Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast BA Brew - A Business Analysis Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to Build Rapport with Stakeholders | 23 Oct 2026 | 00:22:41 | |
How do you build rapport with stakeholders, and why does it matter so much for successful business analysis and service design? In BA Brew Episode 127, Lisa Hudson, Carlos Pullen-Ferreira and Michelle Little from AssistKD discuss why building rapport goes beyond being friendly or liked. It's about creating trust, communicating openly and developing relationships that help people work together effectively. Discover practical approaches to stakeholder engagement, including active listening, finding common ground, keeping commitments and rebuilding trust when previous projects have gone wrong. In this episode:
Whether you're an experienced business analyst, service designer or just starting your career, this episode offers useful insights into one of the most important professional skills. Explore our Business Analysis training: https://www.assistkd.com/Why-AssistKD/service-design-training Explore our Service Design training: https://www.assistkd.com/Why-AssistKD/business-analysis-training Discover more BA Brew episodes: https://www.assistkd.com/learning-zone/ba-brew-podcast Subscribe for more conversations about business analysis, service design and professional development. #BusinessAnalysis #StakeholderEngagement #BusinessAnalyst #BABrew #ServiceDesign | |||
| How to Build a Successful Business Analysis Community of Practice | 09 Oct 2026 | 00:27:28 | |
How do you build a Business Analysis Community of Practice that people actually want to be part of? Jonathan Hunsley and Carlos Pullen-Ferreira are joined by Mahvish Khurum, Principal Business Analyst at the Home Office, who leads a community of more than 400 BAs. They discuss how Communities of Practice can build capability, improve consistency, encourage collaboration and support professional development. Mahvish shares practical lessons from growing and sustaining the Home Office BA community, including why consistency matters, how to create different ways for people to participate, the importance of volunteers and why successful communities need to keep listening to their members. If you're building or running a Business Analysis or change community, this episode is full of practical ideas you can use. In this episode: what a Community of Practice is; making the business case; getting people involved; maintaining engagement; creating a regular rhythm; supporting volunteers; measuring success; and keeping the community relevant. | |||
| The Secret Stakeholder: Organisational Culture in Business Analysis | BA Brew | 25 Sep 2026 | 00:29:46 | |
What is the ‘secret stakeholder’ in Business Analysis, and how can organisational culture influence your stakeholders, projects and change initiatives? In this episode of BA Brew, Jonathan Hunsley and Lisa Hudson are joined by Danny Kalkhoven to explore a stakeholder you won’t find on your power-interest grid: organisational culture. Culture can influence how people behave, how information is shared, how decisions are made and how your work as a Business Analyst is perceived. But how do you identify and manage something that can be difficult to see or define? Danny shares practical examples from his own experience, including a carefully planned workshop that failed because the culture of the organisation made open information sharing almost impossible. They discuss: ✔ What the ‘secret stakeholder’ means for Business Analysts ✔ How organisational culture affects stakeholder management and engagement ✔ How to spot informal networks and hidden influence ✔ Why proven Business Analysis techniques can fail in different cultures ✔ What everyday behaviours can reveal about an organisation ✔ How to adapt your BA approach to different organisational cultures ✔ Why finding an organisational ‘tour guide’ can help you understand how things really work The conversation builds on the ideas Danny presented at the European Business Analysis Conference 2026. If you work in Business Analysis, stakeholder management or organisational change, watch the full episode to discover why understanding the culture around your stakeholders can be just as important as identifying the stakeholders themselves. ➡️ Explore more BA Brew episodes: https://www.assistkd.com/learning-zone/ba-brew-podcast ➡️ Explore Business Analysis training from AssistKD: https://www.assistkd.com/our-business-training-courses-classes Subscribe to AssistKD for more BA Brew conversations covering Business Analysis, Business Architecture, Service Design, Digital Solutions and organisational change. | |||
| Hearing Impairments at Work: What Business Analysts Need to Know | 11 Sep 2026 | 00:26:24 | |
What is it like to work as a business analyst with a hearing impairment? In this episode of BA Brew, Kerry is joined by Abi and Mike, who share their personal experiences of hearing impairments and how it has affected their working lives. For business analysts, meetings, workshops, stakeholder conversations and collaborative sessions are a fundamental part of the job. But hearing impairments can make those situations significantly more challenging. Abi and Mike discuss:
Abi also shares how Access to Work (https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work) helped her obtain assistive technology that sends voices directly to her hearing aids, helping her participate more confidently in collaborative environments. And their advice isn't only for people experiencing hearing impairments. Mike encourages anyone who can advocate for people with accessibility needs to “step up and support other people.” Find out more about AssistKD and business analysis: assistkd.com 📩 Have an idea for a future BA Brew? Contact babrew@assistkd.com Subscribe for more conversations about business analysis, business architecture, service design and organisational change. | |||
| How to Become a Senior Business Analyst: Skills, Career Progression and Opportunities | 28 Aug 2026 | 00:26:52 | |
What does it take to become a Senior Business Analyst, and how can you prepare for the next stage of your business analysis career? In this episode of The BA Brew, Mike, Lisa and Iurii discuss what being a Senior Business Analyst really means, the skills and experience needed to progress, and the career opportunities available to experienced BA professionals. They explore the importance of strong core business analysis skills, stakeholder engagement, communication, negotiation and conflict management, as well as the experience and business knowledge that distinguish a senior BA. The conversation also covers practical ways to progress from Business Analyst to Senior Business Analyst, including:
