

Business Analysis Live!
International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA)
Business analysis is one of the top trending skills today. From problem solvers to change agents to advocates, business analysis professionals perform many roles in organizations and governments all over the world. Join us every other Tuesday as host Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager from the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA®), has candid practitioner chats with industry colleagues about business analysis topics. If you like to listen to lively discussions, interviews, and some great career advice, this podcast is for you!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 9, 2024 • 42min
Crafting Effective AI Queries
In this episode, hosts Susan and Scott are joined by Mohsen Akhavannia, to discuss practical strategies for communicating effectively with AI tools like ChatGPT. Drawing parallels from business analysis, they explore how to formulate queries using natural, providing context, and asking follow-up questions to optimize AI interactions and get the outputs you want.
Whether you're new to AI or looking to enhance your querying skills, this episode offers valuable insights into leveraging AI effectively in your projects and daily workflows.
Connect with Mohsen on LinkedIn
Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at live@iiba.org or leave us a voice message on our podcast homepage.
Business Analysis Live is hosted by:
- Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA
- Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA
International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.
#AIQueries #NaturalLanguageProcessing #BusinessAnalysis #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT

Jun 25, 2024 • 46min
Visual Communication
In this episode, we talk about the power of visual communication in business analysis. We are joined by
Paddy Dhanda of the Superpowers School podcast and frequent speaker on visual communication with his colleague, Grant Wright (who has not able to join for this episode).
Visual communication is all a component of visual thinking. Paddy talks about why visual thinking is important and how you can build those skills.
Visual Jam - https://www.thevisualjam.com/
Paddy's Podcast - https://www.superpowers.school/Paddy Dhanda on LinkedInGrant Wright on LinkedIn
Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at live@iiba.org or leave us a voice message on our podcast homepage.
Business Analysis Live is hosted by:
- Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA
- Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA
International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.
#businessanalysis #visualthinking #visuallcommunication
00:00:00 - Introduction and Importance of Visuals in Business Analysis00:01:23 - Guest Introduction: Patty's Background and Journey00:03:50 - Discovering Visual Thinking at Deutsche Bank00:05:09 - Live Interaction and Audience Engagement00:06:07 - Meeting Grant and Starting Visual Jam00:07:43 - Explaining Visual Thinking and Its Types00:11:29 - Importance of Visual Thinking in Business Analysis00:13:08 - Attention Span and Engagement in Visual Communication00:15:57 - Examples of Effective Visual Communication00:18:24 - Interactive Drawing Exercise: Squiggle Birds00:22:05 - Learning and Practicing Visual Thinking Skills00:25:13 - Resources for Visual Thinking: The Noun Project and Books00:28:27 - Using Visuals in Professional Settings00:30:49 - Tips for Engaging Presentations with Visuals00:33:05 - Audience Questions: Visual vs. Verbal Communication00:37:03 - Using Visuals for Problem-Solving and Thought Processes00:40:00 - Creating Effective Visual PowerPoint Presentations00:43:59 - AI Tools for Visual Storytelling00:44:34 - Closing Remarks and Future Topics

Jun 11, 2024 • 43min
Business Analysts' Roadmap to Formal Leadership
Are Business Analysis Roles the Gateway to Project Management? Discover How BA Skills Can Propel You into Leadership!
Wondering if your skills as a business analyst could open doors to leadership opportunities? Join us in this week's episode as we talk with speaker, educator and business analysis practice lead, Priyanka Agrawal, about how you can leverage your business analysis skills in formal leadership roles. We answer questions such as:
- How to become a leader?
- What skills do you need?
- What practice do you need?
- How do you transition into a formal leadership role?
Connect with Priyanka on LinkedIn
Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at live@iiba.org or leave us a voice message on our podcast homepage.
Business Analysis Live is hosted by:
- Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA
- Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA
International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.
#businessanalysis #leadership

May 28, 2024 • 55min
How To Do Business Analysis
Is there just one way to do business analysis? Is there a right way? How do we bring together all these techniques and tasks to achieve the right outcomes? Susan and Scott chat with Howard Podeswa about how to do business analysis work. Howard is an author of three books for business analysis professionals (see list below). You can follow Howard on LinkedIn.
Howard's Books:
- The Business Analyst's Handbook
- The Agile Guide to Business Analysis and Planning
- UML for the IT Business Analyst
Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at live@iiba.org or leave us a voice message on our podcast homepage.
Business Analysis Live is hosted by:
- Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA
- Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA
International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.
#businessanalysis

May 14, 2024 • 38min
Unpacking the Global State of Business Analysis
Susan and Scott talk with Eno Eka, Founder of Business Analysis School, about the Global State of Business Analysis (GSBA), the report from IIBA's annual survey that shares insights from business analysis professionals from all over the world.
Resources:
The video version of this podcast includes the report slides.
Get a free GSBA infographic of the report.
IIBA members have access to the full report
Connect with Eno on LinkedIn
Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at live@iiba.org or leave us a voice message on our podcast homepage.
Business Analysis Live is hosted by:
Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA
Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA
International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.
#businessanalysis

