Books and publications
Business Analyst: a Profession and a Mindset (Amazon | Kobo)
Analyste d’affaires : la profession et l’état d’esprit (Amazon | Kobo)
Business Analyst Mindset Digital Toolkit
YouTube Channel
Business Analysis Tools & Techniques
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Business Architecture Modelling Basics
Learn more about these go-to models to start a business architecture engagement: capability model, context model, business model canvas, business use cases diagram.
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How To Pivot Your Career to Business Analysis
Most business analysts come from other professions and job families. How can you pivot your career to business analysis? Need help with your professional development?
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Is Business Analysis for You?
Will you make a good business analyst? Is this profession for you? Will you enjoy it? What do business analysts do all day? This article will answer your questions.
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Business Analysis Pitfalls: Ungrounded in Reality
What happens when a business analyst relies on a single source of requirements without fact-checking, research and analysis? Can we solve business problems without getting down to the ground level?
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How is Baking Macaroons Like a Software Project?
We can learn valuable project management lessons from any project – including baking macaroons.
Analysis techniques, business architecture and analysis models, and the principles of the BA mindset are for all professionals involved in creating solutions to business problems.
Speaking
Get in touch with Yulia if you would like to book her for speaking or leading a webinar. Below are some topics to choose from, and upcoming events with registration details.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Pivot Your Career to Business Analysis: this free webinar will focus on how to gain business analysis experience, prepare your resume for a career pivot, and what to expect from interviews and hiring assessments. Bonus: 20% discount code for the “Business analysis for professionals changing careers” course. Register here.
On Request
The art and science of managing stakeholders
What’s the big deal about managing stakeholders? Why is it sometimes so difficult?
In this presentation, we focus on understanding the stakeholders and their needs. Recognizing different types of stakeholders is key. As their needs, level of interest, and power differs, so should our approach. The presentation includes tips and ideas on how to build trust, overcome resistance, and manage expectations. The emphasis is on applying a business analyst mindset in dealing with stakeholders.
We wrap up with do’s and don’ts of stakeholder interaction and communication, and if desired, can build in time for a round-table discussion and Q&A.
Success in business analysis – with a mindset
The concept of the business analyst mindset, first outlined in the author’s book, is central to this presentation. We look at the key challenges of business analysis and discuss how to approach them with the right mindset. From solving the right business problem to taking responsibility for a shared understanding of requirements, to being part of the solution – the focus is on what makes a business analyst successful.
The presentation will touch on each of the twelve BA mindset principles, providing practical advice on how to follow them in day-to-day life on a project.
The session will include interactive elements such as online polls for feedback and contributions from the audience.
Avoid common business analysis pitfalls
The concept of the business analyst mindset, first outlined in the author’s book, is central to this presentation. We review the twelve principles of the BA mindset and how they help analysts achieve excellence. Then, the discussion moves to the business analysis pitfalls. We analyze some common pitfalls, their unwelcome consequences, and how these can be mitigated by applying the principles of the BA mindset.
The discussion includes real-life examples and invites an open dialogue about challenges and barriers that business analysts may face, and how to overcome them – with the right mindset.
Business modelling for analysis – beyond swim lanes
Models are efficient (and often underused) business analysis tools. Visual representation of key concepts helps to create a shared understanding of the business problem, and eventually – of a proposed solution. While process flows are key to capturing and modelling business processes, there are other diagrams that analysts should have in their toolkit.
In this session, we will review several business models and when to use them:
- context models
- use case diagrams
- decision trees
- state transition diagrams
The focus will be on the purpose, key elements, and best practices for each model.
The session will include interactive elements such as online polls for feedback and contributions from the audience.
What business analysts need to know about data
Business analysts play a key role in solving business problems. These problems cannot be solved without addressing data and analytics requirements, so analysts need to understand and be able to tackle data challenges to be successful.
Key messages:
- Data is what connects business processes and parts of an organization
- The future of process improvement is in embedded analytics
- Defining data and analytics requirements is essential to solving business problems
Business Analysis Fundamentals
Is business analysis for me?
It is time to upskill and consider future career paths. And for organizations, it’s time to empower your employees to expand their knowledge and expertise.
The webinar is for aspiring business analysts and professionals considering a career change. It will answer the following questions:
What is business analysis?
What do business analysts do all day?
What are the BA job responsibilities?
What types of companies hire business analysts?
What resources are available to you to learn more?
What are the next steps to take if you would like to become a business analyst?
The session includes a Q&A section to answer questions from the audience.
Understanding business analysis process
How does business analysis happen? In this webinar, we discuss the business analysis process and answer the following questions:
Where do requirements come from?
How exactly do we “do business analysis”?
What are the steps in the business analysis process?
