Sidewalk: Buzz on Business Analysis

In the last few months, I have been extremely busy with the launch of our start-up venture and have been guilty of not blogging! Probably, I am not managing my time as well as I should have been. But hopefully, now on, I will be regular!

While I have been working on an exciting project, I have also been associated with an initiative to launch Mumbai Chapter of IIBA - International Institute of Business Analysis. This initiative was started with a couple volunteers like me approaching IIBA to start the chapter in Mumbai and IIBA giving their nod. However, the initiative got a big boost when Prof Pradeep Pendse, Dean of IT and Business Design, Welingkar Institute, Mumbai agreed to join the group. We had our first chapter meeting in May and the response we received was impressive. We plan to host our 2nd meeting in the 2nd fortnight of September. So in case you are in Mumbai, please do join us. You can track us at: http://mumbaiin.theiiba.org.

We have also set-up on-line communities on Yahoogroups.com and LinkedIn.com. To join at:

1. Yahoogroups.com: send a blank email to mumbaibas-subscribe@yahoogroups.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

2. Linkedin.com: search for Mumbai Business Analysts group in group directory and follow the instructions stated on the group homepage to join the group.

Business Analyst world is buzzing with action. The community is also getting attention and acknowledgment from within the IT industry! With IIBA pushing the issue, I am sure Busienss Analyst will no longer be a strange animal that my HR Head once addressed to Business Analysts in my previous company. IIBA has developed a Body of Knowledge on Business Analysis and also offers a certification - CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional). While there are institutions such as IIBA, which are working for the cause of Business Analysis, there are indivual efforts too!

Prof Pendse himself has done a lot of work in the area of Business Analysis and has authored a book. This will be most probably the first ever book written on Business Analysis. To know more about his book, click here.