The panel also considers where a career in business analysis can lead, from BA management and mentoring to product management, consulting, training, business architecture and other roles that draw on business analysis capability. Whether you're a junior Business Analyst, an experienced BA preparing for promotion or already working at senior level, this episode offers practical advice for taking greater ownership of your professional development and planning your next career move. Ready to take the next step in your business analysis career? Whether you're building your core BA skills, working towards a recognised professional qualification or developing the advanced capabilities needed for a more senior role, AssistKD offers business analysis training for every stage of your career. Explore our Business Analysis courses, BCS qualifications and professional development training, available through live virtual classrooms, face-to-face training and self-paced eLearning. 👉 Find the right Business Analysis course for you: https://www.assistkd.com/our-business-training-courses-classes Subscribe to The BA Brew for more conversations about business analysis skills, careers and professional development. | |||
| Why Service Design Matters | Improving Customer Experience & Digital Transformation | 14 Aug 2026 | 00:27:49 | |
Why do so many organisations still struggle to deliver great customer experiences? In this episode of BA Brew, Stuart Mullinger speaks with Dr Debra Paul and Jonathan Hunsley about their new BCS book, Service Design: A Practical Guide to Creating Customer-Centric Services, and explores why service design has become an essential discipline for organisations seeking to improve customer experience and business transformation. The discussion covers practical service design techniques, professional standards, collaboration across change professions and how organisations can design services that create better outcomes for customers. In this episode you'll learn: ✔ Why service design matters more than ever ✔ How to improve customer experience through service design ✔ The Service Design Framework explained ✔ Why business analysts, service designers and business architects work better together ✔ Practical techniques including the Service Definition Canvas and Minimum Viable Service ✔ How AI is influencing the future of service design ✔ Where the profession is heading over the next decade Whether you're a service designer, business analyst, business architect, digital transformation leader, customer experience professional or change manager, this discussion offers practical insights into creating better organisational services. Learn more about Service Design ➡ Service Design Guide: https://www.assistkd.com/Why-AssistKD/service-design-training ➡ Service Design Courses: https://www.assistkd.com/courses/service-design-courses Subscribe for more BA Brew discussions on business analysis, service design, business architecture, digital transformation and organisational change. | |||
| How to Find Your Business Analysis Voice | BA Career Advice from Industry Leaders | 31 Jul 2026 | 00:30:19 | |
Technical skills are only part of becoming a successful Business Analyst. Learning how to communicate with confidence, influence stakeholders and ask the right questions is what helps great Business Analysts stand out. Jonathan Hunsley is joined by Emily Saunderson, Head of Profession for Business Analysis at the Department for Education, and Dr Carlos Pullen-Ferreira, Principal Consultant at AssistKD, to discuss how Business Analysts can find their voice, build confidence and increase their influence. Whether you're new to Business Analysis or an experienced Business Analyst, this discussion explores practical ways to increase your influence, develop professional confidence and grow your Business Analysis career. In this BA Brew episode:
Emily also shares the remarkable story of being told she would never become a successful Business Analyst before eventually leading the business analysis profession at the Department for Education. LEARN MORE | |||
| How to Improve Digital Change Collaboration: An Introduction to Service Frameworks (feat. Chris Pyatt and Victoria Banner) | 12 Jun 2026 | 00:26:40 | |
Service frameworks are a powerful yet often overlooked tool that can fundamentally change how teams understand, collaborate, and achieve outcomes. In this episode of BA Brew, Jonathan Hunsley from AssistKD is joined by Chris Pyatt and Victoria Banner to discuss how service frameworks help business analysts, business architects and service designers clarify their value, improve collaboration and navigate complex organisational change ecosystems. The discussion covers:
Whether you are a business analyst, business architect, service designer or other digital change professional, this episode offers practical advice for improving conversations and outcomes. EXPLORE ASSISTKD TRAINING AssistKD offers Business Analysis and Service Design training online, in person and through eLearning, with over 30 years' experience in professional development. Relevant courses for this episode:
WATCH THIS EPISODE Watch all episodes of the BA Brew on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxdeXIxtEOU&list=PLEvIolukjrawamafeBkNM3pELcNqVrPN6 | |||
| Business Analysis Mode: Stuck On (feat. Stu Mullinger) | 29 May 2026 | 00:27:09 | |
Once you learn business analysis skills, do they ever really switch off? In this episode of BA Brew, Mike, Ruth, Kerry and Stu discuss how BA thinking becomes embedded into everyday life - shaping how we solve problems, make decisions and interact with others. The discussion covers:
Whether you're a business analyst, change professional or team leader, this episode offers practical insights into balancing analytical thinking with real-world human situations. EXPLORE ASSISTKD TRAINING AssistKD offers Business Analysis and Service Design training online, in person and through eLearning, with over 30 years' experience in professional development. Relevant courses for this episode:
Eexplore AssistKD's full range of Business Analysis training courses here: https://www.assistkd.com/our-business-training-courses-classes | |||
| Informal Networks & Gossip in Business Analysis (feat. Carlos Pullen-Ferreira) | 15 May 2026 | 00:28:32 | |
Informal networks are one of the most powerful – and often overlooked - forces in organisations. For Business Analysts, understanding how information really flows can make the difference between struggling with change and successfully influencing it. In this episode of BA Brew, Jonathan Hunsley is joined by Michelle, Fiona and Carlos to explore the role of gossip and informal networks in the workplace – and how they impact organisational change. The discussion covers:
