Earlier today, I came across an article by Frank Ray on Medium titled The Business Analyst Winter of Discontent. It paints a stark yet thought-provoking picture of where the business analysis profession stands today.
The landscape for business analysts is challenging. Layoffs in tech and tightening budgets across industries have left many questioning their role’s relevance. Traditionally, BAs excelled at connecting the dots between business goals and technical solutions. Their systems, strategy, and problem-solving expertise allowed them to drive impactful outcomes.
Over time, many BAs became specialists deeply embedded in IT teams. Instead of contributing to broader business strategies, they focused on delivering technical solutions, narrowing their scope and influence. Their toolkit of powerful methods—like PESTLE analysis, SWOT, and Porter’s Five Forces—was left underutilized, replaced by tasks that felt more administrative than strategic.
In a survey conducted by Ray, 65% of business analysts admitted they rarely played a significant role in major business decisions. This disconnection from their potential impact has led to frustration and disillusionment among professionals, with some even leaving the field entirely.
The rise of Agile methodologies has further shifted the BA’s role. Agile frameworks prioritize speed, flexibility, and iteration. While these principles are valuable, they can inadvertently marginalize the detailed analysis required for long-term success.
In many Agile environments, the BA role is downplayed or absorbed into the responsibilities of product owners or Scrum teams. Without robust analysis, organizations risk implementing solutions that miss the mark, ignoring inefficiencies, or misaligning with business goals.
This isn’t to say Agile lacks value—it’s more that the depth of thought and analysis that business analysts bring is sometimes overlooked in the rush to deliver quickly.
Compounding this is the wave of digital transformation reshaping industries. Organizations are adopting technologies like AI, machine learning, cloud computing, robotic process automation (RPA) and block chain at an unprecedented pace. These tools promise agility, innovation, efficiency and data-driven decision-making.
In theory, this should be a golden opportunity for business analysts, who are well-positioned to bridge the gap between emerging technologies and business needs. But the reality is often more complex. Many BAs lack the technical skills or confidence to navigate these shifts, leaving their potential untapped. Meanwhile, industry bodies and training providers struggle to adapt their curricula, leaving analysts without the support they need to stay relevant.
Despite the challenges, this moment could mark a turning point for business analysts. The profession has the chance to redefine itself, reclaiming its role as a key driver of organizational success.
Business analysts are uniquely suited to:
- Identify inefficiencies and improve processes with a customer-centric focus.
- Bridge the divide between technical solutions and strategic objectives.
- Lead cross-functional teams to deliver outcomes aligned with business goals.
To thrive in the future, analysts need to embrace modern methodologies like Design Sprints and Lean principles and sharpen their data analysis and visualization skills. Tools like Tableau, Power BI, and Python can transform how they uncover and communicate insights.
In Conclusion
With stronger support from professional bodies, such as IIBA, business analysis holds the potential to become a cornerstone of modern enterprise strategy. Businesses that empower their analysts will benefit from increased efficiency, innovative solutions, and a sharper focus on customer needs.
In my opinion, this isn’t a winter of discontent for business analysts willing to evolve. It can be the beginning of a spring filled with opportunity.
