2024 in Review: 7 Ways IIBA Empowered Business Analysis Professionals Worldwide

 

As another year wraps up, it’s a great time to reflect on how the community and IIBA have empowered practising business analysis professionals everywhere.

Whether you’re turning data into decisions, solving challenges, or shaping your organization's future, the goal is the same. We want to provide you with the tools, insights, and connections that make all the difference.

This year’s theme, Analysis Everywhere, celebrated the transformative role of business analysis (and analysts) in every industry and organizational level. Each day, business analysis professionals make organizations smarter, faster, and more adaptable, ensuring they keep up with relentless change.

At Building Business Capability (BBC) 2024, we saw that theme come to life as attendees helped connect the orange dots across industries. It’s a powerful visual reminder that your work touches everything and everyone—and we’re here to support you in expanding that impact.

Speaking of making a difference, let’s start with a new tool that has changed how many of you approach your work.

1. Saving You Time With AI-Powered Insights

Let’s be honest: business analysis can sometimes feel like a never-ending maze, with complexity lurking around every corner. Built to deliver trusted insights in seconds, the KnowledgeHub’s new AI tool enables IIBA members to quickly and accurately reference vast data. No more endless digging—just fast, reliable answers rooted in IIBA’s standards and curated assets.

With this upgrade, you can spend less time searching and more time solving, helping you reclaim focus and streamline your work. The results speak for themselves: users have exchanged an average of 20 messages each with the AI assistant since launch. One user shared: “I love that it references more than just the BABOK Guide.”



Seasoned analysts shouldn’t be the only ones enjoying tech’s new benefits. The next generation of professionals entering the field also needs the right resources to thrive. So, we made sure there was something new for them, too.

2. Paving the Way for Future Analysts

Starting a career in business analysis can be daunting, especially when it feels like there’s no roadmap to guide you. To change that, IIBA introduced a student membership option, tailored to give aspiring business analysis professionals everywhere a head start. Inspired by Analysis Everywhere, it reflects the global and cross-industry reach of business analysis, a field that drives success on a worldwide scale.

This offering is much more than just entry-level support. It’s about ensuring thousands of professionals are ready to tackle tomorrow’s biggest challenges. From sustainability to cybersecurity to tech transformation, tomorrow’s analysts will help shape areas their predecessors never imagined.

Since the program launched in April, over 500 aspiring business analysis professionals have started their career journeys with a strong foundation. For IIBA volunteer and mentor Jason Sekula, it’s a welcome surprise: “I know all the students that I guest lecture at multiple universities will be thrilled with the ease of access to IIBA resources and the membership price model.”

Whether you’re a new business analysis professional or an experienced one, fresh insights are key to staying sharp. This year, accessing the latest ideas from other practitioners became easier thanks to a revamp of a community favourite.

3. Sharing Insights That Inspire Action

In 2024, we brought you closer to community experts by integrating Business Analysis Magazine (BAM!) into the Analyst Catalyst blog. Now called Member Articles, these insights are contributed by experienced professionals to inspire new thinking, solve real-world challenges, and spark action.

With this streamlined delivery, accessing practical strategies and fresh perspectives is simple. Member Articles are your go-to resource if you’re navigating complex projects or seeking inspiration for your next big idea. And they’re now just one click away.

IIBA continues to empower business analysis professionals with the tools, resources, and insights to succeed. If you're ready to enhance your skills and embrace new opportunities, IIBA membership gives you access to all this (and much more).

Get instant access to community insights, exclusive resources, and a global network of professionals. Join now and start making a bigger impact.

4. Fostering Connections That Matter  

We believe that great ideas come from great conversations, whether over coffee or in a virtual chapter event. That’s why a new digital platform for IIBA chapters was launched in the spring, simplifying connections with your local community, event attendance, and professional collaboration—transforming Analysis Everywhere from concept to reality.

Networking is a powerful tool for growth, regardless of career level. Chapter-facilitated connections play a vital role in business analysis, and this upgrade ensures they’ll grow stronger year after year. Early users have praised the platform for streamlining processes, consolidating tools in one convenient place, and improving their overall experience.

But beyond individual benefits, we're also committed to empowering teams to harness their strengths and drive meaningful change, a core focus of the enhanced Partner Program.
 

5. Empowering Teams to Drive Change

Your impact goes beyond individual contributions, and so does ours. Effective business analysis resonates across teams, organizations, and entire industries, creating lasting change everywhere. With the enhanced three-tier Partner Program, IIBA helps organizations support business analysis through tailored resources, collaborative events, and expert-led learning opportunities.



But it’s not just about helping teams adapt to change. It’s about empowering them to drive it. The Q1 2024 Benchmark Report shows that 86% of Partner Program members significantly improved their business analysis deliverables. The result? Teams that are aligned, agile, and poised to lead change with confidence and clarity.

The next step is ensuring that the research behind all these initiatives continues to fuel growth and guide smarter decisions.

6. Publishing Research That Supports Growth

This year, the focus remained on research that drives better outcomes and empowers you to make an impact. Publications like the Global State of Business Analysis Report and Benchmark Report provide community-driven insights to help you understand challenges and opportunities in business analysis.

This research serves as a roadmap to success, helping teams improve processes, engage stakeholders better, and implement better practices. Both professionals and organizations can use this knowledge to make smarter decisions and create real business value.

