Tools used by a Business Analyst

[Anand]

What tools are used by a Business Analyst? Are there any Industry preferred tools ?

[MadhaviL]

This article discusses the software tools a business analyst uses in his daily tasks to increase productivity and efficiency while on the job. Here are some of the most popular tools:

Diagramming: Microsoft Visio

What activity does a business analyst spend a significant amount of time on? Perhaps your first guess is communication. Microsoft Visio is a software application for capturing and presenting ideas to stakeholders. You can use Visio for:

·       Preparing UML diagrams such as use case, activity and sequence diagrams.

·       Preparing process flow charts.

·       Creating data models.

·       Creating architecture diagrams, amongst other functions.

Visio is easy to use and provides features for creating templates, applying themes and embedding models in other documents.

Word Processing: Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is another important and popular software application in the business analyst’s toolkit. For organizations not ready to acquire Requirement Management Tools, Microsoft Word can be used as a substitute for preparing requirements specification documents. You can create new templates using Microsoft Word or use existing templates for the documentation of software requirements. Microsoft Word allows you to set preferred fonts, apply your company’s theme, embed external objects such as a Visio diagrams or Excel worksheets, create visuals and track changes where collaboration has taken place.

Analysis & Data Crunching: Microsoft Excel

When you require any kind of data analysis on the job, Excel is one powerful tool that can come in handy. If you want to create pivot tables, examine trends in the data, sort and filter data, create charts or graphs, Microsoft Excel can fulfil that purpose and more. Excel provides many built-in mathematical and financial functions that can aid analysis.

Wireframing: Balsamiq

Many a time, you will be working with stakeholders who need more than requirements specification documents or use cases. You need to learn how to use wireframing applications to create mockups of how your proposed system will look/work. Wireframes focus on content, user interaction and but not on internal processing. Balsamiq is a useful tool for creating wireframes quickly in brainstorming sessions and for getting immediate feedback from stakeholders. Business analysts and designers use this category of tools for creating mockups which once signed off, can be converted into actual designs.

Requirements Management: Rational Requisite Pro

One of the most popular Requirements Management Tools is Rational Requisite Pro. If you are part of a team of business analysts working on a large project, you are likely to require a more robust solution like this for managing your requirements. Requirements Management Tools provide the functionality of Word processing along with the capability to sort and query data using a dynamic database. This makes it easy to trace requirements along with their changes and prioritize them for implementation. Requirements Management Tools also have features for conducting impact analysis and managing an audit trail of changes.

Collaboration: Google Docs

More often than not, Business Analysts will need to share documents with team members and stakeholders. Google Docs is a very useful tool for sharing non-confidential work online, chatting and collaborating with other stakeholders on the project.

[Swathi894]

Different Categories of tools..
1.   BPM – Business Process Modelling Tools
2.   OOA – Object Oriented Approach
3.   UML – Unified Modelling Language
4.   Mockups

BPM facilities the users and tech team to understand the current or proposed processes and then analyze and optimize those processes through an IT Solution. (Here, we flowcharts similar to activity diagrams to represent the process flow).

OOA – Object Oriented Analysis. (Object, Class, Component, Package, and Subsystem).

UML is a general-purpose, developmental, modeling language in the field of software engineering that is intended to provide a standard way to visualize the design of a system.

UML is used by a BA to communicate the requirements to the tech team of the project according to the industry standards.

STATIC DIAGRAMS:
•   Use Case Diagrams (User Perspective)
•   Class
•   Component
•   Package
•   Deployment

DYNAMIC DIAGRAMS:
•   Activity Diagrams (System Perspective)
•   Sequence Diagrams
•   State Chart
•   Collaboration

MOCKUPS:
•   Axure (Navigate through pages)
•   Balsamiq (Cannot Navigate)

Using one or more of these tools in a project helps to accurately reflect the actual needs and underlying concerns of the project stakeholders.
 Diagrams/mockups can be viewed while discussing requirements and shall facilitate identification of missing data thereby avoiding gaps and complexities, also illustrates implications of proposed changes and determine specifications for the development phase.
Diagrams and other tools simplify communications with project stakeholders and the tech team. Graphic images can clearly encapsulate many words, promoting a common and clearer understanding of what the requirements actually are.

[111222333]

1. Microsoft Visio is mainly used for creating the UML diagrams such as the state diagrams, activity diagrams, etc.
2. Axure can be used for prototyping
3. Balsamiq is mainly used for creating the wireframes.
4. For documenting these models one can use Microsoft Excel.
5. Google docs can be used to collaborate the documents and models.
6. Microsoft powerpoint can be used for creating various slides as per the requirements.

[1171206408]

The basic tools used by a BA are: microsoft visio, microsoft office, ms excel, ms word, balsamiq, axure

[1172904607]

Rather than list tools, which vary with companies and sometimes teams, let me list the tool categories (and an example) that are typically used by BAs:

Documentation: MS Word. Knowing how to use Word is not an end in itself but a means to various ends; what really matters is to put Word to effective use for the unique, specific purposes of your project.
Presentation: MS Powerpoint. Similar rules as above.
Data Analysis: MS Excel, SQL querying.
Modeling, Flowcharts: MS Visio, eDraw.
Wireframing, Mockups: Pencil, Balsamiq, MS Visio.
Communication, Collaboration: A good understanding of how to “effectively” use email, chat, phone, audio and video conferencing, web meeting, shared network/cloud storage systems, SVN.

