SDLC For Business Analyst: Overview, Benefit, How, Why

How SDLC Helps Business Analyst:

Without a Business Analyst present, the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) will continue to experience delays. A Business Analyst is a person who, as the name suggests, conducts analyses throughout the entirety of the software development process, regardless of whether the software is being developed using an agile or waterfall model of implementation.

Here is an example to understand this better:

“Imagine yourself entering a restaurant, being seated, receiving the menu, and then having a few questions answered. When you ask the waiter how long it will take to prepare your meal, he replies that he is unsure. He once more has no idea when you ask him about the amount and servings of the meal. In the end, you leave him a poor tip and make a vow never to return to this restaurant.”

Even though it is obvious that the waiter is not a member of the kitchen staff, you, as a customer, do expect clear direction from him with regard to the questions you inquire about. You, on the other hand, play the role of the customer in a typical business scenario. The team responsible for developing software is analogous to the team responsible for cooking. The analyst is the person who acts as a liaison between the development team and the customer. This person is known as the waiter. In other words, the most crucial thing to take away from this is that a Business Analyst does not necessarily need to delve into the technical nuances of coding, but he should in fact have a clear idea of the complexities. When it comes to bridging and connecting the gap between the customer and the core software development team, it is the sole responsibility of a Business Analyst.

Why Do We Need Business Analysts?

• Your home needs renovations.
• There are many services available, from wall painting to roof replacement.
• You’re unsure of what to choose and ready to change your mind because you’re confused.
• You hire an interior designer who advises you that before you can renovate your home, you must first develop a design project and determine your budget.
• The interior designer assists you in making the necessary material selections, creates a plan for the contractors, and dissuades you from taking unnecessary steps like glazing the balcony.
• You can save time and get exactly what you wanted because the renovation is already scheduled.

The same is true for IT project development. You have an idea, but you require professional assistance to fully grasp what a user-friendly application is. By eliminating the insufficient and unprofitable solutions, BAs analyse the business’s needs to find the best solutions for you.

What Is the Business Analyst’s Role In Software Development?

What exactly does it mean for a business analyst to be involved in the development of software? This will be the subject of our conversation at this point. By the time you reach the end of this article, you will understand the unique function that a business analyst plays in the software development process, as well as how to perform the duties of a business analyst effectively in an environment that is conducive to software development. This question can be broken down into two distinct categories: first, there is the function of the business analyst in general, and second, there is the function of the business analyst in relation to the software development environment. We will respond to each of them in turn.

In its most fundamental form, the term “business analyst” refers to an individual who is responsible for comprehending and analysing the business problems that are experienced by customers in order to locate the most suitable solution. In order to accomplish this, the business analyst needs to have the appropriate level of knowledge in the subject matter. The business analyst works within the requirements in accordance with the software development life cycle as a liaison between the client (representing the client’s point of view) and the programmer/developer team (SDLC, more on this further below). Additionally, the business analyst follows the software development life cycle’s requirements while working (SDLC).

Therefore, pertaining to the context of software development specifically, the following are examples of activities that fall under the purview of a business analyst here:

• Specifying the perfect client and client behaviours, with a particular focus on client requirements. Gain an understanding of the specific issues and challenges faced by the customer that demand a solution (s).
• Create a solution to address the issue so it can be resolved (might be with the help of a team)
• Create an idea for future products that are based on the problem and the solution that has been presented. In this context, a wide variety of business analysis methods, such as user interface prototypes, models of organisational structures and procedures, use cases, and other approaches, could be utilised.
• Making a prediction on the amount and total of time and effort that will be required to create future products.
• During product development, provide guidance to software developers and quality assurance (QA).
• When there is a disagreement, bargain with the customer.

When it comes to the context of software development, a business analyst views the software itself as a product that must be sold to a specific demographic of consumers. The end goal is to convert satisfied customers into advocates, which are customers who will recommend your software to their peers and colleagues. This software product must provide value and satisfaction for the customers, and the end goal is to convert satisfied customers into advocates.

If we want to be successful in achieving this goal, the role of the business analyst in ensuring that the software can meet the requirements of the customer and provide a workable solution to the problems that the customer is experiencing is of the utmost significance. A business analyst can also provide valuable insights to a company regarding the ways in which the software product can be developed further (or new software can be released entirely) to provide an even better value to the customers.

