Business Analyst vs System Analyst
Business Analyst (BA) and System Analyst (SA) are job roles that have evolved with the growth of the information technology sector. The role of a Business Analyst can be found in many industries, but it is more widespread in the IT industry. The job requires various academic and professional qualifications, depending on the specific requirements of the role. On the other hand, Systems Analysts work in all industries, but they should have a professional background in information management. Both job roles require analytical skills, proper planning, teamwork, and innovative thinking for success.
Business Analyst
The role of a Business Analyst can vary significantly depending on the industry being considered. In the past decade, the BA role has become increasingly associated with the IT industry as an essential job. A BA acts as a bridge between the customer and the development team, translating business processes and requirements into functional specifications. The Business Analyst works with the development team throughout the entire implementation process. In software development, a BA tests the implementations carried out by the team to ensure that customer needs are met. A Business Analyst should have relevant functional knowledge in the area they are assigned to. For example, in an ERP development project aimed at satisfying International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) compliance, a BA should have a strong accounting background to map the accounting standards’ requirements with the system features. A BA should develop good rapport with the development team to discuss any uncertainties before proceeding with implementation.
System Analyst
A System Analyst primarily works on configuring system requirements for an organization. They should have a strong knowledge of computer software, hardware, and networking. The academic background of a System Analyst mainly relates to computer science, information science, or management information systems. Their main responsibilities include interacting with end users and customers, planning system flow, managing design considerations, and implementation while managing timelines. An SA is responsible for documenting user requests into technical documentation. They should always discuss the end user’s specific requirements regarding information flow. System Analysts experiment with different computer system plans and try various tools and steps until they find the system that is fastest, easiest to use, and fully optimized in terms of cost. In this process, the analyst must test the system and ensure that information is processed without mistakes.
Key Takeaways
- Business Analysts focus more on business processes and underlying concepts and practices, while System Analysts play a more technical role.
- Business Analysts can come from any discipline and may not necessarily possess IT knowledge, whereas System Analysts should always have relevant information science/management knowledge.
- Business Analysts mostly collaborate with the end customers of the product and the development team, while System Analysts work with the end users of the organizations and the IT department.
