The demands placed upon IT have never been greater. Client expectations continue to rise, competitive and sourcing pressures abound, and projects are more complex and business impacting than ever.

Traditionally these types of "human" or "communication" skills were not considered a part of IT’s core competencies. In fact, it’s not a stretch to say that it was considered outside of their skill set for many in the IT field. But times have changed. Today’s Business Analysts are expected to be skilled in many areas including:

• Acting as a liaison with the business and the IT organization
• Building and sustaining client relationships
• Gathering business requirements
• Influencing without direct power
• Negotiating win-win agreements with all partners
• Managing projects to successful completion
• Navigating through political minefields

Developing competent, qualified business analysts is critical for success in today’s competitive IT environment. In fact, CIO magazine notes “The most successful business analysts are the ones who blend the temperament and communications savvy of a diplomat with the analytical skills of an intelligence officer…and business analysts are a hot commodity.” (Thomas Wailgum , CIO 2008)

Successful analysts need to be highly skilled in the art of communication – relating to their business partners in a professional and consultative way. In addition, skills critical to a business analyst’s success include the ability to; thoroughly gather business requirements and accurately translate it to IT, artfully negotiate between IT and their business partners, and gracefully maneuver the often volatile political landscape.

To equip business analysts these core skills and processes and build their business acumen, Ouellette & Associates (O&A) has developed the Business Analyst Certificate Program. This Certificate Program will arm this highly visible group with the skills, mindset, and motivation to be successful in their jobs. The increased knowledge, enhanced capability and refined skills of this newly certified group will infuse your environment with a high degree of energy, focus, and commitment.

What is the Business Analyst Certificate Program?
It is a BA’s roadmap for success. O&A has created an experience that is customized to your environment, combining a series of targeted, professional development workshops, delivered at your location, with a real world capstone project. Groups of up to 20 BA’s participate in the certificate experience together, enhancing teaming while increasing their competence, confidence, commitment and consistency. Utilizing O&A’s P.R.A.C. Method, we partner with you before, during and after to build and sustain a new culture. P.R.A.C. (Prepare, Reskill, Apply and Continue Momentum) is what sets O&A’s Business Analyst Certificate Program apart from all the other certificate programs. We involve management because change doesn’t happen in a vacuum – it touches everyone. O&A will assist you building and sustaining this new culture for the 21st century by helping you:

1. Prepare Your Environment: O&A works with you before the launch of the BA Certificate Program to tailor the overall experience to fit the unique needs of your environment. We know that you are not just “putting your people through training,” you are changing your culture. We work with you to understand your vision, strategic goals and unique challenges and structure the Certificate Program accordingly.
2. Reskill Your Workforce: There is a growing skills gap for Business Analysts as the focus turns to business / IT alignment. O&A’s workshops and services provide the skills and needed to develop a world class team of BAs. The program includes:
1. Core Programs: O&A works with you to focus on Two (2) workshops that will form the foundation of our BA Certificate program –Consulting Skills for IT Professionals and Business Requirements Management.
2. Elective Workshops: O&A also works with your management team to identify three (3) workshops that meet the needs of BA’s in your environment. This varies and could include programs that cover Service, Strengthening internal relationships, marketing your organization, politics of IT project management, leading change, and project management.
3. Apply to Your Environment: Why our clients find our services so valuable is that they are focused on application in the workplace. As candidates are completing workshops, they are simultaneously using the new skills and concepts in a real-world, business driven Capstone Project using their tailored BA Toolkit. Your organization will begin to see the benefits immediately.
4. Continue Your Momentum: Success is a journey not a destination. The graduation of the BA from the program is the first step. Your organization will grow and evolve as the newly skilled graduates begin implementing, mentoring, and expanding their roles. O&A will share proven techniques and best practices and help your leaders foster this new culture and keep the momentum going at all levels.

Why Leverage O&A’s Business Analyst Certificate Program?

• O&A’s holistic approach is more than a training experience. We take the time and the effort up front to understand your business climate, and tailor the certificate Program to help you achieve your goals.
• By investing in the professional development of their Business Analysts, organizations will have a highly skilled force ready to successfully partner with your clients and align with the business.
• Because the training is focused on the internal needs of the organization and not an external standard, the skills developed are immediately applicable to the real-world projects of your organization.
• Groups of up to 20 BAs participate in the certificate experience together, enhancing teaming while increasing their competence, confidence, commitment and consistency. Certifying a critical mass within your organization lends to greater consistency and a common language and approach that will yield better results, increased client satisfaction and greater success.