Whether you are a Business Analyst, change professional, service designer or team leader, this episode provides practical insights into the human side of organisations – and how to work with it, not against it. EXPLORE ASSISTKD TRAINING AssistKD offers Business Analysis and Service Design training online, in person and through eLearning, with over 30 years’ experience in professional development. Relevant courses for this episode: Explore AssistKD's Business Analysis full range of training courses here: https://www.assistkd.com/our-business-training-courses-classes | |||
| Active Listening for Business Analysts (feat. Craig Rollason and Corrine Thomas) | 01 May 2026 | 00:33:06 | |
Active listening is one of the most valuable skills a Business Analyst can develop — and one of the easiest to get wrong. In this episode of BA Brew, Jonathan Hunsley from AssistKD is joined by Craig Rollason and Corrine Thomas to discuss how active listening helps business analysts build trust, improve stakeholder conversations and gather better requirements. The discussion covers:
Whether you are a business analyst, service designer, change professional or team leader, this episode offers practical advice for improving conversations and outcomes. EXPLORE ASSISTKD TRAINING: AssistKD offers Business Analysis and Service Design training online, in person and through eLearning, with over 30 years' experience in professional development. Relevant courses for this episode:
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: Find BA Brew on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major platforms. | |||
| Supporting the Next Generation of BAs with the YBA (feat. Joanne Fahy and Joseph Haslam) | 17 Apr 2026 | 00:23:49 | |
What’s it really like starting out as a Business Analyst - and how do you avoid feeling isolated, overwhelmed or “behind” in your early career? In this episode of The BA Brew, Mike is joined by Joe and Jo from the Young Business Analysts (YBA) - a fast‑growing, volunteer‑led community designed to support Business Analysts aged 35 and under. They discuss:
From first‑job nerves to conference speaking, this is an honest conversation about growth, connection, and building a career in Business Analysis - without doing it alone. FURTHER RESOURCES YBA BA Brews Articles | |||
| The Professional BA (feat. Laurens de Rooij) | 02 Apr 2026 | 00:15:32 | |
What does it really mean to be a “professional” Business Analyst? In this episode of BA Brew, Kerry is joined by Laurens and Lisa to explore professionalism in business analysis – from preparation and mindset to qualifications, growth, and career progression. They discuss:
If you're considering the BCS Advanced Diploma, CITP, or the Expert BA route, this conversation is packed with insights from real practitioners who’ve been there. FURTHER RESOURCES BA Brews
Articles
Qualifications | |||
| Communities of Practice (feat. Anthony Thompson and Mark Thompson) | 20 Mar 2026 | 00:28:44 | |
Being part of a Community of Practice allows BAs to share knowledge and best practice, mentor or be mentored, and have a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities. But some of the benefits are less tangible. In this lively chat, Anthony Thompson and Mark Thompson of Close Brothers discuss the value of Communities of Practice with the Brew Crew. Anthony Thompson and Mark Thompson are both Lead BAs at Close Brothers. FURTHER RESOURCES BA BREWS ARTICLES
COURSES | |||
| Accessibility (feat. Adam Pearson) | 06 Mar 2026 | 00:28:06 | |
In this informative BA Brew Adam Pearson talks to the Crew about why BAs need to develop an accessibility mindset and how he, as a registered blind person, has used his BA skills to help to make it easier to both generate and consume accessible content. Topics discussed: why accessibility must be considered from the start of every project; useful tools for generating accessible content and for consuming content; the difference between usability and accessibility; how AI tools can support accessibility; why making mistakes and learning means you are doing it right; and more. As Adam says: “The more we all do as a collective, the fewer barriers there are into this fantastic field of work.” Adam Pearson is now a Business Analyst at The RNIB. FURTHER RESOURCES BA BREWS ARTICLES | |||
| Mental Monsters (feat. Helen Holder) | 20 Feb 2026 | 00:28:30 | |
Helen Holder developed an idea to help her children talk about their fears during lockdown – and it proved to be highly effective. Now Helen is using the same powerful visualisation technique to help business change professionals name, and tame, their self-limiting beliefs. In this mindset-challenging BA Brew, Helen and the Brew Crew discuss common 'Mental Monsters’ and share some practical strategies for challenging them. See the resource list below for a link to Fiona Kiss’s ‘Problem Solving Duck’ article. Helen Holder is Head of Business Analysis at RICS. She is also a volunteer with IIBA and YBA. FURTHER RESOURCES BA BREWS BA Brew 20: Resilience (feat. Corrine Thomas) BA Brew 30: Confidence (feat. Philippa Thomas) BA Brew 45: Developing Positive Habits and Behaviours ARTICLES Mental Monsters: Name and Tame Your Limiting Beliefs Strengths Spotting - Achieve your goals by leveraging your strengths Foster a Growth Mindset with Mindset Advantage COURSES | |||
| Transferable Skills (feat. Lisa Croft) | 06 Feb 2026 | 00:24:19 | |
If you have relevant transferable skills, it is possible to change careers at any time of life. In this thought-provoking episode, Lisa Croft of Herd Consulting and AssistKD’s Amanda Christianson talk about transferable skills with host Jonathan Hunsley. Relevant skills discussed include: stakeholder engagement; customer service; teamwork; data analysis; problem-solving; taking a holistic view; and documentation. RESOURCES CAREER PLANNING COURSES ARTICLES
BA BREWS Updating your skills toolkit? AssistKD offers a wide choice of business training courses. Assist’s Learning Zone is packed with free learning resources, with new and topical content added regularly. Discover the latest BA Brew podcasts, articles, blogs, short learning videos and more. | |||
| BA of the Year Award Special (feat. Mark Cross and Kay Hardy) | 12 Dec 2025 | 00:22:28 | |
If you’ve ever considered applying for the Business Analyst of the Year Award, this BA Brew special is for you. Current BA of the Year Mark Cross and 2024 winner Kay Hardy discuss what inspired them to apply, and some of the unexpected benefits of taking part.
