Business Analyst Training at S3Corp. – January 2019

From January 7, 2019, S3Corp. conducted an internal Business Analyst Training course at the Golden Pig Room located at the company’s headquarter in Ho Chi Minh City. This training was designed to provide team members with a structured understanding of how a Business Analyst works in a software outsourcing environment. The sessions focused on tools, methods, and real-life applications that match the needs of clients and development teams.

The course was delivered over six focused sessions. Each session was developed with clear time allocation, relevant tools, and practical insights from real project experiences. The objective was simple: to help team members become professional Business Analysts working within software development teams.

Session 1: Introduction to Business Analyst and Key Activities

The first session, lasting 1.5 hours, introduced the role of a Business Analyst within software outsourcing. The focus was on explaining what a Business Analyst does, how they support teams, and where they fit in the software development life cycle. This session also explained the general tasks and documentation handled by Business Analysts, such as requirement gathering, stakeholder communication, and requirement validation. The instructor clarified how a Business Analyst is a bridge between clients and the development team. Emphasis was placed on the responsibility to ensure that software products meet client needs with clarity and accuracy.

Participants learned how Business Analysts work to reduce misunderstandings between stakeholders and developers. This session set the foundation for the rest of the course, as it provided a full view of expectations and daily tasks handled in a BA role.

Session 2: Working Within a Scrum Team

The second session, one hour in duration, explored how a Business Analyst functions within an agile environment, particularly in a Scrum team. This part covered how a Business Analyst supports the Product Owner, helps refine the product backlog, and ensures user stories are clear and detailed for developers. The course explained typical Scrum ceremonies where the BA role is involved, such as sprint planning and sprint review.

Special attention was given to communication. The instructor explained that effective collaboration with developers, testers, and stakeholders is key to a smooth workflow. The role of a Business Analyst in translating business needs into user stories and acceptance criteria was discussed in practical detail.

Session 3: Business Analyst Tools – Part 1

This third session, running for one hour, introduced specific tools used in Business Analyst work. The training focused on Balsamiq and Draw.io. Balsamiq was used to create low-fidelity wireframes to help teams visualize user interfaces early in the process. The instructor guided participants through practical examples of designing wireframes for sample applications. The benefits of wireframing in validating ideas with stakeholders before development were clearly outlined.

Draw.io was introduced for creating diagrams such as flowcharts and use case diagrams. Participants practiced drawing workflows and mapping business logic to better understand processes. This hands-on section allowed the team to become more confident in visual communication through diagrams, which is a critical skill for documenting requirements.

Session 4: Business Analyst Tools – Part 2

The fourth session was 30 minutes long and continued the tool-based training. This time, the tools included Marvel App, Postman, Freemind, and Google Suite. Marvel App was demonstrated for creating interactive prototypes. Postman was used to show how Business Analysts can test API endpoints and understand request-response data, which is essential when working closely with developers during API integration.

Freemind was introduced for mind mapping. This tool helps organize thoughts, gather information from brainstorming sessions, and structure product requirements. Google Suite tools such as Google Docs and Google Sheets were covered briefly, focusing on their use in documentation, collaboration, and real-time sharing of project information.

Session 5: UI/UX Experience

This session, lasting 45 minutes, focused on understanding the user interface and user experience. The goal was to help Business Analysts think from the user’s perspective. The instructor explained basic design principles such as consistency, usability, and layout hierarchy. Participants reviewed examples of good and poor UI/UX designs to identify what makes interfaces intuitive or confusing.

This part of the training helped bridge the communication between Business Analysts and UI/UX designers. A Business Analyst must understand enough about design to explain user needs and ensure that proposed features deliver value without confusing the end user.

Session 6: Database and API Knowledge

The sixth and final session lasted one hour. It introduced basic concepts of database structures and API communication. Participants learned what a relational database is, how tables are structured, and how Business Analysts can read entity-relationship diagrams. The training covered basic SQL queries to retrieve sample data, helping Business Analysts verify business logic and assist in testing.

In the API section, the instructor explained how APIs connect different parts of a software system. Participants used Postman again to observe how requests and responses work. Understanding API behavior is necessary for Business Analysts when defining data flows or writing integration requirements.

Practical Training and Real Project Insights

Throughout the course, Mr. Duc Le shared real experiences based on his role as a Business Analyst in past outsourcing projects. This helped the team understand not just the theory but how to apply it in active projects. He presented common challenges Business Analysts face, including unclear client requests, changing requirements, and aligning expectations between teams.

Mr. Duc also explained how Business Analysts often help teams stay focused by confirming project goals, ensuring test cases align with business rules, and reviewing results during UAT (User Acceptance Testing). These insights gave participants a view of daily workflows and decision-making points they will likely face.

Conclusion

By the end of the training, participants had a full understanding of how Business Analysts support software outsourcing projects from start to finish. They worked with popular tools, practiced communication skills within an agile context, and learned how to approach requirements, UI/UX, and API documentation. The training also highlighted the need for continuous learning and communication, two essential qualities of a successful Business Analyst.

S3Corp. appreciates the time and effort Mr. Duc Le invested in this training. His detailed and practical instruction helped equip participants with knowledge they can use in future projects.

S3Corp. continues to invest in skill-building activities that prepare team members to meet project requirements with clarity, structure, and precision. This Business Analyst Training is an example of how internal training can contribute to team growth and service quality.