Business Analysis Services

Business Analysis (BA) is the practice of identifying business needs and determining the best solutions to address them. We work collaboratively with our partners to analyze existing processes, define solutions, and ensure alignment with strategic goals. Our services are organized into three levels of engagement, designed to meet a range of needs—from initial process mapping and analysis to in-depth assessments and full project support.

Whether you're looking to explore opportunities at a high level, conduct a thorough needs analysis, or implement and manage project requirements, our business analysts provide the expertise and guidance necessary to achieve your objectives. By aligning our efforts with your goals, we help ensure that your business operations are optimized and supported by the right solutions.

Level 1: Enterprise Analysis and Process Mapping
This level involves initial exploration and understanding of processes, systems, and capabilities, often before any formal planning or project initiation.

Example Activities:

• Process Analysis:
  Mapping and analyzing current business processes, identifying inefficiencies, and suggesting improvements. Activities include creating process models, conducting SWOT analyses, and summarizing business processes.
• Strategy Analysis:
  Evaluating the current state of business capabilities and aligning them with desired outcomes. Activities involve assessing enterprise capabilities, meeting with stakeholders to understand business needs, and recommending high-level strategies or solutions.

Level 2: Needs Assessment and Deep Analysis with Recommendations
This level is more structured and involves a deeper dive into problem definition, solution recommendations, and preparation for potential project initiation.

Example Activities:

• IT Needs Assessment:
  Conducting a detailed analysis to understand the problem or opportunity, evaluating alternatives, and recommending a course of action. Activities include defining business objectives, assessing current capabilities, exploring solution options, and recommending the most feasible solution.
• Business Case Analysis:
  Assisting business units in developing a business case by aligning proposed solutions with strategic goals and conducting both qualitative and quantitative analyses to determine value and feasibility. Activities include mapping solutions to business objectives, performing SWOT and financial analyses, and justifying the proposed investment.

Level 3: Project-Oriented Implementation and Organizational Change Management
This level focuses on formal project involvement, including requirements management, system modeling, and implementation support.

Example Activities:

• Requirements Analysis and Design Definition (RADD):
  Working closely with the business and technical teams to elicit, analyze, and document detailed requirements. Activities include facilitating requirements workshops, creating and managing requirements specifications, and ensuring alignment with project goals.
• Solution Evaluation and Design:
  Modeling and designing systems within the context of the business environment. Activities involve context modeling, stakeholder analysis, defining system architecture, and evaluating the solution's performance against business objectives.

MSU IT provides business analysis services to our leadership and staff, benefiting from high-quality analysis and insights provided by our own experienced professionals. 

Consulting
Consulting services offer guidance and support when business offices need specialized insights or strategic direction. Business analysts work alongside stakeholders to evaluate emerging trends, explore new technologies, conduct peer evaluations, and perform benchmarking to understand how similar organizations are approaching similar challenges.

Example Activities:

• Stakeholder Collaboration:
  Engaging with business offices and other stakeholders to facilitate workshops, discussions, and decision-making processes. We help stakeholders align on objectives, gather insights, and define clear paths forward.
• Technology and Trend Evaluation:
  Assisting in the exploration and evaluation of new and emerging technologies. We work with stakeholders to assess how these technologies, such as AI, might align with current business goals and identify opportunities for future integration.

Root Cause Analysis
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) is a structured approach to identifying the underlying causes of business problems or inefficiencies. Using various techniques, we work closely with stakeholders to uncover the root issues, rather than just addressing surface-level symptoms. This helps ensure that solutions address the core problems, leading to sustainable improvements and better alignment with business objectives.

Techniques:

• Problem Definition: Clarifying and articulating the core problem that needs to be addressed.
• Root Cause Identification: Using methods such as the "5 Whys," Fishbone Diagrams (Ishikawa), and causal analysis to trace issues back to their origin.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Gathering and analyzing relevant data to support the identification of the root cause.
• Cause and Effect Analysis: Mapping out the relationships between the problem and its potential causes to identify patterns and areas of focus.
• Solution Recommendation: Based on the identified root causes, we recommend targeted solutions that address the underlying issues.