FURTHER RESOURCES
ARTICLES
BA BREWS | |||
| The Balanced Business Analyst: Stretch goals and The Holistic Approach (feat. Jennie Macdonald) | 28 Nov 2025 | 00:21:13 | |
In this stressbusting BA Brew, special guest and yoga teacher Jennie Macdonald talks to the Brew Crew about how yoga, mindfulness, and something as simple as a breathing technique can foster balance, calm and resilience in your work and home life. Jennie and Ruth recommend the following online Yoga and Mindfulness resources:
FURTHER RESOURCES BA BREWS
ARTICLES | |||
| Mind The (Service) Gap | 14 Nov 2025 | 00:25:01 | |
Bad service appears to be on the increase… why? Could it be because organisations are forgetting about the needs of the customer or are not sufficiently involving BAs, Service Designers or Business Architects? Debra Paul, Jonathan Hunsley and Mike Williams share a few ‘tales of woe’ and discuss some of their favourite trouble-shooting tools and techniques. Techniques discussed include scenario analysis; business continuity; the ‘Zone of Tolerance’; exploring the voice of the customer; and the POPIT™ technique. FURTHER RESOURCES BOOKS
ARTICLES
COURSES
BA BREWS | |||
| Digital Solutions and the Role of the BA (feat. Catherine Plumridge) | 31 Oct 2025 | 00:26:03 | |
Could BAs be the new digital solutions superheroes? This week’s BA Brew, which features special guest Catherine Plumridge, looks at how the skills of BAs plug into digital solutions across every element of the BA Service Framework. Questions addressed in the chat include:
Catherine Plumridge is a BA Leader at Kensington Mortgages and was a key early reviewer of the new BCS Digital Solutions series written by Pete Thompson. Stuart Mullinger and Fiona Kiss worked with Pete Thompson on designing and developing AssistKD’s new BCS Foundation Certificate in Digital Solution Development course. FURTHER RESOURCES BOOKS ARTICLES COURSES DIPLOMAS BA BREWS | |||
| Business Analysis and All That Jazz (feat. Dominic Ready and Claire Chaundy) | 17 Oct 2025 | 00:29:38 | |
In this music-themed BA Brew, three piano-playing business analysts identify and draw parallels between business analysis and music, highlighting interesting similarities and connections. Claire Chaundy compares mentoring in music and in business analysis. AssistKD’s Stuart Mullinger discusses BA tools and techniques and the musical standards. And Dominic Ready (who also performs the intro and outro) finds some surprising common ground between performing live and the POPIT™ technique. FURTHER RESOURCES BA Brews Books Courses Free Courses and Videos | |||
| Beesiness Analysis – Lessons from the Hive (feat. Mick Brian) | 03 Oct 2025 | 00:20:25 | |
In this week’s BA Brew, Kerry Adams chats to avid beekeepers Mike Williams and Mick Brian about what business analysts can learn from the organisation of a beehive – including how the bees communicate, make decisions, and allocate their resources. Interesting facts include the many different jobs of the worker bees (they don’t just collect pollen) and the intricacies of the ‘waggle dance’. FURTHER RESOURCES BA Brews Book Articles Courses Free Courses and Learning Videos | |||
| Why BA Techniques are Useful (feat. Carlos Pullen-Ferreira) | 19 Sep 2025 | 00:27:21 | |
Ready for some BA toolbox inspiration? This BA Brew is all about business analysis techniques, and how to apply them. Podcast guest Carlos Pullen-Ferreira waxes lyrical about the Requirements Traceability Matrix and User Stories; Debbie sings the praises of Data Models, the CRUD Matrix and a good Value Stream Diagram; and finally Jonathan puts a word in for GAP Analysis and can’t resist talking (or is it ranting?) about RACI. Other techniques mentioned include: Swimlane Diagrams; SWOT Analysis; PESTLE Analysis; Use Case Diagrams and Context Diagrams; BPMN and UML; Capability Models; POPIT; Customer Journey Maps; Cost Benefit Analysis and VMOST. Carlos Pullen-Ferriera is a highly experienced BA and Head of Change Management, Agile coach, author and conference speaker. FURTHER RESOURCES BA BREWS
BOOKS ARTICLES COURSES FREE VIDEOS FREE COURSES | |||
| The Butterfly Effect of Inspiration (feat. Simon Platt and Charlotte Neill) | 05 Sep 2025 | 00:26:37 | |
According to Simon Platt, every one of us, regardless of our age, job, title or background, has it within us to inspire others – even if we don’t always realise it. Simon lived in the same village as Sir Captain Tom Moore, and observed close at hand how a simple idea lifted the nation’s spirits in lockdown and raised £39 million for NHS charities. In this uplifting BA Brew, Simon talks to the Crew about the skills, traits and beliefs that can help us inspire ourselves and others in the BA community and beyond. The Brew crew are also joined by Simon's colleague Charlotte Neill who is running a workshop with Simon at the IRMUK BA Conference 2025. They are hoping that by BA’s sharing their stories in the workshop, others might see themselves in them or realise they’ve been inspiring people all along without even knowing it. Topics touched upon include:
Simon Platt is Principal Business Analyst at Whitbread, a Neuroinclusivity Advocate, public speaker and podcast host. Simon was a BA of the Year Finalist in 2023. Further Resources Articles
Courses BA Brews | |||
| Trilogy Pete: The Digital Solutions Series | 22 Aug 2025 | 00:19:52 | |
AssistKD’s Product Strategy Director Pete Thompson is the author of the new BCS Digital Solutions series. In this BA Brew Pete, explains how he saw the need for an up to date, comprehensive body of knowledge for business and IT professionals, and talks about the process of writing the three books – Defining Digital Solutions, Designing Digital Solutions and Delivering Digital Solutions. Topics discussed include:
The Digital Solutions series is a useful reference for business and IT professionals, and those studying for the BCS International Diploma in Solution Development. FURTHER RESOURCES BOOKS ARTICLES COURSES DIPLOMAS BA BREWS | |||
| Business Service Architecture (feat. Debra Paul and Jonathan Hunsley) | 08 Aug 2025 | 00:24:37 | |
hat is Business Service Architecture, and why is it important to business change professionals? In this BA Brew, Debra Paul and Jonathan Hunsley, authors of Business Architecture: A Comprehensive Guide, answer these question, and more. All too often, services and products just don’t work, resulting in poor outcomes for customers and other stakeholders. Business Service Architecture takes an ecosystem view, looking at how the architecture of a product or service can be better designed. Topics discussed in this BA Brew include:
