IT Business Analysis Manager

WHAT IT IS

Key Role Dimensions

Leading a team of IT Business Analysts: Organize the work of others, including planning, organizing, monitoring, troubleshooting, negotiating and reporting, as well as performance reviews, development planning, coaching and training.

Liaising between the IT Business Analysis team and stakeholders: Meet with project teams, IT department colleagues, external vendors and internal clients to ensure needs are met.

Supporting projects as needed: May facilitate a wide range of initiatives to develop and implement operational business systems.

Focus Areas

In a large organization, the IT Business Analysis Manager may manage a specialized team of IT Business Analysts. In smaller or more matrixed organizations, the team may also include individuals such as Software Designers, System and Program Testers and Process Analysts.

IT Business Analysis Managers will typically focus on:

• IT Business Analysis Team Leadership: Accountable for the team’s day-to-day functions and resources.
• Methodology Development: May be accountable for designing the methods IT Business Analysts use to develop business requirements in a given project.
• Stakeholder Communication: Represent the IT Business Analysis team within the broader IT function and within the organization as a whole.
• Product Quality Assurance: Ensure that all client deliverables meet the organization’s quality standards.

WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED

Key Job Accountabilities

IT Business Analysis Managers generally: 

Lead a Business Analysis team:

• Facilitate the establishment of team structure and roles, hiring and on-boarding Analysts and ensuring adequate resource and talent allocation.
• Manage the annual team budget.
• Manage employee/team performance by setting objectives and performance metrics and standards and conducting performance reviews.
• Monitor service requests and project progress.
• Manage escalated project issues.

Provide Business Analysis functional expertise:

• Participate in planning and developing company-wide IT strategies.
• Engage with key business and IT stakeholders to identify changing business priorities and requirements and introduce new processes and technology to enhance the Business Analysis service offering.
• Lead the development of feasibility studies, cost/benefit analyses, business case development and risk assessments for various technology projects.

Develop methodologies for Business Analysis:

• Establish standards for Business Analysis, including methodologies, metrics, requirements and tools.
• Ensure Analysts are adequately certified and/or trained.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Must-haves:

• Knowledge of current trends and innovations in technology infrastructure and computer software applications
• Database architecture and design skills
• IT system architecture development skills
• Strong team leadership and development skills
• Facilitation, negotiation and problem resolution skills
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to prioritize and balance multiple tasks or project.
• Specific knowledge of business analysis methodologies and tools
• Familiarity with business process improvement

Nice-to-haves:

• Previous experience in Project Management
• Previous experience in IT Business Analysis or IT Business Consulting

Education & Credentials

More senior positions typically require:

• Undergraduate university degree

 In the fields of:

• Computer Science
• Technology
• Business
• Management Information Systems
• Economics

 Employers in different segments may require candidates to possess one or more of these designations:

• Certification of Capability in Business Analysis (CCBA) 
• Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) 

 Professional Associations may include:

• International Institute of Business Analysts (IIBA)