Best Methodology for Business Analysis

When I first learned about Agile and Waterfall, I honestly thought both were just different names for managing projects. But after understanding them more, I realized they actually change how a business analyst works in a project. And for someone in this role, the working style really matters. Waterfall feels more traditional to me. It is like doing things in order and not going back again and again. First, all requirements are collected properly. Then everything is written down in detail. After that, the development team starts their work. Testing happens later, and finally the project is delivered. It sounds simple, and in some ways, it is. For a business analyst, Waterfall means a lot of responsibility at the beginning. You have to sit with stakeholders, ask many questions, understand their expectations, and prepare clear documents. You cannot afford to miss important details because changes later are not easy. I feel this method is good when the client already knows exactly what they want. If the project scope is clear and stable, Waterfall works fine. But in real situations, things are not always stable. Sometimes clients change their ideas. Sometimes the market changes. That is where Waterfall becomes a bit difficult. If a requirement changes after development has started, it can create delays and extra work. That can be stressful for everyone, including the business analyst. Agile feels very different. It is more flexible and ongoing. Work is done in small parts instead of one long process. There are short cycles where the team builds something, shows it, gets feedback, and improves it. This keeps repeating until the product is ready. For a business analyst, Agile means being involved throughout the project. You are not just collecting requirements at the start. You are constantly talking to the team, clarifying doubts, updating user stories, and discussing changes. In my opinion, this makes the role more active and continuous. One thing I like about Agile is that it accepts change. It does not treat change as a big problem. If something needs to be adjusted, the team can plan it in the next cycle. This makes the final product closer to what the customer really wants. But at the same time, Agile needs strong communication. If the analyst is not clear or available, misunderstandings can happen quickly. So which one is better? I don’t think there is one correct answer. It really depends on the type of project and the organization. Some companies prefer detailed documentation and fixed plans. Others prefer flexibility and quick feedback. As a business analyst, I believe it is better to understand both methods instead of choosing only one. The real skill is adapting to the situation. At the end of the day, the goal is simple: understand the business need clearly and help the team deliver the right solution. The method is important, but how we use it matters even more. Many times, the success of the project depends on how clearly the business analyst understands the problem. If the analyst communicates well, both Agile and Waterfall can work properly. In the end, it is not only about the method, but about how people work together and support each other.