Business Analyst with a quality perspective

Podcast Episode: Business Analyst with a quality perspective

In this episode of Software Testing, I welcome Philipp Huber, a business analyst who used to work as a tester. We talk about how his testing experiences influence his current role and the importance of integrating quality into the software development process from the very beginning. Philipp shares that as a tester he was always appraising whether something was right, whereas now as a business analyst he is defining what should be right. We also discuss the importance of test data and challenges in the data warehouse environment. Finally, Philipp gives valuable tips on how business analysts can improve their quality view by taking the perspective of other roles.

"I really try to teach the testers what it's all about. The testers should also challenge me, because even business analysts make mistakes." - Phillip Huber

Philipp Huber looks back on 15 years of experience in the field of data warehousing. Starting with test automation and testing, he later took on tasks in all areas of the data warehouse lifecycle. He has specialized in business analysis for several years. He works for an international financial services provider in Vienna as an IT business analyst.

Highlights der Episode

• The combination of business analysis and testing experience is particularly valuable in data warehouse projects.
• The integration of the test view into the analysis work is important in order to better understand borderline cases and details.
• Combining production-related data and synthetic data in testing is an effective approach.
• Job rotation is a good method to gain a better understanding of the work of other team members.
• Using AI tools such as ChatGPT to generate test cases and for inspiration can be helpful.

From tester to business analyst

Moving from a tester role to that of a business analyst offers an exciting development opportunity within software development. While testers ensure the quality of applications, the business analyst's job is to define what should be right, rather than just checking if something is right. This perspective makes it possible to not only look at functional aspects, but also to analyze borderline and special cases at an early stage - a skill that is often carried over from the testing phase.

The importance of quality in the development process

In modern software development, it is essential to be flexible and to understand the roles that other team members play. A holistic view of the software development process is essential to ensure the quality of the final application. Business analysts should take particular care to ensure that requirements and specifications are formulated precisely enough from the outset to withstand subsequent testing. A solid quality of requirements analysis forms the basis for the success of the entire development process.

Challenges and solutions

One of the biggest challenges in requirements management is to formulate requirements in a way that is understandable for everyone involved. The importance of direct communication between developers, testers and business analysts cannot be underestimated. Clear written documentation of the most important points is also crucial. When working with complex data structures, for example in the data warehouse environment, it is important to actively involve testers in the requirements process and encourage them to critically scrutinize specifications.

Test data management in the data warehouse

Another important aspect in the data warehouse environment is test data management. One approach to creating test data constellations is to use Excel macros. Although Excel may seem unprofessional at first glance, this approach has proven to be effective and has been well received by the specialist departments. In this way, both synthetic and production-related test data can be created to ensure high data quality.

Tips for aspiring business analysts

Job rotation is a recommended method for prospective business analysts to expand their own expertise. Temporarily taking on a different role, be it as a tester or someone from the specialist area, helps to gain a better understanding of the different perspectives within a project. This understanding helps to significantly improve the quality of your own work and promote a better exchange with other project participants.

Frequently asked questions about business analysis and software testing

What is the difference between business analysis and software testing?

The difference between business analysis and software testing lies in their respective goals and tasks. Business analysis focuses on gathering and defining requirements to ensure that the software meets the business objectives. Software testing, on the other hand, is used to check the quality and functionality of the developed software in order to identify and correct errors.

How do business analysts and software testers work together?

Business analysts and software testers work closely together to ensure software quality. The business analyst provides the requirements and explains them to the testers, while the testers ensure that the developed software meets these requirements. This collaboration helps to avoid misunderstandings and deliver quality-assured results.

Why is a good requirements analysis important for software testing?

A good requirements analysis is crucial for software testing, as clear and precise requirements serve as the basis for the test cases. Only if the requirements are unambiguous can the testers check whether the software implements them correctly. An inadequate requirements analysis often leads to misunderstandings and errors in the software.

What role does the business analyst play in the testing process?

The business analyst plays an important role in the testing process by ensuring that the requirements are correctly understood and implemented. They support the testers by clarifying ambiguities and ensuring that the tests cover the business requirements. In this way, the business analyst helps to ensure the quality of the software.

How can testers benefit from business analysis skills?

Testers can benefit from business analysis skills as they gain a better understanding of the business requirements and objectives. This understanding helps them to perform more targeted testing and ensure that the software developed meets user expectations. Business analysis skills improve the ability to identify critical test cases and mitigate risks.

What are the main challenges in the collaboration between business analysts and testers?

One of the biggest challenges in the collaboration between business analysts and testers is communication. Different technical terms and misunderstandings can lead to problems. Close collaboration and regular coordination help to overcome these challenges and ensure that everyone involved understands the requirements and tests.

What techniques can business analysts use to create quality-assured requirements?

Business analysts can use various techniques to create quality-assured requirements. These include interviews with stakeholders, workshops, use case models and user stories. These techniques help to understand stakeholder expectations and document requirements clearly and comprehensibly, which is helpful later in the testing process.

