About

Profile

Born in the UK, I have lived in the Pacific North-West since 1997. Prior to moving ‘out west’ I spent 8 fabulous years in Ontario, Canada.

Education

My interest in computers began at a very young age, when I visited a government mainframe facility. I still remember wearing a plastic jacket, shoe covers, and a hairnet which were required in order to enter the room housing the equipment used to process data, and was fascinated by the lights, switchers and spinning tape reels on the mainframes. When Computer Studies was introduced at my school at age 14, I eagerly seized the chance to learn programming. I continued studying computer science through university, earning a BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science from Exeter University at age 21.

Software Engineer

After graduating, I taught mathematics and computing at a local secondary school, where I was also given the opportunity to play with the school’s Commodore PET computers in my spare time. After a year of teaching, I reached the first step toward my true career goal by becoming a software engineer for an aerospace company. Over the next five years, I developed software for artillery systems, tanks, helicopters, and anti-aircraft guns, before accepting a position as a systems analyst on the Airbus passenger aircraft program.

Commercial Systems Analyst

It was the late 90s and the height of the telecommunications boom. I transitioned from aerospace, to working for a small telecommunications company just outside Seattle. After working for 2 startup telecommunication companies (both of which folded), I was offered a position with Nike, as a business analyst. In this role I discovered that a business analyst performs similar roles to a systems analyst, but as a business analyst I am expected to spent the majority of my time collaborating with business experts. So in addition to learning the systems that execute the business, I am expected to understand the business that drives the requirements for the systems.

Business Analyst

From this point in my career, I shifted my expertise from system analysis, to include business analysis, and with my new found skills, I spent the majority of my time contracting for companies that needed my expertise. The benefit of contracting is that you get to use the skills that you are best at, for the time that they are needed, and then you move on.

Agile Analyst

Most recently, I am still consulting, and I get great satisfaction from passing on my expertise. I have brought my skills to retail, health care, web design, law enforcement and mobile app projects, to name a few. Recently I have adopted a more agile approach to business and systems analysis, based on best practices of the Scrum methodology. My agile experience is documented in my book “A Business Analyst’s Experience With Agile”, which was published in 2019.

Summary

Previously, I published a book titled “Analysis Through Pictures”. This book details the knowledge, skills, methods and best practices that I used as a systems analyst, up to 2011. It shows how the Rational Unified Process can be used effectively, to produce quality software systems. I have been actively involved with the International Institute of Business Analysis. I joined the IIBA after they asked me to give a presentation about traceability. Since then I have presented an analysis model of the Business Analysis Body Of Knowledge, and published several analysis presentations to various business analysis organizations. My website is intended to share my analysis knowledge skills and presentations with anyone who is interested in learning about the role of a business analyst.