Watermark Learning
Agile Isn't Enough Part 3

Why Agile Isn’t Enough, Part 3: Lean Startup Measure Phase and BA Techniques that Enhance it

In previous parts of this article, we covered an overview of Lean Startups and its Build-Measure-Learn (BML) methodology. We also detailed the Build portion of the cycle, including the Minimum Viable Product and its importance to the Lean Startup approach. To summarize Lean Startup, the method was created by Eric Ries and detailed in his …

Lessons Learned from Bhutan and Nepal

Lessons Learned From Bhutan And Nepal: Part 1 – Product Thoughts

The two of us recently completed a fun trip with a small group to Bhutan after visiting Nepal on our own. The country is amazing and everything we had hoped for. Bhutan is a mainly Buddhist country and their philosophy and approach to life permeated so much of our trip. It gave us the inspiration to …

Business Analysis Advisor

Tyrion the Trusted Advisor: What Game of Thrones Teaches Us about Influencing Without Authority

I have always loved the Game of Thrones TV series. What has fascinated me the most is the treatment of the Trusted Advisor, beautifully portrayed by Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister. Tyrion embodies important ingredients of a trusted advisor who influences decision-makers, as we’ll see below (WARNING: some plot spoilers ahead). To influence without authority, …

Agile Isn't Enough Part 2

Why Agile Isn’t Enough, Part 2: Lean Startup Build Phase and BA Techniques that Enhance it

In part 1 of this article, we covered an overview of Lean Startups and its Build-Measure-Learn (B-M-L) methodology. To recap, in the B-M-L cycle we build a product increment, measure how it is adopted and used, and learn from the measures about what worked and didn’t and use it for the next cycle. In this …

7 Habits of Highly Effective Thinkers

We all think, every minute of every waking hour. Thinking is an internal mental process that takes the data and information received through our senses and combines the new information into our existing store of learned information. This activity can lead to either the formation of new knowledge, modified knowledge, or be disregarded as irrelevant. …

can the same person function as both project manager and business analyst

Can the Same Person Function as a PM and BA on the Same Project or Agile Effort?

Ten years ago, I wrote an article entitled, Can the Same Person Function as a PM and BA on the Same Project? I wrote that we need to distinguish whether the same person “could” (sure they could, but with sometimes questionable results) and whether they “should.” I explained that it made complete sense to have one …

Agile Isn't Enough Part 1

Why Agile Isn’t Enough, Part 1: How Lean Startups Fulfill the Promise of Agile

Let me ask you a dumb question: Does your organization produce or provide products or services that customers use? Of course. But maybe a better question would be: how many of you would like to produce them faster or with more innovation? If you produce new products or services, you potentially could use a Lean …

Lessons Learned from an Accidental Product Owner

A key role in Scrum, the most common form of Agile development, is the Product Owner (PO) role. Some experts say it is the most challenging role. Besides the PO, the only other defined roles in Scrum are the Scrum Master and Team. The latter two are what we might call the “engines” of Scrum …

The Digital BA Series

The Digital BA Series: 5 Killer Question Types for Digital Transformation

A recent article concluded that for an organization to get the desired results from their digital initiatives, such as data analytics, predictive analytics, machine learning, AI, etc., data scientists have to ask the right questions.[i] The article was written as a guide for data scientists to help them ask questions to get at the business …

The Digital BA Series

The Digital BA Series: Translators Needed in the Digital Age

I was recently talking to a lawyer about some future planning. As he was explaining the complexities of the law, I realized that I had not understood one word he said. Not only did he speak quickly, but he used language specific to his profession. I knew immediately that I was totally lost. At the …