The business analysis digest #33 is here!
Hello there! Welcome to the Business Analysis Digest #33, with the best business analysis (and related topics) articles of the previous weeks, 20.03-02.04, 2023.
Business Analysis Articles
What Is Your Favorite Diagram? by Yulia Kosarenko
When asked about their favorite diagram in a job interview, it can be challenging to know what to say. But, according to Julia, one should enjoy answering it. It is true because the more experienced you become, the more different diagrams you use. But there is always one which you love and know everything about it.
However, if you are taking your first steps in business analysis, it’s essential to understand what the interviewer is looking for and what the role entails. Choose a detailed diagram that you’re comfortable explaining, and that relates to the job description. It’s also important to highlight the benefits of the diagram and how it can be applied in a business context. Finally, show your enthusiasm for the role and how your skills and experience align with the company’s values and goals.
Building a User Experience Is Social Work by Rebecca Shapiro
The article explains how creating a user experience is like social work. The author highlights the importance of empathy, active listening, and collaboration when designing products. They emphasize understanding users’ needs and goals to create a positive experience. The author notes that creating user experiences requires constant reflection, and iteration, like social work. They suggest that the design process should focus on building a relationship between the user and the product.
Usability heuristics in game design by Tiina Golub
Image from Codeacademy
For me, game design was always unique, as there is so much related to experiencing emotions that you would not find elsewhere in the software. I mean that game design aims to create this experience, compared to most other software that helps achieve some goal, while experience is a “necessary evil” you must consider to keep your users.
The article discusses the importance of usability heuristics in game design, which refers to guidelines for creating a user-friendly game. The author explains ten heuristics, such as “match between the system and the real world” and “recognition rather than recall.” By following these guidelines, game designers can create games that are easy to use and understand for players. The author also stresses the importance of playtesting and feedback to improve the usability of games. Ultimately, using usability heuristics can improve the overall user experience of a game.
User-Feedback Requests: 5 Guidelines by NN Group
Image from Hotjar
How do you obtain user feedback for your product’s UX? The article offers a comprehensive guide on gathering user feedback using various methods, including usability testing, interviews, surveys, and customer support interactions. It also emphasizes the importance of creating a user-friendly and non-intimidating environment for gathering feedback. The article advises on how to ask the right questions, listen to feedback effectively, and analyze the data collected to make informed design decisions. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of a continuous feedback loop and improving the user experience iteratively. Finally, there are a lot of excellent and not-that-great examples of how other products gather feedback to learn the do’s and don’ts.
Product visioning through storytelling by Mandy Cornwell
“There’s nothing in the world more powerful than a good story. Nothing can stop it. No enemy can defeat it. And who has a better story than Bran the Broken? (c) Tyrion Lannister, Game of Thrones. This is the quote I remember every time someone starts talking about storytelling. It could be because it has a very dual nature for me, the same as the quote. On the one hand, putting so much importance into stories sounds silly – they need to bring you a ready product. On the other hand, I do not know any other way which is naturally more acceptable than the other. Eventually, a story was the first way of communicating things since ancient times, which our subconsciousness bears up to this day.
In this article, the author explains how storytelling can help bring your product to life. By creating a narrative, you can help stakeholders understand the purpose and value of your product. A story can also help you identify potential problems and solutions. The article provides practical tips for crafting a compelling product story, including determining your target audience and framing the story around their needs. Finally, the author emphasizes the importance of continuous iteration and collaboration throughout product development.
UX Basics: Study Guide by NN Group
Image from Interaction-design.org
The UX Basics Study Guide is a comprehensive list of topics crucial for understanding user experience design. It covers usability testing, user research, interaction design, information architecture, and other topics. The guide is organized into categories, making finding the topics you need to learn about easy. Each category includes a brief overview and links to relevant articles and resources. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced business analyst, the UX Basics Study Guide is valuable for anyone looking to improve their UX knowledge.
Say No To Everything: The Diplomatic Act of Pushing Back from Obi Nwokedi
I can’t even stress enough how significant (and fun, by the way) the art of saying no is. Throughout my career, I’ve had to say “no” a lot of times, and not all of them were pleasant to other parties or me. Of course, I worded wrongly many of them, specifically in the beginning, or I needed a better vision of when to say them leading to issues. I wish I had read more articles like this in my early days.
This article explores how Business Analysts can develop the essential skill of saying “no” diplomatically. It explains how saying “no” can be used to push back on stakeholders and prevent scope creep. Also, it provides examples of how saying “no” can improve requirements and outcomes. It also offers tips on how to speak “no” respectfully while maintaining positive relationships with stakeholders. Ultimately, learning to say “no” can help BAs prioritize and focus on delivering value to the organization.
