Selecting the correct career is a crucial decision with far-reaching implications. It is a choice that will shape your future, underscoring the importance of making an informed decision.

Over the next few weeks, The African Reporter will engage with business people, professionals and other role players, focusing on a specific career every week.

By doing this, we aim to provide valuable guidance to our younger readers navigating their career choices. This week, we look at the business systems analyst (BSA) career.

Salome Mwaniki-Mamabolo has been a BSA for eight years and said she had always loved information technology (IT) and finance, but did not want to enter too deeply into either field individually.

“I was unaware of university degrees that combined both until I did some research and discovered programmes like a BSc in Informatics. Choosing this path was the best decision of my life. Now, I work across IT and business, and enjoy every bit of it,” she said.

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“What I love about my career is the chance to solve real problems and make a tangible difference. I love meeting exciting, like-minded people and working across the business and IT sides.

“The most rewarding part is seeing the work in action and knowing it positively impacts clients and the organisation.”

Mwaniki-Mamabolo advised aspiring BSAs to follow their interests and be open to trying new things.

“Exploring roles like business systems analysis, software development or IT support can help identify where your strengths lie.

“Learning does not only happen at traditional universities. Online platforms like YouTube, Udemy and others offer excellent opportunities to acquire new skills. Be curious, explore different options and discover what excites you,” she added.

What is business systems analysis?
A BSA, often referred to as a technical business analyst, serves as the bridge between business and IT. This role is typically more technical than that of a standard business analyst.

Why is it such a vital link between business and IT in organisations?
In today’s world, for a business to not just survive but truly thrive, embracing modern technology is essential. Technology is a powerful driver of success.

For example, having a website empowers businesses to connect with a vast audience, while automation streamlines operations and enhances efficiency by eliminating redundant tasks. Adopting these technological advancements is key to achieving outstanding results.

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What does a BSA do?
They help organisations improve how they work by connecting business needs with technological solutions. They talk to different teams to understand problems, analyse current systems and processes, and then design better ways of doing things, often involving new software or tools.

They write clear instructions for developers, help test new systems and support staff during changes. Their role combines problem-solving, communication and technical know-how to make businesses run more smoothly and efficiently.

How do you describe your role to someone outside of the IT or business world?
A BSA helps a company work better through the correct computer tools. They talk to people, find problems and help fix them with smart solutions. Their job is to make work easier and faster.

How does this role differ from that of a business analyst or a software developer, and where does it overlap with these fields?
A business analyst, BSA and software developer each play different roles in improving how a company works, but often overlap and collaborate. A business analyst focuses on understanding business needs and finding ways to improve processes. A software developer builds the tools and systems using code.

A BSA connects the two by translating business needs into technical requirements and helping design solutions that work well for both sides. While business analysts and developers focus more on either business or technology, the BSA works in between, ensuring the final product solves the right problem and is easy to use.

Which school subjects or learning areas best prepare learners for this career, and how do they connect to the work you do now?
Mathematics, business studies, accounting, and IT prepare learners for a BSA career by building analytical, business and technical skills. Computer Studies and Computer Applications Technology at high school are also helpful, but not essential.

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What undergraduate qualifications or academic backgrounds typically lead to your career?
You can become a BSA with degrees in information systems, computer science, business, finance or industrial engineering. Some people start with strong technical skills and then learn business and communication, while others begin with business knowledge and later pick up technical skills like structured query language and process mapping. What’s important is having a good balance of both.

Which universities or institutions do you recommend for those interested in pursuing this profession, and why?
In SA, we are fortunate to have excellent universities. I would advise exploring institutions like Stellenbosch University, the University of Cape Town, Wits, and the University of Johannesburg, which offer strong information systems programmes.

Other universities and colleges also provide quality courses in IT, accounting, business and engineering. Carefully research each programme to find the one that best fits your interests and career goals.

Walk us through a typical day for you as a BSA
The day usually starts with checking emails, replying to them and planning your day around scheduled meetings. Then, you attend the daily stand-up to update the team on what you worked on the previous day, what you plan to work on today and to mention any blockers that might prevent you from completing your tasks.

The rest of the day might involve attending meetings to gather and document requirements or working on configurations and making code changes. The specific tasks can vary depending on what is planned for the iteration and could differ from company to company.

What kinds of complex business problems are you asked to solve, and how do you approach them?
BSAs are often tasked with solving complex problems that impact a company’s operations, particularly when technology is involved. These problems can include slow or outdated processes or systems that don’t meet business needs. To tackle these issues, the analyst begins by speaking with people across the company to gain a comprehensive understanding of the problem.

They then study how things currently work, find areas for improvement and design solutions, often involving new software or better workflows. They work closely with business teams and technical experts to ensure the solution is practical, efficient and meets everyone’s needs. Their goal is to make work smoother, faster and more effective.

Which key skills, technical and soft, are most important for success in this field, and why?

Technical skills:
• Requirements analysis and documentation: Ability to gather, validate and translate business needs into clear system requirements to ensure developers build the right solution and that stakeholders’ needs are correctly captured;

• Systems and process modelling: Skills in business process modelling and notation, the Unified Modelling Language, flowcharts, wireframes, and process maps to help visualise how systems and processes interact, making it easier for all parties to understand;

• Data analysis and structured query language (SQL): ability to query databases, work with Excel/Power BI and understand data models to enable validation of data requirements, troubleshooting and ensure integrity between systems;

• Software development life cycle knowledge. You need to be familiar with Agile, Waterfall and hybrid methodologies to work effectively with development teams and adapt to project contexts;

• Technical tools experience with Jira, Confluence, Visio, Figma or similar. These tools are standard for managing requirements, collaboration and visualisation.

Soft skills:
• Communication: A clear verbal and written communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders. Miscommunication is one of the biggest risks in projects. Being a bridge is central to your role;

• Problem-solving and critical thinking: Ability to break down complex issues, identify root causes and propose solutions. As a systems business analyst, you’re often the first point of analysis when something goes wrong;

• Stakeholder management and collaboration: Building trust and managing expectations across departments (business users, developers, testers, vendors);

• Adaptability and learning agility: Comfort with shifting priorities, new systems and evolving technologies. Flexibility is key because business and tech requirements change quickly;

• Attention to detail.

What tools, methods or techniques do BSAs most rely on, and how do they shape your work?
BSAs use tools such as Jira, Confluence, Visio, Excel and SQL to capture requirements, map processes and analyse data. They apply methods, such as Agile, Scrum or Waterfall, to structure projects and use techniques like user stories, use cases, wireframes, and process flows to explain solutions clearly. These help them bridge both business and technical teams, reduce miscommunication and ensure solutions meet real business needs.

What aspects of the role do you find most exciting or rewarding, especially when you see your work make a difference?
What excites me most about being a BSA is the opportunity to turn complex business needs into clear, practical solutions. I enjoy working with business and technical teams to ensure everything is aligned. However, the most rewarding part is when I see the work in production and the impact it has on our clients, knowing my contribution truly made a difference.

What are the biggest challenges BSAs face, and how do you overcome them?
Their main challenges are balancing stakeholder needs, handling changing requirements and simplifying technical details. Clear communication, good documentation, and regular feedback help overcome these and keep everyone aligned.

What career opportunities open up for BSAs locally and globally once they gain experience?
A great thing about IT jobs today is that, if you are lucky, you can work from anywhere. Since Covid, remote work has become popular, allowing people to work locally or globally. Many of these jobs are just a click away.

Where does one find employment in this sector?
BSAs can work in banks, insurance companies, IT companies, hospitals, government and big businesses. Any company using technology to aid work might hire a BSA to improve systems and ensure they meet business needs.