Business Analysis Maturity Model

What kind of organizations can gain the most value from the BAMM?

The need for the BAMM and a business specification–centric approach is most acutely recognized in organizations that deliver complex products and services to the marketplace through highly automated processes that require information technology support. These types of organizations often participate in highly competitive marketplaces that require increased innovation and agility to differentiate themselves among their competitors.

 

What is the primary purpose of the BAMM?

The BAMM presents an objective lens for measuring how people and an organization progresses their business specification competency through mastery of techniques and increased acquisition of knowledge.

 

What are the benefits of the BAMM?

The Business Analysis Maturity Model provides a basis for organizations to examine themselves and evaluate their current situation against a well-understood progression. The BAMM delivers several benefits:

• Organizations can use it as a basis for assessing the maturity of their business analysis capability.


• Organizations can use it as a guidebook for planning how they might go about improving their business analysis capability.


• The BAMM can be used as a way of initiating dialogue about the role of the Business Analyst within an organization and possible organizational efforts that might be required to support increasing the sophistication of the organization’s business analysis capabilities.

 

How can an organization graduate to higher levels of Business Analysis Maturity Model?

There is no silver bullet that will help move an organization from one level to the next. Generally speaking, progression includes incremental adoption of the business specification–centric approach that increases the maturity of an organization and its ability to effectively create and manage business specifications. At each level, there are suggested strategies and tactics organizations can adopt, but a tailored approach is what is usually most effective.

 

Is the BAMM an IT-centric or business-centric model?

The BAMM is technically agnostic (meaning it does not depend on any set of tools, platforms or methodologies, including SDLCs). It is a business–focused maturity model.

What other aspects should organizations consider when adopting the BAMM as a road map?

The BAMM alone isn’t sufficient for organizations to realize increased proficiency and competency, as well as business agility and cost savings, to name two. Much of the effort involved in moving upward through the model requires increasing the skill levels of individuals within an organization. Skill development is best accomplished with a combination of training and mentoring. Training helps establish a common set of base knowledge. Mentoring helps build mastery of the skills for key individuals that can evolve into a core set of leaders within the organization. The combination of a vision based upon the BAMM along with an appropriate program of training and mentoring are the essential ingredients in helping an organization capture the organizational agility and cost benefits that lie within Levels 4 and 5 of the maturity model.