What is a Gap Analysis? by Anastasiia Strielkina
Another great article from Anastasiia about another tremendous and vital business analysis technique. If you’re trying to determine what steps to take to achieve your desired outcome or improve your business, consider performing a gap analysis. Gap analysis is a powerful tool for understanding the current state of your business and identifying areas that need improvement. A gap analysis can help you determine how to allocate resources and prioritize tasks to meet your goals. The process involves identifying the gap between where you are and where you want to be, determining the causes of the gap, and creating a plan to close it. With a gap analysis, you can set realistic goals and track your progress over time.
AI Spots Usability Opportunities that Humans Can’t by NN Group
It’s a big deal when an organization such as a NN Group starts speaking about the use of AI in UX. They have provided valuable insights to the industry for years, and their focus on usability and user experience is well-known. Still trying to decide whether to be scared or happy, but that’s a fact; we are talking about AI in UX on the highest level now.
The article emphasizes the importance of integrating AI into the usability testing process. AI can help analyze data more efficiently and accurately, identifying usability issues and opportunities that may be difficult for humans to detect. The article describes how one can use AI to analyze user behavior, automate user testing, and provide insights into areas for improvement. The authors also caution against relying solely on AI and emphasize the importance of human analysis and interpretation of the data. Overall, the article provides a valuable perspective on the potential of AI in improving usability and user experience while highlighting the need for a balanced approach that incorporates both AI and human insights.
A Comprehensive Checklist For Running Design Workshops by Slava Shestopalov
Design workshops are an essential part of the design process. As business analysts, we usually take a considerable amount in it or even become drivers of the process. But how do you organize an effective workshop? Here are five critical steps from the detailed guide to making your workshop successful.
The first step is to define your workshop objectives and target audience. Knowing what you want to achieve and who your attendees will help you tailor your workshop content. The second step is to choose the proper format and duration for your workshop. Choose a short or long-form virtual or in-person workshop depending on your objectives.
The third step is to create a detailed agenda and prepare all necessary materials. This step includes defining the workshop structure, preparing exercises and activities, and designing any visual aids you need. The fourth step is to recruit and prepare any facilitators or guest speakers. This includes training your facilitators on the agenda, preparing them for potential challenges, and ensuring they have all the necessary materials. The final step is to evaluate your workshop’s success and adjust for future workshops.
Remember, the key to an effective design workshop is preparation. Defining your objectives, choosing the proper format, creating a detailed agenda, and preparing your facilitators and materials will ensure your workshop succeeds. Following these five steps, you can help your team unlock their creativity and collaborate to produce excellent design solutions. I recommend reading the article further and soaking in as much knowledge as possible.
Upcoming business analysis events
🗓️ 12.04, 6 PM UTC+2. Leveraging BABOK for Better Business Performance
This webinar will explore the importance of enterprise excellence models and how BABOK can be used as a framework for enterprise analysis. The speaker, LN Mishra, has extensive experience in business analysis and agile software development. Attendees can expect to learn about BACCM, techniques for enterprise analysis, and a method to improve enterprise excellence. There will also be a Q&A session.
🗓️ 19.04, 6 PM UTC+2. Pivotal Process Flows
Are you ready to take your process flows to the next level? Join this engaging webinar to learn about pivotal process flows that will help you elicit stronger requirements and impress your stakeholders. You’ll discover the steps involved in brainstorming, summarizing, drawing, and pivoting, as well as the connection between modeling and user stories/requirements.
🗓️ 26.04, 5 PM UTC+2. Understanding your Stakeholders
This session will explore various ways to analyze stakeholders using journey maps and empathy maps. These tools will be discussed as part of stakeholder analysis, and their role in improving requirement writing and product delivery will be highlighted. Attendees will learn how to build and use these maps to better understand their stakeholders’ needs.
🗓️ 2-3.05, Online Product Management Summit
Are you interested in product management? Take advantage of the virtual Product Management Summit from Geekle.us on May 2-3. You’ll hear from experienced product managers, learn new strategies, and network with other professionals in the field. Multiple sessions will cover various topics such as data-driven product management, building great product teams, and how approach product roadmaps. Whether you’re new to product management or a seasoned pro, this conference has something for everyone.
That’s all I wanted to share in this Business Analysis Digest #33, with the best business analysis (and related topics) articles of the previous weeks, 20.03-02.04, 2023. Be sure to subscribe to keep posted with the best business analysis content!
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