The Better Business Analyst Podcast

Search bars are fading. Buttons? Optional. Thanks to AI, users don’t need to think about how they interact with systems—they just do. But where does this leave us, the BAs who’ve been designing these experiences? In this episode, we dive into: Why AI is sneaking in to replace traditional search and UI. What this shift means for Business Analysts. Real-world examples of AI taking over, from Domino’...

Agile workflows—are they a game-changer or just a buzzword gone stale? In this episode, we dive into real-life tales of iterative project chaos, from stakeholder ambushes to scope creep disguised as flexibility. You’ll hear about: The death of the word "Agile" and what’s replacing it. "Done" that isn’t DONE (and how to fix it). Why flexibility without focus derails teams every time. Grab your head...

Ever wondered which process model to use and when? T his short and sweet episode of The Better Business Analyst Podcast has you covered! Whether you're navigating Waterfall, Agile, or hybrid approaches, we break down the essentials to help you pick the right tool for the job. Tune in for clear answers and practical tips that sharpen your BA toolkit. 🎧💡 👉 Listen now #BusinessAnalysis #ProcessMod...

🎧 Welcome to BA Bites , where we break down the complex world of business analysis! Today, we're exploring the Top 10 Ways a New Trump Presidency Could Affect Business and Business Analysis Globally . 🌍✨ Global Trade Relations and Supply Chains 📦 Potential shifts in trade deals and tariffs can impact how we assess risks, costs, and timelines for cross-border projects. BAs must evaluate the sta...

BA Bites - 10 Essential Techniques for Technical Business Analysis Join us in this episode of the BA Bites podcast as we explore the 10 essential techniques every technical business analyst should know! From understanding system requirements to implementing effective error handling, we’ll provide actionable insights and practical examples to elevate your analysis skills. Whether you’re just starti...

🌍 BA Bites - 10 Ways Business Analysts Can Embrace Sustainable and Ethical Business Thinking In today’s world, businesses must go beyond profitability and think about their social and environmental impacts. As Business Analysts, we’re in a unique position to integrate sustainable and ethical principles into our work. In the latest episode of BA Bites , I talk about 10 ways we can make a real diff...

In this episode of BA Bites, we dive into the art of writing user stories that truly capture user needs and drive project success. Whether you're a seasoned business analyst or just starting, these 10 tips will help you craft stories that bring clarity, focus, and actionable insights to your development team. From adding detailed acceptance criteria to introducing **User Stories 2.0**, these techn...

In this episode of BA Bites , we dive into Radical Product Thinking —a powerful framework for crafting a clear, long-term product vision that drives purposeful development. We’ll guide you through the Radical Vision Template , a step-by-step tool that helps you set a vision that aligns your team and creates impactful products. Here’s a quick recap of the template we’ll cover: Today, when [customer...

BA Bites - 10 Ways to Spot and Solve Project Red Flags In this episode, we explore 10 key ways Business Analysts can spot early warning signs on a project and take action to resolve them. From handling budget overruns and scope creep to boosting team morale and improving communication, these tips will help you keep your project on track. Here’s what we’ll cover: Missed deadlines and milestones Bud...

🎙️  BA Bites - 10 Ways for BAs to Enhance their Emotional Intelligence/EQ Welcome to another episode of BA Bites on The Better Business Analyst Podcast. In this episode, we delve into the crucial topic of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) for Business Analysts. Discover ten practical tips to enhance your EQ and understand why these skills are essential for your role. Here’s what we’ll cover: Self-Awaren...

13 Differences between Productivity vs. Efficiency It's easy to confuse productivity and efficiency, especially in the fast-paced world of business analysis. But understanding the difference is crucial for optimizing your team's performance. Productivity is about achieving results and creating value, while efficiency is about minimizing waste and doing things with the least amount of effor...

BA Bites - Embracing Discomfort: The Key to Effective Business Analysis In this episode, we dive into why Business Analysts (BAs) must learn to embrace discomfort to excel in their roles. From avoiding the trap of jumping to solutions too early to asking the tough questions that unlock real insights, we'll explore the top 10 reasons why being uncomfortable is crucial to delivering value as a B...

