Project Management

Do you need a project manager and a business analyst?

I can’t help but be amused at project job descriptions that begin with:

“Our client is in need of Business Analyst/Project Manager”

One person for two roles? They must need a Superman! Does your project manager analyze businesses or vice versa? If you have answered yes to either scenario, then you may need to rethink your project staffing. Your project may be in jeopardy!

One can’t help but notice how uncertain the field of business analysis is when you read such statements. While there may be many perceived similarities, a project needs both a project manager AND a business analyst. This is the best way to increase the chances of success of your project.

Having one individual as a project manager and a business analyst is akin to having separate sales and a marketing individuals. While the goal of both sales and marketing is to generate revenue, their tactical tasks and operational goals are the different. Similarly, while the objectives of both the business analyst and the project manager is successful project completion, their tactical tasks and operational goals are different.

A project is bound to fail without a project manager with strong leadership skills and well-defined requirements. A business analyst and a project manager complement each other. So why not the same individual, you ask? For one, personal bias creeps in. An individual may be inclined towards project management and vice versa. More time will be spent on the tasks the individual likes and the other role suffers as a result.

Secondly, there is the question of project schedule. How much time do you think the project manager is going to have to completely and accurately collect the functional requirements needed for product development? Let’s revisit the objectives of each of these roles as outlined in the respective body of knowledge guides.

Project Management

• Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques to meet project requirements.
• Project management is accomplished through the application and integration of the project management processes of initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling and closing.
• The project manager is responsible for accomplishing the project objectives

Business Analysis

• Business analysis is distinct from project management.
• Business analysis is a set of tasks, knowledge and techniques required to identify business needs and solutions to business problems.
• A business analyst works as a liaison among the various stakeholders in order to elicit, analyze, communicate and validate requirements for changes to business processes, policies and information systems.

Does your project have one individual performing the two roles? How has your experience been? I’d love to hear it.

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