Well that seems to be the general feeling I get discussing this topic with marketing, communications, pr, and leadership in those groups. So I am going to present why this role is highly suited for being part of the social team. The core skills and specialties of this role make integrating social strategies, processes, and technologies for problem solving and innovation essential to be apart of these newly forming teams. The following are my reasons to challenge the blasphemy or heresy perspective and rhetoric!

A Business Analyst………

1. Looks at problems and assesses viable solutions using people, process & technology

Yes the Business Analyst realizes there is no silver bullet. You need all three aspects of people, process, and technology to problem solve or innovate. The Business Analyst is aware the solutions will work these things as an ecosystem. The Business Analyst will ask the right questions, document the information gathered, analyze that information and have the ability to put that information into readable content for business and technology disciplines to understand. Business Analysts helps the social media project teams co-create these solutions in a rapid fashion because we understand how and what the ecosystem needs for execution. One of the biggest soft skills we use is curiosity to discover information. With every problem or potential idea to innovation we turn into a 5 year old kid discovery their world around them…..we all know a 5 year old right?

2. Diggs for information to get solutions

Business Analysts are tenacious to find, illicit, document, and fix information for a solid solution for a problem or innovation. We are good at asking questions for clarification, we will admit when we don’t understand or don’t know, but with that admission we will educate, find, and ask again if need be. This is all done from a place of curiosity, wanting the people, project, and organization to succeed. We explore the possibilities of where it could be or what it could be. All along the way we keep documenting with content to ensure we have words, pictures, and prototypes to make better fact based decisions. Well on occasion a little leap of faith based on experience is needed to be worked in also. The question why comes up a lot, but in a curious manner. That is the best way to spot a good business analyst! How do they ask the question Why?

3. Documents for review, clarity, and decision making

Documentation, Documentation, Documentation……yes I know what you are thinking. Good Business Analysts make this documentation flexible, dynamic, and not set in stone. Every hour on a project or a team the information you need to make good decisions changes. Now with social we see this information changing every minute. You need a role that can absorb information and categorize and reproduce in a rapid fashion. Now think about all the disciplines operating on a social media team: interactive designers, creatives, lawyers, HR, marketing, advertising, technical architect, infrastructure architect, testers, project managers, customers, call center reps, PR, Communications, etc etc. Yes I take the approach the social media\social business team internal and external are one team (future post on social business, enterprise2.0, and social media is much larger and more dynamic than what I have seen at any company today). Think about all the information that is being created that needs to be curated and reproduced for decision making and impact analysis.

4. Presents information for diverse audiences

Business Analysts are smack dab right in the middle of the ecosystem. Being that we have functioned within the Business culture and Technology cultures we have to take all the information above and synthesize this information for non-business people understand businesses and non-techie people understand the worlds of technology. With this skill set comes the ability to fashion a presentation around 1 screen or one process model or one requirements traceability diagram. Oh there is that word Requirements. Those silly little information snippets that cause most projects headaches and heartburn, if not gathered, managed, and traced to other forms of requirements to ensure connectability and workability of the solution or innovation. All your business, test, project, and technical information should plug into the requirements traceability hierarchy…..another blog post hey? Oh and the presentation does not mean powerpoint, most good Business Analysts want to present diagrams or working prototypes based on the requirement statements.

5. Talk business and tech languages and dialects

Yes we speak that foreign language called “techie”, but we do speak a special dialect of “techie” called “biz techie”. Yes that is right we understand how technology makes businesses work and how businesses make technology work. I do believe this is probably most crucial part of being apart of the social media team. Majority of the execution of the social media\business plan and strategy will be done through technologies or technologies will be apart of most of the activities. Business Analysts can quickly and effectively put together the tools and processes necessary for social media execution and operationalization for long term success.

So there you have it the blasphemic reasons why you need to really start looking at this role, skill, and people with the Business Analyst title to be apart of your social media\business team. Now a word of warning some folks are walking around with just the t-shirt that says they are a Business Analyst. It is a little like me wearing a professional baseball teams uniform and calling myself a professional baseball player.

So what do you think sound advice or blasphemy? Need to hire or heresy? Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

So I have been reading a lot of articles about people expressing discontent for their direct manager, supervisor, boss or boss’ boss across the social landscape. These articles also chronicle the backlash that ensues from the companies towards these people. I see both sides of this argument! The question I have is post a reflection of the person that says it or the person they are directing the post at?

