Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving

Analytical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills for Business Analysts

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze Problems and Opportunities

  • Evaluate issues and potential improvements.

  • Identify changes that deliver maximum value.

  • Collaborate with stakeholders to assess change impacts.

    
    

Information Assimilation

• Rapid Assimilation of Information

  • Evaluate diverse information sources (e.g., diagrams, feedback, schematics).

  • Determine relevance of different types of data.

Effective Methods Selection

• Choosing Effective Methods

  • Adapt methods for different media, audiences, problems, and environments.

Facilitating Understanding

• Facilitate Situational Understanding

  • Clarify situations and proposed changes.

  • Communicate complex ideas effectively.

Presenting Information

• Effective Presentation Techniques

  • Tailor information presentation to stakeholders.

  • Use diagrams and graphics for better comprehension.

Core Competencies

• Creative Thinking

• Decision Making

• Learning

• Problem Solving

• Systems Thinking

• Conceptual Thinking

• Visual Thinking

Creative Thinking for Business Analysts

Purpose

• Generate New Ideas and Approaches

  • Enhance problem-solving and seize opportunities.

Definition

• Conceptual Innovation

  • Create new ideas and associations.

  • Question conventional methods and encourage innovation.

  • Combine, change, and reapply existing concepts.

  • Promote alternatives and challenge assumptions.

Effectiveness Measures

• Evaluating Creative Thinking

  • Generate and consider new ideas productively.

  • Explore and adopt new concepts and ideas.

  • Innovate by modifying existing concepts.

  • Foster creativity in self and others.

  • Apply new ideas to solve existing problems.

Decision Making for Business Analysts

Purpose

• Effective Decision Criteria

  • Understand and assist in making better decisions.

Definition

• Selecting Optimal Options

  • Choose the best alternative for stakeholders and the enterprise.

  • Gather and analyze relevant information.

  • Make comparisons and trade-offs.

  • Document decisions and their rationale for future reference.

Effectiveness Measures

• Evaluating Decision Making

  • Ensure appropriate stakeholder representation.

  • Communicate decision-making process and rationale clearly.

  • Explain pros and cons of all options to stakeholders.

  • Reduce or accept any remaining uncertainty.

  • Address needs or opportunities effectively.

  • Ensure stakeholders understand conditions and measures of the decision.

  • Make a final decision.

Learning for Business Analysts

Purpose

• Adaptability in Rapidly Changing Environments

  • Quickly absorb and adapt to new information and knowledge.

Definition

• Stages of Learning

  • Initial acquisition of raw facts.

  • Comprehension of meaning.

  • Application in day-to-day work.

  • Analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

• Domain Understanding

  • Describe and apply understanding to determine necessary analysis activities.

  • Synthesize information to create and evaluate new solutions.

• Learning Techniques

  • Visual: Pictures, diagrams, models, videos.

  • Auditory: Verbal and written language, text.

  • Kinesthetic: Learning by doing.

  • Use multiple techniques for better understanding and retention.

Effectiveness Measures

• Evaluating Learning Effectiveness

  • Recognize learning as a process for all stakeholders.

  • Demonstrate understanding and application of learned concepts.

  • Apply concepts to new areas or relationships.

  • Rapidly absorb and present new facts, ideas, concepts, and opinions.

Problem Solving for Business Analysts

Purpose

• Define and Solve Problems

  • Ensure stakeholders understand the root cause and solutions address it.

Definition

• Clear Problem Definition

  • Ensure understanding of the problem and underlying issues.

  • Articulate and address stakeholder viewpoints and conflicts.

  • Identify and validate assumptions.

  • Specify objectives to be met by solving the problem.

  • Consider and develop alternative solutions.

  • Measure alternatives against objectives to identify the best solution and associated trade-offs.

Effectiveness Measures

• Evaluating Problem Solving Effectiveness

  • Participant confidence in the problem-solving process.

  • Solutions meet defined objectives and address the root cause.

  • Evaluate new solutions using the problem-solving framework.

  • Avoid decisions based on unvalidated assumptions or preconceived notions.

Systems Thinking for Business Analysts

Purpose

• Holistic Understanding of Interactions

  • Analyze interactions among people, processes, and technology.

Definition

• Systems Theory Overview

  • Properties and behaviors emerge from system components' interactions.

  • Understand the system beyond individual components.

  • Example: Customer returns impact inventory, finance, and training.

  • Include people, interactions, external forces, and relevant factors.

Effectiveness Measures

• Evaluating Systems Thinking

  • Communicate impacts of component changes on the entire system.

  • Explain effects of system changes on its environment.

  • Describe system adaptation to internal and external pressures.

Conceptual Thinking in Business Analysis

Purpose

• Overview:

  • Business analysts deal with extensive, detailed, and varied information.

  • They use conceptual thinking to understand how information fits into a larger context and identify important details.

Definition

• Understanding Linkages:

  • Connects contexts, solutions, needs, changes, stakeholders, and value in an abstract and big-picture manner.

  • Identifies and connects patterns and information that may not be obviously related.

• Contextualizing Details:

  • Places details within a larger framework.

  • Utilizes past experiences, knowledge, creativity, and intuition.

  • Generates alternatives, options, and ideas that are not easily defined.

• Business Analysis Focus:

  • Links difficult-to-define factors to underlying problems or opportunities.

  • Uses models and frameworks to help stakeholders understand and navigate change.

  • Integrates disparate information from various sources to generate solutions and communicate effectively.

Effectiveness Measures

• Connecting Information:

  • Relates disparate information to gain a better understanding of relationships.

• Stakeholder Confidence:

  • Ensures stakeholders understand and are confident in the communicated concepts.

• Formulating Abstract Concepts:

  • Combines information and uncertainty to create abstract ideas.

• Drawing on Experience:

  • Uses past experiences to interpret and understand current situations.

Visual Thinking in Business Analysis

Purpose

• Overview:

  • Facilitates communication of complex concepts through visual representations.

  • Engages stakeholders and aids their understanding.

Definition

• Creating Graphical Representations:

  • Uses visuals to make abstract concepts and systems understandable.

  • Ensures stakeholders can easily grasp and provide input on the presented concepts.

• Visualizing Information:

  • Converts non-visual information into visual formats like graphics, models, and diagrams.

  • Communicates large amounts of information and complex connections effectively.

• Stakeholder Engagement:

  • Helps stakeholders quickly learn, process, and connect information from different contexts.

  • Enhances understanding and appreciation of various contexts.

Effectiveness Measures

• Understandable Visual Models:

  • Communicates complex information through clear visual models.

• Comparisons and Pattern Finding:

  • Enables comparisons, pattern recognition, and idea mapping.

• Increased Productivity:

  • Enhances learning, memory retention, and follow-through with effective visuals.

• Deeper Engagement:

  • Engages stakeholders more deeply than text alone.

• Critical Information Comprehension:

  • Ensures stakeholders grasp important information that might be missed in text-only presentations.