Competencies - Expert BA

This is a list of the competencies that a successful Business Analyst should have

Competency	Category	Description
Adaptability	Behavioural Characteristics	Business analysts frequently work in rapidly changing environments and with a variety of stakeholders. They adjust their behavioural style and method of approach to increase their effectiveness when interacting with different stakeholders, organizations, and situations.
Business Acumen	Business Knowledge	Business analysis requires an understanding of fundamental business principles and best practices in order to ensure they are considered as solutions are reviewed.
Business Analysis Tools and Technology	Tools and Technology	Business analysts use a variety of tools and technology to model, document, and manage outputs of business analysis activities and deliverables to stakeholders.
Communication Tools and Technology	Tools and Technology	Business analysts use communication tools and technology to perform business analysis activities, manage teams, and collaborate with stakeholders.
Conceptual Thinking	Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving	Business analysts routinely receive large amounts of detailed and potentially disparate information. They apply conceptual thinking skills to find ways to understand how that information fits into a larger picture and what details are important, and to connect seemingly abstract information.
Creative Thinking	Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving	Thinking creatively and helping others to apply creative thinking helps business analysts to be effective in generating new ideas, approaches, and alternatives to problem solving and opportunities.
Decision Making	Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving	Business analysts must be effective in understanding the criteria involved in making a decision, and in assisting others to make better decisions.
Ethics	Behavioural Characteristics	Behaving ethically and thinking of ethical impacts on others allows business analysts to earn the respect of the stakeholders. The ability to recognize when a proposed solution or requirement may present ethical difficulties to an organization or its stakeholders is an important consideration that business analysts can use to help reduce exposure to risk.
Facilitation	Interaction Skills	Business analysts facilitate interactions between stakeholders in order to help them make a decision, solve a problem, exchange ideas and information, or reach an agreement regarding the priority and the nature of requirements. The business analyst may also facilitate interactions between stakeholders for the purposes of negotiation and conflict resolution.
Industry Knowledge	Business Knowledge	Industry knowledge provides the business analyst with an understanding of current practices and activities within an industry, and similar processes across industries.
Leadership and Influencing	Interaction Skills	Business analysts use leadership and influencing skills when guiding stakeholders during the investigation of business analysis information and solution options. They build consensus and encourage stakeholder support and collaboration during change.
Learning	Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving	The ability to quickly absorb new and different types of information and also modify and adapt existing knowledge allows business analysts to work effectively in rapidly changing and evolving environments.
Listening	Communication Skills	Effective listening allows the business analyst to accurately understand information that is communicated verbally.
Methodology Knowledge	Business Knowledge	Understanding the methodologies used by the organization provides the business analyst with information regarding context, dependencies, opportunities, and constraints used when developing a business analysis approach.
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution	Interaction Skills	Business analysts occasionally mediate negotiations between stakeholders in order to reach a common understanding or an agreement. During this process, business analysts help resolve conflicts and differences of opinion with the intent of maintaining and strengthening working relationships among stakeholders and team members.
Non-Verbal Communication	Communication Skills	Non-verbal communication skills enable the effective sending and receiving of messages through—but not limited to—body movement, posture, facial expressions, gestures, and eye contact.
Office Productivity Tools and Technology	Tools and Technology	Business analysts use office productivity tools and technology to document and track information and artifacts.
Organization and Time Management	Behavioural Characteristics	Organization and time management skills help business analysts perform tasks effectively and use work time efficiently.
Organization Knowledge	Business Knowledge	Organization knowledge provides an understanding of the management structure and business architecture of the enterprise.
Personal Accountability	Behavioural Characteristics	Personal accountability is important for a business analyst because it ensures business analysis tasks are completed on time and to the expectations of colleagues and stakeholders. It enables the business analyst to establish credibility by ensuring that business analysis efforts meet the needs of the business.
Problem Solving	Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving	Business analysts define and solve problems in order to ensure that the real, underlying root cause of a problem is understood by all stakeholders and that solution options address that root cause.
Solution Knowledge	Business Knowledge	Solution knowledge allows business analysts to leverage their understanding of existing departments, environments, or technology to efficiently identify the most effective means of implementing a change.
Systems Thinking	Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving	Understanding how the people, processes, and technology within an organization interact allows business analysts to understand the enterprise from a holistic point of view.
Teaching	Interaction Skills	Teaching skills help business analysts effectively communicate business analysis information, concepts, ideas, and issues. They also help ensure that information is understood and retained by stakeholders.
Teamwork	Interaction Skills	Teamwork skills allow business analysts to work productively with team members, stakeholders, and any other vested partners so that solutions can be effectively developed and implemented.
Trustworthiness	Behavioural Characteristics	Earning the trust of stakeholders helps business analysts elicit business analysis information around sensitive issues and enables them to help stakeholders have confidence that their recommendations will be evaluated properly and fairly.
Verbal Communication	Communication Skills	Business analysts use verbal communication to convey ideas, concepts, facts, and opinions to a variety of stakeholders.
Visual Thinking	Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving	The ability to communicate complex concepts and models into understandable visual representations allows business analysts to engage stakeholders and help them understand the concepts being presented.
Written Communication	Communication Skills	Business analysts use written communication to to convey ideas, concepts, facts, and opinions to variety of stakeholders.