In the following section, we will talk about some of the more specific roles that a business analyst plays in a software development environment, as well as the idea of the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle), and some additional important facts.

Business Analyst and Software Development

A sufficient understanding of the software development industry as well as the business process is required of a business analyst, and the Software Development Life Cycle, more commonly referred to as SDLC, is one of the most essential concepts to comprehend.

SDLC is a process or framework that is followed in any software development project. In a nutshell, an SDLC is a detailed plan that describes how an organisation will develop, maintain, enhance, or modify various software products. The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) was created with the intention of enhancing both the quality of software and the development process as a whole.

1. Business Analyst in Planning Phase

During this stage of the planning process, it is the business analyst’s responsibility to determine several important factors, including the following:

• How much money should be allocated to implementing the software solution, and who will foot the bill for the entire project
• The strategy for implementing enterprise architecture
• Which team or teams will carry out the project?
• The significance of this project in relation to others

2. Business Analyst in Requirement Analysis Phase

The phase in which a business analyst is at their most effective and also the phase that is of the utmost significance to a business analyst. During the requirement analysis phase, also known simply as the requirement phase, the business primarily focuses on defining what it is that it requires, without necessarily being concerned with the specific technology and tool requirements that may be necessary for deploying the solution.

The business analyst is responsible for determining, in collaboration with customers or users and the company, the requirements that the software (as a solution) needs to address. The analyst will then manage, update, and prioritise the requirements by making use of a variety of methods.

When it comes to requirements gathering, it is imperative that the business analyst select the appropriate strategy or approach. In most situations, a business analyst will need to combine more than one approach in order to collect requirements that are accurate and comprehensive from company stakeholders as well as customers and clients. Each approach has its own set of benefits that might be appropriate in certain circumstances. Here are some common requirement gathering techniques available:

• establishing a number of distinct prototypes, each with its own unique set of requirements. This is helpful in situations in which the clients do not have a distinct idea of the requirements they have.
• these methods are pretty straightforward and, in general, the most frequently used ones. The business analyst will inquire about the requirements of the customers or other stakeholders by asking them questions.
• distributing questionnaires to stakeholders is an approach that is preferable to conducting interviews if the goal is to collect inputs from a large number of people.
• analysing the currently running software in order to compile a list of requirements is a great method to use when there is already an operating system or software in place.

3. Business Analyst in Software Design Phase

During this phase, the coding component of the software is being designed, and in most cases, a solution architect or system analyst is the one responsible for carrying out this task. On the other hand, this phase could also be carried out by a business analyst who possesses sufficient technical experience and knowledge. Although programmers and software developers will play a more prominent role in this phase, a business analyst may be required to assist in this phase in order to connect business experts and teams that are more technically oriented in order to determine the necessary details. During the process of design, the business analyst may also be responsible for keeping an eye out for any business requirements that may have been forgotten.

4. Business Analyst in Software Development Phase

Programmers and developers are the ones responsible for the bulk of the work during this stage. The majority of your time during this phase should be spent actually writing code in order to construct the software solution. As a result of this phase’s completion, the output should be a software code that has been written but not yet tested. At this point in the process, it is common practise for business analysts to collaborate with software developers and programmers to ensure that the software can adequately meet the needs of the company. The business analysts need to be able to see the business side of the software in order to provide the programmers with context for the software that they are building.

5. Business Analyst in Software Testing Phase

At this point in the process, the company will determine whether or not the software as a solution can adequately meet the demands of the business. In the event that this is not the case, we will iterate through the software development and testing phases once more until all of the criteria are satisfactorily met (or compromised). In this stage of the process, a business analyst can add value by supplying the User Acceptance criteria and working closely with software developers and product testers to ensure that all of the business requirements are satisfied. It is the responsibility of the business analyst to determine whether or not the software solution satisfies all of the initial business requirements.

