Prex J.D.V. Ybasco's Blog, page 10
February 29, 2020
BUSINESS ANALYSIS 101 for the Non-Techies
Disclaimer: The writer is not an expert so take the things written here with a grain of salt. Also, images you will find in this post were all found in Google, the business analyst and system development jokes are from Dilbert and ModernAnalyst.
You’re probably not a Business Analyst yet here you are trying to read as much as you can about Business Analysis because your boss told you this morning that you will be taking the mantle a week later.
Or maybe, you are one of those who typed “a lucrative job, working in front of the computer 8 hours a day” and the search engine included Business Analysis in the results. Sounds too good to be true? You are probably thinking that these job listing sites are lying to you and they are not transparent with the stress the job entails.
Was I spot on?
Naturally.
Otherwise, you wouldn’t see this post among the ones already available in Google. Yet, here you are because, certainly, you’re thinking, “I can’t be the only non-techie who’s supposed to work as a BA next week!”
I can’t promise that this post will be your redemption but that’s not stopping us from entertaining ourselves even just a little bit, right? So what do you, a non-techie, have to do as a Business Analyst?
Prepare yourself for immense documentation.
You can’t shy away from documentation. It’s your greatest ally. When it is down to the letter, it can be your friend. When it is vague, it may be your worst nightmare.
I have said it before—I don’t trust my memory—I don’t have an Eidetic one like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory.
My brain like any others categorizes information and puts them in different vaults to be retrieved later and it also discards those it thinks aren’t necessary to ponder. With that said—I can’t trust it nor can I trust someone else’s particularly when things they remember change all the time. Do you see where I’m going with this? I hope so. Start with the following tools:
Meeting Minutes (follow the template that makes sense to you)Use CasesWorkflowsUser StoryRequirements Matrix
Train yourself to negotiate.
Sounds easy?
Unless charm is one of your assets, negotiating deadlines and requirements is not easy.
With your clients
It will help if you have documents showing the prioritization of requirements and their dependencies. Here’s the thing: your stakeholders might have different requirements that they think they need but actually don’t and requirements they think they don’t need but actually do. This is the BA’s playground. As the person who takes these requirements and delivers them to the developers, you need to distinguish which is which.
With your Project Manager
I’m saying this not only with clients in mind. As a BA, you need to negotiate with your Project Manager and Developers regarding timelines and releases while still making your clients, the Stakeholders, happy.
Having a stable relationship with your Project Manager could also do wonders. Note: stable. Find equilibrium by discussing how the both of you can attack or manage a project.
And jokes are always half-meant. ^_^What has worked for me and still does is discussing with my Project Manager how we will handle projects, communication plan, documentation and meetings. You will find particularly in the beginning how thin the line is between a PM and a BA and knowing what your scope is helps you stick to it better. For example, in meetings, both of my PM and I take notes and collaborate in creating meeting minutes and project status reports depending on our availability. Informing her that I need someone who is into details more than I am also helps. This way, she tells me when things are awry because of confusing details in my user story and I can reassess them.
Notice that I didn’t require a project manager who’d easily agree with me. PMs are not supposed to readily accept project requirements, workflows, and changes. Neither are they supposed to reject all of your proposals on how things must be done. They are there to provide check and balance. Remember that it is not always rainbows and butterflies. Most often than not you’ll bounce ideas off each other but clarification must always be your goal.
When you have a stable relationship with your Project Manager, it will be easier to create different combinations of “to be delivered” and “to be deferred.” One thing I learned: thou shall not go straight to the developers when the PM is around.
Recognize that as the system improves, so should you.
As in any job, you can only use the excuse “this is not my major” for so long. There are several free open sources for BA and online courses now have free or paid certification. Surely, if you’re seriously thinking of doing a good job, devoting an hour per week to online BA courses won’t take a big chunk of your Netflix time, right? Apart from taking courses you can also:
Learn the language of your PM and Developers. It helps that you understand no matter how shallow what a system architecture is and how it is created. Trust is built when people speak the same language and you will save yourself from confusion during future discussions with your project team. It’s not different from watching foreign dramas with subtitles. You aren’t sure if the translations are accurate but you don’t mind that as long as you can get the gist of what is happening on screen. Use more techniques in harvesting requirements before the project development. An interview is not the be-all and end-all of things. Review policies, create workflows, and come up good questionnaires. From the stakeholders’ responses, build your documentation framework. Thank me–and yourself–later.Read how other software systems have been created. It’s not cheating. Think of it as data gathering—a reference for projects that may come your way. This goes back to item A. When developers and PM realize that you are as heavily invested in the project as they are and willing to learn, they will be easier to work with. Hopefully. When you begin to understand how a system is created, planning your next one will be a breeze – I’m pulling your leg but I’m serious in telling you it pays to think in advance even when people tell you not to.
