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A business analyst's Survival guide to Middle East

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Sarbashrestha Panda
Sarbashrestha Panda

This document provides survival tips for business analysts working in the Middle East. It outlines 7 "Golden Rules" for success, including blending in culturally ("camouflage"), getting sign-off on all documents, and understanding that consensus and stakeholder personalities drive decision-making. The final tip is to visualize requirements and maintain your vision despite obstacles or distractions from offshoring and geopolitics. The overall message is that BAs must adapt subtly to local customs and navigate complex stakeholder relationships to be effective in the Middle East.

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Business AnalystsS Survival Guide to the Middle East Based on my experiences on having worked in Dubai from 2008-09 as individual consultant. From the nearly extinct.*^%$ Panda
Golden Rule 1: Camouflage and in this case suit up Barney Stinson of HIMYM has the copyrights. Looks are deceptive but out here it counts. The only way you can get the Business Users to take you seriously.
Yea..Yea..I know U are Young..Ruthless..Innovative..blah..blah.. But take my words..Its not the Jungle you know.. Dont be in a hurry to show off your true colors.
Being Pays.. The only place on earth where saying How do I know is second skin. So here is the secret to survival.. Every time you hear this..Breathe In and Out..slowly..count 10 and then open your mouth..
Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate. - Sun Tzu Golden Rule 2: Sensei Sun Tzu said it all.. Practice Practice Practice.. Till you perfect this look So Mr. BA par excellence..dont forget the Puss in the boots in you..
Golden Rule 3: BA Gyaan passed on from last of celestial beings.. **Some say its copied right out of the BAVedas and others say it was carved on broken part of the nose of the Sphinx..Once lost but revealed again
You would wish you had this poster on your forehead while meeting your stakeholders All forms of Amnesia is rampant out hereespecially selective amnesia.. The only weapon you have is your only trusted friend MOM.. Golden Rule 4: Shoot off MOMs immediately and get agreement
Out here..ProjectsLifePlanetsthey all love the circular paths Golden Rule 5: The are no straight lines in nature or life..or PROJECTS Dont be disheartened when you have to revisit all that you have done and start over again
Copyrights with Leo and Mozart http://www.artbusiness.com/signart.html Whats a piece of art without a signature !!! Golden Rule 6: Every document you create here is a piece of art.. Print..Bind..and get it signed. Each time you go to someone and ask him to sign it, it will sound like Will you please put your neck in the noose for me ?? but just ignore those sounds..devil loves to play with a BAs brain
The Ricky Gervais Way Always leave the office late, especially when the boss is still around. You could read magazines and storybooks that you always wanted to read but have no time until late before leaving. Make sure you walk past the boss' room on your way out. Send important emails at unearthly hours and during public holidays Copyrights with Ricky http://tombammann.org/office-skills Golden Rule 7: The Show-Man rule. The spot-lights never go off from you
A wise Client out here once asked, Mr. BA, which is the only correct way of decision making? o Consensus o Majority Rule o Minority Rule o Averaging o Expert o Authority Rule without discussion o Authority Rule with discussion Golden Rule 9: Always remember. This jungle believes in the Wisdom of the crowds.
But always keep this picture in your mind..no matter what you hear from any one..
Frustratingly Annoying Questions?? Who is going to drive it?? Beware territories are clearly maked. You risk the wrath of other BAs if you overdeliver Is this the approved template?? Even if they do not make sense, follow it Is this approved?? Once approved, the document becomes sacrosanct Does X approve of it?? Its a political powerkeg. Personalities run the show. So tread carefully and avoid sparks.. Frame your answers for these questions..you will face these too often
And finally The BA Anthem..
If you can Visualize Requirements when all about you, Are simply vague and looking up to you, If you can dig out MOMs when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can innovate - and not make guidelines your master, If you can talk with End- If you can Analyze - and not Users and keep your vision, make analysis your aim; Or walk with Sponsors - If you can meet with Deadlines nor lose the gory details, and Perfection If neither Off-shores nor And treat those two imposters Geos can hurt you, just the same; If all men count with you, . but none too much; If you can bear to hear the If you can fill the requirements you've recorded, unforgiving minute
Surviving is not enough.. More on this latter.. Hope you had a good time reading this.. Criticisms welcome Sarbashrestha Panda Sarbashrestha_panda@mindtree.com