6. Business Analyst in Software Implementation Phase

At this point, the code is ready (even though it is not perfect in every way), but it works as intended in accordance with the initial requirements, which means that it needs to be deployed to the platforms and hardware that were intended for it. In this phase, a business analyst plays a very important role in capturing customer feedback after the software has been implemented (i.e. from beta testers), as well as capturing the necessary fixes and enhancements for subsequent software updates. If it turns out that another cycle of the SDLC is required, then the fixes will be implemented during that cycle.

Benefits After Implementation

We can further emphasise how crucial it is to have a business analyst by highlighting the fact that the BA performs the tasks mentioned above when we list all of the advantages you receive after the solution has been implemented, in addition to all of the tasks performed by the BA that were mentioned above. You will initially notice a considerable improvement in the efficacy of your work. The business analyst will be able to inform you if your proposed product idea seems to be the most direct path to success or not. They will have firsthand knowledge of the software development industry and will be able to give you advice that will help you save a lot of time and money.

When it comes to cost reduction, the business analyst will make certain that the task at hand is completed correctly on the very first try. Because they are aware of the requirements that the software will have to meet, they will be able to steer clear of any unforeseen expenses, such as the time and effort required for rebuilding. Because of this, hiring such a specialist might appear to be an unnecessary expense; however, in the long run, it might end up saving you a significant amount of money.

The Bridge Between Tech and Non-Tech Language

Business analysts help those who are not familiar with technology to better understand technical jargon, and they also assist developers in better comprehending the business needs of a customer when those needs are not immediately obvious. Keeping this in mind, it is safe to say that the role of the business analyst is extremely important in the cycle of software development. This is because the business analyst is responsible for ensuring that information is correctly distributed and understood by both sides. The creation of bespoke software takes quite some time, as you are probably aware, and the process itself is frequently fraught with unforeseen challenges that crop up out of the blue and have a tendency to make things move at a more leisurely pace. When this occurs, it is imperative to communicate openly and honestly with the client while also presenting the information in a manner that is solution-oriented. A business analyst is the person who is responsible for maintaining active communication between all of the stakeholders and working to improve the flow of information by knowing the members of the team and the areas in which they performing well and where they struggle.

This person is typically accountable for providing regular updates to the client regarding the status of the project as well as directing the development team in the direction of a possible solution. Without this person to keep the flow going and loop everyone in, certain parts of the software will need to be redone, which will cause a lot of headaches for both parties involved. The business analyst is responsible for keeping all of the stakeholders informed throughout the entirety of the software development life cycle. Additionally, the business analyst ensures that development is continuously progressing while keeping everyone’s best interests in mind.

The business analyst will also need to ensure that:

• In order to prevent misunderstandings, relevant team members participate in group meetings.
• Concerns and risks have been properly accounted for.
• For the meeting, a suitable agenda has been created.
• The setting is cooperative throughout the meeting.

Tools used by a Business Analyst:

Despite the fact that a BA’s duties may seem taxing, there are many resources available to them. They consist of:

• Workflows for activities in manual processes
• Talk about the user case for the functional requirements
• A flowchart for the screen
• Data organisation using entity relationships
• For use in object-oriented implementations, a class or object

Conclusion

We touched on a few of the responsibilities that fall under the purview of business analysts, but a lot of what they do is going to be determined by the particulars of your product. When working in an agile setting, business analysts (BAs) will have to iterate their tasks at each stage of the software development life cycle (SDLC), which w ill make their role significantly more involved. The service they offer is the one that has the best value since it gives you a sense of relief that comes from knowing that you are getting exactly what you requested and that it will be worth your money. You will have the self-assurance necessary to make future investments in software development if you provide a certain level of predictability.

References

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Philips, A. (2020, April 29). What Is the Business Analyst’s Role In Software Development? Baanswers.com. https://baanswers.com/uncategorized/what-is-the-business-analysts-role-in-software-development/

Watson, T. (2019, August 19). Business Analyst Role in Software Development Life Cycle. Skywell Software. https://skywell.software/blog/business-analyst-role-in-software-development/

What is the Role of Business Analyst in the Software Development Life Cycle? (n.d.-b). Share IT Solutions. https://www.shareitsolutions.com/blog/business-analyst/

Tayade, S. (2022, September 28). Business Analysts in Software Development Life Cycle. SphereGen. https://www.spheregen.com/business-analyst-in-software-development-life-cycle/