(https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ba-times/about/) (https://twitter.

com/batimes)
(https://www.facebook.com/BATimescom/)
Contributing (/contributing-to-ba-times.html) | Join BA Times (/register.html) |
LOGIN (HTTPS://WWW.BATIMES.COM/LOGIN.HTML)

(hp
tsw
/: wwb
.am
it esc.om) (hp
tw
/: wwb
.am
it esc.om)

(http://dbcc.advertserve.com/advertpro/servlet/click/zone?
zid=106&cid=457&mid=701&pid=0&sid=19&uuid=cc2299b11342e1b5e7aec1401ddf7107&ip=186.154.128.28
business-analysis-hierarchy-of-
needs.html%3Futm_campaign%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_source%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_20
in-business-
analytics%2F%3Fcampaign%3D172963%26ccid%3D172963%26utm_source%3DMagregor%2BCommunica

Search all BA Times Articles (/search-articles.html)

The Business Analysis Hierarchy Of Needs

Written by Joe Newbert (/blog/joe-newbert.html)

/
 (/media/k2/items/cache/79fb78d76f4028fb13a8ce228606e3c7_XL.jpg)

The business analyst’s journey is an enduring one.

You find yourself amongst broken systems, inefficient processes, contradictory information, blue-sky ideas,
and unhappy customers. Which do you address first?

The stakeholders’ response of “everything, now” is the conflicting norm.

But that doesn’t help…

At any given time only one thing can be the most important—only one item can be top-priority. Yet if we
don’t know what that is, we might be fixing the wrong thing at the wrong time. Or, fixing the right thing at the
wrong time, as solid solutions are only so on strong foundations.

You can pinpoint the right level to work on at the right time, by understanding the business analysis
hierarchy of needs.

/
Figure 1 The Business Analysis Hierarchy of Needs

Advertisement

Needs lower down the hierarchy must be satisfied before you can attend to needs higher up.

1. Problem – the creation of opportunity.

When it comes to business change, there needs to be a problem or an opportunity. When it comes to
business analysis, you need to discover the need, explore the situation and understand the objective in
order to move up the hierarchy.
2. Solution – the creation of capability.
Many businesses build ineffective solutions because they jump into solution-mode or focus on
technology. It’s important you build a product that addresses stakeholders’ needs. And your solution
must be baked into a holistic business system.
3. Service – the creation of competence.
This is where you realise operational efficiency. The idea is that as the solution settles, the business
starts to become more organised and less dependent on you. By enabling operations effectively you
move the needle onto business as usual.
4. Impact – the creation of transformation.
This is where you realise the change is not about transaction but transformation. You are not deploying
/
 a function, but rather a product/service that impacts somebodies. You need to focus on changing
behaviours, and managing emotions.
5. Utility – the creation of satisfaction.
You started with a promise (not a guarantee) about the change you were seeking to make. To achieve
total satisfaction you need to maximise usefulness, productivity, profitability, or other benefits. This
should be the objective of your change.

The business analysis hierarchy of needs is a compass that can be used to co-create “value” from a base
with opportunity towards the pinnacle of utility.

Published in Articles (/articles.html)

Tagged under #Best Practices (/tag/best-practices.html) #Business Analysis (/tag/business-
analysis.html) #change management (/tag/change-management.html) #Leadership (/tag/leadership.html)
#Strategic (/tag/strategic.html)

Joe Newbert (/Blog/Joe-Newbert.Html)

Joe Newbert is all over business analysis, as the Chief Training Officer at the Business Change Academy
(https://businesschange.academy/), Virtual Coach with Pragnalysis (https://pragnalysis.com/),
Editor for Inter-View Report (https://inter-view.report/), Curator of 5W-1H
(https://joenewbert.com/w5-1h) and podcast host on OneSixEight FM (https://onesixeight.fm/).

Related Items
5 Trusted Tips to Move Your Business Analyst Career to a C-Suite Role (/articles/5-trusted-tips-to-
move-your-business-analyst-career-to-a-c-suite-role.html)
The TRIFECTA – Bringing Together People, Process & Technology (/articles/the-trifecta-bringing-
together-people-process-technology.html)
10 things a great BA role will offer (/articles/10-things-a-great-ba-role-will-offer.html)
Toolbelts in Times of Change (/articles/toolbelts-in-times-of-change.html)
How to Level Up your Business Analyst Career (/articles/how-to-level-up-your-business-analyst-
career.html)

