Tools

As a BA we use different tools to gather the requirements , understand the business needs, Document the requirements, create process flow diagrams and collaborate with stakeholder and track the progress of the project. 1.Microsoft Excel This is one of the most common tool used by BA. It is a spread sheet which is created by Microsoft and organizes the data in the form of rows and columns. BA uses excel to 1. Create reports and dashboards 2. Analyze the data 3. Organize the data 4. Perform calculations 5. Identify tends and patterns 6. Track project requirement information 7. create tables and charts. Example- if a BA is working for job portal company he can use excel to analyze no of applications , shortlist candidates, to know the interview conversion rate. 2.MS Visio Microsoft Visio is a part of Microsoft 365 business and introduced in the year 1992 by an American software company. BA uses Visio to create 1. Flow charts 2. Process flow diagrams 3. Use case model diagrams 4. Data flow diagrams 5. Swimlane diagrams This will make the stakeholder to understand the business process clearly For Example, for an online job portal page We can create candidate registration -> job search-> job application-> shortlisting-> interview -> selection-> 3.Jira: Jira is a important project management tool developed by Atlassian that can be used for agile scrum projects to track issues and allows bug tracking BA uses Jira to 1. create user stories 2. create tasks and acceptance criteria 3. tracks bugs and issues 4. prioritize backlog items 5. monitor the sprint progress 6. support backlog refinement 4.Confluence:Confluence is a web based tool developed by Atlassian published in 2004 it is collaboration and documentation tool.BA uses confluence to maintain 1. Meeting notes 2. requirement documentation 3. business rules 4. process documentation 5. project information 6. user stories example a BA can maintain a project page containing product vision, business requirements, minutes of meeting, process flow important project decisions 5.Balsamiq : .Balsamiq is a wire framing and prototyping tool designed to sketch out software and web site layouts. BA will use balsamic to create screens and pages before development begins Ba can create login pages registration screens dashboards customer forms application pages. Thsi can help the stakeholder to visualize the proposed solution and provide feedback early. 6.Microsoft power point This is a presentation tool used by BA to explain the current process and benefits, risks, ROI , future process. As a BA we frequently communicate with stake holders and to make them easier to understand and the information we use MS power point. 7.Power BI :Microsoft Power BI is a data visualization tool, database management, data modelling . BI stands for business intelligence platform BA use Power BI to 1. Analyze data 2. create dashboards 3. Track KPI 4. Create interactive reports 5. support data driven decision making By using power BI we can visualize the proposed solution and provide feedback early. Power BI helps BA to convert raw data into meaningful insights. 8.SQL Structured Query Language used to store manipulate and retrieve data from the database. SQL knowledge helps BA to work efficiently with developers, testers, database team. BA should have Basic SQL knowledge in 1. Retrieve data 2. Join tables 3. Identify Duplicate records 4. Support Data analysis 5. Validate Data 9.Axure:Axure RP It is prototyping and wire framing tool that is used to create prototypes with Axure we can create interactive wireframes and prototypes , web and mobile applications screens and navigation flow . Instead of showing only static login screens. BA can create prototype where by clicking login it takes the dashboard screens 10.MS Word: It is a important documentation tool for BA we can create 1. BRD(business requirement document) 2. FRD( functional requirement document) 3. Use case specification document 4. Business case document 5. Project documentation 6. Requirement specification document Documentation is the major part of BA role so word skills is must.