The Business Analyst Role

A Business Analyst is a professional who helps a company solve business problems by identifying needs and finding effective solutions. They act as a bridge between different teams, making sure everyone is aligned on the changes needed to improve the business. In short, a Business Analyst ensures the organization is working on the right improvements to run more efficiently and meet its goals.

Below shows the Business Analyst and similar roles, there is often overlap and confusion about these roles.

Feature	Process Lead	Business Analyst	Business Systems Analyst	Product Manager
Typical Background	Background in operations or process improvement Often holds a business or management degree	Education in business or related field (sometimes IT) Experience analyzing business processes or systems	Trained in computer science, IT, or information systems Business experience combined with technical know-how	Diverse routes (e.g. engineering, design, or business background) Valued for cross-functional experience and strong customer-focused mindset
Primary Focus	Streamlining and optimizing workflows Ensuring smooth, efficient operations	Identifying and defining business needs Recommending process or system improvements	Aligning business requirements with IT systems Ensuring technology solutions meet business goals	Defining product vision and strategy to deliver customer value and achieve business outcomes
Key Skills	Process mapping & analysis Leadership & coordination Continuous improvement mindset	Communication & interpersonal skills Analytical thinking Requirements gathering	Understanding of software/IT systems Aligning tech with business needs Business-IT communication	Strategic thinking (market analysis, product vision) User research, data-driven decision making Cross-functional leadership and clear communication
Core Responsibilities	Design & refine processes Lead improvement projects Train teams on new processes	Gather & document requirements Analyze processes & suggest improvements Coordinate solution implementation	Translate business needs to tech reqs Work with IT on system design Ensure systems meet objectives	Own and communicate the product roadmap; prioritize features based on customer value and business impact Work with engineering, design, and marketing to develop, launch, and iterate on products Measure product performance (KPIs, user feedback) and drive continuous improvements to meet strategic goals
Career Path	Process or Operations Manager Lead larger improvement initiatives	Senior BA, Product/Project Manager Business Architect or Consultant	Senior BSA or IT Project Manager Solution Architect or IT Leadership	Promotion to Senior Product Manager or Product Lead Further advancement to Product Director, VP of Product, or Chief Product Officer (executive leadership)

Key Collaborators

Transformation Director

Leads major organizational change and strategic shifts. They partner with the Business Analyst to analyze the "as-is" state and design the "to-be" future state, relying on the BA's insights to operationalize the strategic vision into actionable steps.

Programme & Portfolio Manager

Oversees high-level strategy and clusters of related projects. The BA collaborates with them to align individual project outcomes with broader organizational goals, ensuring that every initiative delivers tangible value to the overall portfolio.

Project Manager

Focuses on delivering the project within scope, time, and budget constraints. They rely on the Business Analyst to define accurate requirements early on, ensuring the team builds the correct solution while the PM manages the delivery plan and resources.

Functional Consultant

Provides deep expertise in specific platforms like SAP or Salesforce. The Business Analyst gathers and clarifies the business needs, which the Functional Consultant then translates into specific technical system configurations and functional solutions.

Developer

Responsible for building the actual software product. The Business Analyst provides them with detailed user stories and technical specifications, acting as a bridge to clarify requirements and ensure the final build matches the business intent.

What is a Business Analyst?