Risks in client-business analyst cooperation: from a business analyst's perspective.

“No matter how skilled and experienced business analysts are, or how well a business analysis project has been planned, or even how successful a client is, there will always be serious risks during business analysis projects. Most projects are formally terminated, but there is no guarantee that they will lead to value creation. A potential source of risk from stakeholders is their level of experience in communicating their true needs to business analysts. If they are not fully trained to discuss their real problems, they may present incorrect needs or fail to address key issues. In some organizations, interviews with managers can go completely off-topic, or they may present no specific issues. They may even express pride in their functional performance, arguing that everything is fine with no need for change. In both situations, business analysts face significant challenges in uncovering the true needs of their clients. A negative attitude towards change in general, or towards business analysis in particular, among stakeholders is also a source of risk. A lack of interest in change can lead to poor cooperation and weak outcomes, creating a destructive loop where low interest leads to low-quality outcomes, which in turn results in disappointment among staff. Prioritization is another risk; if stakeholders do not allocate enough time to a business analysis project, promising outcomes cannot be expected. This is particularly evident in large organizations where multiple similar projects are conducted simultaneously, and staff are required to participate in various interviews while also completing their routine tasks. This can result in minimal involvement in the project and, consequently, weak outcomes.”

What could be done?

• Evaluate Interest and Readiness: Assess the level of interest and readiness for change and business analysis projects before initiating any actions.
• Review Project Load: Evaluate the quality and quantity of similar projects and the amount of time allocated to them before starting.
• Assess Problem Recognition: Evaluate the ability of managers to recognize problems and understand needs.