Business Analyst

If you're ever planning to make a career in either of these fields, its important to learn the difference between the two. Business Analysis vs Data Science Difference #1: Definition
Put simply, the overarching goal of a business analyst is to help grow a business in a given market under certain conditions. They have a direct influence on critical financial decisions made in the company. They use data to create and change policies, improve productivity and stabilise systems. A data scientist, on the other hand, is responsible for collecting, processing and reporting findings from a massive data dump. Data scientists convert raw data into structured, meaningful silos which are then used to generate reports on trends or make forecasts. Business Analysis vs Data Science Difference #2: Analysis
A business analyst perceives data, insights and requirements from the perspective of the business and its overall operational systems. A data scientist observes and visualises the relationship between data in a database. While data analysts derive insights from data dumps, business analysts take what is needed to make the business function better and meet certain milestones. Both problem-solving roles are highly data-focused; the difference is that they enter at different stages of the operation and manipulate data to different goals. Business Analysis vs Data Science #3: Skills
While the skills required for both roles might overlap by virtue of dealing with data, in the end, there are some differences. The following skills apply for data scientists:Programming: Where premade software might not be flexible enough, data scientists must be equipped to make personalised changesSoftware: Data scientists must be well-versed in a plethora of tools serving different purposes, from statistics to visualisationData management: From collecting to segregating and organising massive data dumps, data scientists are expected to be adept at managing and manipulating data
When it comes to business analysts, the following apply:Analytical skills: By virtue of their job role, business analysts need to be excellent at analysing data and immediately spotting significant information and leveraging itTechnical understanding: though not as much as data scientists, business analysts are expected to understand databases, basic software and visualisation systems to interpret dataSoft skills: Business analysts need to network and brainstorm with multiple key players, so t.

A business analyst is someone who plays a key role in every business around the world. They are the ones who understand the changes that are needed in a business, assess the business for the impact of these changes, document and analyze them and hence communicate and deliver these necessary changes to the relevant stakeholders. Business analyst acts as a bridge between the IT and the stakeholders for an efficient output. The life of a business analyst is not an easy one, but it can be an excellent career opportunity for those who have a knack for evaluating and analyzing data, developing solutions, handling numerous individuals while being exceptional in IT. It is a 9 to 5 job where you are responsible for handling complex business problems, troubleshoot when necessary, engage with stakeholders, and respond to their needs according to the ever-changing business environment. Being a business analyst means being able to multitask and have an acute presence of mind. It is a task that can be carried out easily with years of experience; however, if you are someone new to this field, it might take you some time to get adjusted and to climb the corporate ladder. Major Responsibilities:
In India, business analysts are expected to:
1. Work with the business to recognize the possibilities and opportunities for the improvisation of the business process and the operations.
2. Design technical solutions and assist in solving business problems.
3. Document functional and technical designs of business systems.
4. Gather, document, and analyze various business requirements.
5. Modify and design the business system.
6. Work alongside stakeholders and subject matter experts to understand their problems and needs.
7. Interact with system architects and developers to make sure the system is implemented correctly. Being a business analyst may be considered a task by many, but it is a task that can take you to places with endless opportunities. Go and enroll in a business analyst course (https://imarticus.org/agile-business-analyst-and-scrum-prodegree-with-sap/) today and take your career to new heights.

Switching careers is never easy and the first recommendation to achieving your goal is to make your action plan after actually doing a SWOT analysis. Let us look at the essential steps involved.
Step-1: Set a goal and a specific time frame
While this may seem simple, place your decisions and goal on the sound basis of research and facts. Evaluate the B.A. Role, its growth prospects, qualifications needed, where you intend to work, certifications, Business analyst course (https://imarticus.org/agile-business-analyst-and-scrum-prodegree-with-sap/) needed and such factual information before doing so.
Step-2: Act on your action plan tirelessly
Once the plan of action is in place you will need to get around to doing tasks that will need time, resources, and plenty of determination and effort. Here the Why do it? Question answered. The B.A. Is assured of ever-growing demand as a BLS report in the USA predicts a growth of 14% by the year 2024 for this evolving and much sought after role. Doing the right course can give you an opportunity to placements, measurable skills and an enhanced resume since skills are the only criteria for the B.A. Role. Organizations like the PMI, IIBA, IQBBA, IREB etc. Offer certifications that are industrially accepted and valued too. Although it may seem like there are only two steps to making a switch from your current role to that of a Business analyst career, reality isn't that simple. Rerouting to take on new responsibilities requires a lot of focus, dedication and determination. One must plan properly before setting goals and maintain a time frame to research the role, demand for jobs, training institutes, certifications and more. The execution of plans will need resources, money, time and a lot of effort. However, the end result is a plum role of B.A. Where the job is satisfying and earns handsomely. No matter what kind of role you are in currently, your present skills count and can be up-skilled with a Business analyst course.

Hello Ispita,
Glad to see that you are looking to build a career as a business analyst. A business analyst is the one person who is involved in almost all business intelligence processes like Data mining, analysis, making forecasts, report preparation, and more. The role of a business analyst is employer-specific, while some might require only IT knowledge, others might require finance or accounting background and a few might want specific marketing skills. Academics from a specific field is not that crucial, as far as you have a Bachelor or an equivalent degree. Although in recent times employers swing towards candidates with a degree in MBA, or a Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM), or a Master of Science in Business Analytics (MS-BA).
You can also boost your portfolio with certifications, especially if you intend to take up this role with a few years of work experience. Depending upon when in your career you plan to enter this field, it is important to take stock of your transferable skills. Basically, the role of a business analyst requires a combination of Soft skills, Technical skills, and Transferable skills. Analytical skills, critical thinking, problem solving skills, research skills, communications skills, understanding of IT skills, which would mean some systems knowledge above using Microsoft office efficiently could help a great deal. People interested in a career change or initiating their career as a business analyst should acquire additional qualifications through business analyst certifications (https://imarticus.org/agile-business-analyst-and-scrum-prodegree-with-sap/) that can leverage their existing skills. For a role of a business analyst is much sought after these days, and as forecasted, the demand will only continue to grow.