What Does An IT Business Analyst Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

IT Business Analysts

IT Business Analysts are responsible for ensuring that information technology (IT) solutions meet the objectives and needs of an organization. They analyze business needs and liaise between executives and the IT department to improve the quality of the IT infrastructure.

Salary

$69200

Education

Bachelor's degree

Personality

The Leader

What they do
What is the job like
Where they work
How to become one
Should you become one

An IT Business Analyst helps organizations find technologies and IT solutions that align with the company’s objectives. They bridge the gap between business operations and information technology (IT). A standard Business Analyst assesses business models and practices. They then provide recommendations based on their analysis to improve processes, services, or products.

An IT Business Analyst performs the same duties but focuses on the use of IT systems to enhance business practices. Working as an IT Business Analyst involves analyzing IT infrastructure and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to find room for improvement or to solve existing challenges.

What they do

Develop IT Solutions to Tackle Business Challenges

The main job of the IT Business Analyst is to find ways to deal with business challenges using IT solutions. They analyze data to look for areas that may require improvement, such as bottlenecks in a manufacturing process.

IT Business Analysts may address a wide range of business obstacles. They may analyze data related to sales, production, labor, profits, regulatory compliance, or waste, to name a few examples.

Act as a Liaison Between Executives and the IT Department

The IT Business Analysts coordinates activities with the executive branch and the IT department. They attend meetings to understand the organization’s short-term and long-term objectives and keep executives updated on the latest IT projects and developments.

The executive branch may provide an IT Business Analyst with specific outcomes that they want to achieve, such as an increase in worker productivity or less downtime in a manufacturing plant. The IT Business Analyst then discusses these goals with the IT department to uncover potential solutions.

Analyze Business Data and IT Systems

Whether they are developing new processes or improving existing ones, IT Business Analysts need to analyze data related to business processes and the technologies that the processes depend on. The goal is often to find ways to achieve specific results using IT systems.

IT Business Analysts may be responsible for collecting and cleaning data, along with running tests or using computer software to analyze the data. However, some IT Business Analysts receive support from a team of Data Analysts and Data Scientists. In these situations, the IT Business Analyst may delegate tasks and analyze the reports generated by other Analysts.

Provide Recommendations for Improving Processes

After analyzing business data and IT systems, IT Business Analysts use the information that they uncover to improve business processes. They often outline their recommended actions in a detailed report. They may also need to present their findings at a meeting.

When reporting on potential solutions, an IT Business Analyst may need to analyze the potential outcome of the proposed actions. For example, when developing processes to improve productivity, IT Business Analysts may need to estimate potential improvements and how they may impact profits.

Oversee the Implementation of New Technologies

If executives approve the recommendations, the IT Business Analyst begins coordinating with the IT department to implement the changes. However, IT Business Analysts are not typically directly involved in the implementation of new technologies. They do not design IT infrastructures. They often oversee the deployment of new IT systems based on their recommendations.

Analyze the Success of New IT Systems and Processes

After implementing changes, an IT Business Analyst may need to monitor the impact of the new IT systems and processes. They produce reports and run tests to continually tweak and improve the outcomes.

What is the job like

Pros

The Work Is Often Interesting

IT Business Analysts pay attention to IT activities and business activities to improve processes, requiring them to perform a variety of activities. The variety of tasks keeps the job interesting.

You Get to Solve Problems

Individuals that love solving problems should enjoy working as IT Business Analysts, as they are constantly trying to use technology to solve business challenges.

You Receive Clear Expectations

IT Business Analysts never need to guess what is expected of them. They receive clear expectations and objectives, which makes it easier to focus on the work.

You May Visit Other Countries

IT Business Analysts who work for large organizations may travel to different countries or facilities to monitor business processes.

Cons

You Face Pressure to Produce Results

Executives occasionally expect too much from IT Business Analysts, which can lead to a lack of appreciation for your hard work.

You May Need to Deal with Conflict

Executives and IT professionals may not always agree on the best way to tackle a challenge, requiring the IT Business Analyst to step in and resolve the conflict.

Where they work

Information Technology

Retail

Manufacturing

Transportation and Logistics

IT Business Analysts often work for large organizations with complex IT needs, such as companies in the IT industry. IT Business Analysts may also work in the retail industry, helping retailers sell more products and reach more consumers. The manufacturing industry hires IT Business Analysts to improve manufacturing processes with IT solutions. The transportation and logistics industries use IT Business Analysts to increase the efficiency of transporting goods.

How to become one

Step 1: Study Computers in High School

High school students who want to become IT Business Analysts should take computer courses and learn more about predictive modeling through online research.

Step 2: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

IT Business Analysts need at least a Bachelor’s degree, but some employers may prefer a Master’s degree. Common majors include Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Business Administration, and related fields.

Step 3: Earn a Master’s Degree

Individuals who obtain a Bachelor’s degree in a technical field of study may want to focus on business studies to obtain a more well-rounded set of skills. As with Bachelor’s degrees, common majors include Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Business Administration, and related fields.

Step 4: Look for Entry-Level Work

IT Business Analysts need years of work experience. They often start with entry-level IT jobs, such as Data Analyst or System Administrator.

Step 5: Obtain Voluntary Certifications

IT Business Analysts often gain various voluntary certifications to demonstrate their skills and knowledge. Common certifications include the Agile Analysis Certification (IIBA-AAC) and the Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP) credential, which are available through the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA).

Step 6: Look for Promotions

After gaining several years of experience, start applying for promotions. With a few years of management experience, you may qualify to start applying for IT Business Analyst positions.

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Leader

People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

IT Business Analysts are often extroverts with friendly or outgoing personalities, as they need to interact with a wide range of executives and IT professionals. Working in this field also requires self-confidence, as you need to be confident in the recommendations that you make if you expect others to follow them.

IT Business Analysts are also often logical thinkers, as they need to find ways to align IT solutions with business objectives in a logical way. An inquisitive mindset is also recommended for being able to ask questions that others may not think of when trying to solve a business problem.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.