More in this category: « The TRIFECTA – Bringing Together People, Process & Technology
(/articles/the-trifecta-bringing-together-people-process-technology.html) 5 Trusted Tips to Move Your
Business Analyst Career to a C-Suite Role » (/articles/5-trusted-tips-to-move-your-business-analyst-
career-to-a-c-suite-role.html)

back to top (/articles/the-business-analysis-hierarchy-of-needs.html#startOfPageId3480)

/
 SEARCH ALL BA TIMES ARTICLES (/SEARCH-ARTICLES.HTML)

Over 91,000 BAs

Over 1,500 Insightful Articles

Free PDUs - 200 Webinars
Free Templates and White papers
Weekly Round-up Newsletter

JOIN BA TIMES (/REGISTER.HTML)

AGILE (/AGILE/ARTICLES.HTML?CAT=AGILE) BPM (/BPM/ARTICLES.HTML?CAT=BPM)

COMMUNICATE (/COMMUNICATION/ARTICLES.HTML?
CAREER (/CAREER/ARTICLES.HTML?CAT=CAREER)
CAT=COMMUNICATION)

LEADERS (/LEADERSHIP/ARTICLES.HTML? REQUIREMENTS (/REQUIREMENTS/ARTICLES.HTML?

CAT=LEADERSHIP) CAT=REQUIREMENT)

TECHNIQUE (/TECHNIQUES/ARTICLES.HTML?
BA JOBS (HTTP://JOBS.BATIMES.COM/)
CAT=TECHNIQUES)

Business Analyst Training &

Free Resources
ASPE, a Cprime Company has an extensive list
of courses and free resources to meet your BA
needs.

Popular Courses:
Microsoft Power BI Boot Camp
(http://dbcc.advertserve.com/advertpro/servlet/click/zone?
zid=121&cid=433&mid=699&pid=0&sid=31&uuid=cc2299b11342e1b5e7aec1401ddf7107&ip=186.154.128.28&default=false&
business-analysis-hierarchy-of-
needs.html%3Futm_campaign%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_source%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_mediu
power-bi-boot-
camp%3Futm_source%3DBATimes%26utm_medium%3DHTML-
Ad%26utm_content%3DPowerBI%26utm_campaign%3Ddigital)
HOT!

Business Analyst Boot Camp

(http://dbcc.advertserve.com/advertpro/servlet/click/zone?
zid=121&cid=433&mid=699&pid=0&sid=31&uuid=cc2299b11342e1b5e7aec1401ddf7107&ip=186.154.128.28&default=false&
business-analysis-hierarchy-of-
needs.html%3Futm_campaign%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_source%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_mediu
analyst-boot-
camp%3Futm_source%3DBATimes%26utm_medium%3DHTML-
Ad%26utm_content%3DBABC%26utm_campaign%3Ddigital)

Product Discovery and Delivery

(http://dbcc.advertserve.com/advertpro/servlet/click/zone?
zid=121&cid=433&mid=699&pid=0&sid=31&uuid=cc2299b11342e1b5e7aec1401ddf7107&ip=186.154.128.28&default=false&
business-analysis-hierarchy-of-
/
needs.html%3Futm campaign%3DNL BATIMES 09 17 2020%26utm source%3DNL BATIMES 09 17 2020%26utm mediu
 eeds t %3 ut _ca pa g %3 _ S_09_ _ 0 0% 6ut _sou ce%3 _ S_09_ _ 0 0% 6ut _ ed u
discovery-and-
delivery%3Futm_source%3DBATimes%26utm_medium%3DHTML-
Ad%26utm_content%3DProduct-
Discovery%26utm_campaign%3DProductAgility)
NEW!

Business Analysis in Agile Projects (ICP-APO)

(http://dbcc.advertserve.com/advertpro/servlet/click/zone?
zid=121&cid=433&mid=699&pid=0&sid=31&uuid=cc2299b11342e1b5e7aec1401ddf7107&ip=186.154.128.28&default=false&
business-analysis-hierarchy-of-
needs.html%3Futm_campaign%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_source%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_mediu
analysis-agile-projects-icp-
apo%3Futm_source%3DBATimes%26utm_medium%3DHTML-
Ad%26utm_content%3DAgileBA%26utm_campaign%3Ddigital)

Popular Free Resources:

Business Analysis Capabilities Guide
(http://dbcc.advertserve.com/advertpro/servlet/click/zone?
zid=121&cid=433&mid=699&pid=0&sid=31&uuid=cc2299b11342e1b5e7aec1401ddf7107&ip=186.154.128.28&default=false&
business-analysis-hierarchy-of-
needs.html%3Futm_campaign%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_source%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_mediu
resources%2Fbusiness-analysis-capabilities-
guide%3Futm_source%3DBATimes%26utm_medium%3DHTML-
Ad%26utm_content%3DBA-Capabilities-
Guide%26utm_campaign%3Ddigital) NEW!

