It’s no secret that different generations think of technology differently.
Boomers tend to view technology as something separate from the task at hand. They might say they’re “going on” the internet or “making a call on” their cell phone. Whereas millennials seamlessly integrate technology into their daily lives, without feeling the need to distinguish between the task and the tool used to complete it.
Of course they are doing it on the computer, why would you assume any other way? The use of technology is simply implied and assumed.
Knowing how your target audience perceives technology is paramount to designing technological solutions. In business analysis, the first step in tailoring any solution is understanding ‘who’ you are designing it for.
Understanding the behavioural patterns of your target audience will help you anticipate their needs and design better solutions.
In today’s day and age where technology solution builders are in a constant race to deliver a better user experience, the question that arises is – better for whom?
In this blog, we will dive into the concepts of behaviour analysis and business analysis and try to find out which approach is the right fit for your organisation.
What is Behaviour Analysis?
Behaviour analysis is the process of studying human behaviour and using that understanding to create solutions that meet their needs. It involves observing and analysing the actions, habits, and preferences of a target audience, and using that information to design products or services that cater to their specific needs.
7 Essential Steps for Conducting Behaviour Analysis
Behaviour analysis involves a systematic approach to understanding and predicting the behaviour of your target audience. Here are the steps you can follow to conduct a behaviour analysis:
- Define the problem or opportunity.
- Gather data and information about the behaviour you want to change.
- Identify the factors that influence the behaviour.
- Develop and test hypotheses about what will change the behaviour.
- Implement the intervention or solution.
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.
- Adjust the intervention as needed based on the data and evaluation.
When to Use Behaviour Analysis?
Behaviour analysis can be used in a variety of situations, especially while designing products or services with a specific target audience. It is also useful for identifying the reasons behind why a product or service did not perform as intended. It’s a great tool for identifying pain points and areas for improvement.
Read our detailed guide on how to build a successful Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
What is Business Analysis?
Business analysis is the process of identifying and solving business problems. It involves gathering and analysing data, identifying inefficiencies, and proposing solutions to improve business processes. Business analysis helps organisations to optimise their operations and increase efficiency.
7 Essential Steps for Conducting Business Analysis
Here are the steps involved in business analysis:
- Identify the problem that needs to be solved.
- Gather all the relevant data and information.
- Analyse and interpret the data at hand to gain insights into the problem.
- Develop and evaluate a set of feasible solutions.
- Choose the best solution and prepare a plan for implementing it.
- Communicate the plan clearly to all stakeholders.
- Implement and monitor the solution to ensure the desired results.
Always use data to identify and substantiate a problem. According to a report by McKinsey Global Institute, data-driven organizations are now 23x more likely to acquire customers, 6x as likely to retain customers and 19x more likely to be profitable.
When to Use Business Analysis
Business analysis is the most useful when there is a clear problem or inefficiency in the organisation. It can be used to identify the root cause of the problem and explore solutions to solve it. Business analysis is also useful when a company is looking to streamline their processes and increase efficiency.
Read our blog for more insights on problem definition and problem solving.
Combining the Two Approaches
Combining behaviour analysis and business analysis can be an effective approach to designing and implementing technological solutions that cater to the needs and expectations of the target audience while meeting the business goals and objectives.
By integrating both approaches, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of your target audience’s behaviour patterns, needs, and expectations, as well as the business context and objectives of the solution.
Behaviour analysis can provide valuable insights into how users interact with technology, what motivates them to use it, and what barriers they face while using it. This information can be used to design intuitive and user-friendly interfaces, as well as to develop effective marketing and communication strategies to engage and retain users.
On the other hand, business analysis can help you identify the business requirements and constraints that need to be considered while designing the solution. This includes factors such as budget, timeline, resources, and organizational structure. By aligning the solution with the business context, you can ensure that it is financially viable, scalable, and sustainable.
The key to successfully combining behaviour analysis and business analysis is to maintain a balance between the two approaches. While behaviour analysis focuses on the user’s perspective, business analysis provides a broader perspective that encompasses the organisation’s goals and objectives. By keeping both perspectives in mind, you can create a solution that is both user-friendly and business-savvy.
In practice, this may involve conducting user research and testing, developing user personas and scenarios, mapping user journeys, defining business requirements and constraints, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure that the solution meets the needs of all stakeholders.
To conclude, by combining behaviour analysis and business analysis, you can create a technology solution that is both usable and valuable, and that drives business success while meeting user needs and expectations.