The brew also explores:
If you liked this BA Brew, you may be interested in the following:
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| The 100th BA Brew (feat. Fabricio Laguna) | 16 May 2025 | 00:40:50 | |
For the 100th Brew we decided to do something completely different. Fabricio Laguna joins the Crew for an in real time SWOT analysis of the BA profession – captured heroically by Jonathan on Mural – and available to download as a PDF here. Watch out for when everyone shares the one thing they would do to take the profession forward… (did anyone say ‘Empress of Business Analysis’?) Fabricio Laguna is a highly experienced BA, Business Consultant, and international speaker. He is the former President of IIBA Brazil Chapter and is currently Senior Adviser to the IIBA CEO. If you liked this BA Brew, you may be interested in the following: The SWOT Analysis is covered in AssistKD’s Business Analysis Practice course and you can find a succinct description of the technique among our Free Bitesize Learning Videos Watch this BA Blog on The BA Mindset, featuring Fabricio Laguna and Christina Lovelock. This BA Blog is about Imposter Syndrome in the BA profession: BA Blog: Confidence and Complacency in Business Analysis | |||
| The Effective CEO (feat. Byron Morrison) | 02 May 2025 | 00:33:43 | |
Everyone who watches this leadership focused BA Brew with Byron Morrison can think of someone they’d like to share it with. It’s packed with nuggets of wisdom from the author of ‘The Effective CEO 2.0’, including… At 2’ 41 – how to deal with overwhelm At 7’ 19 – moving from ‘doing’ to ‘leading’ At 14’ 01 – are you setting your team up for success… or failure? At 20’ 37 – what is your ‘Zone of Genius’? At 21’ 49 – why ‘Push’ and ‘Pull’ days help you avoid burnout At 27’ 23 – how to empower (and trust) your team At ️31’08 - how to become an effective leader And there’s so much more. Byron and the Crew discuss what a ‘Not to Do’ list is; why a team of all ‘A’ players would not work; and Philippa Roll warns against dealing with work emails from Everest base camp! Byron Morrison is a speaker, author and management and leadership coach with a special interest in supporting first time CEOs. He is the author of several books including ‘Think Like a CEO’ and ‘The Effective CEO 2.0’, available from Amazon and other outlets. If you liked this BA Brew, you may also enjoy the following: BA Brew BA Brew 51: Think Like A CEO (feat. Byron Morrison) Articles BOOK REVIEW: Think Like a CEO by Byron Morrison Inclusive Leadership: The Secret of High Performing Teams Courses Team Leadership Training Courses | Business Analysis Free Learning Free eLearning course – Effective Leadership: FREE Courses | Assist Knowledge Development
#businessanalyst #servicedesign #CEO #businessleadership #teamleadership #inclusiveleadership #effectiveCEO #thinklikeaCEO | |||
| The BASF vs A Tailored Approach (feat. Danny Kalkhoven) | 22 Apr 2025 | 00:31:44 | |
BA Brew guest Danny Kalkhoven warns against sticking too strictly to business models (such as the BA Service Framework) and recommends adapting them to context. Jonathan is impressed by Danny’s inspired analogy – applying a business model without context is like turning up at a building site with a shiny new drill and asking where you can use it. Danny quotes British Statistician George E.P. Box: ‘All models are wrong, but some are useful’. And Debbie gets straight to the point with: ‘Always switch your brain on’! Danny Kalkhoven is a business analyst, consultant and business analysis trainer who lives in the Netherlands. His forthcoming talk at BA Conference Europe 2025 ‘Mind the Gap’ addresses the inevitable gap between business models and real-world business challenges. If you liked this BA Brew, you may also enjoy the following: BA Brew BA Brew 35: The BA Service Framework Article Creating a Business Analysis Service Definition Introducing the BA Service Framework: FREE Course #businessanalyst #businessmodels #businessanalysis #BASF #BAServiceFramework #changemanagement #businesstools | |||
| Adopting AI: A Business Analyst's Journey | 04 Apr 2025 | 00:30:24 | |
What AI tools do you use as a BA? Business change consultant Mick Brian is an early adopter and expert on the subject. In this thought-provoking BA Brew, he discusses the challenges and rewards of introducing an LLM (Large Language Model) into a large organisation. Topics covered include: why the input of BAs is essential when introducing AI tools; the intangible benefits of LLMs; why you need to prompt AI to your level of expertise; the government’s ‘AI Playbook’ and more. As promised in the BA Brew, Mick Brian has shared these useful links for BAs with an interest in using AI tools. AI Playbook for the UK Government The Leader in Agentic Process Automation System | Automation Anywhere Lucidchart | Diagramming Powered By Intelligence Process Intelligence and Process Mining | Celonis Mick also recommended the book ‘Alchemy’ by Rory Sutherland. If you liked this BA Brew, you may also enjoy the following articles and blogs: AI Alchemy: Turning Change into Gold - based on the presentation by Mick Brian and Will Izzard at the Business Change and Transformation Conference Europe 2024. BOOK REVIEW: Hello World by Hannah Fry AI and the Business Analysis Role The following BA Brews may be of interest: BA Brew 63: The AI BA Brew (Hosted by Chat GPT) BA Brew 75: Business Analysis and AI (Feat. John Wisner) BA Brew 81: The Benefits, Risks and Opportunities of AI in Business Analysis (Feat. Donald Farmer) | |||
| Mischief Management (Feat. Karen Newnham) | 21 Mar 2025 | 00:29:44 | |
Have you ever wrestled with a box of tangled cables and leads… or tried to get the knot out of the chain of a necklace? Some business change problems can be as challenging. Change expert and BA leader Karen Newnham joins the crew to discuss engaging with stakeholders to tackle complex, persistent problems (otherwise known as ‘Mischief Management’.) Karen Newnham was also the special guest on BA Brew 25: The Solution Standoff. If you liked this BA Brew, you may also enjoy the following articles and blogs: Stakeholder Engagement: Beware of ‘Nodding Along’ Syndrome You’re Speaking, But Are You Being Understood? The following BA Brews may be of interest: BA Brew 26 on Stakeholders and BA Brew 76 on The Human Element. #businessanalyst #stakeholdermanagement #businessanalysis #solutions #changemanagement #stakeholders #businessproblems | |||
| Cybersecurity and Business Analysis (Feat. Bindu Channaveerappa) | 07 Mar 2025 | 00:29:38 | |
