Business Analysis And Business Analytics - How To Tell The Difference?

Understanding the distinction between Business Analyst and Business Analytics roles is crucial. Let's break it down with the help of a Venn diagram. This diagram can help you differentiate these roles, allowing you to identify them independently without relying on external education providers. Even if an employer mislabel a job title, you can use this visual tool to determine if it aligns with business analysis.

Typical Business Analyst Job Requirements

Business Analyst roles typically involve tasks like defining business requirements, creating functional specifications, and developing use cases and wireframes. Process design work is also common. Key tools for these roles often include Visio, Word, SharePoint, and JIRA—essential skills for Business Analysts in an enterprise setting.

Typical Business Analytics Job Requirements

Business Analytics roles, on the other hand, require a different set of skills, represented by the orange section of the Venn diagram. If job postings mention skills like data science, data warehousing, or business intelligence, it's a strong indicator that the role is focused on Business Analytics rather than Business Analysis.

Qualifications in mathematics, such as probability or statistics, also signal that the employer is seeking expertise in data science or business intelligence, not business analysis. Moreover, if you see requirements for scripting languages like Python or Perl, you can be confident that the role leans towards Business Analytics.

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