I’ve only recently joined Triad. My first assignment has been with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. I am about to join the Met Office, where I will work on their Future Forecast project. I’m excited. This is part of a major overhaul of the agency’s forecasting capabilities to leverage new, more powerful supercomputing technology. The goal is to deliver more accurate, usable, and timely weather insights by transitioning from older systems to high-resolution, AI-integrated models.
I hadn’t planned on being a Business Analyst
I didn’t leave school wanting to be a Business Analyst (BA). I fell into it. I was working for an energy company as a Resource Analyst. My analytical skills were recognised, and I was given the opportunity to move into Smart Metering as a BA. I then spent over 10 years learning my craft, designing the Smart Metering versions of the change-of-supplier process, prepayment, and much of how the metering workforce installed new meters and the data that flowed through the system.
Most recently, I spent nearly five years working at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, contributing to the successes of our national defence, having worked on projects that dealt with ships, planes and boats (submarines). Reflecting now, most of my BA experience has been on large-scale Transformational business change.
The BA toolkit is vast
I like the variety of work that a BA does. No two assignments are really the same. The BA toolkit is so vast. Whilst you might only use 20% of it 80% of the time, the way stakeholders react or how you implement its use will change from project to project.
There can be a misconception of what a BA does or can do. I’ve worked on some teams where the BA is expected to document information or manage general admin tasks. And that gives me an opportunity to influence their perception of a BA. We are interpreters of business needs. Facilitators of collaboration. Guides who help organisations make smarter decisions. We are problem‑solvers who turn ambiguity into clarity. We are essential to any transformational project.
The importance of personal development
When it comes to personal development, it is important to dip into the classic Business Analysis textbook to brush up on techniques you haven’t used for a while. And then there are lots of courses on Udemy that satisfy a need.
Having completed the Business Analysis Diploma a few years ago, I spent time at BAE mentoring subsequent cohorts as they went through the same. Mentoring is great, and whilst a lot of people look up to a mentor for knowledge and guidance, there’s gratitude for the opportunity to refresh and gain different perspectives that support your own growth.
Depending on what projects you’re on, some might be more traditional ‘Waterfall’ delivery, whereas a lot try to use a more ‘Agile’ framework, which feeds the adaptability need of a BA to learn and know how to utilise which bow string is best for the task at hand is a core skill. I have recently completed the Professional ScrumMaster training and am now a certified ScrumMaster!
Within Triad, there is an excellent support mechanism – its people! There is a thriving BA Community of Practice, which is maturing nicely. And I am working on a ‘coffee and catch-up’ initiative for the BA Community.
Advice to my younger self…
If I had to give my younger self some advice, I think it would be two things. One is probably more practical, and one is more meaningful.
Firstly, ‘never have a blank page’. Just put something on it. You can always work with something. Others can always provide input on something. Whether that’s a literal piece of paper, a PowerPoint slide or even a meeting agenda, emptiness can be daunting, uncontrolled and unsettling.
Secondly, ‘don’t be afraid to not know’. A quick story for you: I was sitting in a barber’s chair, probably 10 years ago now, and we were discussing hairstyles, which led to a more in-depth chat about hair types and how they differ by ethnicity. ‘I never knew that’, I said to the barber, to which they replied, ‘Why would you, when you have nothing to do with hair?’ That has stuck with me, and whilst I still fall foul of it now, expecting to know everything about everything or be good at everything, sometimes we just must remember that we don’t know what we don’t know – and that’s ok.
If you have a question for Adam or the Triad team, please get in touch.
