This article details about the function as an offshore business analyst and the shifting role of offshore business analysts.

With the boom in outsourcing and the focus of companies shifting to add efficacy at lesser price, more BA functions are being created overseas. Not to say that all tasks are being sent abroad, but we definitely see companies being more receptive to not limiting a business analyst function being only a client facing role. The area of outsourcing has evolved to the hybrid model (on site / offshore model of outsourcing and in some cases near coast for tactical reasons). Actually I know a good deal of firms that have as a mandate to get deals a 40:60 rule when it comes to projects. 40 percent on site and 60% abroad to better leverage the capabilities offshore and obviously manage the job margins better. Organizations, project supervisors and leads frequently struggle to increase the offshore amounts and reduce the onsite number (70:30) or so from the interest of margins.

Traditionally from the IT as well as the ITES industry, the offshore functions were limited to growth. The development of Offshore Development Center's (ODC) in India in the program export zones are a testimony to this fact.

How does it impact you as a business analyst?

If you're a programmer or a developer, then this could be your golden opportunity to scale into a BA role. Today there is a major gap between the demand for BA and the source of quality BA candidates in market. While organizations are searching for quality resources which can scale from being mere developers and software developers or testers to take the functions of alternative designers and alternative providers. While necessity gathering might be one part of your role, BA functions are expanding to include more responsibilities from the title of optimization.

If you are a developer or a programmer looking to scale up to this function of a BA, bear in mind, the task isn't straightforward. I have previously had mails from subscribers, who simply send me their profile and ask me to do a magic to get them into a BA role. People always tend to take the easy way out. Having a business analyst function, this is really a "no-no."

If you would like to become a business analyst, you need to be willing to spend the attempts to scale up from your current role and expand your area of duties with limited to no supervision. You will need to think from the box (Think outside the bun since it says in Taco Bell advertisements) and look at adding value to the project and business. These are sure shot ways to achievement. I would rather adhere to those time-tested approaches compared to attempting my toes onto short cuts.

What do you do to position yourself as a business analyst?

Simple - Scale up. Take on more duties in your offshore role. I know that it is easier said the done. But that is your only solution to move up the chain for a company analyst. Please also remember that a business advisor role includes its own challenges, responsibilities and of course rewards. If you're looking to be an offshore business analyst or are currently in an offshore company advisor role, then a few pointers below might help you.

Communication Challenges - An offshore company analyst often gets struck in the web of communicating. Being offshore is both an advantage and a drawback. It's an advantage because you're more affordable translating to more options and opportunities. It is a dis-advantage since you never really know what the client is thinking, how he/she's reacting to your opinions and what's lost in interpretation and translation over the phone.
So you as an offshore company analyst will have to put in twice the amount of effort to manage client perception than an onshore business analyst. Make no mistake - Onsite business analyst functions are equally challenging if not much tougher at times. I could be a perfect example. As somebody who has been the surface of the job for the customer, being defeated in managing perceptions yet swimming through to save face, I had the privilege of being an onsite and an offshore company analyst / management advisor. Listening and communicating is the core to be good in an offshore function. Work on it.

The effectiveness of the process is always in question depending on the intricacy of the business requirement but with time and effort we could evolve to be better in the offshore business analyst role.

Standardization of procedures - Traditionally it is merely the development and testing phase of the jobs that were typically done offshore. However, things are changing progressively. Now clients require that even the requirement collecting be accomplished offshore through telephone and other modes of virtual communication. Though a big challenge, it is well adapted by the industry.If you are an offshore business analyst, look at standardizing your requirement gathering procedure. Based on your business and previous project experience, develop effective questionnaire's that could help the client answer as many questions as possible to give clarity on scope and requirements. If you do not know an answer, make certain you do what's required to find clarity from the client on the question. Never presume a response no matter how logical the response might seem.
If you would like to be truly pro-active, I would in fact, go one step ahead and start circulating questionnaires to business leaders and also to your past clients on your respective industry seeking their inputs on the current challenges in a particular area. This would turn out to be great inputs to help establish your product or service to the client. I am also sure the customer enjoys the fact that you still consider them and their problems although you are not working on their project right now.
Organizations are looking to bridge the demand / supply gap of business analyst by promoting senior programmers and solution designers to the take up business analyst duties. Are you up for this?

Your resume, experience and experience could make all of the difference between you being a BA or staying a programmer. Do visit the services page on our website - "The Smart Consultant" to understand what we can do to assist you with your transition and resume to your dream business analyst role.

As always, I wish there was a perfect black book to help you. But there never is.

For all those folks who think a BA role is to necessarily only meet with customers and gathering requirements, I hope this guide is a wake up call. Welcome to the shifting world of business analyst.