🙋‍♀️ Do I have to prepare a portfolio?

🙋‍♂️ What questions might I be asked?

Are you preparing for an interview as a Business Analyst (BA) or System Analyst (SA) with these questions in mind?

Stop worrying now because today we have 3 tips from “Gam Napokchat,” a Business Analyst, and “Tan Watcharaphan,” for you.

By applying these tips, your confidence will surely reach 100%!

1.) Explain yourself clearly

According to Gam, “You should explain yourself clearly even on your CV. Outline who you are, detail the projects you’ve undertaken, and highlight the results. It’s crucial that when a recruiter skims your CV, they can understand you immediately. This principle extends to the interview session too; when the interviewer asks you anything, respond with confidence.”

2.) Mention any useful skills

T​an used himself as an example here. Although certain skills might seem ordinary, if they could be useful for the role, don’t forget to mention them. “I’m quite skillful in English, and I also get along well with other people, which is a valuable skill for a System Analyst because you have to collaborate with multiple stakeholders.”

Furthermore, any transferable skills are worth noting. “Having worked as a Back-End Developer, I possess many skills that I can leverage as a System Analyst. For instance, my SQL skills, which I still utilize to this day.”

3.) No need to perfect the test, just ensure you explain your logic

Spoiler alert: during the recruitment process, you’ll likely be tasked with a test. Here’s a tip from Gam.

“The test question is open-ended, allowing you the freedom to think and analyze it in any way you see fit. That’s why the most crucial aspect is to articulate your own logic. For instance, why did you choose a particular solution when there are numerous possibilities? Moreover, if the interviewer asks you additional questions, such as how you would gather requirements from clients, you must be capable of providing a thoughtful response.”

Lastly, see more details on open positions here: BA&SA Jobs Good luck!

The post Always Know What To Say! 3 Tips for Job Interviews For Business Analysts & System Analysts At Bluebik appeared first on Bluebik.

🤔 What does a System Analyst need to know?

If you have this question in mind, you’ll find the answer in the story of “Nui Sararat,” Associate Director, System Analysis. Let’s learn how she transitioned from a Developer to a System Analyst and explore what a day in the life of a System Analyst looks like.

🌎 Acquire Business Knowledge and Practice Communication Skills

“To transition from a Developer to a System Analyst, I acquired more business knowledge, especially understanding clients’ industries and business terms. I explain the technical aspects to clients in a way that is easy to understand. I also sharpened my communication skills.”

❓ Ask the Right Questions to Kick Off the Process 

“One of the most essential communication skills is asking the right questions. I usually immerse myself in available information and compile a list of questions to ensure I understand what the clients need. These questions shouldn’t be overly technical. If any questions appear too complex or specific, I provide examples to ensure clarity and alignment with the clients.

👨‍💻 A Day in the Life of a System Analyst

“Each day is different, but typically, I start with a meeting with the project team. Some days, I also engage in meetings with clients, analyzing their requirements to design technical specifications. Before proceeding, I assess potential solutions to determine if infrastructure is involved. If it is, I collaborate with relevant teams, including Solution Architects, Back-End Developers, and Front-End Developers. It’s crucial to discuss details and exchange ideas before documenting the technical specifications.”

💙 Improve Yourself to Keep Up with the Challenges 

“System Analysts work with clients from various industries, and each client’s challenge is unique. The challenge lies in how we can design the system to meet their expectations. It demands a profound understanding of the client’s business, coupled with our technical knowledge and experience, to bridge the business gap for our clients.

“Personally, I strive to stay up-to-date with ever-evolving technology. The key is to understand the technology well enough to apply it correctly and fittingly. I regularly read technology blogs in English and enroll in courses, both online and offline. Additionally, I actively exchange ideas with fellow IT professionals to build on my understanding and skills.”

If anyone’s interested to become a System Analyst and work with Nui at Bluebik, see more details here: BA&SA Jobs and apply right away!

