Business analysis is thinking about the most likely path users will take and providing a solution for them.  Good business analysis, however, is ensuring ALL paths, including the less likely paths a user will take, are considered, analyzed, and addressed.   The more complicated the software is the more alternate paths will typically exist.

When alternate paths are not fully addressed in the requirements phase, businesses run the risks of losing potential revenue and providing poor customer experiences to their users.

Page flows and functional flows are good tools for business analysts to use when considering the alternate experiences.   Thinking though the alternate flows the users will take will help reveal knowledge gaps and missing requirements.  It can be frustrating at times for a business analyst to consider all the possible variables, but this is the KEY to ensuring the delivery of proper and complete business requirements.  Keep in mind, though, users on the alternate paths do not always need to be provided with software solutions.  Presenting alternate channels, a phone number for example, is acceptable.

The road less traveled is not about “bad users doing things they shouldn’t” – it’s about potential, fruitful opportunities to businesses.

With the holiday season now fully behind us and summer inching around the corner, the employees of DefinedLogic have decided enough is enough.  With approval from management, we put together a moderate play on the very popular reality show “The Biggest Loser” here at the office.

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Business Analysis can be divided into two major areas: Analysis & Communication.  Which area is more important to master?  Communication is 80% of the job while Analysis is only 20%.  Here’s the proof:

An analyst can have a fabulous idea but if it is not communicated effectively it will never be adopted.  However, if an analyst has a mediocre idea and communicates it effectively it has a chance of being adopted.

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Many people at DefinedLogic write design documents for our clients’ web sites.  These documents are written for new web sites and for web sites that require change. They describe, in great detail, the design for functionality that will be implemented on the new or changed parts of the web site. HTML programmers use our design documents as a guide when they “build” the web site.

The people at DefinedLogic are experts at writing these design documents. We’re good at thinking about details and asking the “what if” questions that help reveal the best design.

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I am not sure when the idea of ‘free time’ actually originated.  I recall learning in grammar school how tools reduced the amount of time needed by early man to complete survival tasks.  If it took less time to build your shelter and hunt your food, then you had time to lay your head on a nice soft boulder and watch the clouds go by.

 It is now 2011 and think of all of the tools we have to create more free time.  This blog was authored and published on one of those tools, a computer.  Imagine how much time it would take to write and then distribute it without one.

 So, one must conclude that my computer, smart-phone, car, etc. have created so much ‘free time’ that I only need to work for a few minutes a day and then I can watch the cloud computing go by.

 Technology has created the direct opposite effect.  In my ‘free time’, as I watch TV I get emails on my phone – work finds me.  You can be anywhere and the tools of the day have you constantly connected. 

 So, free time has become time for more work.