BA on startup, Part 1: Don't be an alien

Nice to see you again! I'm going to write a story line about BA's most common problems and ways to solve them on startups. The main idea of this series is providing for you cases from real life with which I faced in my practice. To make an analysis of each problem and suggest the best option to solve.

And the first one story is:

Don't be an Alien. Shave the mustaches! 

The project is going to be started soon. Stuffing is almost done. Most of the team is already defined. Time to introduce the roles. And PM says - 'So team, please welcome our business analyst!' Once everyone hears that we're going to have a Business Analyst on the project, they examine you as an Alien, an Alien with mustaches. 

Known situation isn't it?

Most of dev team can't even realize what is your responsibilities are, on which side you are (customer or team), will you control them or think how this guy can help us? And that is truth. You are an Alien for them and this Alien has mustaches. It's clear why an Alien, however why mustaches? The reason is a role name "Business Analyst". For most people it sounds 'official' and probably 'frightful'- and I think that mustaches is an attribute of 'formality'. 

First of all remove this layout of formality between you and the team - Shave the Mustaches! The best way for this is a presentation of requirements management plan. I think that it is first thing with which each Business Analyst should start. Try to avoid formality on this presentation. Do not show a lot of diagrams, complicated flows of interaction. Focus on people who are listening to you. Analyze target audience. For most cases everything they need to hear is who you are and how you can help them. Let them know that you are a normal guy, and your goal is to help them in understanding of customers needs. That is the best chance to Shave your Mustaches. 

So the mustaches are shaved however you still an Alien for most of them. Team perceives you as a person who is responsible for all project activities (I was surprised to realize that on some of my projects). And that is a main problem - they may ask you about anything and more important thing, that they expect to get answers from you. Never say - that is not a part of my job. Try to figure out who (if you are not able to solve this problem) might help them and forward the question to appropriate team member. You know process, project life circle, main stakeholders, etc best! You are Business Analyst and you know how effectively collaborate, communicate and interact - help other team members on early project stages. Doing this you will bridge the gap. And an alien will become an insider!

After all this team see you as - 

However without mustaches. Awesome movie, isn't it? Exactly dialog with this guy (Office Space).

BA's - try to bridge the gap between you and team on early project stages. Do not avoid any assistance which teammates might require from you. You are the Business Analyst and you know how effectively collaborate, communicate and interact. You know processes, project life circle, main stakeholders best. That is your chance to shave a mustaches and become an insider!   

Links:

1.http://www.thousandtyone.com/blog/BusinessAnalystsAndTheMillionDollarQuestionWhatWouldYouSayYouDoHere.aspx;

2. http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/.a/6a00d83451c3cb69e20120a605f1c7970b-popup