The post Diving Into the System Analyst Role With “Nui Sararat,” A Biz<>Tech Interpreter & Tech Whiz appeared first on Bluebik.

🙋‍♂️ All aspiring Business Analysts, raise your hands! 

Today, “Cream Nitikarn” is here to share her journey. How did she transform from a computer engineering student who didn’t like to sit in front of a computer all day to a Senior Business Analyst who acts as “the interpreter between the business and the technical worlds” and enjoys tackling challenges every day, let’s find out. 

💻 Less Computer Screens. More People.

“I studied computer engineering, and while my classmates enjoyed coding, I didn’t like it at all. I didn’t want to spend my days staring at a computer screen. I wanted to interact with people, but I still had an interest in working in the IT sector. So, I did some research and discovered the role of a business analyst.

“It’s crucial for a business analyst to have expertise in both the business and technical domains. In simple terms, a business analyst acts as the interpreter between the business and technical worlds. The job is challenging, as we have to devise solutions for clients’ requirements. Every day is unique, and I get to interact with people, which aligns well with my career needs.”

👨‍💻A Busy But Fun Day In the Life of a Business Analyst

“The scope of a business analyst’s work can be divided into two main phases. The first phase involves requirement gathering, during which we analyze the requirements and devise solutions that align with the client’s business needs. In this phase, we may collaborate with the technical team or conduct research. Then we present the solution to the client. 

“The second phase occurs after the client confirms the solution. During this phase, the business analyst creates reports for the client, such as the BRD (Business Requirement Document). Following this, we hand over the work to the technical team, which includes developers and the QA team. We must provide detailed explanations of the solutions to ensure their successful implementation. Throughout this period, we offer support to both the client team and the technical team, assisting with any questions and addressing issues as they arise.”

🤝 Who Do Business Analyst Work With?

“In these two phases, the business analyst works with many stakeholders from different teams, including:

🔹 Product Owner – Clients or users who communicate their pain points and needs.

🔹 Project Manager & Project Management Office – Project Managers oversee the overall scope of work and timelines, and the PMO supports the PM’s work, such as following up with vendors.

🔹 Business Analyst – We don’t work alone; our team of business analysts collaborates to analyze, review the work, and provide mutual consultation, allowing us to work in greater detail.

🔹 Solution Analyst – Once the solution is confirmed, we hand it over to the solution architect, who designs the technical solution. If anything is unfeasible, they inform us, and we may need to adjust the solution to make it technically viable.

🔹 UX UI Designer – They design the applications or websites according to the client’s needs.

🔹 Delivery Team – Front-end and back-end developers implement the solution, while quality assurance testers ensure that our finished product aligns with the requirements.”

💙 You Are Challenged, But Always Supported at Bluebik

“I have been working as a business analyst for 3 years. I like receiving the requirements and devising answers or solutions. The job is challenging, fun, and I learn something new every day.”

“Working as a business analyst at Bluebik is highly challenging, but I always receive support from my team. For instance, there was a technical aspect I wasn’t familiar with, and the developer team organized a knowledge-sharing session specifically for me to explain how it works. It’s the best working environment.”

Lastly, if anyone wants to become a business analyst and work alongside Cream at Bluebik, learn more details here BA&SA Jobs and apply right away!

The post Diving Into the Business Analyst Role With “Cream Nitikarn,” A People Person & Challenge Seeker appeared first on Bluebik.

Thailand is the biggest market of smartphones in ASEAN and thus its application market is growing in popularity. There is an endless variety of applications that business organizations and tech startups have actively developed for their gain. They hope applications will make them high-flying and popular in markets. This is the reason why there is fierce competition among applications to win users’ heart.

What is super-app?

Super-app is also known as everyday app. It is the application that gathers all services and has considerable features to serve users who will not have to leave for another application for services like bill payment, purchase and food orders. Supper-apps are developed for users to use them every day. Application developers are trying to upgrade their applications to super-apps.

