In today’s fast-paced world, traditional project management and business analysis methods are often too rigid to keep up with changing requirements. As organizations increasingly adopt Agile methodologies, business analysts (BAs) also adapt their work methods. The Agile Business Analysis framework, as defined in the IIBA Agile Extension to BABOK, enables business analysts to play a crucial role in Agile teams. It involves continuously delivering value by aligning the work of an Agile team with business and initiative goals.

This is the first article from a series that explores the seven key Agile Business Analysis Principles outlined in the IIBA Agile Extension, providing insights into how business analysts can integrate these principles into their daily work. Whether you are an experienced business analyst or just starting in an Agile environment, understanding these principles is essential for driving successful outcomes in dynamic project environments with iterative development and incremental value delivery.

Agile Business Analysis Principles

The Agile business analysis principles defined in the IIBA BABOK Agile Extension are:

1 See the whole,

2 Think as a customer,

3 Analyze to determine what is doable,

4 Get real using examples,

5 Understand what is doable,

6 Stimulate collaboration and continuous improvement,

7 Avoid waste.

The following posts will break down each principle, explain its relevance, and offer practical tips for implementation. Let’s dive into the first one, “See the whole”.

Principle 1: “See the Whole”.

In Agile Business Analysis, the “See the Whole” principle encourages professionals to analyze the business change in the context of the bigger picture, focusing on the business environment and why the change is necessary. This principle encourages business analysts to take a holistic view. Understanding the context, solution, and stakeholders is crucial to value delivery.

For business analysts, “See the whole” means balancing the detailed analysis of individual stories with the overarching business objectives. Every story shall contribute directly to achieving these objectives and provide some tangible benefit. To do this, business analysts require a deep understanding of the organization’s strategy, vision, and customer needs. By adopting this mindset, business analysts can ensure that their work not only delivers a viable solution but also provides meaningful business outcomes.

One of the key challenges business analysts face is avoiding a narrow focus on specific tasks without recognizing their broader impact. To overcome this, it’s crucial to engage all stakeholders—domain representatives, subject matter experts, product owners, and users—to gain insight into the full scope of the solution. Understanding the relationships between various components of the project and how they contribute to the overall business value ensures that nothing is missed in the analysis.

Practical Tips

1 Engage Stakeholders: Regularly collaborate with stakeholders at all levels to gain a clear understanding of the broader objectives and to gather information from different perspectives.

2 Utilize visual tools: Use tools like context diagrams, value stream mapping, and system architecture diagrams to outline the system comprehensively and understand the interactions between its components and the surrounding environment.

3 Continuously Reassess: As projects develop, continually review how the work being done aligns with the strategic goals to maintain a focus on delivering maximum value.

By seeing the whole, business analysts ensure that their work not only meets immediate needs but also contributes to long-term business success.

Stay Tuned for next posts

Stay tuned for the next post, where we’ll dive into Principle 2: “Think as a Customer”! We’ll explore how adopting a customer-centric mindset in Agile Business Analysis helps ensure that the solutions we develop align with real customer needs, driving both value and satisfaction.

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References

Agile Extension to the BABOK® Guide v2, ISBN-13: 978-1-927584-07-1