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A business analyst's Survival guide to Middle East

  • 1. Business AnalystsS Survival Guide to the Middle East Based on my experiences on having worked in Dubai from 2008-09 as individual consultant. From the nearly extinct.*^%$ Panda
  • 2. Golden Rule 1: Camouflage and in this case suit up Barney Stinson of HIMYM has the copyrights. Looks are deceptive but out here it counts. The only way you can get the Business Users to take you seriously.
  • 3. Yea..Yea..I know U are Young..Ruthless..Innovative..blah..blah.. But take my words..Its not the Jungle you know.. Dont be in a hurry to show off your true colors.
  • 4. Being Pays.. The only place on earth where saying How do I know is second skin. So here is the secret to survival.. Every time you hear this..Breathe In and Out..slowly..count 10 and then open your mouth..
  • 5. Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate. - Sun Tzu Golden Rule 2: Sensei Sun Tzu said it all.. Practice Practice Practice.. Till you perfect this look So Mr. BA par excellence..dont forget the Puss in the boots in you..
  • 6. Golden Rule 3: BA Gyaan passed on from last of celestial beings.. **Some say its copied right out of the BAVedas and others say it was carved on broken part of the nose of the Sphinx..Once lost but revealed again
  • 7. You would wish you had this poster on your forehead while meeting your stakeholders All forms of Amnesia is rampant out hereespecially selective amnesia.. The only weapon you have is your only trusted friend MOM.. Golden Rule 4: Shoot off MOMs immediately and get agreement
  • 8. Out here..ProjectsLifePlanetsthey all love the circular paths Golden Rule 5: The are no straight lines in nature or life..or PROJECTS Dont be disheartened when you have to revisit all that you have done and start over again
  • 9. Copyrights with Leo and Mozart http://www.artbusiness.com/signart.html Whats a piece of art without a signature !!! Golden Rule 6: Every document you create here is a piece of art.. Print..Bind..and get it signed. Each time you go to someone and ask him to sign it, it will sound like Will you please put your neck in the noose for me ?? but just ignore those sounds..devil loves to play with a BAs brain
  • 10. The Ricky Gervais Way Always leave the office late, especially when the boss is still around. You could read magazines and storybooks that you always wanted to read but have no time until late before leaving. Make sure you walk past the boss' room on your way out. Send important emails at unearthly hours and during public holidays Copyrights with Ricky http://tombammann.org/office-skills Golden Rule 7: The Show-Man rule. The spot-lights never go off from you
  • 11. A wise Client out here once asked, Mr. BA, which is the only correct way of decision making? o Consensus o Majority Rule o Minority Rule o Averaging o Expert o Authority Rule without discussion o Authority Rule with discussion Golden Rule 9: Always remember. This jungle believes in the Wisdom of the crowds.
  • 12. But always keep this picture in your mind..no matter what you hear from any one..
  • 13. Frustratingly Annoying Questions?? Who is going to drive it?? Beware territories are clearly maked. You risk the wrath of other BAs if you overdeliver Is this the approved template?? Even if they do not make sense, follow it Is this approved?? Once approved, the document becomes sacrosanct Does X approve of it?? Its a political powerkeg. Personalities run the show. So tread carefully and avoid sparks.. Frame your answers for these questions..you will face these too often
  • 14. And finally The BA Anthem..
  • 15. If you can Visualize Requirements when all about you, Are simply vague and looking up to you, If you can dig out MOMs when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can innovate - and not make guidelines your master, If you can talk with End- If you can Analyze - and not Users and keep your vision, make analysis your aim; Or walk with Sponsors - If you can meet with Deadlines nor lose the gory details, and Perfection If neither Off-shores nor And treat those two imposters Geos can hurt you, just the same; If all men count with you, . but none too much; If you can bear to hear the If you can fill the requirements you've recorded, unforgiving minute
  • 16. Surviving is not enough.. More on this latter.. Hope you had a good time reading this.. Criticisms welcome Sarbashrestha Panda Sarbashrestha_panda@mindtree.com