Did you know that 95% of analysts surveyed recommend certification to their colleagues? Or that, according to program partners, online communities and communication tools are considered the most impactful professional development activities?

These are just some of the valuable insights this research offers IIBA members and program partners.

7. Showcasing the Power of Community

Collaboration at events shows just how important connections are for professional success. Whether brainstorming solutions, exploring trends, or sharing a laugh over the complexity of data models, you’re a community that always supports and elevates each other.

In 2024, many opportunities for collaboration connected business analysis professionals globally, fostering meaningful interactions at annual events. These gatherings consistently serve as powerful platforms for learning, sharing, and growing together. They don’t just offer professional development but also a chance to deepen connections.

Guided by the Analysis Everywhere theme, there was an even greater emphasis on uniting the global community this year, encouraging a diverse range of voices to help tell the unfolding story of business analysis.

Engagement Workshops

This year, IIBA led several interactive workshops tackling real-world challenges while engaging directly with the community. Volunteers played a key role in these collaborative sessions:

• The ECBA Practice Analysis Workshop in November convened 10 participants to explore the evolving needs of ECBA candidates
• In July, Community Peer Reviews welcomed 32 volunteer editors to provide feedback on a backlog of community-driven content
• Leadership Focus Groups throughout the year brought together 27 business analysis leaders to discuss the state of business analysis in organizations and share strategic insights
• December’s KnowledgeHub Workshops saw 36 attendees participate in hands-on sessions designed to gather feedback on the KnowledgeHub and IIBA membership and certifications

These workshops underscore the huge value of community-driven engagement, as feedback and collaboration are vital for strengthening the profession.

BBC 2024: Connecting the Dots

Building Business Capability 2024 was a perfect example of how IIBA members come together to learn and grow. From workshops to keynotes, over 600 professionals from 21 countries and 42 states gathered to share ideas and strategies.

The conference was all about professional development and connection. Where else on the planet can you debate AI’s impact on business analysis over coffee?



One of the most anticipated highlights of the conference was the launch of Futureproof: Amplifying Agility with AI and Insightful Business Analysis. At the launch (pictured below), authors Angela Wick and Tim Coventry signed copies in person, much to the delight of fans.

Business Analysis Impact: Shaping the Future

From June 19 to 22, India became the global hub for innovation in business analysis with the Business Analysis Impact Conference. Held across multiple cities in a hybrid format, this groundbreaking event brought together over 400 professionals eager to explore the transformative potential of AI and emerging technologies.

Setting the stage for the event were keynote sessions by IIBA President and CEO Delvin Fletcher and IIBA Director of Chapters and Member Engagement Jared Gorai. Both shared thought-provoking insights into how business analysis professionals can thrive in an AI-driven world.

The conference was a platform for connection and action. With its hybrid format, participants worldwide could tune in, while those attending in person benefited from face-to-face conversations and hands-on experiences.

Festival of Business Analysis: Rethink, Reconnect, Revolutionize

Picture this: nearly 1,200 business analysis professionals across seven cities in Australia and New Zealand (and online) registering for a single event, diving into everything from story mapping to digital transformation. That’s the Festival of Business Analysis in a nutshell—a vibrant celebration of the profession that feels as much like a reunion as it does a masterclass.

This year, the event truly lived up to the hype. Organized by the incredible teams at IIBA Australia and IIBA New Zealand, it stayed true to its ambitious theme: Rethink, Reconnect, Revolutionize. It was a hands-on journey into the future of the profession.

With captivating keynotes, practical workshops, and cutting-edge tools on display, attendees walked away with fresh insights, new connections, and actionable strategies to tackle their toughest challenges.

Global Business Analysis Day: A Record-Breaking Celebration

And then there was Global Business Analysis Day. More than 7,000 professionals from around the world gathered for a 24-hour marathon of learning, networking, and celebrating the profession. The event was a testament to what happens when a community of passionate professionals comes together to share knowledge, celebrate accomplishments, and energize one another.

More than just a celebration of the profession, it’s also an opportunity to recognize those who quietly move it forward, day in and day out. There’s a reason why the annual IIBA awards are the centrepiece of the profession’s big day. Global Business Analysis Day shines because of you—the participants, volunteers, and chapter leaders who make it all happen. Thank you!

It was great to see so many of you share your feedback through the chat and social media. Here’s what some of you had to say about the 2024 edition:

• “My very first time attending, and I’ve learnt quite a lot! Looking forward to the next one.” — Amina Kelani
• “I sure had an inspiring day of networking and learning from industry experts.” — Peju Babalola
• “From engaging and impactful discussions. I came away inspired and equipped with new skills to drive strategic value and innovation within my work area.” — Samuel Vinay Amruth Raj Diyya
  
  

Looking Ahead: What’s Next in 2025

As we prepare for 2025, our commitment to supporting you remains stronger than ever. I hope that shines through in all the initiatives the community and IIBA worked on this year. As your partner in professional growth, we’ll keep providing the tools, resources, and connections you need to adapt and thrive.

Whether you’re a seasoned analyst, an aspiring professional, or simply curious about the field, IIBA is here to help turn challenges into opportunities and ideas into action. Together, let’s shape the future, drive better outcomes, and advance the profession—one connection at a time.
 
Become the catalyst for change in your organization. Join IIBA today to access cutting-edge tools, valuable networking opportunities, and tailored professional development resources.