I am not going to be wishy-washy on my perspective. I read and feel this is a reflection on the “manger” being called an “Idiot”. Yes I do take into account that 10% of the workforce does take up 90% of time with no real value (another post). So that means 90% of the employees are trying to make progress, add value, and truly execute at their highest potential for their company.

For me it is my simple logic good, great, or inspirational leaders or managers (there is a difference) don’t get publicly scrutinized they are held up and interviewed or asked to do speaking engagements. When you are producing good workers, good working environment, and inspiring people you typically are not being a called an idiot in public (exception all people have their trolls).

Which brings me to my question: “Which is worse for the company the one person that calls his or her boss an “idiot” or the boss that could be managing 25 or more people in said company?”

Potentially you have a manager or leader with 25 people not executing to their fullest potential, 25 people lacking inspiration to do good work, and or 25 people not delivering to full capacity for their return on salary. This is “manager” is costing the company way more money than someone posting “My boss is an idiot” on a social platform. Not to mention it is quite expense to fire someone these days.

So how did you answer that question? If you answered the guy or gal that posted it…..ummm you can stop reading at this point or you can read further and accept a challenge. Your choice.

So next time if you are the person monitoring their employees and brand across the social platforms, you may want to come back behind the firewall and investigate the one being called the “idiot”. Really dig into what negative return on investment this manager or leader is providing towards your company. If you take it a step further, you may find your next inspirational leader or manager from the person that posted it (in most cases it takes a lot of courage and bravery to take this step). The other benefit of the investigation (with all like police dramas right?):

1. Finding better ways to engage your employees.
2. Discovering employees may not be in right seat on the bus (this is ok internal talent movements are cheaper)
3. Finding new challenges for both individuals that benefit them as well as the company.

These are all great opportunities to bring engagement and relationship building inside your company to a whole new level. This public information is a chance to engage in different ways than we have done so in the past. Seize the opportunity and move the needle for your company. We will really start to move closer to full employee engagement within your companies. If companies stop chalking everything up to disgruntled employees get rid of them, there are some real opportunities on both sides to learn and grow together. This is definitely not the easiest or smoothest of paths, but the payoff could potentially be huge for the employee and the company.

I would really like people to weigh in on this one! I want to know if I am way off. If I am TELL ME! I like learning through discussion!

Comment Lines are open and ready to assist you! Oh and it is free!

As you can tell by the title Yes I am in fact a Gen X’er. Born in 1973, smack dab in the middle of the Gen X’er category. So I have been a little miffed by all the recent articles about the Baby Boomers leaving, oh no the Baby Boomers are leaving the next generation (GenX) is smaller in population….”Oh whoa is us, What are we going to do!”  Oh I know lets go after the bigger of the two generations the Gen Y’ers and wow them with 42 inch plasma TV’s, 6 week vacation packages, and free lunches. Reason they are larger in numbers and are tech savvy………Only problem with this flawed logic?  Experiences

The Gen X’ers have been working side by side with two of the greatest generations (WWII and Baby Boomers) that have dispensed knowledge, wisdom, and life lessons for free. We have been like sponges when it comes to this information. The Gen X’ers are here to lead and take the information that has been dispensed and run with the ball. We have been waiting for our chance to shine, but willing to wait because we know we needed to hone our common sense, street smarts, and experiences that it takes to lead.  We also realize it takes a lot more than a college degree, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter profiles to get the job done. So the next study or article that is written lets take a look at the Gen X’ers in the context of being the next generation to Lead with honesty, integrity, knowledge, and wisdom.

Because after all the companies around this nation are going to need less Leaders (in reference to being a smaller population in numbers), ever heard of  “too many cooks”, but these companies are going to need experienced leaders to lead them through this transition.  So next time companies are looking at 5, 10, 15 year strategy in regards to leadership take a look at the Gen X’ers we are here trained and ready for battle. We might not be as tech savvy as the Facebook Generation, but we are highly skilled and trained in leadership, business savvy, and we know how to mold technology into great business strategies, implementations and operations.

Oh and one last thing we understand “Earning before Entitled” it’s our motto!  What do you think of GenX’ers?  What are your experiences as a GenX’er or Managing one.  I am really curious…..because if you look at the numbers it is our generation that is making this new world of real-time and social openness explode into real businesses.

