I was in Johannesburg, South Africa last week talking with business analysis professionals and was asked several times to describe the difference between a business analyst and a systems analyst. This is not an easy question to answer because titles are used inconsistently and many of us wear many hats. I will give you my answer and am interested to hear others!

Both roles are "analysts" which means that we use many of the same analysis techniques and require many of the same skills. Generally systems analysts are more technical than business analysts. Systems analysts are more focused on making sure that the solution or product aligns with the existing software/hardware architecture and is easy to maintain. Business analysts are more focused on business needs and making sure that the solution or product truly solves the business problem. BAs may come from a business or IT background but most SAs have the technical experience.

The IIBA has not yet embraced the systems analyst role but we also have not excluded it. We are trying to get consensus around what business analysis is before we tackle any other related roles. I personally hope that SAs will be invited into the group and their work included in our arena.

Thoughts?

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tbarron7 on 12/1/2007
I hear them used interchangably yet I agree with your definition. I'm currently looking for an analyst for our IT department and need both the technical hands-on experience as well as be able to get involved in several purely business analysis type projects. This has been a common requirement in the mid-size business I am in. We need to be able to do a little of both. For the title of the position, I posted it as 'Business Systems Analyst' - couldn't make up my mind so threw them both in there :)

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ssaldanha on 12/4/2007
I would agree with the your thought that Business Analysts really focus on the business needs as it relates to the functionality and usability of the new product or enhancement. Business Analysts require some level of technical knowledge but not as much as the System Analyst that is validating the requirements against what a system can handle. When I think of System Analysts, I think that they are mainly people that work on the back end. It doesn't matter whether a field is a drop-down or radio button as much as what the impact of the data will be on where it is going in the system. I would not expect a System Anaylst to know or care about usability but be mainly focused on the inputs and outputs of their system.

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DJYORK on 12/12/2007
I am in total agreement with your answer. Many times as a IT-BA, I am expected to know the technical aspect of the solution, but I would rather focus on the requirements being met by a proposed solution. I have been told that I am too narrow in my view of a BA but that is my story and I am sticking to it.

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box2105 on 12/12/2007
I have always looked at the roles from the BA being on the outside (Actor's Side) of the black box and the SA being on the inside (System Side) on the black box. The BA is focused on the Actor's inputs and responses: Actor does this, System gives back that. The SA works in reverse: The Actor has requested this, how do I give them back that? In a way, they are two opposite worlds.

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dwcosta on 12/25/2007
My official title at my company is a Lead Business System Analyst (BSA). I have to perform both roles outlined above. I have to gather user requirements during requirement sessions as well as ensuring the system can support the business requirements. I daily responsibilities include gathering requirements, creating use cases, domain models, state machine models, etc. My System Analyst role kicks into high gear when enhancing the current system because I have ensure the new enhancements based on new business requirements can be technically implemented without impacting other functionality. I have my MBA to support the BA side and I obtained my ITIL Service Manager Master Certificate to support the SA side. I can't imagine having someone else performing the BA role or the SA role in my area of responsibility because I am so accustomed to performing both roles. I feel this role allows me to better serve the business by gathering and understanding the requirements and assisting with building the system based on their requirements. I would hope the IIBA would embrace the SA in the BSA role.

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