In product design and development organizations
We previously discussed the Peak Performance Framework for Business Alignment. One of the key roles in the model is that of a Business Analyst.
Today, we illustrate the role and its relationship to others graphically. We assert that the role of a business analyst is to produce clear, well-articulated use cases.
A classic example of good use case comes from the automotive industry:
Citroen is a French car company, and in the late 30’s. its managing director wanted to build a car to meet certain strategic objectives. He gave his design team some specific use cases for the desired car!
Use case 1: The car must be able to cross a freshly ploughed field with a basket full of eggs on the passenger’s seat without breaking them
Use case 2: It must enable four people to transport 110 pounds of farm goods to market at 30 mph, and if necessary, across muddy, unpaved roads.
Use case 3: The car would have the fuel economy of 80-95 mpg.
Use case 4: A farmer must be able to sit in the car without removing his hat.
Use case 5: The farmer should be able to purchase the car with revenues from one season’s crop sale
In these use cases, no technical requirements for the mechanical design, shape, or the materials used was given. This is the role of the Requirements Analysts. Designers, and Engineers, as well as Finance and Marketing specialists.