See that guy? He’s the perfect example of a Business Analyst you should NEVER emulate.As a non-techie, you’ve got your work cut out for you. There’s something that you can do about and it is not whining. Get yourself a copy of the BABOK Guide and get cracking.
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February 28, 2020
February 2020 Articles
February was a month for science videos, work, books, work, shoujo mangas, work, games, and work that I thank heavens for “Schedule posts” feature. How are you? COVID-19, Parasite, and Kobe Bryant sent us on a roller coaster ride of emotions. One day, you are peacefully enjoying your time, watching anything that strikes your fancy in Netflix, then suddenly a big news, exhilarating or terrible, upsets your equipoise. Just thinking about is exhausting for me. Here’s my take on the articles I read this month:
Can Germans’ right to switch off survive the digital age?
Feierabend, the German word for end of work, must be practiced. The thing is, there are still those out there who simply can’t stop thinking about work because their brains aren’t wired that way–the same way some employees can’t stop playing games during their work hours. The nature of work, pressing deadlines and time-management may be contributing factors. Apart from that, some still can’t switch off because the very device they use to entertain themselves has also become a source of stress.
Messaging applications and emails at the very tips of employees’ fingers, those innocent applications people often use to socialize, have now acted as a leash, restricting employees from fully enjoying their holidays. How could they when every messaging sound heralds another task or a banner notification reminds them of the pending responsibilities waiting for them the next day? Work anxiety and burnout have lead to destructive results not only for employees but enterprises.
Companies in my country may not be able to practice feierabend completely and before they attempt to do so, controls must be firmly set. It’s a concept easy to be taken advantage of. They wouldn’t want to extend deadlines just because an employee used it as excuse. The reality is, some employees will still demand rest event when they have spent 30 percent of their work hours playing games.
How to Tell if You’re being Breadcrumbed at Work
Having a long-term goal for work and a different one is like getting yourself a pair of blinkers that will prevent you from getting distracted or astray. The harsh reality is, in a big corporation with hundred and thousands of employees, opportunity for promotion is quite slim unless one is rubbing shoulders with the Decision-Maker.
Why aim for small promises of those who can’t control the big decisions in a company? Would it be worth the trouble? Looking at it from where I am standing, I’d rather focus on things I can control and that’s my mindset. Perhaps a reminder as big as a billboard telling people in big bold letters “Your workplace doesn’t define you!” might work for other people.
Why you should embrace the joy of missing out
I know it’s not exactly an article but a video with a looooong write up at the bottom.
Let it be known to all humankind who have stumbled upon this post and my future self that I don’t dislike social media. Platforms for creativity and thought interest me- at least I know they do at the time I’m writing this.
Over time, these platforms tend to drain my energy. Regardless of how discriminating I am with people I follow, the content they post online may not agree with me and that goes for a lot of people who follow me, too. With that said, there’s one option available for everyone: simply closing the app. How that can be practiced remains rooted on one’s discipline, though, so good luck with that.
Could we live in a world without rules?
I know I can’t. My life is biologically patterned according to a set of universal rules. Then again, like any other mortal, there are some rules I choose to follow or break. Ones that I find senseless are the most tempting to violate. Still, I believe I rarely cross the line.
Anaïs Nin on Embracing the Unfamiliar
Anais Nin celebrates the individual’s uniqueness. I may seem to contradict my earlier statement regarding following laws
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February 25, 2020
An Amateur Literary Criticism to The Book of Lost Things
This book was solid.
Reading this novel is revisiting my childhood and the fairy tales that I grew up with and found comfort in. More than that, the novel is a good specimen for close reading and analysis. I have taken the liberty of examining some of the story’s elements using the little knowledge of literary criticism I have.
The Structure
The frame story – David, our protagonist, escaped from a war, only to find himself in the middle of a brewing war in a different world. He was transported to a land where stories meshed together, and while I followed his adventures, I could also witness other stories en medias res and see their endings. The ending, which shall not be revealed here for the simple reason that I don’t want it to, brought it all together.
Binary opposites – Like how any fantasy book works, there are several binary opposites to be found in the text including the following:
King vs SlaveHero vs ShadowOld vs Young
Symbol – His name – David, could also be a symbolism to what he was but this is me already overreading things. His name might be a reference to David who shot the giant, Goliath with his slingshot.
