Business Analyst vs. Project Manager - which is better?
Anonymous
Hello, I've been working as an Sr. BA / PM for an IT company.
We recently had a reorganization, and now I will have to decide which role I want to take - BA or PM. I personally like the BA job better; however, I often hear that if I want to move up the ladder, it's better to be a PM... Is that true? What do you think? I would like to hear your thoughts / experience. Thank you. Saving Changes...
I also enjoy being both the PM and BA - you get to be a part of the team, and you understand the project better, and the schedule, Team personalities, etc, etc. The salary range for PM's tends to be higher than for BA's. The stress level is higher too for PM's. Ask your manager about possible career paths for you after the merger.
You have already stated that you enjoy the BA side more than PMing.
List all of the tasks you perform. Note the tasks you enjoy, and those you don't like as much. Then note which position those tasks fall under.
Listen to your gut. Is it worth striving to "get ahead" if you are stressed, unsatisfied with your daily tasks, and enjoying yourself less?
Imagine a day as a PM 100%. What does that feel like?
Then imagine a day solely as a BA, and see how that feels. In which scenario do you feel more satisfied and enjoy a sense of accomplishment? Are you willing to chase the chance of future advancement at the expense of your actual work-life?
What does "success" look like to you? Is it more repect? More money? You are resposible for your life and for your happiness. You get to define success. And you can always make a new decision, if you decide to take a new path. Saving Changes...
yash bindlishSr manager IT| ReligareNoida, Up, India
Business Analyst and Project Manager are two different roles all together:
BA : Is a person who plays a major role in analysis phase where he is responsible to deliver BRD, FRS, gap analysis and understanding the stakeholder requirements.
PM : Is a person who is responsible to manage end to end project. He is a person who is given authority to act on a project and issue resources under each stage and playing a major role in communicating with all stakeholders. He spends 90% of his time on communication Management.
Towards asking which role is better, from above as i said both roles are extreme distinct. Ask from yourself which role suits you most with your experience and efficiency in it. Also, you can take guidance from your program manager and if wanted to a PM role then i will recommend start with Assistant project manager role.
I think your chances of being successful and moving up the ladder are greatly enhanced if you are doing something you love. A positive attitude, good energy level, efficient & solid work results are all the results of doing what you enjoy - surely that will be noticed & rewarded in your organization. Good luck in your decision! Saving Changes...
After working with and hiring many BA and PM's in Roles. I view it as if you enjoy managing individuals and teams as well as projects and wish to move up in management go with the PM, if you like the technical and possible more independent ave than BA. The disclaimer here is how they are generally used (job descriptions) in most organizations Saving Changes...
Mark Price PerryBusiness Driven PMO Evangelist| BOT InternationalOrlando, Fl, United States
You said that you like the BA role better. You also said that you want to move up the ladder. Which is more important to you? Also, if you want to move up the ladder, there are other roles, skills, and positions that you would be well served to take on. You might have a look at some of the folks that are higher up on the ladder (where you might want to be) and see what kinds of positions they had to get where they are. Not knowing more of your situation, it is hard to offer advice. If you follow your passion, you can't go wrong. Saving Changes...
I especially liked Mark's comments about following your passion; you can't go wrong and Gael's what does "success'' look like to you. Eric also gave you some great insight from a hiring manager point of view.
This is a really great opportunity but consider these other ideas. Sure, the grass looks greener and perhaps you'll have opportunities to move up the ladder for more pay but consider the following:
Are you a great communicator?
Do you like your boss and current team members?
Do you like change or do your like a predictable work day in and out?
What are your strengths and weakness?
What kind of influence do you have in the organization?
Are you good at motivating others?
Are you a self directed, self motivated and a take charge kind of person?
Do you know what PMs in your organization do?
Do you like to lead or follow?
Where do you want to be in 5 - 10 years from now?
What is your career path as a BA vs PM?
What are your skillsets to be a PM?
Is there training, coaching and mentoring, in house courses, PM support groups etc?
Lot of options to consider so before you make a quick decision; sit down with a piece of paper and weigh your options. Let's us know which one you pick.
You need to understand which ladder do you want to climb?
PMs go to program managers, portfolio managers (non-line management roles) they can end up a PMO manager which is line management.
BAs can go to BA team lead, Business Solutions manager, etc ie Line managers.
So it is line management - managing people or project management, managing projects and programs.
Both different ladders, so which one suits you? Saving Changes...
Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
There was a guest post on my blog earlier this month about how business analysts and project managers work together on projects, which might show you how the two roles interact so that you can better make a career decision. You can read it here.To add my own thoughts, it is not 'better' to be a PM, although in my experience PMs can earn more. However, this is changing, and BAs can command the same salaries in the right organisations. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
In BPO, if i am offered PMO post for a particular project and BA (risk) for another project. Which is better to take? Which role has good future in India as well as outside India. Suggest soon. I have just a day to decide. Saving Changes...
