Business/IT Career - next steps

[mischmaster]

I've been working for a large-ish IT company for the past 3 years as a BA. I've gradually not only taken on more and more work, but the breadth of the work undertaken has expanded significantly, to the point where 'BA' doesn't really fit anymore.

Due to an upcoming re-org, I have the opportunity to almost propose a new role for myself as a sort of business case, if you like, so I'm after some guidance on what's good to get into and what is current.

I've worked a lot with SharePoint online, O365, on transformation projects, evaluating tools and helping to drive the business forward for change.

Any ideas of job roles that I can go away and have a look at would be much appreciated, or something I can outline as a 1-3 year plan would also be beneficial.

Thanks

[quinny100]

There is real gap I see at the moment is people with a decent working knowledge across the plethora of cloud services from Azure and AWS, their strengths and weaknesses and where they are a great fit for customers.

There are plenty of people who can move your existing server infrastructure onto Azure VM's, or migrate you to Office 365 services, but there are hundreds of other service offerings that people either don't know about or don't understand. Most people are just doing the same thing they've done for the past 10 years but on somebody else's hardware.

I see the future as thinking of infrastructure as services, rather than role-specific servers. We've moved one of our really good pre-sales guys into a Cloud Evangelist role and he's starting to get his head around it after a few months but he admits he's hardly scratched the surface yet.

For example, if you just take databases there are dozens of solutions on Azure and AWS - but we're still getting orders from customers asking us to build them SQL Servers and every time I do it I can't help but think there is probably a better solution for this.

Customers are ready to use public cloud services now, but few want to do a forklift migration. I think if you can guide the customer who needs somewhere to keep a database towards a cloud service and it works well for them, the next project they have they'll be far more open to looking at cloud again.

A lot of MSP sales/Account Managers will say customers aren't really asking for Cloud outside of Office 365 or similar. They're not, because they don't understand it and MSP's aren't guiding their customers towards it because a lot of them don't understand it either.

[mischmaster]

Thanks for your detailed post. Very interesting. I've got to be careful in the sense that I don't want to propose anything too niche because if senior management don't see a need for certain services I am digging myself a bit of a hole.

Ideally I'm looking to research/suggest various roles that are a good step up from a BA, whilst taking into consideration the high level areas listed in my first post. In particular roles around managing business transformation and change, including evaluating new tools and services, etc.

Just after some pointers for various roles that fit the above really.

[deebs]

mischmaster said:

Thanks for your detailed post. Very interesting. I've got to be careful in the sense that I don't want to propose anything too niche because if senior management don't see a need for certain services I am digging myself a bit of a hole.

Ideally I'm looking to research/suggest various roles that are a good step up from a BA, whilst taking into consideration the high level areas listed in my first post. In particular roles around managing business transformation and change, including evaluating new tools and services, etc.

Just after some pointers for various roles that fit the above really.

Business architecture? Strategic Analyst?

[CzechItOut]

What kind of activities in your current role do you enjoy, business/technical analysis, requirements elicitation, stakeholder management etc.?

I'd suggest anything from a more senior BA role where you have a team of BAs working under you through to business architect, solution architect or even project/programme management.

[lewisf182]

Always a bit frustrating when people say PM as an upgrade from BA. I think that must only be the case in certain types of companies but certainly where I work we are on par and the BA is a particularly valued role.
We are seen more as business change partners.

One role I looked into a while ago and discussed with a very senior guy from PH was IT business partner. Sounded fascinating and everything i wanted from a role but they are extremely few and far between.

Do you like being a BA? There is always the career path upwards, senior, lead, principle - heading up the whole change team?

[CzechItOut]

lewisf182 said:

Always a bit frustrating when people say PM as an upgrade from BA. I think that must only be the case in certain types of companies but certainly where I work we are on par and the BA is a particularly valued role.
We are seen more as business change partners.

One role I looked into a while ago and discussed with a very senior guy from PH was IT business partner. Sounded fascinating and everything i wanted from a role but they are extremely few and far between.