Being that the Business Analysis discipline and role is becoming more standardized and consistent with the IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis), BABOK (Business Analysis Body of Knowledge^®) and a Certification called the CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional™). What do senior executives and leadership feel about this discipline and role?   There is no right or wrong answers just starting a dialogue to find out the views and opinions that are out there within the Social Platforms community.

Would also like to know how Business Analysts can play a vital role in the era of companies moving towards Social Business Architecture, Enterprise 2.0, Social Media, and Social Technology Platforms.

I obviously have my biased opinions and views on the subject, but would really like to know other views.  Especially from the people that make strategic decisions about an organization.   They ultimately sign off on spending money on this discipline. I would love to get a cross section of senior leaders from the C-Suite to the Rank and File (which is where I am at on the ladder) to weigh in on this often overlooked or generalized role in most companies (believe me I have worked at many).

The one main stereotype I am trying to break most of all is “Well anyone can be a BA, so just give them the title” Additionally, I am always interested in new ideas.

This will be an ongoing list of networking tips from a regular guy making his way through this wacky wacky world of reality and social networking. Hope you enjoy and please comment and let me know what you think:

Networking Tip #1: Just ask people to meet once you establish a good foundation. Don’t be afraid many people want to meet face to face!  Jokingly I told people a while back I had a 98% success rate on my asking, but went back and looked at numbers and yes since Jan 2010 I have met with 67 people face to face many asks on my part.  Only one in a round about way turned me down.  Not bad hey.

Networking Tip #2: Be yourself when meeting with experienced professionals. they want to know the whole you. Don’t let titles scare you!

Networking Tip #3: If I ask I pay or if this is the first time me and this individual have met.  Additionally,  if the meeting goes well you will get a second meeting!  We are a pretty “keep it socially equal” type society which is awesome to social networking.  The “Hey I owe you lunch or coffee” subject is awesome from my perspective.

Networking Tip #4: Build a connection hub for yourself and own your online presence!  Where your at is mine.  All my other profiles point back to this one and I point this to my most prominent digital landscape.  This way people can explore everything about me, but they get the 3D personality in real life

Networking Tip #5: Set up Google Alerts for your email addresses and name to be notified when it is used online.

Networking Tip #6: Use Twitter to connect with really interesting, action oriented, passionate people.  Even better if you do not know them. Start a conversation and engage to build that relationship.  I find this community has the lowest barrier to connect and start a conversation, which is key when finding people from your industry vertical or not.

Networking Tip #7: In the course of meeting someone live or online (encourage both as a strategy) they offer up a name you should talk with or meet, politely ask for an introduction.  When this social capital exchange happens, good indicator it is going well or it did go well!

Networking Tip #8: Call people when you have not connected in a while. Call them for no reason at all. Facebook.com has a darn nice Phonebook (you should go check it out).  Maybe call to line up schedules for that first meet up.  Personally I have been doing more of this especially with DM’s on twitter or @replies with questions.

Networking Tip #9: Put some time into profile Bio within all your accounts you have established. This is your 30sec commercial for yourself. It also helps people know who you are.  Make sure to follow have the link back to #4.

Networking Tip #10: Organize your Facebook contacts into groups that make sense to you. This makes for targeted communications fast. If you have not started start today and keep up while you add new contacts.

Networking Tip #11: Find the Fan Pages you are passionate about and invite others to join these fan pages.  It is right under the logo on the Fan Page.  This creates the “Like” in the News Feed and people start making connections this way.

Networking Tip #12: Use your Lists for organizing your signal on twitter!  Especially useful on a mobile app to be able to go to a certain list and scroll and scan the information to engage and make connections with.

Networking Tip #13: There are plenty of events to go to in any town, start going to them!  Regardless of membership or being in your industry.  When you sign up for these events tell everyone you are going.  Then when at an event meet at least 2 new people.  I know this sounds corny, but if you talk to the same people online as well as offline, I feel you are missing out.

Networking Tip #14: My last tip and this one I think is the best one and love doing this all the time.  When you see two, three or even four people you know that don’t know each other and should (of course insert biased opinion here) introduce them!  Or if people want to meet some one you know you use the reverse of #7.  I personally do this all the time and for me it feels good to connect people!

So I hope this helps it you were wondering how to make the book you just read become reality.  My best advice for social networking is that it is an on going experiment.  Being curious, wanting to connect, wanting to learn, wanting to create, wanting to improve and wanting help will be key behaviors to an on going successful experiment within social networking.

Oh and one final thought “Go forth and Cross Pollinate those Verticals” – @keithprivette