Comments on: Business Analysis vs. Systems Engineering

By: FEDE

FEDE — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:43:13 +0000

So the Business Analyst is a generalist/all-rounder and the system engineer is a specialist?

By: Kerber

Kerber — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:13:46 +0000

UML? I agree, it really help to avoid misunderstandings among different people, I'm testing it with my wife, since she's from Venus and I'm from Mars or something like that. You should see the "Go to the grocery store" activities diagram, it's beautiful.

By: sandra

sandra — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:22:55 +0000

i am not saying it to be wrong to do. what is important when the Analysis role is played by more than one, is that a ‘common’ language ie.UML is in place and clearly defined processes and procedures are pre-defined for the project.

By: Kerber

Kerber — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:00:08 +0000

Isandra, what you say makes sense, but depending on the size of the project, defining the requirements at a higher level and defining the low level infrastructure to support the high level goals is too much for one person to think about and to be responsible for, that’s why we separated the roles, they work close, the vision is the same, but one focus on higher level goals, requirements gathering and modeling, and the other is concerned about how to make them work. The analogy we use is the Architect and the Engineer, both can design a house alone, but not a huge building. It’s not only a matter of scale (more people sharing the work), it’s a matter of focus (different roles).

By: Isandra

Isandra — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:44:07 +0000

I guess its different strokes for different folks but …. companies do make the mistake by having the role of BA split into those two roles. So much information gets cross communicated and/or lost between a BA and a Systems Analyst. it is mostly done when, within an enterprise, those BAs do not possess the correct skills and tools to communicate to the technical team what the requirements are! The role is then split to have a Systems Analyst as well. They then speak different languages and the solution or result of development is not what it should be/meant to be. The blame of the errors then also gets passed between the two roles. My feeling is that the role of an analyst should not be split. The risk is just too high. Rather get the BA’s tools and techniques improved! The function required of the role of a systems analyst and BA resides within one.

By: Kerber

Kerber — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:09:57 +0000

Pine, we have a simple sentence to define the difference over here: BA – "what" SA – "how" Each role has a lot to have fun with. It's working so far.

By: Pine

Pine — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 09:15:55 +0000

I would like to ask a follow-up question:
“What is the difference between a BA and a Systems Analyst?”

By: Kerber

Kerber — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:58:13 +0000

Well, does the SE perform Enterprise Analysis? The KAs define the scope of the BA so maybe we should get the INCOSEBOK's KAs and compare it, find overlapings and key differences. What about Craig? He's got INCOSEBOK two weeks ago, I bet he already took a good look on it.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 15:27:30 +0000

The way I see it, a BA’s focus is on the business requirements, and the system in general meeting those needs. Sort of like a black box approach. The systems engineer, however, takes the business needs as defined in technical terms by the BA, and translates that into a technical system, the details of which are of more concern than to the BA.
While the two may have considerable overlap in their understanding of business, the BA must be able to translate user terminology and focus into technical terminology, and the SE must be able to translate technical requirements into actual system architecture.
At least, this is what I have observed over the past 16 years.

By: Roeland

Roeland — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:35:21 +0000

Good question – the difference between a BA and a Systems engineer.
I am actually not quite sure what INCOSE’s standpoint is, but my preference would be:
Where a BA focuses on the area of process, data and required IT support, a systems engineer would approach the situation in a more holistic way, as a complete transformation, covering strategy, process, people, technology, legal, etc etc.