Do you like being a BA? There is always the career path upwards, senior, lead, principle - heading up the whole change team?

I'm not saying BA is a lesser role, but in many companies there is a small BA team and a much larger pool of PMs, meaning there is more career progression and of course Programme Manager, Head of Transformation and other more senior opportunities.

[rustyuk]

What about moving to a Scrum Master? Basic course is £1k with two attempts at the exam.

[mischmaster]

deebs said:

Business architecture? Strategic Analyst?

Thanks both good suggestions. Would you say BA --> Business Architect is considered quite a natural step or would there be a number of gaps/areas that would need to be addressed?

CzechItOut said:

What kind of activities in your current role do you enjoy, business/technical analysis, requirements elicitation, stakeholder management etc.?

I'd suggest anything from a more senior BA role where you have a team of BAs working under you through to business architect, solution architect or even project/programme management.

I enjoy all of the activities you have listed above, as well as additional responsibilities such as evaluating new tools, administering workplace tools such as SPO, helping end users adapt to change, being the bridge between IT tech speak and business need, as is/to be process mapping, quality control, etc.

Also, evaluating business and system requirements, e.g. moving from one document storage system to another... what do we need, where are the gaps.

I guess you could say Business Transformation in general so something like a Transformation Consultant, lead etc could be proposed. Your suggestions of Business or Solution Architect seem like they would also fit into the above, would you agree?

lewisf182 said:

Always a bit frustrating when people say PM as an upgrade from BA. I think that must only be the case in certain types of companies but certainly where I work we are on par and the BA is a particularly valued role.
We are seen more as business change partners.

One role I looked into a while ago and discussed with a very senior guy from PH was IT business partner. Sounded fascinating and everything i wanted from a role but they are extremely few and far between.

Do you like being a BA? There is always the career path upwards, senior, lead, principle - heading up the whole change team?

Thanks yeah certainly where I work PM's are seen as an 'upgrade' from a BA. That's part of the reason for this thread and for me to put a case together to suggest next steps in my career, because I don't wish to stay static being a BA (or what a BA is in my company).

It's difficult to know how to go about doing that because I do enjoy being a BA, and there's no real opportunity to progress to a Senior BA currently so ideally I need to list alterative options and future x year plans of where I want to be. I won't repeat what I've quoted above, but those are some of the ideas I've had/things I get involved in currently.

Interesting that you are seen as Business Change Partners, each company has a different idea of what a role should be. I often find when external BA's come in they have a different view of what being a BA is like elsewhere. I think that's why I've found myself in the situation I am in because the role is so broad I've just found myself taking on more and more, without clear scope for progression.

I like the sound of IT Business Partner. I have also considered something like a Business Relationship Manager, which sounds similar, maybe just a level lower. Being able to bridge the gap between the business and IT, acting as a liaison between the two.

CzechItOut said:

I'm not saying BA is a lesser role, but in many companies there is a small BA team and a much larger pool of PMs, meaning there is more career progression and of course Programme Manager, Head of Transformation and other more senior opportunities.

Yes this certainly seems to be the case where I am, but nothing to say a BA can't progress to Programme Manager, Head of Transformation etc I guess.

rustyuk said:

What about moving to a Scrum Master? Basic course is £1k with two attempts at the exam.

I hadn't considered but will look into, thanks.

[lewisf182]

mischmaster said:

deebs said:

Business architecture? Strategic Analyst?

Thanks both good suggestions. Would you say BA --> Business Architect is considered quite a natural step or would there be a number of gaps/areas that would need to be addressed?

CzechItOut said:

What kind of activities in your current role do you enjoy, business/technical analysis, requirements elicitation, stakeholder management etc.?

I'd suggest anything from a more senior BA role where you have a team of BAs working under you through to business architect, solution architect or even project/programme management.

I enjoy all of the activities you have listed above, as well as additional responsibilities such as evaluating new tools, administering workplace tools such as SPO, helping end users adapt to change, being the bridge between IT tech speak and business need, as is/to be process mapping, quality control, etc.