An example of super-apps developed overseas is Alipay which is an application for convenient payment. Users can pay for products and services right when they scan QR codes. It is also connected to partners to create many other ecosystems including those for ride-hailing, investment and life insurance as well as movie, restaurant, air ticket and hotel reservations. Another example is WeChat which began as a chat application before having new features that let users do any transactions they want within a single app.

In Thailand, many companies are ready to develop super-apps. One of them is LINE which was introduced as a chat app and later launched many other services including LINE TV, LINE TODAY, LINE MAN and LINE PLAY. New services have been regularly added and all of them can be accessed via the LINE app.

3 merits of super-apps unavailable with general apps

An article in the EverydayMarket.co website lists benefits for super-app users as follows.

1. It is easier, faster and less risky to launch new digital products

Super-apps end concern about the number of newly downloaded apps because they are developed on existing apps. The risk of having no users is minimal. There is no need to start the accumulation of users’ data over again. Promotions can be announced with impressive messages at launches.

2. Ecosystems are stronger because parties want to participate in further improving super-apps

Open application programming interfaces (API) allow other parties to create new features of apps and app owners benefit from the partnerships free of charge.

3. The costs of financial transactions are reduced

Super-apps already have the data of users and do not need to undergo any complicated Know Your Customer (KYC) process like new apps. Therefore, super-apps can reduce the costs of some kinds of financial transactions such as those of lending apps because they can analyze the creditworthiness of loan applicants correctly in real time.

Any organizations interested in developing apps into super-apps for competitive edge can contact us at hello@bluebik.com and tel. 02-636-7011. We are ready to provide relevant services from the stage of planning to development and implementation.

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Good UX development leads users to get what they want on our business platforms. For example, for the customers who love online shopping, UX designers must establish the communication of what customers want (what they want to do), including information about products, and pave the way for what businesses want (what we want them to do), such as customers clicking a “buy now” button on a website.

Customer understanding is the key to the UX design that can help businesses achieve their goals. There are four basic steps that will enable your businesses to offer impressive experiences to customers.

1. Take action – pretend to be your customers

The easiest way for the design of user experience is to pretend to be customers and imagine what they want and what can prompt them to quickly make decisions.

2. Get emotion – create stories

In terms of marketing, customers can be easily convinced when there are emotions. Excitement, the feeling of luxury, peace, or sadness tells customers about the purposes of what they want. UX designers determine what customers will experience to create desired emotions. They use many elements such as colors, corporate identities (CI), sounds and pictures to successfully communicate the stories of businesses to customers.

3. Start sketching – draw on paper

It is funny that digital work needs paper. However, it is undeniable that the first draft on paper is the easiest to plan and fastest to change. A draft on paper shows an overview. Before starting development, draw an UX flow or use Post-its on a board to facilitate teamwork.

4. Test early – be always ready for changes

Customers’ behaviors always change and so does UX. Many organizations use A/B testing. By this means, different experiences are offered to one group of customers to see how their behaviors change and which UX better satisfies customers. The organizations that are concerned about costs can conduct simple A/B testing with their own teams or staff.

source: Think with Google

• Facebook Page: Bluebik Group
• LinkedIn: Bluebik Group
• Telephone : +66 (0) 2 636 7011
• Mail : hello@bluebik.com

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The popularity of the agile methodology leads to the question as to whether organizations with the waterfall methodology of a linear approach to work should shift completely to agile.

When organizations must decide whether they should apply agile or waterfall for their project management, most organizations do not base their decisions on the characteristics of projects. Their project management is influenced by their organizational culture, guidelines from executives and the expertise and preference of their staff. In other words, organizations have a single approach to project management.

Bluebik, as a leading consultancy, has advised large business organizations on strategies and management driven by innovation and technology and on highly complicated strategic project management. It found that organizations can combine agile and waterfall methodologies and apply them to their mindsets, operations and tools to produce good outcomes and effectively serve their organizations.

How to develop the “Agile Waterfall” methodology 

 In sum, “Agile Waterfall” is the project management approach based on the combined strengths of both agile and waterfall methodologies to achieve maximum efficiency in project management and perfectly suit the structures of organizations.

