”
Most Business Analysts today are focused on software development and maintenance, but the skills of the Business Analyst can be utilized on a larger scale. An excellent Business Analyst can study a business area and make recommendations about procedural changes, personnel changes, and policy changes in addition to recommending software. The Business Analyst can help improve the business system not just the business software.

The Business Analyst role will continue to evolve as business dictates.
Future productivity increases will be achieved through re-usability of requirements. Requirements Management will become another key skill in the expanding role of the Business Analyst as organizations mature in their understanding of this critical expertise. The Business Analyst is often described as an “Agent of Change.” Having a detailed understanding of the organization’s key initiatives, a Business Analyst can lead the way to influence people to adapt to major changes that benefit the organization and its business goals. The role of a Business Analyst is an exciting and secure career choice as U.S. companies continue to drive the global economy.

Training for the Business Analyst

The skill set needed for a successful Business Analyst is diverse and can range from communication skills to data modeling. A Business Analyst’s educational and professional background may vary as well–some possess an IT background while others come from the business stakeholder area.

With backgrounds as diverse and broad as these it is difficult for a Business Analyst to possess all the skills necessary to perform successful business analysis. Companies are finding that individuals with a strong business analysis background are difficult to locate in the marketplace and are choosing to train their employees to become Business Analysts in consistent structured approaches. First, organizations seeking formal business analysis training should examine vendors who are considered “experts” on the field with a strong focus on business analysis approaches and methodologies. Second, you will want to examine the quality of the training vendor’s materials. This may be done by researching who wrote a vendor’s materials and how often they are updated to stay abreast of industry best practices. Third, matching the real-world experience of instructors to the needs and experience level of your organization is critical to successful training. Business analysis is an emerging profession and it is critical that the instructors that you choose have been practicing Business Analysts.

Career training opportunities can take many forms and can often be used as continuing education credits that will help them keep specific certifications. Members of management often encourage employees to improve their skills by attending classes whenever they are available. It is understood that keeping up with new forms of technology is the best way to keep a company one step ahead of its competitors.

1)College Courses IT professionals and individuals who work with software on a daily basis, might do well to take college courses that teach the newest trends, and as such many colleges and universities offer professional development IT training. Accounting professionals can also benefit from refresher courses every couple of years to stay on top of new tax laws and guidelines, making this a career path that requires lifelong accounting training. Individuals can also work towards a higher degree in the hopes of advancing their career.

2)Company Sponsored Training Programs Large corporations who want to provide learning opportunities for their employees may hire instructors to come in and give lectures. Industry leaders can offer advice on new techniques and practices that can help increase the efficiency of the business. By holding company sponsored training programs, management can make sure every employee receives the same training, without having to rely on them to complete it outside of work.

3)Specialized Training Programs Suppliers and equipment manufacturers may provide training to individuals who will be operating or using their product in the workplace. One example is an accountant who will be using a new version of software for accounts payable/receivable. This type of accounting training is beneficial because the individuals teaching the course are those who developed the software.

4)Webinars Online seminars or webinars can keep members of management up to speed on the latest trends in office management and business procedures. They can be completed in their office or at home simply by logging into the training website. While most webinars cannot be used for continuing education credit, they can provide sound advice for individuals who are dedicated enough to sit through them and take notes.

5)Online Classes and Conferences Online classes and conferences are also beneficial forms of business training. Many people do not have time in their already busy schedules to sit in a classroom for several hours a week at a specific time. Online classes allow them to do their work at their own convenience and gain college credit at the same time. College courses follow the same format as conventional college classes except students are able to work from home. Most online classes will transfer to regular classroom credits if the student chooses to return to a more traditional college setting.

The boulevard of digital internet marketing scenario has flourished in the recent times. Various interactive platforms have facade to organize immense requirements of business custodians. The World Wide Web has opened up various means of promoting, and advertising in comparison to those that had prevailed earlier. Digital internet marketing in UK puts forwards immense competition these days to mainstream advertising including television, print and cinema. In this never ending implicit space of the internet, it has become necessary for brands to espouse a hard-line branding strategy and stay updated with the different methods of shopping and browsing.

An integrated website development in UK and marketing communication plan engages all features of online marketing, throughout the company. An incorporated marketing solutions company uses all possible different media mediums to capture the senses of various marketing prospects. A company providing SEO services in UK employs multiple medium of promotions including mass communication to reach the client’s target consumers or audience. Despite the fact that consumers are suffused with an invariable incursion of advertising communication, digital internet marketing solutions assist in targeting this advertising means precisely; thereby, suggesting the needed action. Various means that help in improving the website’s page ranks at search engines is what is included in digital internet marketing technologies that are used by marketing companies in the UK.

Such internet marketing companies also provide various means of counterbalancing the emerging competition, involving all factors of marketing, available across the entire company. Web design services UK also plays an important role when talking about internet marketing solutions. Some of the popular internet marketing solutions methods associated with a good website branding services include competitor analysis, affiliate marketing, email services, search engine submissions, link building, blog marketing and RSS feed. Competitor analysis assists the technical experts in monitoring the various activities of the company’s major competitors, which means it can help you run ahead of the trend and competition, overall improving the identity of your brand. Affiliate marketing increases the overall sales, visibility and profit of the business taking assistance of the collaborators.