The Archetypes
The reluctant hero’s journey – We follow David who was not a hero material and who was not looking for an adventure of any kind apart from the ones he could read from his book. Bildungsroman – A story of growing maturity and acceptance, David started from a boy battling with depression over his mom’s death to a man-boy who could face adversary.Guide / Old Man – The Woodsman who took care of David was solitary and he lived in the woods. The only thing missing was the bushy beard that could rival Dumbledore’s.The Jester – Even great kings need wise advisers but King was completely overpowered by his Jester, the Crooked Man.Shadow – The Crooked Man serves as David’s shadow. He certainly kept a good eye on the child all throughout the story. He wove stories for his fancy,
Retold Fairy Tales
These are just some of the stories retold in the book:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs– Snow White over-extended her welcome and demanded too much from the dwarfs.Sleeping Beauty – She did not need saving apparently because she was the captor of unfortunate men who responded to her call.Red Riding Hood – The Wolf must have attracted Little Red Riding Hood too much, enough to commit bestiality with him.Hansel and Gretel – There’s a huge twist to the old fairy tale, my affection for the little brother greatly diminished.
Did I spoil the book for you? Did I overread? Maybe so.
Reading this was so enjoyable that the fact I couldn’t finish it sooner due to work was a crime.
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February 18, 2020
Quick Review: Brief Answers to Big Questions
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I am not going to pretend that I have understood every single concept discussed in this book. For as long as I can remember, I’m merely an Astronomy enthusiast and the lack of sufficient background in Physics has put me at a disadvantage. The 5-star rating you see up there? That is how proud I am to have been able to get through reading it. Seriously though, the language Stephen used in the book made Space-Time-Continuum and black holes sound relatively easy– the part of my brain where Sheldon currently resides is smirking at me as I’m typing this.
Snarky remarks and self-deprecation aside, this book has strengthened my resolve to only focus on things that can keep my brain active for the next 50 years.
How can our finite minds comprehend an infinite universe?
Stephen Hawking, Brief Answers to the Big Questions
In all honesty, the book left me with more questions than answers- you’ll see one of these days what those questions were and how much time I spent thinking about them watching What If Youtube videos like the one below:
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February 12, 2020
Quick Review: The Garden of Lost Secrets
Just so we are on the same page, there’s the word ‘quick’ in the title for a reason. If you are looking for in-depth criticism, analysis or appreciation of a book, I am also looking for an opportunity to write one and unfortunately, this is not it.
The Garden of Lost Secrets
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I confess myself disappointed that the book was not a fantasy one– I admit, it was my mistake owing to the fact that I didn’t read any blurb about this book and I overread into the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, the secret room they kept locked, and Clara’s friend, Will. I was even expecting the spiders would reveal a carefully spun secret.
…when an adult said there was nothing to be concerned about, the mere act of saying those words often meant that there was.
A.M. Howell, Garden of Lost Secrets
The narration kept the suspense going. Since the perspective is focused on Clara, I could only follow her side of the story while the rest was carefully hidden from me until it was ready to be revealed: the true identity of the thief, the reason behind Mrs. Gilbert’s change of character and the importance of the Earl’s character.
Like a true Bildungsroman, the novel highlighted Clara’s growth and bravery. Having a father and a brother who joined the army, Clara realized the different facets of being brave and it was not only about giving your life for your country. It was also about choosing to live and support a family like her mother, loving and moving on like her aunt and uncle, favoring the truth than the lie like Will, and having the courage to stand up to an authority for the sake of one’s friend which Clara demonstrated in the latter part of the book.
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February 2, 2020
Quick Review: A Quiet Girl in a Noisy World
January was a busy month for me, at least as far as I could remember it. Days went by like a blur–here I go again with time moving too fast. However, I managed to read some books this month, a good way to start 2020.
Quiet Girl in a Noisy World
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The world of introversion and extroversion had been black and white until I read Carl Jung’s work on Cognitive Functions. Cliché as it may sounds, there’s more to introversion than being shy and refusing to attend social events. Choosing to keep one’s decision to oneself is different from being a pushover.
No doubt, some points were relatable but some were hastily generalized that I started asking if the entire point of the book was to diss extroverted people. Yes, they can be loud but it doesn’t mean they don’t read books nor make wise decisions. Then again, it was written from the first person perspective of one of the many introverts in the world and this is but one account of introversion .