“Agile” defines not only the principle or model of project implementation but also the mindset of organizations. This means that organizations with the waterfall methodology can also apply the agile methodology to their operations in many situations including the following.

• Organizations want to increase collaboration between teams of staff and customers or other parties via the communications that everyone notices (transparency).
• Organizations want to regularly improve the efficiency of internal operations (continuous improvement) which should be flexible and adaptable to situations.
• Organizations want the sustainable development of staff teams who should produce outcomes regularly and do not create a burden (technical debt) that will be a price to pay in the future.

There are many ways to combine agile and waterfall methodologies. The “Agile Waterfall” model in this article is only a way. It begins with drawing up the whole picture of a project in the waterfall style. Normally it consists of five phases namely initiating, planning, executing, monitoring & controlling and closing. The two phases of executing and monitoring & controlling will change to become agile.

Initiating 

In general, the phase of project initiation is rarely different from the waterfall methodology. What must be done are reasons behind a business project (business case), a summary that clearly gives project details (project charter) and the rough estimation of time and resources needed for a project which lets executives see the whole picture of investment and expected benefits.

Planning 

This phase combines the merits of agile and waterfall methodologies. It consists of two steps.

1. Gathering all needs of customers (requirement). This is the waterfall methodology but the difference is understanding about the real objectives and needs of customers and the needs should not change in the future. For example, a user cannot state on the first day that he needs a system for product searches and later wants to change it into an online vending platform.
2. Transforming all kinds of needs into a user story and include it in the product backlog which will also contain a change request if there is any.

Executing and Monitoring & Controlling 

The core of project management that comprises executing and monitoring & controlling is the easiest part to be agile because it concerns the internal processes which are the least affected by stakeholders. They include ceremonies and artefacts which concern developers rather than users. Examples of agile practices in these two phases include tasks being divided into sprints, the progress of which is reported to product owners to show further progress from previous sprints (incremental delivery). 

Closing 

This phase is the same as that of the waterfall methodology and consists of the complete delivery of all tasks, the transfer of knowledge, a report on lessons learned and celebration for project success. 

Naturally a new way of work faces challenges. Therefore, there are tips for the implementation of the Agile Waterfall methodology as follows. 

1. Champion team – The Agile Waterfall methodology can be first assigned to champion teams with proven records of success because quality teams help pave the way and overcome obstacles.
2. Pluck low-hanging fruit – The implementation can begin with the small and easy tasks that suit the Agile Waterfall methodology. The implementation of a new model is already difficult, so teams should not be overwhelmed with obstacles. 
3. Always inspect and adapt – “Agile” means endless learning and improvement (sprint retrospective). Likewise, the Agile Waterfall methodology requires constant observation and the improvement of processes to suit organizations and projects.
4. Celebrate small win – Celebrate every success of a project with its management team even if it is a tiny achievement to maintain morale among teammates and keep them united. 

4 factors behind the success of the Agile Waterfall methodology 

1. Mutual Trust – Customers and project management teams must have mutual trust. Teams must make sure that all requirements are shared and customers must believe that teams will do their best to develop systems despite the limitations of projects. 
2. Users Involvement – When the Agile Waterfall methodology is implemented, users must play more roles in design and development because task deliveries happen in the forms of sprints. Under the circumstance, there must be regular feedback to ensure that a project progresses in the right path. This is different from the waterfall methodology which mostly presents all requirements from the start (big requirement upfront) and sees feedback after a project is completed.
3. Team Collective Commitment – A common characteristic that agile and waterfall methodologies share is that everyone is the owner of a project management plan. The plan does not come from a project manager or a scrum manager and project implementation results from the collective decision of a team (self-organizing team).
4. Dedication – Under the agile methodology, a project management team must implement its project from the start until its conclusion. Executives should not withdraw a project management team from its project or give any parallel assignment, even a brief task, to the team, especially to the project manager, scrum master or key user. This is to prevent the delay that could result from pending parallel assignments for these people. 