What’s all the fuss about cybersecurity? And why do business analysts need to understand it? Cybersecurity and business analysis expert Bindu Channaveerappa is the special guest on this week’s BA Brew, where she argues that an understanding of cybersecurity is now integral to the work of the BA. “When we create the value, why leave the security to someone else?” Bindu Channaveerappa is a highly respected author, trainer and international speaker on business analysis and cyber security. Her book, ‘Cyber Security and Business Analysis: An essential guide to secure and robust systems’ is available from BCS Publishing. AssistKD runs a 1-Day Cybersecurity and Business Analysis workshop for Business Analysts and Business Change professionals. In this article Embracing a Security Mindset: The Next Frontier of Business Analysis cybersecurity expert Mark Cross urges BAs to focus on security against cyber threats. You may also enjoy this AI focused BA Brew, hosted by ChatGPT. #cybersecurity #cyberthreats #businessanalysis #businesschange #digitalsolutions | |||
| Business Architecture – A Comprehensive Guide | 21 Feb 2025 | 00:23:43 | |
This BA Brew focuses on the newly published ‘Business Architecture: a comprehensive guide.’ Authors Jonathan Hunsley and Debra Paul and contributing author Victoria Banner discuss the ‘why’ of the book; the joy of collaborating and sharing ideas; and some of their favourite content including: - leveraging capability to meet goals and outcomes using the CALM model - comparing the business architecture service framework to the business analysis service framework and other service frameworks for role clarity - information concepts including data protection and security - case studies showing the positive impact of business architecture ‘Business Architecture: a comprehensive guide’ is available from BCS publishing and other retailers. You may be interested in the following articles, BA Brews and bitesize learning on the topic of Business Architecture. Find out more about AssistKD’s Architecture courses. This BA Brew on Business Architecture features Wouter Nieuwenburg. This BA Brew on Strategy and Business Architecture features Vicky Rothwell. #businessarchitecture #businessanalysis #businessarchitectureguide #businessbooks #businessstrategy #businessarchitecturetraining #whatisbusinessarchitecture | |||
| The Games People Play (Feat. Mandy Green) | 07 Feb 2025 | 00:34:09 | |
Difficult stakeholders or colleagues? Help is at hand! How we (and others) react in response to challenging situations at work – especially where there is resistance to change – is explained by the Transactional Analysis model. This week’s special guest, and an expert on #transactionalanalysis, is Leadership Development Consultant and MD Mandy Green. Watch the Brew to find out more about the ego states of (Critical) Parent, Adult and (Fractious) Child and how insight into those states can help us break free of the ‘Drama Triangle.’ You may be interested in the following BA Brews, BA Brew 20: Resilience (feat. Corrine Thomas) BA Brew 30: Confidence (feat. Philippa Thomas) BA Brew 36: If You Don't Do Politics, Politics Will Do You (feat. Niven Postma) BA Brew 45: Developing Positive Habits and Behaviours BA Brew 49: Mental Health (feat. Petra Velzeboer) BA Brew 52: Books that Changed the Way We Work BA Brew 54: Neurodiversity (feat. Simon Platt) BA Brew 69: Self Assessment and Development Tools (feat. Corrine Thomas) BA Brew 71: Neurodiversity: The BA Survival Guide (feat. Nicola Pinkney & Paul Haywood) | |||
| Customer Experience Analysis | 24 Jan 2025 | 00:21:38 | |
In AssistKD’s latest Business Analysis podcast the team discuss why every touchpoint of the customer journey matters... and how a deeper understanding of the customer experience can only benefit organisations and the wider economy. Kerry, Mike and Jonathan get some serious mileage out of a restaurant analogy and Mike gets extra brownie points for mentioning POPIT™️within the first two minutes of the podcast. Topics covered include: what is the customer experience; the difference between CX and UX (User Experience) and which elements of POPIT™️relate to each; plus useful techniques such as empathy maps, customer journey mapping and Jonathan’s favourite – the Zone of Tolerance. AssistKD's CX Analysis course takes and in-depth look at the customer experience, and how an organisation can transform its existing processes to create engaged, responsive and connected customer experiences. It’s ideal if you want to deepen your understanding of CX, and the module counts towards the new A4Q Service Designer qualification. CX Analysis is now also available as an eLearning course. You may be interested in this article by Debra Paul. The Rise of the CX Professional. You can find out more about AssistKD’s Service Design courses here: https://www.assistkd.com/courses/service-design-courses Enjoy bitesize learning? Watch our short learning videos here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEvIolukjraxfTJfMou8axtos6ec_0z2s #CX #CXanalysis #voiceofthecustomer #surveys #interviews #storytelling #focusgroups #observation #ethnographicstudies #empathymaps #customerjourneymaps #customerjourney #servicedesign #servicedesigner #customerexperience #businessanalysispodcast | |||
| Can an MBA help your BA career? (feat. Christina Tan) | 10 Jan 2025 | 00:32:17 | |
Are you a Business Analyst considering your next career move? Our latest BA Brew considers an academic route for BAs and how a Master of Business Administration (MBA) postgraduate degree could revitalise your career. AssistKD’s Debbie Paul and Lisa Hudson are joined by IIBA UK Director and Transformation Consultant at Burendo Christina Tan to talk about their respective MBA journeys. They discuss the rationale for studying towards an MBA, the different business subjects typically covered, learning methods, time management, challenges, valuable takeaways and networking opportunities. If you enjoy this BA Brew, the following podcast may also be of interest: BA Brew 17 - The Love of Learning (Feat. Sam Merrick) #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #mba #mbalife #masterofbusinessadministration | |||
| Seasons Greetings from the BA Brew Crew | 20 Dec 2024 | 00:07:49 | |
In AssistKD’s 2024 BA Brew Christmas message the Crew discuss what they are most looking forward to about Christmas and share some very cheesy jokes. Lisa and Kerry are excited about Christmas Day; Mike (or is it Santa?) is going to parkrun, Pete does not need any more socks, and Jo is looking forward to playing Cards Against Humanity with her 90-year-old Grandad! #merrychristmas #BABrew #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #servicedesign #businesschange | |||
