The Future of Business Analyst in Gen AI Era

Discover how GenAI is transforming business analysis with insights from Fabricio Laguna, “The Brazilian BA,” in an interview on The Business Analyst Pandit.

In an exclusive interview with The Business Analyst Pandit, Fabricio Laguna explores the transformative role of business analysts in the Gen AI era. This enlightening discussion sheds light on emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges in business analysis, particularly as artificial intelligence reshapes the industry.

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A Journey from Developer to Business Analyst

Fabricio’s career began in software development, where he quickly realized the importance of understanding customer needs. Running his own company further underscored this need, driving him to develop business acumen through an MBA program. This combination of technical and business skills set the foundation for his success in business analysis.

Business Analysis in Agile Frameworks

When discussing the role of business analysts in Scrum environments, Fabricio clarified that Scrum is a framework, not a method, and does not explicitly define a business analyst role. However, the practices of business analysis—value definition, prioritization, and collaboration—are integral to Scrum’s success. “The job title may be irrelevant,” he remarked, “but the practice is essential.”

The Role of GenAI in Business Analysis

Fabricio noted that GenAI tools are already part of our workflows, boosting productivity, creativity, and holistic thinking. However, he emphasized that AI-generated content should be treated as an input, not an output. Business analysts must critically evaluate AI suggestions, ensuring they are aligned with stakeholder needs.

Drivers and Challenges in the BA Practice

Fabricio outlined the dual drivers and challenges shaping the field:

  • Drivers:
  • Challenges:
    • Expanding the reach of business analysis beyond certified professionals to the wider community.
    • Clarifying the multifaceted nature of business analysis as a role, profession, discipline, process, and service.

GenAI and Requirements Gathering

Business analysts, as natural “prompt engineers,” can use GenAI tools to enhance requirements gathering. Fabricio advised using these tools for iterative brainstorming, engaging AI in a conversational process to refine ideas. However, he stressed that these tools should augment, not replace, the analyst’s role.

Future Trends: GenAI in Business Analysis

Fabricio envisioned specialized AI tools that:

  • Monitor transactional data to derive actionable insights.
  • Manage knowledge bases dynamically, enabling real-time adjustments to business rules.
  • Empower analysts to deliver true business agility by enhancing decision-making processes.

Skills for the GenAI Era

While GenAI does not demand entirely new skills, Fabricio identified areas where proficiency will become more crucial:

  • Deeper Business Knowledge: Understanding industry-specific needs.
  • Critical Thinking: Evaluating AI outputs rigorously.
  • Hypothesis and Scenario Testing: Exploring “what-if” scenarios effectively.
  • Leadership in Collaboration: Guiding stakeholders to productive outcomes.

Mitigating Over-Reliance on AI

Fabricio highlighted the risks of over-relying on GenAI, including biases, hallucinations, outdated data, and privacy concerns. To address these risks, organizations must establish governance structures that define:

  • What decisions AI can make.
  • Who monitors and approves AI outputs.
  • Who is accountable for AI-driven decisions.

The Enduring Human Element

“AI is not a stakeholder,” Fabricio reminded us. “AI has no needs; people do.” By maintaining a focus on stakeholder needs, business analysts ensure that the human element remains central, even in a technology-driven environment.

Career Paths for Business Analysts

Fabricio encouraged analysts to broaden their aspirations. While there is no singular path, business analysts can evolve into leadership roles, with the CEO being the ultimate business analyst of an organization.

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