In fact, apart from agile and waterfall methodologies, there are many more methodologies. If we understand the strengths and weaknesses of all methodologies and apply them together to suit situations, teams and companies will definitely benefit because the world of project management accepts overlap and does not require the selection of a single methodology and exclusion of all other approaches. The key is to choose methodologies and adjust them to suit the characteristics of projects, cultures and teams’ preference. The companies that have the teams which can adapt to the nature of projects certainly have their competitive edge over the organizations that have only one project management methodology.

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The latest novel coronavirus outbreak in Thailand is raising grave concern. Since the new wave started in late March, it has delayed the recovery of the Thai economy and small and large businesses have lost income opportunities. Without any adjustment to minimize negative impacts, businesses can be less competitive against rivals after the crisis. Therefore, organizations must take careful steps in their operations. They must know when they should take a break and plan the improvement of their systems as their business is facing high risks of suffering the impacts of the crisis. Then they can resume their investment with their greater potential when situations start to improve.

1. Assess Potential and Readiness

The first step that businesses should take for their survival is to quickly assess their potential and readiness in 3 areas to find out if they can survive the crisis that they are facing with their existing resources.

• Capital – Firstly, organizations must assess their cash runway or the length of time in which they can continue operating without revenue. They must also examine their monthly costs (burn rate) in both the best-case scenario and the worst-case one to set the cut-off at which they will adjust their business strategies which can be downsizing, finding additional funds etc.
• Technology – Organizations must immediately assess the potential of their existing technologies and then adopt new ones to create operational flexibility and cut operating costs. For example, organizations can use cloud computing or Software-as-a-Service to considerably cut costs in comparison with investment in on-premise software and hardware. Apart from saving costs, this also helps organizations avoid difficulties in the installation and maintenance of systems. Importantly it creates convenient working conditions because systems are connected to the internet and users can work anywhere and anytime.
• People – Organizations should evaluate the competency and skills of their personnel to ensure that their human resources can support the long-term growth of their business. Organizations should upskill and reskill their personnel who can then handle competition after the crisis. For example, personnel should have creative and innovative skills, analytical skills and adjustment skills and should be ready to learn new things. With the human resources development, personnel will increase not only their capabilities but also their attachment and loyalty to their organization.

2. Impacts to Extend the Life of Business

The reduction of operating costs to keep cash for as long as possible is a key solution for businesses to survive a crisis. Organizations will have more cash to better alleviate impacts. They should do this while looking for new sources of capital to cope with unexpected situations.

• Cost Resilience – Organizations must immediately cut unnecessary costs. It is important for organizations to change their fixed costs, which are mostly long-term costs and do not generate revenue, into the variable costs which will not happen unless there is revenue. By this means, organizations will have more chances to survive. For example, organizations can outsource specialists to supervise projects to reduce the employment of permanent staff. They can find business partners to cut operating costs at some stages of operations. Organizations can even apply cloud computing or Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) to cut technology-related costs.
• Sources of Financing – Businesses should look for new sources of financing or participate in the projects that financial institutions implement to cushion negative impacts including soft loans and small business loans. Also, businesses should consider their worst-case scenario to work out effective strategies to protect themselves.  

3. Adjust Business to Survive Crises

COVID-19 changes the behaviors of consumers and decreases purchasing power. Therefore, businesses must make adjustments to guarantee that customers will continue to choose their products and services. Businesses must use data science to identify the potential and major groups of customers. This can increase the chances of success for their business and marketing communications plans.

• Demand Alignment – In a crisis, customers change their spending behaviors, have weaker purchasing power and look for the products and services that are well worth their money. Therefore, businesses must adjust to retain their revenue opportunities. For example, product prices can be reduced to attract customers and prompt them to buy at once. Also, marketing campaigns can be organized to inform customers of the new products or services that better meet their demand.
• Data Analytics – Using big data, businesses can improve their strategies. They can analyze target groups and effectively plan marketing budgets especially for different groups. With data analytics, businesses can identify the target groups of customers with purchasing power, forecast their sales accurately and develop the products that truly meet the demand of customers.

