Are You Prepared for AI? Poll Insights Revealed

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect the perspectives of IIBA.



In business analysis, staying ahead of the curve means embracing transformative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). Technology is evolving at a rapid pace, and the integration of AI into business analysis practices is becoming increasingly vital.

Our recent webinar, Futureproof — Delivering Value with Business Analysis and AI, explored strategies for delivering value through business analysis and AI. Drawing from the core principles outlined in the new book, Futureproof: Amplifying Agility with AI and Insightful Business Analysis by Angela Wick and Tim Coventry, this session covered essential themes such as:

• Elevating business analysis practices
• Achieving strategic alignment with AI initiatives
• Driving value through analysis
• Fostering continuous improvement

During the webinar, we conducted a series of polls to gauge the preparedness and strategic focus of organizations as they adapt to these changes. The results offer a snapshot of where companies stand and highlight the areas that need attention to harness the full potential of AI in business analysis.

Let's look at the findings.

Adapting to Complexity and Change

Poll question: How prepared do you feel your organization is in adapting business analysis practices to handle increasing complexity and change with emerging technologies like AI?

• Very prepared: 6%
• Somewhat prepared: 37%
• Neutral: 18%
• Not very prepared: 32%
• Not prepared at all: 5%

Most respondents (69%) expressed varying degrees of uncertainty about their organization's readiness to adapt business analysis practices to the tech landscape. Only 6% felt very prepared, while 32% admitted they were not very prepared. Among respondents, 5% said they were not prepared at all.

This highlights the need for organizations to enhance their business analysis capabilities to handle AI-driven complexity and change.

Focus Areas for Competency Development

Poll question: What is the current focus of your organization's business analysis competency development to leverage AI for increased productivity and efficiency?

• Training programs: 10%
• Hiring specialized talent: 3%
• Adopting new tools and technologies: 40%
• No specific focus: 45%
• Other: 2%

A striking 45% of respondents reported no specific focus on competency development related to AI. On the other hand, 40% are concentrating on adopting new tools and technologies.

Training programs and hiring specialized talent were less of a priority, with only 10% and 3% respectively. So while many organizations recognize the importance of new tools, there’s a lag in structured training and talent acquisition strategies.

Key Benefits of Integrating AI

Poll question: Which aspect of business analysis do you believe will benefit the most from integrating AI frameworks?

• Data collection and analysis: 32%
• Predictive modelling: 23%
• Process automation: 25%
• Strategic decision-making: 18%
• Other: 3%

Data collection and analysis were expected to benefit most from AI integration (32%), followed by process automation (25%) and predictive modeling (23%). Strategic decision-making, though crucial, was seen as the primary beneficiary by only 18% of respondents. This reflects a broad recognition of AI's potential to enhance data-driven processes and efficiency.

Using Customer Behaviour Metrics

Poll question: How effectively does your organization currently use customer behaviour metrics to drive improvements in value streams and customer journeys?

• Very effectively: 8%
• Effectively: 23%
• Neutral: 40%
• Ineffectively: 22%
• Not at all: 7%

Many respondents (40%) felt neutral about their organization's effectiveness in using customer behaviour metrics. Only 8% rated them as very effective, while 22% felt their organizations were ineffective. And 7% said their organizations weren’t effective at all in using them.

This highlights a critical area for improvement, as leveraging customer insights is essential for refining value streams and enhancing customer experiences.

Critical Competencies for Futureproofing

Poll question: Which competency do you think is most critical for futureproofing business analysis within your organization?

• Advanced data analysis: 11%
• AI and machine learning: 20%
• Strategic thinking: 34%
• Critical thinking: 18%
• Problem-solving: 13%
• Customer metric tracking: 3%

Strategic thinking (34%) and AI and machine learning (20%) topped the list of critical competencies for futureproofing business analysis. Critical thinking (18%) and problem-solving (13%) were also deemed important, but only 3% of respondents considered customer metric tracking critical. This underscores the importance of a strategic approach combined with technical proficiency to navigate future challenges.

Lessons Learned

The webinar poll results reveal organizations' readiness and strategic priorities for adapting business analysis to an AI-driven future. While there’s a need for new tools and technologies, there’s also a big gap in preparedness and focused competency development.

Organizations must prioritize structured training, talent acquisition, and strategic thinking to maximize AI's potential and improve their business analysis practices. By addressing these areas, businesses can better navigate the complexities of the digital age, remaining competitive and resilient.

If you missed the live session, watch the webinar on IIBA's YouTube page. IIBA members, mark your calendars for more conversations on business analysis and AI. Watch for, What Good, Bad, and Ugly Analysis Looks Like with and Without AI, on September 4 at 16:00 ET (UTC-4).

Stay tuned!

If you want to learn more about this fascinating topic, purchase Futureproof: Amplifying Agility with AI and Insightful Business Analysis by Angela Wick and Tim Coventry at the IIBA Bookstore.

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