Perhaps I am being too harsh on this material but I couldn’t help but be disappointed since the art had set my expectations too high. The ending gave it justice though–it was valiant quitting one’s job and working from home full-time and taking the reigns from someone else’s hands. Still, those introverted individuals working in companies, continuously exposed to situations that drain their energy, are equally commendable.
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January 26, 2020
January 2020 Articles
In January, I learned a number of things that made me better appreciate the nature of my work, read some books as part of my 2020 Reading Project, and reminded myself that I have limited time on earth so I might as well enjoy it as best as I can. Without further ado, here’s the first batch of articles I enjoyed reading for 2020.
One man’s 10-year experiment to record every moment (BBC)
I started to keep a log of my life when I was in high school. I had the same idea as the guy in the article– I knew myself best, I was invested in myself more than anybody I knew, I deserved my own honest and detailed autobiography. It continued until I was in college. Any idea, drabble, or activity, the time I thought about or made them, and the music I happened to be listening to at that time would be logged in my precious notebooks (I was a scholar and I didn’t spend my stipend on expensive journals/ planners but on books).
Consolation for Sorrow from King Arthur’s Court: Merlyn’s Advice on What to Do When the World Gets You Down (Brainpickings)
Learn. And here I thought that was the top answer to everything…
Polish Poet and Nobel Laureate Wisława Szymborska on How Our Certitudes Keep Us Small and the Generative Power of Not-Knowing (Brainpickings)
Complacency is only one of the many things that irk me but it’s in the first half of the list. It’s one thing to be certain about what you know and another to know that what you know is certain. Saying that you are certain is another matter altogether. This is why human beings have to read, watch videos and consume information in various means because only through intensive and extensive accumulation of information can we grapple with half-truths and misinterpretations.
Think about it this way: Sciences and languages continue to evolve in a rapid pace, catching up as it is is not easy. So, why stay in the same spot?
The Eternal Return: Nietzsche’s Brilliant Thought Experiment Illustrating the Key to Existential Contentment (Brainpickings)
Somehow, this article reinforces my take on learning new things. I don’t pretend that I completely understand Nietzsche’s philosophy– I haven’t even read his entire work!– so I have to depend on Maria Popova’s articles otherwise I’d be overwhelmed by radical ideas Google was very much willing to feed me.
Nietzsche, in his work Ecce Homo: How One Becomes What One Is, gave us a life hack: the eternal return. Imagine being given another chance at life, only to repeat every breath you have taken in this life, experience the same triumphs and lows, without being able to change anything. The only difference? The chance right at this moment to choose what your next action or step is going to be.
Kahlil Gibran on Befriending Time (Brainpickings)
The concept of time and its timelessness reminded me of Sheldon and Amy’s Super Asymmetry.
January 22, 2020
Calligraphy Sesh with ArtsyFancy
Disclaimer: I was not paid to create this post but I’m explicitly and aggressively showing my support for ArtsyFancy so go figure.
Learning something new strengthens the bonds of friendship is what I like to believe in. As I have a couple of introverted friends I meet only a number of times in a year, I know that I have to make every moment count. Two months ago, I asked a dear friend, Tina of ArtsyFancy, to conduct a calligraphy session as part of an annual meetup, a birthday present, and a Christmas celebration.
Why a calligraphy session? In studying Japanese and in learning Kanji, I began to understand how one small stroke can alter the meaning of a character. I was thinking I could apply the basics of calligraphy in making my Kanji appear better –to increase my self satisfaction and to further identify myself to the anime Barakamon. Also, my friends are writers and educators and thinking how they’d use a pen or a marker in a different way brought a smile on my face the first time I thought about this.
Listed below are my takeaways from the said session:
Take all the time you need.
When speed is a big part of your professional and personal life, it is nice to be reminded to just chill and enjoy the process.
“You’re prone to committing mistakes when you rush things up,” Tina told us– until now I’m not sure if she was just giving me a personal talk but it worked as far as calligraphy went.
Imperfection is also part of the appeal.
Tina didn’t expect nor pressure us from getting things perfectly. In fact, she even shared that more experienced calligraphers deviate from so-called standards of calligraphy. One episode of Barakamon immediately flashed into my mind.
She also mentioned that we couldn’t expect to have the same results after the end of the session since we had different handwriting so we didn’t really need to force ourselves. It made sense to me when I started ‘drawing’ my letters slanted slightly to the right–it was sooo much easier.
Patience is key.