Also, evaluating business and system requirements, e.g. moving from one document storage system to another... what do we need, where are the gaps.

I guess you could say Business Transformation in general so something like a Transformation Consultant, lead etc could be proposed. Your suggestions of Business or Solution Architect seem like they would also fit into the above, would you agree?

lewisf182 said:

Always a bit frustrating when people say PM as an upgrade from BA. I think that must only be the case in certain types of companies but certainly where I work we are on par and the BA is a particularly valued role.
We are seen more as business change partners.

One role I looked into a while ago and discussed with a very senior guy from PH was IT business partner. Sounded fascinating and everything i wanted from a role but they are extremely few and far between.

Do you like being a BA? There is always the career path upwards, senior, lead, principle - heading up the whole change team?

Thanks yeah certainly where I work PM's are seen as an 'upgrade' from a BA. That's part of the reason for this thread and for me to put a case together to suggest next steps in my career, because I don't wish to stay static being a BA (or what a BA is in my company).

It's difficult to know how to go about doing that because I do enjoy being a BA, and there's no real opportunity to progress to a Senior BA currently so ideally I need to list alterative options and future x year plans of where I want to be. I won't repeat what I've quoted above, but those are some of the ideas I've had/things I get involved in currently.

Interesting that you are seen as Business Change Partners, each company has a different idea of what a role should be. I often find when external BA's come in they have a different view of what being a BA is like elsewhere. I think that's why I've found myself in the situation I am in because the role is so broad I've just found myself taking on more and more, without clear scope for progression.

I like the sound of IT Business Partner. I have also considered something like a Business Relationship Manager, which sounds similar, maybe just a level lower. Being able to bridge the gap between the business and IT, acting as a liaison between the two.

CzechItOut said:

I'm not saying BA is a lesser role, but in many companies there is a small BA team and a much larger pool of PMs, meaning there is more career progression and of course Programme Manager, Head of Transformation and other more senior opportunities.

Yes this certainly seems to be the case where I am, but nothing to say a BA can't progress to Programme Manager, Head of Transformation etc I guess.

rustyuk said:

What about moving to a Scrum Master? Basic course is £1k with two attempts at the exam.

I hadn't considered but will look into, thanks.

Ah yes Business Relationship Manager is the other role I was trying to think of the title for. Again few and far between and quite hard to search for as client account manager type roles often use that title interchangeably.
Definitely a step up on the career path if you can put together a business case on the potential value.

You are right in that all business’ use and view BA’s completely differently but in the main its still a well regarded and well respected profession in the companies. It definitely sounds like you enjoy the more wholistic change management aspects than just being a BA eliciting requirements for a website?

[mischmaster]

lewisf182 said:

Ah yes Business Relationship Manager is the other role I was trying to think of the title for. Again few and far between and quite hard to search for as client account manager type roles often use that title interchangeably.
Definitely a step up on the career path if you can put together a business case on the potential value.

You are right in that all business’ use and view BA’s completely differently but in the main its still a well regarded and well respected profession in the companies. It definitely sounds like you enjoy the more wholistic change management aspects than just being a BA eliciting requirements for a website?

Yes absoloutely, I prefer the holistic view and the wider end to end implementation piece. Don't get me wrong the elicitation of requirements or producing a process map is enjoyable but I do prefer the variation as opposed to doing this every day. I also feel that the variation helps keep up to date with the latest skills and technologies.

[deebs]

mischmaster said:

deebs said:

Business architecture? Strategic Analyst?

Thanks both good suggestions. Would you say BA --> Business Architect is considered quite a natural step or would there be a number of gaps/areas that would need to be addressed?

The TOGAF framework might be a good place to have a quick look for more info. I personally think the trend is going towards smaller teams with multi disciplinary skills. So you take on a role in a project, rather than it necessarily specifically being "your job title". This role might cross over a few different traditional titles .