Now didn’t I say that Business Analysis has far reaching impact on the organization? A new Forrester research report supports my claim as it ranks Business Analyst #1 of the 13 Most Important IT Roles.
The age of IT specialization has been replaced by an emphasis on skills that can translate across the enterprise. According to Forrester, this shift can be traced to a number of emerging trends:
* Maturing technologies such as software-as-a-service and business intelligence are changing IT skills requirements;
* The growing array of outsourcing options have altered in-house staffing priorities, with more specialized skills increasingly likely to be outsourced; and
* The continued search for cost-reduction opportunities has changed how IT decisions are made.
With those trends in mind, here is Forrester’s list of the 13 Most Important IT Roles, based on the percentage of IT executives who believe each role is growing in importance.
#1 – Business Analyst – 70%
Talk about holding all the cards: Not only do these IT pros know the business, they also have their fingers on all the insight. As the saying goes, knowledge is power.
#2 and #3 – Architecture and IT Strategy/Planning – 66%
As IT has evolved into an increasingly important part of business, both of these roles have become critical in ensuring that every department has the infrastructure and tools that it needs.
#4 – Project Management – 65%
What business doesn’t need people who can mange multiple personalities, master numerous business processes, understand different aspects of the business and make sure things get done?
#5 – Security – 62%
With the onslaught of breaches and identity theft that constantly filters through the headlines, not to mention the growing mandates for better access controls, is there really an explanation needed here?
#6 – Service Management – 60%
The whole thing about the customer applies here to, as managing IT from the customer’s perspective has become de rigueur.
#7 – Client Relationship Management – 56%
We’re in the age of customer service, and anyone who’s mastered the art of managing CRM environments is worth their weight in gold.
#8 and #9 – Business Continuity and IT Financial Management – 55%
With companies paranoid about their systems surviving natural and man-made disasters, and cost-effective IT spending more important that ever, it’s no wonder these roles are on the rise.
#10 – Portfolio Management – 50%
This is a growing area driven by the desire to demystify the measurement of the impact of IT investments.
#11 – Asset Management – 34%
Like other spin-offs from more general business roles, this is another specialized function better outsourced.
#12 – IT Research – 30%
Research? That’s what consultants are for.
#13 – Human Resources (within IT) – 20%
HR for IT is an increasingly unnecessary luxury in an increasingly self-service environment.
Take a closer look at that list and you will notice Business Analysis has been ranked #1, #2, #3 and #10.
The age of IT specialization has been replaced by an emphasis on skills that can translate across the enterprise. According to Forrester, this shift can be traced to a number of emerging trends:
* Maturing technologies such as software-as-a-service and business intelligence are changing IT skills requirements;
* The growing array of outsourcing options have altered in-house staffing priorities, with more specialized skills increasingly likely to be outsourced; and
* The continued search for cost-reduction opportunities has changed how IT decisions are made.
With those trends in mind, here is Forrester’s list of the 13 Most Important IT Roles, based on the percentage of IT executives who believe each role is growing in importance.
#1 – Business Analyst – 70%
Talk about holding all the cards: Not only do these IT pros know the business, they also have their fingers on all the insight. As the saying goes, knowledge is power.
#2 and #3 – Architecture and IT Strategy/Planning – 66%
As IT has evolved into an increasingly important part of business, both of these roles have become critical in ensuring that every department has the infrastructure and tools that it needs.
#4 – Project Management – 65%
What business doesn’t need people who can mange multiple personalities, master numerous business processes, understand different aspects of the business and make sure things get done?
#5 – Security – 62%
With the onslaught of breaches and identity theft that constantly filters through the headlines, not to mention the growing mandates for better access controls, is there really an explanation needed here?
#6 – Service Management – 60%
The whole thing about the customer applies here to, as managing IT from the customer’s perspective has become de rigueur.
#7 – Client Relationship Management – 56%
We’re in the age of customer service, and anyone who’s mastered the art of managing CRM environments is worth their weight in gold.
#8 and #9 – Business Continuity and IT Financial Management – 55%
With companies paranoid about their systems surviving natural and man-made disasters, and cost-effective IT spending more important that ever, it’s no wonder these roles are on the rise.
#10 – Portfolio Management – 50%
This is a growing area driven by the desire to demystify the measurement of the impact of IT investments.
#11 – Asset Management – 34%
Like other spin-offs from more general business roles, this is another specialized function better outsourced.
#12 – IT Research – 30%
Research? That’s what consultants are for.
#13 – Human Resources (within IT) – 20%
HR for IT is an increasingly unnecessary luxury in an increasingly self-service environment.
Take a closer look at that list and you will notice Business Analysis has been ranked #1, #2, #3 and #10.
Seems like it has been a while since I have had a chance to do a post. For the last 3 weeks things have been absolutely crazy in our IT consulting world, but in a good way. We had a chance to go to the 
I read today that unemployment has risen to 7.6%. Yes, its official – we are in a recession. However, that does not mean there isn’t opportunity because there is. If everyone believed everything the press is saying our economy does not have a chance and the United States is going to cease to exist.
There is trouble in the near future for talent needs and it is coming in various flavors:
The global economy is tanking, layoffs are everywhere but organizations need to remain positive and work through these difficult times. Information technology is no exception to this statement. Often times when companies decide to cut budgets the information technology department is a prime target to be cut.
building and career advancement. Hey, I subscribe to that body of thought. A few years back I was with a company that held an annual summer picnic and prior to the picnic was a golf outing for those that wished to participate. The CEO, Sales Executives and almost all the management staff went every year on the golf outing. Knowing that was the place to be, I took up the game of golf. The following year there I was on the fairways with the best and brightest of our company.
Many organizations that are a part of IT outsourcing and business transformation outsourcing (BTO) are slightly concerned about the economy in 2009. However, IT outsourcing was important before Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, Freddie and Fannie, AIG, and the big three automotive manufacturers. These events have underscored the importance of outsourcing because companies believe that transformational outsourcing can help them to service the economic downturn.
in spurts and goes through trends. The Outsourcing of IT is no exception. For all of those organizations that thought they had an “IT Strategy” they quickly learned that the strategy is only as good as the business model that it supports.
The recent economic challenges that the United States and the rest of the world is facing has effected more than the loss of jobs. Organizations that were dependent on Indian community out sourcing are now faced with a new dilemma, inferior talent.
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