[170832105]

The tools that are used by Business Analyst in the projects are
1) UML drawing tools-MS Visio
2) Word Processing- Microsoft
3)Analysis & Crunching-Microsoft Excel
4)Wire framing or Proto Type - Axure & Balsamiq
5)Requirements Management- Rational Requisite Programming
6)Collaboration- Google docs
7)Presentation-Microsoft Excel
 

[1170220109]

Totally there was 84 tools present. Out of which business analyst will use only few tools which are used more in company standards. They are:
1.Documentation: MS Word. Knowing how to use Word is not an end in itself but a means to various ends; what really it matters is to put Word to effective use for the unique, specific purpose of your project.
2.Presentation : MS PowerPoint
3.Data Analysis: MS Excel, SQL querying
4.Modeling Flowcharts : MS Visio, eDraw
5.Wireframing Mockups: Pencil, Balsamiq,MS Visio
6.Communication and Collaboration

[171036906]

What activity does a business analyst spend a significant amount of time on? Communication. Microsoft Visio is a software application that aids communication and can be used for capturing and presenting ideas to stakeholders. You can use Visio for:

·       Preparing UML diagrams such as use case, activity and sequence diagrams.

·       Preparing process flow charts.

·       Creating data models.

·       Creating architecture diagrams, among other functions.
isio is easy to use and provides features for creating templates, applying themes and embedding models in other documents.

Visio is only one example, however. There are loads of diagramming software in direct competition with Visio, like Lucidchart.

Word Processing: Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is another important and popular software application in the business analyst’s toolkit. For organizations not ready to acquire Requirements management tools, Microsoft Word can be used as a substitute for preparing requirements specification documents. You can create new templates using Microsoft Word or use existing templates for the documentation of software requirements. Microsoft Word allows you to set preferred fonts; apply your company’s theme; embed external objects such as Visio diagrams or Excel worksheets; create visuals and track changes where collaboration has taken place.

Analysis & Data Crunching: Microsoft Excel

When you require any kind of data analysis on the job, spreadsheet applications like excel can come in handy. If you want to create pivot tables; examine trends in data; sort and filter data; create charts or graphs, Microsoft Excel can fulfil that purpose and more. Excel provides many built-in mathematical and financial functions that can aid analysis.

Wireframing: Balsamiq

Many a time, you will be working with stakeholders who need more than requirements specification documents or use cases. You need to learn how to use wireframing applications to create mockups of how your proposed system will look or work. Wireframes focus on content, user interaction and but not on internal processing. Balsamiq is a useful tool for creating wireframes quickly in brainstorming sessions and for getting immediate feedback from stakeholders. Business analysts and designers use this category of tools for creating mockups which once signed off, can be converted into actual system designs.

Requirements Management: Rational Requisite Pro

One of the most popular Requirements management tools is Rational Requisite Pro. If you are part of a team of business analysts working on a large project, you are likely to require a more robust solution like this for managing your requirements. Requirements management tools provide the functionality of word processing along with the capability to sort and query data using a dynamic database. This makes it easy to trace requirements along with their changes and prioritize them for implementation. Requirements management tools also have features for conducting impact analysis and managing an audit trail of changes.

Collaboration: Google Docs

More often than not, Business Analysts will need to share documents with team members and stakeholders. Google Docs is a very useful tool for sharing non-confidential work online; chatting and collaborating with other stakeholders on the project.

Presentation: Microsoft Powerpoint

The last but definitely not the least, is a software tool for preparing and delivering formal presentations. As a business analyst, you will be faced with situations where you need to communicate ideas, justify your position or deliver updates to project stakeholders. Delivering a presentation can be made easier with a presentation software like Powerpoint or Keynote.

This article has listed some of the most popular software tools used by Business Analysts. A decision on which specific tools to go for would naturally depend on key factors like your unique requirements and budget.

[VIJAY POGULA]

Tools used by BA:
1. Ms Visio:
     MS Visio is a software application that aids communication and can be used for capturing and presenting ideas to stakeholders.
 ms visio can also be used for
          Preparing uml diagrams such as use cases, activity diagrams, sequential diagrams and flow charts.
          used to create data models.
      Similarly microsoft products like word, excel (analysis & data crunching) were used for data analysis.
2. Wire framing (Balsamiq):
     wire frame application used to crate mock ups that how proposed system look or work. wire frame focus on content user interactions, and not on internal processing. balsamiq is a useful tool for creating wireframes quickly in a brainstorming sessions and for getting immediate feddback from stakeholders.

                for presentations ----  MS power point
                Requirements management ---- Rational requisite pro

[1171625709]

oday business needs to keep track of their performance and strategy to grow. There are plenty of business analyst tool available for the same. Using one or combination of them can improve employee productivity.

