Business Analysis – Science of Deductions, Analysis and Reasoning

Famous quote from the Sherlock Holmes series - ‘Think! It's the new sexy' instigate viewers to just not see and do the guessing but start observing and thinking. To a great mind, nothing is little. It is when one starts thinking that the raw data or not so important data gets converted into meaningful information. Business Analysis is an art of logic, deductive and scientific reasoning. In Sherlock Holmes business i.e. crime investigation, a crime has been committed which needs to be solved and in business analysis there is a problem that needs to be solved but the approach towards solving the issue is “Analytic Reasoning”.

Sherlock Holmes’ character would have never been so famous if viewers could think like him. Common man gets surprised by his keen observational skills and his logical deductions ability to draw inferences based on probabilities. It is not easy for everyone to think like Sherlock likewise it is not easy for people running the business to think like a Business Analyst. They do not have the expertise to research, investigate and determine the best way to solve the problem hence need a problem solver in the face of a business analyst.

Below are few of the Sherlock Holmes’ quotes which inspires Business Analyst to think

“My name is Sherlock Holmes.  It is my business to know what other people don't know” - The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle

• In Business Analysis domain, it is the job of business analyst to investigate about real business problems and then based on his analytical ability provide effective solutions which other people can’t do.

“You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear.” - A Scandal in Bohemia

“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes” - The Hound of the Baskervilles

• Observe the small facts upon which large inferences may depend. Business Analyst should pay careful attention to minute details, observe the work flow of the entire business / system. Keen observations and analytical thinking is what is takes to become a successful business analyst.

"Data! Data! Data!" he cried impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay - The Adventure of the Copper Beeches

• If a business does not have a good quality data then it will inevitably speculate and guess hence no logical deductions or inferences can be drawn hence it is very important as a business analyst to gather relevant facts and information for an effective analysis to solve any problem.

“Having gathered these facts, Watson, I smoked several pipes over them, trying to separate those which were crucial from others which were merely incidental.” - The Crooked Man

“It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” - The Beryl Coronet

• With too much irrelevant information at hand it can be very time consuming and confusing to draw any useful inferences. As a business analyst one should collect what may appear to be unrelated facts, perceptions, opinions, his own and others’ observations and inferences about the problem but then use of simple elimination methods to discard irrelevant information and use his own knowledge to determine the real problem.

“You know my methods. Apply them.” - The Crooked Man

“What one man can invent another can discover.” - The Adventure of the Dancing Man

• There are many known techniques available in the market which can be used for business analysis for e.g. Six Hat Technique, 5 Why’s Technique, SCRS (Strategy, Current State, Requirements and Requirements) Technique etc. Hence no need to reinvent the wheel and use technique convenient techniques available in the market.

“It is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence. It biases the judgment.” – A Study in Scarlet

• Insensibly, one begins to twist the facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. It biases the judgment.

“Nothing clears up a case so much as stating it to another person” - Silver Blaze

• Discussing requirements and business flow with stakeholders and colleagues will help in understanding the real problem. Inputs from other people will help in better analysis.

“The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning.” - The Sign of Four

• Business Analyst should not be an emotional thinker while doing the analysis since that can influence his reasoning process. Analytic Reasoning should be entirely based only on factual information in hand.

“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.” - The Bascombe Valley Mystery

• Obvious fact are observed and known to everyone. It also distracts average mind to not think out the box and deceptively leads one to an inference not based on all the facts and possibilities. 

“I never guess. It is a shocking habit - destructive to the logical faculty.”  - The Sign of Four

• If you get all the facts, your judgment may be right; if you don't get all the facts, it might be a guess which can be incorrect. Also, while guessing all the possibilities cannot be eliminated hence what remains is not true.

If a business analyst has to match quick wit and sharp observational skills of Sherlock Holmes to identify and solve the problems effectively then the person has to improve power of observation, learn how to deduce facts on logical reasoning, listen better, never underestimate facts and be open to possibilities. Rationalize thinking and getting into the nitty – gritty of the facts is important in analyzing and sorting through the complex jigsaw data pieces.

About Author:

Nikhil Vaishnav is a consultant in Systems Plus Pvt. Ltd. Within Systems Plus, he actively contributes to the areas of Technology and Information Security. He can be contacted at nikhil.v@spluspl.com