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That was daunting for a person who was not gifted with a good amount of patience. Tina explained that as in any art, practicing consistently was the only way to improve one’s hand in calligraphy–not how expensive the tools were (although it is a factor)– and that could only be done with immense patience. Easily frustrated individuals wouldn’t be able to go far if they threw their pens the first time they made mistakes (I did not throw my pen. *smirk*)
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January 13, 2020
2019 Highlights
I took a trip down memory lane to see the highlights of my 2019– who was I kidding? It was more of browsing through my 2019 journal to see what I actually did because yes, I have trust issues with my memory. After a long and hard argument with myself, I-we?- came to a conclusion that my future self would probably appreciate a digital record of accomplishments more than its combustible counterpart.
January
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Bataan ride on the 26th that I wasn’t able to blog about but what’s new about that?
2018 Reading Challenge- Results
February
Rediscovered 漢字
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… because you realized, even when society considers you as an adult, you don’t see anything wrong in being attracted to a 2D character.
Read The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire, #1) and Norse Mythology
March
It was my second visit to Taiwan, but the first one I actually planned so it was a big highlight for me. Where was the blog entry? In the drafts just like the first.
Read
The Mysterious Key and What It Opened ,
Lost for Words and
Ready Player One (Ready Player One, #1)
April
The month that made billions of people around the world realize their love for them. I cried 3000.
Read
Pet Sematary and Who Could That Be at This Hour? (All the Wrong Questions, #1)
May
Starting with Succulents was the article I wrote when my interest in succulents was reignited and I thought I could save the world one succulent at a time. Now, I only have one living succulent.
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Read
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Utopia , and Crito
June
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Though going to Tagaytay has become an annual activity for me for some years now, it’s the first time I visited it with my brother so it’s definitely worth noting.
July
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BOHOL trip! Interested in the article? Read on.
Finished two books:
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch and
Daddy-Long-Legs (Daddy-Long-Legs, #1)
August
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By now, you’re not wondering why the article was posted in August anymore.
By the way, I also met a special woman from Indonesia this month and we spent a great time together visiting our national museums.
Things to do in Bohol for Chill-Out Retreaters
September
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MIBF was still as popular as ever–if not more popular. There’s one thing different this year though–I didn’t buy any book. lol
Teacher of the Week: Syme, The Infinite
Teacher of the week, Upon, and her answers to 20 Unusual Teaching Interview Questions
MIBF 2019: Experience Learning with Vibal Group
Read
Dear Enemy (Daddy-Long-Legs, #2)
October
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Participating in this seminar surely was one of the highlights of the year for me.
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We went to…surprise! Tagaytay and finally got to visit The Puzzle Mansion Museum.
Teacher of the Week: Artsyfancy’s Tina
November
Hardest Booklover Would-You-Rather
How I answered the 20 unusual teaching interview questions
December
November-December 2019 Articles
It wasn’t as if November and December were uneventful for me. On the contrary, I got caught in a number of activities and this site unfortunately suffered the consequences.
Ergo the idea behind one of my key Projects for 2020.
To my future self, in case you’re reading this, you cursed probably the most number of times in your thirty years of existence, got your patience ultimately tested, annoyed a number of people -but what’s new?- and achieved a couple of things you never planned out for yourself, but you did well in 2019. And, you probably didn’t need me to tell you that.
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January 5, 2020
2020 Planner: 366 Days
Last year, I earned stickers for a Starbucks Planner (click here for 2019 planner) but I wasn’t able to do it this time. Deviating from my monochromatic theme, I got this “366 Days” colorful planner from Limelight. They also come in white, black, and grey and why I wasn’t able to get the less intimidating and more ‘my-kind’ of planner, I owed to my holiday hibernation– I need to set a reminder for myself not to hibernate before I get the 2021 planner and make it a habit moving forward.
The 366 Days planner is equal to two cups of SB Grande Americano or three large cups of Coco Milk Tea whichever you prefer. I could get my money’s worth before the year ends.
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This part allows me to write my goals (personal or professional) for the entire year or for the next five years if I want to, really. I just have to think about what to write in the last box because that is highly subjective.
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It doesn’t have any spectacular feature apart from the words of wisdom placed at the topmost part of the page that might have been meant to inspire those who use them. I do love how smooth each page is and is dotted instead of lined. I guess it is meant for those interested in bullet journaling.
As with any journals and planners, what matters is the consistency of writing on them. There’s a big chunk of planner buyers who get them for the novelty of it and I simply don’t want to be part of the statistics. Will a sentence be enough?
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