4. Augment Operational Strengths

When a crisis improves and purchasing power starts to be restored, the businesses that have enough capital and operational potential should invest in technologies, necessary infrastructures and highly capable human resources to gain competitive advantage faster than rivals. Business organizations should also augment their strengths by looking for new sources of revenues. They can target new groups of customers and the groups that already have demand for the like of their products and services but are loyal to the brands of competitors. Businesses can present the ‘selling points’ that will win these groups of customers. The businesses that are not ready to invest in all the mentioned areas simultaneously may first invest in the area that will best boost their potential and then gradually expand their investment to the rest parts to strengthen their operations.

• Customer Extension – Apart from retaining an old customer base which is likely to be a permanent source of revenues, businesses also have to find new customers by presenting unique products, services and privileges through the marketing communications channels that are effective and reach target groups of customers directly such as personalized marketing and email marketing. Business organizations must increase their market shares by attracting new users and convincing the customers of competitors to buy their products and services instead.
• Reinvestment – Businesses with high potential should quickly invest in necessary infrastructures and technologies to increase advantages, value and competitiveness after a crisis. Businesses with rather limited potential may first invest in what can best enhance their efficiency. The good of investment at this moment is that its opportunity cost is lower than investment in a normal situation.
• Workforce Planning – Businesses should plan their reorganization by increasing quality personnel who will be ready to work with their highest efficiency and agility right after a situation improves. Therefore, organizations should plan to recruit high-quality personnel to do the tasks that suit them. This will be a main engine to create their sustainable growth. There should also be plans to expand the capabilities of employees in various fields.

A key to overcome crises is readiness to successfully adjust to changes. By this means, businesses will be able to solve challenges and feel a minimal impact. Besides, businesses should make use of or take opportunities from the New S-Curve for their promising future because in every crisis lies opportunity. If businesses are able to learn and find solutions, they will certainly see the opportunities that will be their way out amid a crisis.

For more information about Bluebik,

• Facebook Page: Bluebik Group
• LinkedIn: Bluebik Group
• Telephone : +66 (0) 2 636 7011
• Mail : hello@bluebik.com

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With the steady increase in access points for the obtaining of products and services, modern businesses have started adopting the Multi-Channel strategy that comes equipped with various “Touch points”, so as to offer more options for accessing such services with simplicity and ease. The user experience may differ from place to place because of various strategies that may be applied at each different outlet of the Multi-Channel System. The Omni-Channel system, on the other hand, is all about providing a uniform set of services at every outlet to ensure that the user experience is always consistent; and also to provide “effortless” transition from one channel to another. Take, for example, Starbucks Coffee – they allow the customers to order their beverages in advance through a phone application so that they can come and pick them up at a time that suits them, by just showing a copy of the receipt on their phone. This mixture of online and offline processes allows them to have an uninterrupted user experience, owing to the unification of all aspects of the service into one channel of access.

Table of comparison between Multi-channel and Omni-channel strategies

Why should businesses adopt the Omni-Channel strategy?

To become a leader in the world of stiff business competition, companies should start adopting the Omni-Channel approach so as to be able to meet the rising demands of the customers. This method allows the customers to effortlessly access the services they want, with each process along the way being congruent with one other. Once all the required practices are put in place, the business will enjoy an added number of users that will show Customer Loyalty, owing to the seamless experiences that they would have enjoyed during each process along the way. These combined positive experiences will then help to generate more goodwill for the company in the form of “Word of Mouth”. The business will also reduce their costs by being able to manage both online and offline systems at the same time. The collective information being shared between every functioning body will allow the business to tailor-make their services based on the prevalent user information; elevating the user experience to the highest degree of satisfaction – consequently pushing the company forward with an added competitive advantage.

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