When does business analysis end?
What are the deliverables of the business analysis process?
Business analysis outcomes & deliverables
This webinar will answer the questions:
- What is the product of business analysis?
- What artifacts are used to capture requirements?
- What are the outcomes of the business analysis process?
- What deliverables is the business analyst accountable for?
We will also discuss how a versatile business analyst can use different tools for different purposes and audiences, and supplement user stories and requirements by other requirements artifacts.
The webinar incudes many visuals and examples and encourages participants to include these artifacts in their professional portfolio.
Business analysis tools & techniques
This session provides an overview of the core business analysis activities, and tools & techniques used to support them. The discussion will then focus on:
- Tips for asking questions
- Immersion
- Artifact analysis
- Root cause analysis
- Process analysis
- Modelling
- Capturing and sharing business requirements
The discussion will include real-life examples and invite an open dialogue about challenges and barriers that business analysts may face, and how to overcome them – with the right mindset and the right tools.
The session will include interactive elements such as online polls for feedback and contributions from the audience.
PREVIOUS EVENTS
Avoid Common Business Analysis Pitfalls: a breakout session at the Business Analysis Development Day in Phoenix (BADD in the Desert) – September 16th. Missed it? Get all BA Pitfalls posters with your copy of Business Analyst Mindset Digital Toolkit.
Business Analysis Tools & Techniques: a webinar hosted by the IIBA Pittsburgh Chapter – October 5. Missed it? Watch this previous webinar recording on YouTube.
Success in business analysis – with a mindset: a webinar hosted by the IIBA New Zealand Chapter – November 10 at 12 pm (November 9 at 6 pm EST). Missed it? Watch this previous webinar recording on YouTube.
Is Business Analyst career for me? – webinar hosted by INVORG – December 3rd, 2020 at 1-2 pm EST. Missed it? Watch this video.
What Business Analysts Need to Know About Data: 90-minute workshop at the upcoming BA & Beyond 2021 Conference on March 19, 20201. Missed it? Contact me to run it for your organization.
BA Mindset Video #11: Expect Human Behaviour from Human Beings
While the business analysis profession is closely associated with information technology, first and foremost we work with people. As a business analyst, you have to work with people to help solve problems created by people – to build solutions that…
Read More BA Mindset Video #11: Expect Human Behaviour from Human Beings
BA Mindset Video #10: Be Part of the Solution
What’s the role of a BA once business requirements have been analyzed and captured? Business analysts play a key role in the development and roll-out of the product. This video identifies BA activities throughout the solution life cycle.
BA Mindset Video #9: Accept and Embrace Business Change
Successful business analysts must learn to expect change and master strategies for handling it. How should they manage change during projects to maximize long-term value for the business? And how to define requirements that allow managing change proactively? Find some…
Read More BA Mindset Video #9: Accept and Embrace Business Change
BA Mindset Video #8: Take Responsibility for Shared Understanding of Business Requirements
Even the most complete, accurate and well-structured requirements are not worth much if the BA is the only person that understands and can explain them. Building a shared understanding of business requirements is a crucial part of the BA’s job.
BA Mindset Video #7: Simplify Until Nothing Can Be Removed
What happens when we automate the existing process? We risk baking a suboptimal process into software and cementing the inefficiencies. First optimize, then automate. This video reviews a key role that business analysts play in improving and simplifying business processes.
BA Mindset Video #6: Uncover Gaps – Do Not Cover Them Up
Business analysis process is not always comfortable. What should a BA do when they discover a gap, an inconvenient truth? Sweep it under the rug or deal with it?
“Thank you again Yulia Kosarenko for the very informative presentation today. I certainly learned a lot more about the profession of a BA and look forward to future webinars!”
“Why Change is #MyGoToChannel! I simply love listening how she explains every single thing in detail and in plain language. Yulia’s knowledge is so insightful, I feel even the most highly trained BA professional can learn from her!”
“I really enjoyed the webinar yesterday. I found it really useful and it actually reinforced the idea that business analysis is definitely for me!”
“As guest speaker for our local IIBA virtual chapter meeting, Yulia shared in her typical actionable insightful manner. Her authentic, personable style inspires a confident “Yes! I can try that!” as she introduces new concepts into traditional business analysis practices. She has a way of getting people to think bigger and take action. We’ll invite her back again!”
“Hi Yulia, I recently watched the webinar you presented on the Business Analyst Mindset.
Excellent job, right to the point, very useful. Thank you for sharing.”
“…As a Business Analyst I appreciate a lot your high quality posts on LinkedIn… Currently I’m cramming before the CBAP exam and I find your posts very helpful to understand the BA mindset and attitude. Keep going Yulia feeding us with such interesting business analysis posts!”