Whitepaper: Developing Effective Use Cases

(http://dbcc.advertserve.com/advertpro/servlet/click/zone?
zid=121&cid=433&mid=699&pid=0&sid=31&uuid=cc2299b11342e1b5e7aec1401ddf7107&ip=186.154.128.28&default=false&
business-analysis-hierarchy-of-
needs.html%3Futm_campaign%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_source%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_mediu
resources%2Fdeveloping-effective-use-
cases%3Futm_source%3DBATimes%26utm_medium%3DHTML-
Ad%26utm_content%3DEffective-Use-
Cases%26utm_campaign%3Ddigital)

On-Demand Webinar: Microsoft Power BI:

Awesome Tricks & Tips for Beginners
(http://dbcc.advertserve.com/advertpro/servlet/click/zone?
zid=121&cid=433&mid=699&pid=0&sid=31&uuid=cc2299b11342e1b5e7aec1401ddf7107&ip=186.154.128.28&default=false&
business-analysis-hierarchy-of-
needs.html%3Futm_campaign%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_source%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_mediu
archive%2Fmicrosoft-power-bi-awesome-
tricks-tips-for-
beginners%3Futm_source%3DBATimes%26utm_medium%3DHTML-
Ad%26utm_content%3DPowerBI-
Webinar%26utm_campaign%3Ddigital)

(http://dbcc.advertserve.com/advertpro/servlet/click/zone?
zid=121&cid=433&mid=699&pid=0&sid=31&uuid=cc2299b11342e1b5e7aec1401ddf7107&ip=186.154.128.28&default=false&
business-analysis-hierarchy-of-
needs.html%3Futm_campaign%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_source%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_mediu
resources%2Fbusiness-analysis-capabilities-
guide%3Futm_source%3DBATimes%26utm_medium%3DHTML-
Ad%26utm_content%3DBA-Capabilities-Guide-
Image%26utm_campaign%3Ddigital)

/
 (http://dbcc.advertserve.com/advertpro/servlet/click/zone?

zid=84&cid=459&mid=703&pid=0&sid=8&uuid=cc2299b11342e1b5e7aec1401ddf7107&ip=186.154.128.28&d
business-analysis-hierarchy-of-
needs.html%3Futm_campaign%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_source%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_20

(http://dbcc.advertserve.com/advertpro/servlet/click/zone?

zid=98&cid=454&mid=697&pid=0&sid=8&uuid=cc2299b11342e1b5e7aec1401ddf7107&ip=186.154.128.28&d

business-analysis-hierarchy-of- /
needs.html%3Futm_campaign%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_source%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_20

(http://dbcc.advertserve.com/advertpro/servlet/click/zone?

zid=109&cid=346&mid=483&pid=0&sid=8&uuid=cc2299b11342e1b5e7aec1401ddf7107&ip=186.154.128.28&
business-analysis-hierarchy-of-
needs.html%3Futm_campaign%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_2020%26utm_source%3DNL_BATIMES_09_17_20

Our Company

About Us (/about-business-analyst-times.html)
Macgregor Communications
Contact Us (/contact-us.html)
(https://www.macgregorcommunications.com/)
Advertise (/advertise-with-us.html)
Follow us on
Project Times (http://www.projecttimes.com/)
 (https://twitter.com/batimes)
 (https://www.facebook.com/BATimescom/) Privacy Policy (/privacy-policy.html)
 (https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ba-
times/about/) Terms of Use (/terms-of-use.html)

(http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessAnalystTimes-
BusinessAnalysisHome)
Connect Content

Create an Account (/register.html) Articles (/articles-business-analyst.html)

Login to My Webinars (/login.html ) Webinars (/business-analyst-training/training-

home.html)
Contribute (/contributing-to-ba-times.html)
Whitepapers (/business-analyst-white-papers/)
Authors (/authors.html)
Templates (/templates/business-analyst-
Advertise (/advertise-with-us.html) /
templates html)
 templates.html)

LinkedIn Books (/books/book-directory.html)

(https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Business-Analyst- Conferences (/business-analyst-events.html)

Times-2824059)
Sitemap (/resources/sitemap.html)

© BA Times.com 2020
(/articles-business-analyst.html)

(https://www.macgregorcommunications.com/)