What are the key skills of a Business Analyst ?

Business analysts must possess a wide spectrum of skills and knowledge.
Being a technical expert in a particular area does not guarantee success as a business analyst on a project.

In addition to the necessary business, technical, and domain knowledge, the business analyst should have management, interpersonal, business, and structured problem – solving skills.

Soft skills and knowledge are the key drivers of effective business analysis.
Knowing what to do and when to do it is a good start for a business analyst, but how you actually do that work makes a big difference.

They encompass the interpersonal skills and additional business and technical knowledge that are necessary for doing the business analyst’s job well.
These essential skills range from applying structured analysis techniques to issue management to addressing solution usability concerns.


Some Key Skills of a Business Analyst are stated as follows :

1) Analytical thinking and problem – solving skills

Facilitating solutions to business problems would be impossible without a logical mind. Analytical thinking and problem – solving skills enable the business analyst to assess and understand a situation.

Once that situation is fully understood, the business analyst assesses and recommends one or more potential solutions to address the business need, problem, or opportunity.

2) Behavioral characteristics

Effective business analysts apply personal integrity and strength of character when dealing with people, including the business analysis team, project team, and internal and external project stakeholders.

The ability to build strong, lasting working relationships serves both the business analyst and the project well.

3) Business knowledge

It is impossible to be a liaison between the business and the technology if you have no understanding of the business.

Skilled business analysts understand the internal and external business environment surrounding their projects, and they use that knowledge to make good decisions and recommendations.

4) Software knowledge

Software applications are typically used by the business analyst to develop and manage requirements.

This can range from using a word processor to document project scope to using a requirements management tool to develop detailed user and system requirements.

Although using a requirements management tool is not a required skill, the ability to master and apply requirements management, word processing, and spreadsheet tools are desirable traits in experienced business analysts.

5) Interaction skills

Good business analysts are team players. In large part, this is due to their ability to interact and work well with other members of the team.

Leadership and facilitation skills play a key part in defining and agreeing to a solution to a business problem or need.

6) Communication skills

The number one reason for project failure is poor communication. Business analysts must have excellent communication skills in order to develop requirements.