| The BA Market (feat. Michelle Shakesheff & Jamie Toyne) | 22 Nov 2024 | 00:24:15 | |
Do we need a rebrand of the business analyst role? Experts in the field Debra Paul, Jamie Toyne and Michelle Shakesheff put their heads together to discuss the current BA market, and the ongoing implications for BAs. Topic discussed include: the current demand for BAs; recruitment challenges; the need for a broad BA skillset; rebranding the BA role; changing the narrative; role clarity; the need for BAs to keep learning; and more! If you enjoyed this BA Brew, you may find the following resources of interest. ARTICLES Filling the Business Analysis Skills Gap BA Recruitment and Retention: A Multi-Faceted Approach BA BREWS BA Skills and How to Develop Them
#businessanalysis #userstories #requirements #BA #BArecruitment #businessanalyst #theBAmarket | |||
| The Double Diamond (feat. Liza Laya) | 11 Nov 2024 | 00:27:37 | |
The Double Diamond approach is a popular (and fun) design thinking technique designed to help you generate ideas; problem solve; challenge and even reverse assumptions. Our latest BA Brew with Jonathan Hunsley, Lisa Hudson and special guest Liza Laya introduces the framework – discussing its uses, benefits and some real-world applications. Liza Laya is Head of Technology and Digital Reform at a state government agency in Melbourne, Australia. She has almost 25 years of local and international experience and currently oversees teams responsible for delivering technology and data reforms. FURTHER RESOURCES This podcast includes mention of the Service Design Consultancy Framework, covered in this article by Jonathan Hunsley: Winging It Doesn’t Work: We Need Professional Service Design | Assist Knowledge Development (assistkd.com) [PLEASE MAKE THIS AN INTERNAL LINK] Find more useful videos on Service Design in AssistKD’s Service Design playlist. Service Design Playlist Introduction (youtube.com) Visit AssistKD’s Learning Zone for more Service Design learning resources. You can search by topic in our articles and BA Manager Forum sections. Learning Zone | Information and Articles | Assist Knowledge Development (assistkd.com) #businesschange #doublediamondframework #servicedesign #service designer #doublediamond #designthinking #cx #customerexperience | |||
| Character Crafting (feat. Helen Holder) | 08 Nov 2024 | 00:23:36 | |
Have you heard of Character Crafting and how it can be used to build resilience and leadership skills? In this enlightening chat our special guest, Helen Holder, discusses the positive character traits and behaviours central to the BA role… and how we can develop and maintain them. Topics discussed include: the Personal Strength inventory; character vs. the cult of personality; identifying your character strengths and weaknesses; developing through practice; and the power of theT Lego persona. Helen Holder has over 10 years’ experience working as a BA for public sector organisations. Passionate about elevating the BA profession, she volunteers with the @IIBA UK Midlands chapter. You may find the related articles, blogs and videos of interest Who Do You Think You Are? Business Analysts and Impostor Syndrome | Assist Knowledge Development Business Analysts and the Feedback Mindset | Assist Knowledge Development BOOK REVIEW: Mindset by Carol Dweck | Assist Knowledge Development BA Brew 76: The Human Element (Feat. Helen Holder) | Assist Knowledge Development AssistKD’s Team Leadership course covers positive communication, time management, leading a team through change, and more. Team Leadership Training Courses | Business Analysis | Assist Knowledge Development
#businessanalysis #businessanalysis #personalstrengthinventory #BAcompetency #characterstrengths #personaldevelopment #growthmindset | |||
| BA Apprentice of the Year (feat. Lorna Mylett) | 25 Oct 2024 | 00:22:24 | |
Do you love a success story? BA Apprentice of the Year 2024 Lorna Mylett is this week’s special BA Brew guest. She shares her experience of the Business Analyst Apprenticeship supported by her employers DWP, and AssistKD. Topics discussed include: learning and applying new skills and understanding; the value of learning as part of a group and having a mentor; and what it’s like to be thrown at the deep end at the IRM UK BA Conference Europe.
If you enjoyed this BA Brew, you may find the following resources of interest. ARTICLES Meet Lorna Mylett, Business Analyst Apprentice of the Year 2024 The Business Case for Apprenticeships My Experience of the Business Analysis Apprenticeship
VIDEOS BA Brew 27: The BA Apprenticeship AssistKD’s Business Analyst (Level 4) Apprenticeship Scheme
#BAapprenticeship #apprenticeships #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #talentpipeline | |||
| Creative Thinking | 11 Oct 2024 | 00:28:47 | |
Tricky business problem? Get those (creative) thinking caps on! In this week’s BA Brew the Crew discuss how creative thinking can help business change professionals challenge the status quo, think expansively and come up with effective solutions. Questions addressed include:
You may find the following articles, course, free learning and BA Brews useful: ARTICLES Zombie Penguin Business Analysts: Creativity Techniques and Divergent Thinking Creative Thinking/Divergent Thinking COURSE FREE LEARNING NEW Free Learning Course - Creative Problem Solving BA BREWS BA Brew 21: Design Thinking (Feat. Kay Hardy) BA Brew 82: The Double Diamond (feat. Liza Laya) #servicedesign #divergentthinking #creativityinbusiness #businessanalysis #businessanalyst | |||
| Psychological Safety (feat. Emma Lee) | 27 Sep 2024 | 00:35:40 | |
If you have ever wanted to know more about psychological safety this brew is a one not to be missed. Jonathan Hunsley and Philippa Thomas are joined by Emma Lee (Chief Psychologist at Matthew Syed Consulting and registered psychologist) to discuss this important topic. Collectively they explore questions such as: ▶️What is psychological safety? ▶️Why is psychological safety important? ▶️How does psychological safety impact individuals and teams? ▶️How might an absence of psychological safety impact creativity and organisational learning? ▶️How might we develop a culture of psychological safety? FURTHER RESOURCES The following BA Brews may be of interest: BA Brew 80 - Bravery in Business Analysis (feat. Kay Hardy & Charlie Payne) BA Brew 76: The Human Element (feat. Helen Holder) BA Brew Episode 60: Imposter Syndrome: Are you an imposter in BA clothing? (feat. Jo Fahy) BA Brew 49: Mental Health (feat. Petra Velzeboer) BA Brew 30: Confidence (feat. Philippa Thomas) BA Brew 20: Resilience (feat. Corrine Thomas) Books Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean – Kim Scott Rebel Ideas - Matthew Syed The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness – Stephen R Covey #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #baprofessional #psychologicalsafety #MatthewSyed | |||