What are the advantages of agile methods for business analysis and software testing?

Agile methods offer many advantages for business analysis and software testing. Through iterative development cycles, requirements and tests can be continuously adapted, which enables better adaptation to changing requirements. Agile methods also promote close collaboration between analysts, developers and testers, which improves software quality.

How can business analysts and testers ensure that requirements are testable?

To ensure that requirements are testable, business analysts should formulate requirements as concretely and precisely as possible. Testers can provide early feedback on whether requirements are clear and testable. Requirements should contain measurable criteria that testers can use to check whether the requirements have been fulfilled.

Which tools are frequently used in business analysis and software testing?

Various tools are used in business analysis and software testing to support the process. For business analysis, tools such as Jira, Confluence and Balsamiq are often used to document and visualize requirements. In software testing, tools such as Selenium, JUnit or TestRail are popular for creating, executing and managing test cases.

Häufige Fragen

How does the business analyst support the testing process?

The business analyst supports the testing process by formulating clear, detailed requirements that serve as the basis for test cases. In the business analysis, they identify critical business processes and ensure that all tests meet the actual needs of the stakeholders. The analyst also helps to define test data and analyzes test results to identify deviations. By working closely with testers and developers, the analyst ensures that the implementation meets the requirements and that the quality of the results is guaranteed.

Why is a comprehensive business analysis crucial for effective software testing?

A comprehensive business analysis is crucial for effective software testing as it clearly defines the requirements, goals and expectations of the users. By understanding the business processes, testers can ensure that the software not only works technically, but also delivers business value. This minimizes errors and misunderstandings as relevant use cases and scenarios are captured. In addition, a good business analysis promotes communication between developers, testers and stakeholders, which leads to an efficient testing process.

How can collaboration between business analysts and software testers improve business analysis?

Collaboration between business analysts and software testers improves business analysis by defining clear requirements and checking their implementation. Through regular communication, testers can identify problems at an early stage, which increases the quality of the results. Feedback from testers helps analysts to adapt requirements and clarify misunderstandings. Joint workshops also help to deepen understanding of business processes and develop innovative solutions. This synergy ensures more efficient processes and ultimately greater stakeholder satisfaction.

What are the main differences between business analysis and software testing?

The main difference between business analysis and software testing is their focus. Business analysis focuses on understanding business processes, requirements and goals in order to develop solutions that increase business value. Software testing, on the other hand, checks the functionality and quality of the developed software to ensure that it meets the specified requirements. While business analysis provides the framework and direction, software testing ensures that the implementation is correct and error-free. However, both disciplines are crucial to the success of a project.

Which business analysis tools are most effective for companies?

The most effective business analysis tools for companies are Microsoft Power BI, Tableau and QlikView. These tools enable visual data analysis and support decisions with meaningful dashboards. In addition, Excel is useful for basic analysis and Trello for project management. JIRA and Confluence are ideal for requirements analysis. All of these tools promote collaboration and help to evaluate data efficiently, which significantly improves business analysis.

What is a business impact analysis in the context of business analysis?

A Business Impact Analysis (BIA) is a structured process for identifying and evaluating the potential impact of disruptions on business processes. As part of the business analysis, the BIA helps to identify critical processes and prioritize their requirements. The aim is to develop risk mitigation and recovery measures to ensure the continuity and efficiency of the organization. In this way, the BIA supports strategic planning and decision-making in order to remain capable of acting even in crisis situations.

What effective methods are there for carrying out a business analysis?

The most effective methods for conducting a business analysis are the SWOT analysis, process analyses, stakeholder interviews and surveys. The SWOT analysis helps to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Process analyses visualize processes for optimization. Stakeholder interviews ensure that needs and expectations are recorded. Surveys enable the collection of quantitative data for well-founded decisions. These methods support a clear and targeted business analysis in order to develop improvements and strategies.

What tasks and activities are part of business analysis?

Business analysis involves identifying business needs and developing solutions to improve processes. Key tasks include collecting and analyzing requirements, creating business models, conducting market analyses and creating reports and presentations. It also includes communicating with stakeholders and supporting the implementation of projects. The aim of business analysis is to promote decision-making and increase efficiency within the company.

What is business analysis and what benefits does it have for companies?

Business analysis is the process of identifying business objectives and determining solutions to improve processes and systems. It helps companies to make well-founded decisions, minimize risks and exploit opportunities. By systematically analyzing requirements and challenges, business analysis enables efficient resource planning and increases competitiveness. Companies benefit from increased turnover, better customer service and optimized processes.

What are the most important aspects of business analysis?

The most important aspects of business analysis are the identification of business requirements, the analysis of processes and the development of solutions to improve efficiency. In addition, the link between stakeholders is of central importance in order to understand needs and expectations. Effective documentation and communication of results are also crucial to ensure transparency and traceability. Finally, the impact of proposed changes should be evaluated to support strategic decisions.