Apr 30, 2024 • 42min
Amplifying Agility with AI and Insightful Business Analysis
In this episode of our podcast, Susan and Scott discuss the recent book launch of Futureproof: Amplifying Agility with AI and Insightful Business Analysis focusing on AI and business analysis. They are joined by Angela Wick and Tim Coventry, authors of the book, who share insights on the urgency of business analysis in an AI environment, the AI Accelerator Framework, and the upskilling needed for BAs in an AI-driven world.
Here are three key takeaways from our conversation:
Continuous Analysis in an AI World: Angela and Tim emphasize the importance of viewing analysis as a continuous process rather than a phase in a project. With the rise of AI, the focus shifts towards ongoing analysis, hypothesis creation, and fast experimentation to drive decision-making and value creation.
Upskilling for Success: The authors highlight the significance of upskilling for business analysis professionals in the era of AI. They stress the importance of gaining practical experience, seeking mentorship, and engaging in social learning to enhance skills beyond traditional classroom knowledge.
AI Accelerator Framework: Angela and Tim introduce the AI Accelerator Framework discussed in the book, which helps BAs understand how analysis fits into the broader context of business results, user behaviors, and strategy. This framework encourages BAs to focus on creating value-driven hypotheses, conducting experiments, and linking business outcomes to user behaviors.
Join Susan, Scott, Angela and Tim as they explore the future of business analysis in the age of AI, discuss practical examples and vignettes from the book, and provide valuable insights for professionals looking to adapt to the evolving landscape of business analysis.
RESOURCES:
Angela Wick on LinkedIn
Tim Coventry on LinkedIn
Futureproof: Amplifying Agility with AI and Insightful Business Analysis by Angela Wick and Tim Coventry
Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at live@iiba.org or leave us a voice message on our podcast homepage.
Business Analysis Live is hosted by:
- Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA
- Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA
International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.
#BusinessAnalysis #AI #FutureProof #ContinuousAnalysis #Upskilling #AIAcceleratorFramework #ValueCreation #DecisionMaking #BusinessOutcomes

Apr 16, 2024 • 41min
What is Requirements Management?
Scott and Susan interview Jenn Bedell, business analysis practitioner, speaker and IIBA Regional Deputy Director, as she shares insights about managing requirements. In this podcast she discusses the importance of thorough exploration, stakeholder collaboration, and understanding project goals to uncover and prioritize requirements as why we need to manage and track requirements over the life of the project. If you geek out about creating requirements management systems, you won't want to miss the conversation on using low code/no code tools to track requirements as structured data!
RESOURCES:
Connect with Jenn on LinkedIn
Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at live@iiba.org or leave us a voice message on our podcast homepage.
Business Analysis Live is hosted by:
- Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA
- Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA
International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.
#BusinessAnalysis #RequirementsManagement #LowCodeNoCode #StakeholderEngagement

Apr 2, 2024 • 32min
What is Business Architecture?
Ever wondered how organizations bridge the gap between IT and business operations? You'll discover the intriguing journey of business architects as they navigate through different departments, from IT to strategy, in pursuit of organizational excellence. Join Scott and Susan and special guest, Roger Burlton, business architecture practitioner, author, speaker and trainer, as we answer the question "What is Business Architecture?"
RESOURCES:
Short videos and articles by Roger at Process Renewal
Connect with Roger on LinkedIn
Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at live@iiba.org or leave us a voice message on our podcast homepage.
Business Analysis Live is hosted by:
- Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA
- Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA
International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.
#BusinessArchitecture #StrategyAlignment #EnterpriseTransformation #ITStrategy #BusinessInnovation

Mar 19, 2024 • 40min
Neuroscience and Business Analysis
How can neuroscience research help us be better communicators, better leaders and build better relationships? Scott Helmers joins Scott and Susan for a rich discussion on some methods and principles that can make us more aware of how we, and others, think.
RESOURCES:
- Contact Scott Helmers - Scott@VisioStepByStep.com
- Connect with Scott on Linkedin
- Scott's LinkedIn Learning courses
Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at live@iiba.org or leave us a voice message on our podcast homepage.
Business Analysis Live is hosted by:
- Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA
- Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA
International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.
#businessanalysis #neuroscience #thinkingstyles

Mar 5, 2024 • 45min
The Importance of Being Nimble
What do we mean by nimble? Is that just another word for agile or does it mean something else? According to our guests, Fabricio Laguna and Filip Hendrickx, it is a way of thinking about an organization's ability to sense and respond with speed and precision. Learn more about nimble, how it applies to organizations and how business analysts can be nimble.
You can meet Fabricio Laguna and Filip Hendrickx, who will be running a tutorial about Nimble at the upcoming 2024 Building Business Capabilities (BBC) conference - https://buildingbusinesscapability.com/
REOURCES:
IIBA Research: Being Nimble – The Scalable Capability for Organizations to Sense and Respond to Change
Nimble Vs Agile: Why is a unique term not enough?
Episode About Effective Change Management with Filip Hendrickx
Episode about The Business Model Canvas
Connect with Filip on LinkedIn
Connect with Fabricio on LinkedIn
Do you have questions about this topic or have an idea for a different topic? Ask us a question at live@iiba.org or leave us a voice message on our podcast homepage.
Business Analysis Live is hosted by:
- Susan Moore, Community Engagement Manager at IIBA
- Scott Bennett, Manager, Business Analysis at IIBA
International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a non-profit professional association serving the field of business analysis. As the global thought leader and voice of the business analysis community, IIBA actively supports the recognition of the profession, and works to maintain global standards for the ongoing development of the practice and certifications.
#Nimble #BusinessAnalysis #IIBA