| History of the BA Conference (feat. Shane McGlynn, Rachael Levermore and James Archer) | 06 Sep 2024 | 00:30:52 | |
In this special BA Conference Europe BA Brew, AssistKD CEO Debra Paul is joined by three BA Conference legends: Shane McGlynn, Rachel Levermore, and James Archer (who started the ball rolling in the first place!) The BA Conference Europe is Europe’s foremost Business Analysis conference, which has evolved over the past 16 years to over 500 attendees and 6 streams of talks. This BA Brew celebrates:
Topics discussed include: how the conference has grown, kept current and pushed boundaries; inspirational speakers over the years; memorable moments… and more. #BA2024 #ProfessionalGrowth #BASkills #Networking #BusinessConference #BAConferenceEurope #businessanalyst #servicedesign #servicedesigner #BA | |||
| Learning Styles (feat. Cat Warren) | 30 Aug 2024 | 00:28:23 | |
Are you an Activist, a Theorist, a Pragmatist or a Reflector? Our latest BA Brew could help you find out and get the most from your learning. The Brew Crew are joined by former Apprentice and now BA at the Environment Agency Cat Warren to talk about some of the different learning models (Kolb, Bloom and Honey and Mumford). They look at how the different learning approaches work with training courses, course manuals and eLearning and explore how understanding other people’s different learning styles helps with facilitation and stakeholder engagement. The following resources are relevant to the learning models mentioned in this podcast: The Honey and Mumford Learning Model You can find quick overviews of how to use Mind Maps and Rich pictures in the Bitesize Videos section of the AssistKD Learning Zone. #learningstyles #elearning #businesstrainingcourses #businessanalysis #servicedesign #kolb #honeyandmumford #bloomstaxonomy #learning #training #businesstraining | |||
| BAQT with Jo Frances and Jonathan Hunsley | 16 Aug 2024 | 00:27:09 | |
This BA Brew is AssistKD’s second BA Question Time. Many of the questions focus on role clarity, a hot topic for BAs. Mike Williams is host, with expert panellists Jo Frances and Jonathan Hunsley providing the answers and insights.
This week’s questions are: ❓What is the difference between a Business Analyst and a Business Architect? ❓What is the difference between a Business Analyst and a Service Designer? ❓How can a growth mindset support change professionals in general? ❓ What are the overlaps between a Business Analyst and a Functional Analyst?
Do you have a question our the next BA Question Time? If so, please email us on BABrew@AssistKD.com or post on our wall on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.
The following BA Brews and articles are relevant to the topics discussed:
This is an interesting BA Brew on Business Architecture. BA Brew 22: Business Architecture (Feat. Wouter Nieuwenburg) This book review is relevant to the growth mindset.
This output from the BA Manager Forum provides some useful information on the growth mindset. #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #baqt #growthmindset #businessarchitecture #businessarchitect #servicedesign #servicedesigner #functionalanalyst #dataarchitecture #roleclarity | |||
| The Benefits, Risks and Opportunities of AI in Business Analysis (Feat. Donald Farmer) | 19 Jul 2024 | 00:28:50 | |
If you’re concerned about the impact of Artificial Intelligence on your business or your job, this BA Brew is a must-watch. Debra Paul and Pete Thompson discuss the benefits, risks and opportunities with Donald Farmer – one of the foremost thinkers, researchers and presenters in the field. Topics discussed include: automating processes; cost savings; intellectual property; caring about the human element; inherent bias in AI; the need for new requirements; mitigating for unexpected adverse effects and more. Donald Farmer is a visionary data and analytics strategist with over 30 years’ experience designing data and analytics products. He has led teams at Microsoft and Qlik Technologies and is now the Principal of TreeHive Strategy where he advises software vendors, enterprises and investors on data and advanced analytics strategy. FURTHER RESOURCES This short article lists the top takeaways from Donald Farmer’s talk at the Business Change and Transformation Conference Europe: Generative AI and Business Strategy: Innovation or Imitation? You may also be interested in the following articles and BA Brews on AI: Articles: AI Alchemy: Turning Change into Gold AI and the Business Analysis Role Book Review of Hello World by Hannah Fry BA Brews: #AI #artificialintelligence #AIautomation #requirements #dataanalytics #dataanalysis #businesschange #servicedesign | |||
| Bravery in Business Analysis (Feat. Kay Hardy & Charlie Payne) | 10 May 2024 | 00:37:07 | |
This BA Brew is all about bravery, asking what bravery is and how we can develop it. Charlie Payne and Kay Hardy join the Brew Crew to try to answer these questions and more. The discussion includes: how elements of police training can also apply to business analysis; a great skiing analogy; building resilience; psychological safety; power poses; and more. During the BA Brew, Amy Cuddy’s TED talk Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are is referenced, and also her book Presence. #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #bravery #challenging #businesschange #bodylanguage #managingstakeholders #designthinking #BA | |||
| Agile Business Analysis (2nd Edition) | 26 Apr 2024 | 00:25:58 | |
If you are interested in Agile, you won’t want to miss this. This BA Brew is all about the second edition of ‘Agile Business Analysis: Practical guidance for IT professionals’ by Lynda Girvan and Debra Paul. Watch as the authors discuss what readers can expect from the revised and updated edition, including: ⭐ the latest Agile developments ⭐ new techniques ⭐ new thinking ⭐ real-life case-studies where experienced practitioners share challenges and lessons learned. The wide-ranging discussion covers organisational agility and the role of the BA; the relevance of the Agile Manifesto; how to apply Agile in an informed and relevant way; the increased focus on the customer and much more. #agile #IT #businessanalysis #businessanalyst #businesschange #digital #agilebusinessanalysis | |||