To BA, or Not to BSA, That Is the Question

Whether it’s driving innovation, cost-effectiveness, or productivity, Business Analysts and Business Systems Analysts play a significant role in every organization.

Before considering a career in this domain, remember- there’s a proviso! You must understand the difference between the two roles.

Wondering where to start? Don’t worry. We have got you covered. Buckle up and continue reading!

Driving Innovation With Business Analysts and Business Systems Analysts

Business analysts typically focus on identifying opportunities for improvement within a company and developing strategies to improve productivity. On the other hand, business systems analysts concentrate on designing and implementing new systems to improve a company’s productivity.

Both roles require problem-solving and solid skills to critically analyze circumstances. The skills to communicate efficiently within the system and outside, at least for the business analyst, are reliable and game-changing credentials.

What Is A Business Analyst?

A business analyst is an experienced business enthusiast with management skills and an exceptional understanding of an organization’s business processes. They have an eye for identifying opportunities for improvement within a system or the entire setup. Business analysts generally have a background in business, marketing, management, or economics and use their analytical skills to help organizations improve productivity and profitability. Business analysts typically work with business stakeholders to understand their needs and requirements and use their perceptive abilities to identify opportunities for improvement. They may also develop and implement solutions to improve business processes. Business analysts may train staff on new business processes or systems.

Duties Of A Business Analyst

• Summarizing and balancing business processes to recognize any scope for improvement.
• Keeping the associates in the loop and devising plans for better revenue.
• Meeting with company executives, shareholders, and even the directorates to focus on company goals and achievements.
• Recommending and implying ways to boost company sales and strategizing ways to excel with production and sales.
• Undertaking training or supervising the interns.
• Considering the proposals of stakeholders and concerned company executives.
• Keeping track of changes and updates and ensuring that all concerns are timely updated.

What Is A Business Systems Analyst?

A business systems analyst is an individual who helps businesses streamline their operations by analyzing their existing systems and recommending improvements within a particular department

 Business systems analysts usually have sound knowledge of technological systems and are proficient when it comes to strategic business management in today’s technological era.

A system analyst may also help a business analyst implement the changes for better productivity within a particular company administration. They can generate programs, software, and innovative technical solutions for the division to maximize efficiency.

Duties Of A Business Systems Analyst

• Analyzing and upgrading critical aspects and challenges within a business system
• Meeting company authorities or the company’s business analyst to determine which administrative department needs help.
• Assisting various departments with technical equipment
• Verify overall company performance to find loopholes and suggest technological proposals for improvement within the different company domains.
• Develop software for the company or a particular admin department to enhance functionality.
• Presenting proposed costs and budgeting new software designs and systems.
• Implementing new systems within the company.
• Supervising the implemented software and systems to generate reports and monitor progress regularly

System Analyst vs. Business Analyst

There are a few key differences between System Analysts and Business Analysts. For one, System Analysts tend to focus more on the technical aspects of a business, while Business Analysts concentrate more on the company’s strategic objectives.

Additionally, System Analysts are more likely to be involved in implementing a business system. In contrast, Business Analysts primarily engage in the planning and design phases.

Finally, System Analysts are typically more concerned with how a system works, while Business Analysts are more concerned with how a system can leverage a business’s profits.

What Should You Choose

This is the point to ponder if you are in an entry-level phase of your career and deciding which degree to pursue. What should you be? A Business Analyst or System Analyst? Let us make the choices very simple for you.

If building relationships, thinking out of the box, and staying composed is your asset, then Business Analyst is for you. Moreover, if you are still in the business management and economics mainstream and appreciate more of the technological part, a career in Business Analytics is definitely for you.

The ability to communicate holds a significant advantage for a Business Analyst. You will be the company’s hub, relating issues from within departments to the stakeholders and looking for solutions. You will be the key figure in proposing changes for the improvement and betterment of the company. You may not be involved in IT projects, but you might be the one to contemplate them. Overall, you should be good at documentation, negotiation, kinship, and presentation.

If we consider the characteristics of a System Analyst, an IT enthusiast is more suited to the position. Implementing a solution from technical objectivity is the critical role of the System Analyst. Your post will require you to be technically sound, have outstanding debugging skills, the ability to write queries, and experience drafting technical documents (class, sequence diagrams, etc.), as well as data modeling skills. You can even lead a specialized team to produce the desired output requested by a Business Analyst.

The main differences between the two roles are often mistaken to be the same. Your interest and area of expertise should help you decide your career trajectory.

To Sum Up

The truth is that the lines between business and technology are blurring. When deciding between a Business Analyst or a Business System Analyst, it is essential to know that there is a lot of overlap.

Ultimately, it is vital to conquer your strengths, and if you are a person who is good at interacting and communicating with people, becoming a Business Analyst might be a good choice for you.

On the contrary, if you are a person who is good at understanding technology, becoming a business System Analyst is the way to go!