John P. Reiling, PMP: Are You More of a Project Manager or Business Analyst?

You will have your own personalized answer to that question…and it will never be ‘wrong’.

…because the truth is that neither Project Management nor Business Analysis is better than the other.

Both are absolutely essential to project success. And project success will not be achieved without executing well on both.

As a Project Manager, you are typically the first point of contact for the project…and solely responsible for the project’s success or failure.

As a Business Analyst, you bridge the technical or business communication gap between the software development or project implementation teams and the management, executive or business teams.

This distinction means that you have to be wired a certain way for either role.

As a Project Manager, you need to be wired to take responsibility…and take control of the outcome…meaning taking control of resources, schedule, and outcomes.

As a Business Analyst, you need to be wired to dig into the ‘product’ detail – I am talking about the product of the project – and need to leverage an analytical toolset to execute well.

Whether you work as Project Manager OR Business Analyst…in either case…you are working with end users, stakeholders or management.

…and the real kicker is that in many organizations, project managers also fulfill the role of a business analyst because there is no funding for a full-time business analyst…or there is a lack of awareness of the need to separate a business analyst’s duties from a project managers.

…which means that you need to wear more than one hat.

How are you Project Management skills? How are your Business Analysis skills? Which do you tend to me more ‘wired for’?

What can you do to fill in some knowledge gaps in either Project Management or Business Analysis?

These are some good questions to consider…and take action to move ahead!

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John Reiling’s site, Project Management Training Online, provides PMP and CAPM certification prep training online, and plus online certification training in Business Analysis and other skill areas – all for PDUs. Check out Project Management Training Online to learn more!