Better Business Analysis: An Interview with Shane Hastie

  Business Analysis   Business Case   Requirements Management   Strategy  

Shane Hastie, Chief Knowledge Engineer for Software Education, spoke with us about the ideas he presented in his recent video on business analysis. He tackled questions about how to get to the real problem, how to uncover the real requirements behind a change and how business analysts and project managers can have more successful relationships.

1. In the video you talk about the “Five Whys” and say that by the fifth time you ask “Why?” you’ve probably gotten to the real reason for something. Why do you think that this is an effective practice, and how have you seen it used successfully?
Stakeholders often think in terms of the symptoms of the problem and their perception of the “best” solution. By asking a series of “why” questions, you are able to explore down to the underlying cause of the problem. From there, you can identify creative solution options that address the real need. Our stakeholders often feel stressed and pressured, and that can result in a tight focus in thought patterns. The “Five Whys”--which should be asked carefully without coming across as challenging--can reduce some of the tension and help people open up the creative thought process.

I once talked to a manager in a financial institution who wanted an additional piece of data to be included in a report. The first “why” …

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