Business Analyst – Tech Ed at ADvTECH

Overall, Purpose of the Job:

• The BA is responsible for ensuring that the relevant teaching and learning applications within the Business Applications Team meet the needs and requirements of the users.  The applications must be integrated into the other systems in use by the business.  In that regard the BA is responsible for all escalated user queries, change requests, annual configuration, maintenance and upgrades including user forum processes for those applications that are applicable to the portfolio. 
• Within the teaching and learning applications identify and develop new and alternative approaches to performing business activities that are made possible by the availability of information and communications technology.  Responsible for the methodical investigation, analysis and documentation of the application in terms of the business processes and the information used. 
• Implementing change management strategies to drive organizational transformation in the – Schools and Tertiary environment of Advtech Limited.

Responsibilities for this Position:

Business Analysis:

• Analyses past, present and future business environment.
• Analyses business processes to determine problems, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Reviews processes and conduct process audits, as required.
• Designs new business processes.
• Formulates strategies and guidelines to improve the business environment.
• Documents requirements include data modelling, interface layouts, data flows, screen and report layouts, etc.
• Works closely with systems analyst, other Business analysts, project support analyst, project and work delivery managers to design and implement solutions within constraints.
• Investigates and defines requirements for business processes. Identify opportunities to improve processes and reduce waste.
• Facilitates the implementation of new or enhanced processes.
• Provides support and facilitates sessions for end users, e.g. training.
• Consult and engage with business process owners, managers and relevant users on feasibility studies and establish business and systems requirements. This needs to be done proactively. Proactively communicate and collaborate with various teams to analyse information needs and functional requirements to deliver the following artefacts that are needed:
• Business/functional requirement specifications
• Wireframes
• Workflow/Process flow diagrams
• Data Models
• Building of Prototypes
• Conduct detailed analysis based on business problems that exist and/or opportunities identified.
• Recommend the appropriate action required to address business changes in conjunction with impact-aware thinking in terms of the broader ecosystem
• Consults to management (both IT and business) on business procedures and policies.
• Design and maintain regular status reports to management on status and other metrics.
• Expert level of competency in the following
• Analysis and modelling of complex business processes.
• Writing requirements specification for large sized Information Systems.
• End to end experience of the project lifecycle.
• Experience interacting directly with end users.
• Contribute to the appropriate management with direction from the Business Application Owner and Manager with external partners for example BB Global; Serosoft; Toddle; Modo Apps; Microsoft etc.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of appropriate standards, procedures and documentation related to your area.
• Communicate effectively with other team members, clients, vendors, and contracted providers to promote cooperation and mutual success.

Specialisation Area (Subject Matter Specialist) - Tech Ed:

• Responsible in primary role for providing in-depth knowledge to the educational functional applications.
• Providing ongoing business process mapping for Change Request impact on the system.
• Participate in training programmes in such a manner that the affected stakeholders have the required knowledge to make optimal use of the Group Business system.
• Knowledge of LMS, SIS and Educational systems
• Educational environment (Tertiary or Primary / High School (K12)) processing experience
• Excellent communication skills and business acumen.
• Maintain LMS data tools, reporting, integrations and dashboards.
• Produce and deliver standard (monthly, quarterly, and annual) and customized LMS reports.
• Respond to LMS data requests on an ad hoc basis by gathering, analysing, and reporting relevant data from various sources.
• Partner with Academic Teams on system upgrades and analyses.
• Responsible for addressing a high volume of system-related activities in a timely fashion while maintaining a high level of quality and internal customer satisfaction.
• Experience with Microsoft SQL, Power Apps, PowerBi, DevOps and Azure are advantageous.

Solution Design & Implementation & Specifications Development:

• Works closely with the systems analyst, analyst programmer, project support administrator, other Business Analysts and project/work delivery managers to design and implement the best possible solution within the constraints of the tools available.
• Facilitates the implementation of new or enhanced processes. Business processes would be designed and implemented by the BPO; however, the business analyst would take these requirements and understand how to flex the technology to enable the process.
• Responsible for systems, user acceptance testing and implementation of changes or new applications. 
• Investigates and defines requirements for business processes.
• Documents requirements including data modelling, interface layouts, data flows, screen and report layouts, etc. 
• Document defects.
• Document system enhancements.
• Manage change control process and quality assurance
• Leads design of reporting and dashboards. Extracts, validates, and analyses desired data. Consults with leaders to establish data metrics needs.

Systems Testing:

• Owns systems, user acceptance testing and implementation of changes or new applications.
• Review the test plan and test scripts to ensure quality and coverage
• Tests systems and user acceptance and implements changes or new applications
• Ensures all testing protocols are adhered to.
• Test automation processes
• Creating Release notes
• Work with the test team to automate system testing and regression testing.

System Support, User Support, Problem Management and Training:

• Provide front line support to end users responding to issues related to Problem/Incident Management, Release/Deployment, Operational Readiness, Application Monitoring, Production Governance related to issues.
• Renders support and facilitate sessions for end-users, including training
• Provides direct support and coaching to all levels of managers and supervisors as they help their direct reports through transition.
• Carryout activities related to incident and problem management.
• Conduct root cause analysis and dispatch to scrum teams for resolution.
• Customer service review meetings with Brands
• Record business requirements and prioritise system changes with Brands.
• Provide business with a monthly review of services provided and status of planned changes and enhancements.
• Handles escalations from business and is the lead with regard to Problem Management.
• Attends and reviews management meetings with brands monthly
• Documents and agrees processes and procedures in place.

Project Management:

• Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets
• Escalating issues in a timely manner and suggesting improvements and proposing solutions.
• Tracking and recording the delivery of high-quality products on time while working closely with team members and following project methodologies
• Follow up with scrum teams to resolve production issue.
• Collaborate with various teams to prioritize.
• Communicate critical issues and potential solutions in a timely manner.

Education:

• An NQF level 6 Qualification
• Business and Systems analysis certification, CBAP/CCBA – Certified Business Analyst Professional

Experience:

• 2-5 years of experience in Business Analysis
• 1-3 years of experience in Teaching or Lecturing
• 1-3 years of experience in management at a team leader or above level