While senior business analyst roles vary widely from one organization to another, in this post, we’ll talk about the 6 areas in which we see senior business analysts taking on increased responsibility.
I think the below is a good summary and I agree with Michael that a Senior Business Analyst does not always have more experience than a non Senior Business Analyst.
I think the below is a good summary of the areas we see Senior BAs take on increased responsibility, as you can be a Senior BA without coordinating the work of more junior BAs on the project/programme. As a Senior BA I have been on projects where I have had more junior BAs to organise/run and where I have been the sole BA.
The Senior Business Analyst - 6 Areas of Responsibility
#1 – Senior Business Analysts Tackle More Complex Projects
Typically a senior business analyst takes on complex, high profile projects. While the business analyst activities might closely resemble those of a mid-level business analyst, the responsibilities are greater because of the nature of the projects themselves.
Project complexity can take many forms. Multiple, integrated systems create complexity because new requirements need to be traced through the inter-related systems. Multiple stakeholders across several departments create complexity because of the number of perspectives that need to be blended into the final solution. Team make-up can also create complexity because when you blend resources from multiple organizations to implement a project, communication becomes more complex.
#2 – Senior Business Analysts Own Enterprise Analysis Responsibilities
A second, but much debated, aspect of becoming a senior-level business analyst is the incorporation of enterprise analysis activities into the role. Most BA roles include enterprise analysis at some level. If you ask “why” or define the business needwithin the context of a specific project, you are doing enterprise analysis.
As a senior level responsibility, enterprise analysis can also take the form of planning and scoping several inter-related initiatives and helping senior-level business stakeholders make informed decisions about which initiatives to tackle and how to tackle them.
#3 – Senior Business Analysts Understand the Business Process
While some business analyst roles are purely focused around business changes, many of us are “IT Business Analysts” and deal mostly with software changes. If this is the case in your situation, digging deeper into the business and business process changes can provide an avenue to take on more senior-level tasks.
As you learn about the business processes and how people throughout the organization use the software you support, you’ll build better relationships with business stakeholders. Through these discussions, you can create an opportunity for yourself to become a partner in the business change.
#4 – New Business Domains Are No Problem for a Senior Business Analyst
Many business analysts thrive during their initial years in the profession because they are experts in the system or business domain. They know everything there is to know about the possibilities of the project. When this is the case, your position of strength comes from your systems knowledge and your BA competencies are not fully stretched to the max. Senior level business analysts can often tackle projects across multiple domains and handle new business domains with the same level of confidence as familiar ones.
#5 – Senior Business Analysts Lead the BA Effort
A business analyst lead is often a senior business analyst working on projects of large enough scope that they demand the efforts of multiple business analyst. In addition to performing many business analyst activities, a lead will coordinate and oversee the work of other BAs as it relates to a specific project.
Part of leading multiple business analysts also means mentoring the junior and mid-level business analysts in your organization. As a senior-level BA, you will be viewed as an expert on the process and best practices for conducting requirements practices in your organization.
#6 – Senior Business Analysts can Be Consultants for Internal Stakeholders
An internal business analyst consultant offers technology or process consulting services to a line of business. Mark Jenkins as BA Manager at Websense enabled his analysts to take on consultant responsibilities. Each BA has a certain amount of their time dedicated to helping a set of business stakeholders diagnose problemsand understand needs. They are responsible for maintaining a deep awareness of how a business operation works and helping the stakeholders explore technology possibilities to more effectively execute on their roles.