BA Bites - 10 Underrated Skills Every Business Analyst Should Master In this episode of *BA Bites*, we dive into the lesser-known skills that set exceptional business analysts apart. From mastering the art of managing up to presenting like a marketer, we'll uncover 10 hidden talents that every BA should have in their toolkit. Whether it's being the peacekeeper in a tense meeting or treatin...

This week I interviewed Pankaj Zanke, an expert in data and analytics with over 10 years of experience, who will explore the impact of big data and AI on business analytics, particularly within the insurance sector. We delve into Pankaj's background and what sparked his interest in data and analytics and then jump into: How big data and AI are transforming businesses Real-world examples of big...

BA Bites - The Top 5 Reasons Why Business Analysts (BAs) Might Struggle to Progress in Their Role In this episode of BA Bites, we dive into the common challenges that business analysts face in their careers and explore the top 5 reasons why they might struggle to progress. From unclear requirements and insufficient stakeholder engagement to inadequate communication skills, resistance to change, an...

Are we witnessing the twilight of the traditional Perm Project Business Analyst role? In this episode, we challenge the status quo and delve into the compelling argument for eliminating permanent BA positions. From the finite nature of projects to the career benefits of a project-based model, we explore why this shift could be a game-changer for both individuals and organizations. We'll discus...

This week on the Better Business Analyst Podcast: BA Bites - OKRs: Goal Getter's Guide Ever wondered how tech giants like Intel stay ahead of the game? The secret might lie in a simple yet powerful framework: Objectives and Key Results, or OKRs. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of OKRs, uncovering how this goal-setting methodology can supercharge your business. From understanding t...

BA Bites - What the Hell is a Feature? In this episode of BA Bites, we challenge the conventional wisdom around features. Are they truly the atomic units of software development? We delve into the historical perspective of features as product differentiators and examine how this definition has evolved in the age of agile methodologies. We'll discuss the pitfalls of feature-centric approaches a...

In this 10 min one off episode, we dive into the recent CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor update that caused widespread disruptions on Windows systems. Discover how a single defective update led to the infamous “blue screen of death” (BSOD), affecting businesses and critical infrastructure globally. We’ll explore the root cause, the immediate impact, and the steps CrowdStrike took to resolve the issue. Tu...

BA Bites - Business Rules? Don't Get Confused! Ever feel lost in a maze of confusing business rules? This episode of BA Bites is your guiding light! We'll shed light on the fundamentals of business rules, the invisible wires that power efficient business operations. Learn how to craft clear, concise rules that everyone from the CEO to the frontline staff can understand. We'll also bust...

BA Bites - The Analysis Squeeze - Don't Let Stakeholders Squeeze Out Quality Feeling the pressure to deliver requirements yesterday? In this episode of BA Bites, we tackle the classic BA struggle: managing stakeholder expectations during the crucial analysis phase. We'll dive deeper into why stakeholders might undervalue analysis, exploring common reasons like focus on speed, limited visib...

BA Bites - Why and When Do You Break Down Requirements? In this episode of  BA Bites , we delve into the crucial topic of breaking down requirements. Join us as we explore the  how  and  why  behind a Business Analyst’s (BA) approach to decomposing user stories, both in the pre-development and development phases. Pre-Development Phase: Understanding User Needs: How:  Conduct stakeholder interviews...

BA Bites - Long Requirements Document? Only for a short time Hey BAs! We've all been there - staring down a massive requirements document that feels like it will never end. But fear not! This BA bite explores the idea that while a detailed analysis spec and traceability matrix are important, they don't need to live in a giant, unruly doc forever. In this Bite, you'll learn: Why it'...

Struggling to write clear and concise non-functional requirements (NFRs)? Join Benjamen as he breaks down the essentials of NFRs in bite-sized episodes on BA Bites. This podcast is your go-to guide for understanding how to structure your NFRs effectively, ensuring they are measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Whether you're a seasoned BA or just starting out, BA Bites will...

This episode features my good friend Stu McKinlay, a creative whirlwind who defies categorisation! We met when his colourful personality (and attire!) lit up the room during a job interview for a business analyst role at Z Energy. But Stu's story goes far beyond suits and spreadsheets. He's a highly successful entrepreneur who founded Yeastie Boys, an award-winning international craft brew...