Are You an AI-Ready Business Analyst?
- Paul Emmanuel NJIKI NJIKI
- Nov 30, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 12
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the professional world every day. From finance to healthcare, and from education to transportation, AI is penetrating every sector and redefining many jobs, including that of the business analyst. But what does this transformation truly mean for business analysts? And most importantly, how can we prepare ourselves to remain competitive in this rapidly evolving landscape?
To answer these questions, at AI Ready BA, we have developed the AI-Ready BA Cube.
The AI-Ready BA Cube
The AI-Ready BA Cube helps visualize the three main aspects of how the business analyst role is evolving with the emergence of AI. It also highlights the areas where business analysts need to acquire or strengthen their skills to become AI-ready.
AI: New productivity tools for business analysts
One of the core competencies of a business analyst is the ability to effectively use technology tools to perform their tasks and produce business analysis artifacts and deliverables [BABOK Section 9.6]. AI enhances this toolkit both quantitatively and qualitatively. Business analysts must now be ready to leverage AI tools to automate repetitive, low-value tasks to increase productivity and improve the quality of their deliverables, while focusing on more strategic aspects of the profession.
AI: new stakeholders
Unlike other digital technologies, AI simulates human intelligence. Some AI technologies can engage in conversations and perform autonomous actions, which means they can be considered stakeholders. Business analysts must therefore learn to collaborate effectively and responsibly with virtual stakeholders who have a connection to the change, need, or solution within the context of business analysis initiatives.
AI: A New Perspective
Finally, AI represents a new perspective to the practice of business analysis, alongside more traditional perspectives such as agility, business intelligence, Information Technology, enterprise architecture, or process management. The role of a business analyst in an AI initiative involves specific ways of performing certain tasks, using different methods and approaches, and addressing particular issues linked to the use of AI, such as ethics, governance, and associated risks. Business analysts must learn to contribute effectively to AI-related initiatives.
Being an AI-ready business analyst means being ready in each of the three dimensions presented above. In future posts, we will explore each of the three dimensions of the AI-ready business analyst cube in more detail.
In the meantime, feel free to check out our services and resources to help you successfully navigate the ongoing changes in the business analyst profession.
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