Here, is a list of some useful business analysis tool along with its important features, and download links

1,)Axure:
The Axure tool provides the capability to produce wireframes, prototypes, and create documentation. This tool is used by professionals like business analysts, product managers, and IT consultants around the world.

Features:

Axure RP generates project to HTML and provides link for sharing
It allows multiple people to work on the same file at the same time
It can runs on Microsoft IIS with a MySQL or Microsoft SQL Server database
It helps to create and maintain widget libraries

2) JIRA Core
It is a task management and business analyst tool. It helps every business person across the organization to plan, track, and report on work. It is possible to use out-of-the-box templates or customize them as per specific business need with the help of this tool.

Features:

Its task management feature helps to track simple tasks
Everyone can see the project's status without having to email or set up meetings
Project Management feature allows managing corporate website designs or employee training programs
It allows measuring performance in different ways like a quick overview and pre-defined report

3) Balsamiq:
Balsamiq Mock-ups is a rapid wire-framing tool which helps business to work faster & smarter. It is the best way to do remote, collaborative UX Design. It allows hosting projects online. It also offers collaboration between team and clients.

Features:

Share or present mockups with embedded links using PDF
Create templates, masters, and reusable component libraries
Fast & intuitive user interface
Allows to build wireframes using keyboard
Linking allows user to click-through prototypes for demos & usability testing
Extensive library of interactive, ready-to-use controls
Plenty of users interface controls and icons
It allows generating click-through prototypes for demos & usability testing

There are many more tools a Ba can work with. Please click on the link to find out more-

https://www.guru99.com/business-analyst-tools.html

[1171429410]

There are different tools used by the BA for different purposes. To name a few these are

Visio
The visio tool is used for the preparing use case diagrams and activity diagram for the proposed solution. Using this tool we can easily explain the entire process of the solution to the client.

Tableau
Tableau is generally used by the BI experts. This tool analyses the stored data in different prospects. There are different forms of charts are available to summarize the data which will help for the future planning.

Balsamiq and Axure
Basically Balsamiq and axure is a screen mockup tool used by Business Analyst. Business Analyst prepares the screen in both and shares it with client. The client have a look at the screens and suggests the modification if required. This tool enables both BA and client to have better clarity of the features to be provided in the application. In balsamiq, the screens can be converted to png format and it can be shared with the stakeholders. The technical team also gets clarity by looking at the screens what is the requirement. By using this tool, we can save the time and resources to work effectively.
In Axure the project can be published on web and the client can access it from any corner of the globe. The axure also provides the dynamic access to move from one screen to other by putting the conditions. Whereas the balsamiq is only for documenting the screens.

Microsoft Office
This tool is used for the presentation, storing data for project.

[1171921109]

Tools Used by a business analyst
1) Documentation Tools
   a) MS Office
   b) ThinkFree
   c) Adobe Buzzword
   d) Zoho Writer

2) UML Drawing Tools
   a) MS Visio
   b) Rational Rose
   c) Smart Draw
   d) Visual-Paradigm
   e) Magic Draw
   f)  Concept Draw
   g) Enterprise Architect
   h) ArgoUML
   i) StarUML
   j) Case Complete

3) Screen capturing Tools
   a) Snagit

[Nitin John]

Software tools a business analyst would typically use on the job are listed below:-

1. Microsoft Visio is mainly used for :-
·       Preparing UML diagrams such as use case, activity and sequence diagrams.
·       Preparing process flow charts.
·       Creating data models.
·       Creating architecture diagrams, among other functions.

2. Axure can be used for prototyping. In Axure the project can be published on web and the client can access it from any corner of the globe. The axure also provides the dynamic access to move from one screen to other by putting the conditions

3. Balsamiq is mainly used for creating the wireframes. Balsamiq is only for documenting the screens.

4. Microsoft Excel :
For documenting these models one can use it. When you require any kind of data analysis on the job, spreadsheet applications like excel can come in handy. If you want to create pivot tables; examine trends in data; sort and filter data; create charts or graphs, Microsoft Excel can fulfil that purpose and more

5. Microsoft powerpoint ,can be used for creating various slides as per the requirements.

6. Google Docs:
Business Analysts will need to share documents with team members and stakeholders. Google Docs is a very useful tool for sharing non-confidential work online; chatting and collaborating with other stakeholders on the project.

7. Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is another important and popular software application in the business analyst’s toolkit. For organizations not ready to acquire Requirements management tools, Microsoft Word can be used as a substitute for preparing requirements specification documents. You can create new templates using Microsoft Word or use existing templates for the documentation of software requirements.

[1170220809]

There are so many tools which are used by a Business analyst in for documentation, UML diagram, Mockups,Prototype and wireframes.

For Documentation A business analyst uses-MS WORD

For Unified modelling language (UML) they uses- MS VISIO, through which we are able to create work flow, Activity diagram, use case diagram, and so many other which will help them to show the actual work flow step by step.

For Wireframes and prototype-AXURE, through axure we are able to display wireframes and prototype.

For MOCKUPS AND WIREFRAME- BALASMIQ, through this tool we can create a mockups on screen.


There will be so many other tools also which would help a BUSINESS ANALYST to create a proper documentation, screen mockups and prototype etc..