Business analysis is a discipline within the field of business management that focuses on identifying business needs and determining solutions to business problems. Business analysts work with stakeholders from various departments within an organisation to understand their objectives, processes, and resources. They analyse the structure, policies, and operations of a business to recommend improvements and optimise its performance.

Key aspects of business analysis include:

Understanding Business Needs: Business analysts identify and understand the needs and objectives of stakeholders, such as customers, employees, and management.

Requirements Gathering: They collect and document requirements from stakeholders through techniques such as interviews, surveys, and workshops.

Analysis and Documentation: Business analysts analyze gathered requirements to identify patterns, trends, and potential solutions. They document these findings in the form of business requirements documents, use cases, process flows, and other artifacts.

Solution Design: Based on the analysis, business analysts work with stakeholders to design solutions that address the identified business needs. This may involve proposing changes to processes, systems, or organisational structures.

Communication and Collaboration: Effective communication and collaboration are essential skills for business analysts. They must work closely with stakeholders to ensure that the proposed solutions meet their needs and expectations.

Implementation Support: Business analysts often play a role in supporting the implementation of proposed solutions, working with project teams to ensure that requirements are properly translated into action.

Continuous Improvement: Business analysis is an ongoing process that supports continuous improvement within an organisation. Business analysts monitor the performance of implemented solutions and make adjustments as needed to ensure ongoing effectiveness.

Overall, business analysis is a critical function for organisations looking to adapt to changing market conditions, improve operational efficiency, and achieve their strategic goals.