Business Analysts and Project Managers: a close relationship with a common goal: success
Successful project implementation requires a strong, competent team, led by two key players: the Business Analyst and the Project Manager. Often, the boundaries between these two professions are not clearly defined. This results in lost time and productivity, and has a negative impact on Project Management. However, the success of a project is often measured when everyone’s roles are properly defined. These two functions have two distinct areas of expertise. The Business Analyst and the Project Manager work together towards a common goal: the success of a given project. Their good understanding is therefore essential. So who does what?
What is the Business Analyst’s scope?
A numbers person, the Business Analyst, as the name suggests, analyzes, understands and interprets mainly quantitative data (numbers, lots of numbers), as well as consumer feedback. It studies a project’s effectiveness upstream and calculates its potential success. The Business Analyst gathers, observes, draws conclusions and proposes solutions to improve the organization, help it achieve its objectives, increase productivity and profits, but also satisfy consumers and reduce losses.
The Project Manager then uses these recommendations to implement Project Management.
And what is the Project Manager’s mission?
While the Business Analyst focuses on the “What? the Project Manager focuses on the “How?
In fact, the Project Manager receives several projects a year and has to ensure that they run smoothly. He develops new strategies and objectives to achieve the given project on time and on budget. In addition, he or she generally manages a team of several other employees, supervising the distribution and execution of tasks. Not forgetting that he is also responsible for resolving any problems or delays that may arise along the way.
Why not broaden your skills?
Most of a project manager’s work involves Business Analysis. Without prior analysis, the project is heading straight for disaster. The project manager therefore needs the skills of the Business Analyst to work and carry out his mission successfully. However, it’s often the case that in the initialization phase, it’s the analyst who starts Project Management. The roles, very closely linked, sometimes become blurred, and some companies recruit a single person for both positions.
What’s revealing is that both PMP – for project managers – and PMI-PBA – for business analysts – are based on the same bible, the PMBOK. The two professions therefore have a very close relationship and can sometimes overshadow each other, even though they complement each other. If you’re already a project manager, take the plunge and train for PMI-PBA certification to become a Business Analyst too. This increasingly sought-after skill is bound to broaden your knowledge base and open up new opportunities and prospects. Preparatory course for PMI-PBA® Business Analysis certification according to PMI®.