Email marketing is another very penetrative and effective method of internet marketing services in the UK and can help you make your consumers get information about the company’s latest services and offers. Submissions on websites such as search engines; marketing portals; directories; and advertising portals allows attracting high quality visitors and, therefore, such optimization of websites through keywords and articles is highly essential. Another method of promoting a website and attracting potential consumers for any kind of business online is link building; therefore, to acquire a better exposure for a brand your links should be placed, wherein high link popularity is essential.

The author is a specialist working on digital internet marketing UK. She is working in IT industry for a decade and has a good expertise in various sectors of e-marketing including PPC, SEO, banner advertisement, affiliate and email marketing.

If you’re seeking to rev up your business career, attaining business training through classes and certifications can put you on the path to career success. It’s a competitive job market and with more business training, you can set yourself a step ahead of the competition. There are business training courses that are applicable to wide array of industries, including healthcare, finance, IT, telecommunication and e-commerce. By taking courses in business analysis, project management, quality assurance, data management, green IT and domain training, you can garner the skills and knowledge to move up the corporate ladder or embark on a new and exciting business career.

With a certified business analyst (CBA) certificate, you are ready for an entry-level position as a business analyst. Typically, no IT experience or business orientation is required. There’s also a lot of flexibility with this type of certificate. Courses can be taken online, on-location and spread out over several weekends or months. Study includes class projects, case studies and exams. You learn about a variety of topics, including software development methodologies, business analysis planning and monitoring, data mapping, prototyping and business analysis solutions.

For those aspiring for an exciting business career as a project manager, there are business training courses in project management that include theory and practical training for tools, such as MS Project. Students learn all about risk management, project planning processes, proactive management processes, implementing quality standards and how to prevent scope creep and losses.

Having a certificate in quality assurance is ideal for those wanting a business career in this field. With a business training certificate in this field, it’s a stepping stone to your first job. You learn all about the fundamentals of testing, the software cycle, static techniques and test design techniques. Typical course topics include the psychology of testing, static analysis, maintenance testing and test strategies.

For those IT professionals who want to transition into a career with data management, obtaining a certificate in this specialty is a wise decision. The courses involved in this certification are also ideal for experienced data professionals seeking to systematize or update their knowledge base. The course content is broad and covers topics like data architecture, data security, business data quality assurance, data design and business intelligence management.

Green IT business training courses are designed for IT professionals from any area, including hardware specialists, business analysts and project managers. With this training, professionals learn methods to save on expenses in IT investments along with how to implement eco-friendly technology. Content usually includes topics on robust technology, green technology, software deployment, e-cycling and power management. This training allows professionals to assist their companies in best practices.

All around, business training courses will provide you with a solid base for a new business career. You’ll be getting up-to-date courses that arm you with latest knowledge in the field and with the most advanced technology. Technology advances quickly in any field, and staying in tune with the latest developments is essential for any business career professional.

As our economy continues to change rapidly, there has never been a greater demand for developing and maintaining successful businesses than now. Its a ruthless world out there and only the strong survive but to manage to do so requires individuals with strong skill sets, world-class training and a knowledge base that is far reaching. A major in business administration will provide just the goal-focused curriculum and training required to excel in such ventures. Most business administration degrees prepare students with a firm grounding in the principles of finance, marketing, economics, accounting, statistics, problem solving, human resources and decision-making. If you are looking to major in Business Administration, be aware that this is not the stream for introverted people who prefer to work alone. The field demands a go-getting personality who thrives in stressful situations, works well in a group, and can listen well as well as delegate with authority.

Business administration includes a great deal of problem solving and number crunching as well, so, proficiency for math is always an asset. Many colleges offer Master, Bachelor and Associate Degree in Business with a general knowledge base and the ability to specialize in a particular area of your choice. Such programs encourage students to think about a wide range of issues from politics to ethics, sensitivity, innovativeness, creativity and other dynamics. A degree in business administration will therefore help you develop and master these skills and abilities. You can then decide which areas of specialization would most interest you and apply the strategies and theory you have learned to your field of choice. Business administration equips you to enter a wide variety of careers with a degree that is recognized and valued by companies the world over.

Business administration skills are required in most careers. From public sector organizations to charities, the government to law, industry to media, commercial and financial organizations as well as small and big businesses, the skill sets and training provided by a business administration degree would always be an advantage. A Bachelor of Business Administration provides graduates with employment opportunities in accounting, advertising, banking, brokerage, insurance, management, marketing, human resources, public relations, retail, sales, stocks and shares, IT, and self-employment.

Choosing a degree in business as a major is not a decision to be taken lightly. As a major investment of time, effort and money, make sure that you are definite about your career plans and course of action. Business degrees are excellent ways for some to get their careers back on track as well. Equipped with such a degree, your negotiating power in an organization improves drastically and you can aim for higher positions as well as an increase in your earning potential. For those in non-business careers, a business degree is also useful. For fields such as education, healthcare, media and engineering, a business degree provides you with managerial skills and leadership training to help you advance in your current career of choice. While there is never any guarantee of success with any degree, business or otherwise, it is a sound investment in yourself and your future prospects as long as you put in the time and effort necessary to make the most of the experience.