6 Facts About Visual Thinking in Business Analysis

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



Ever wonder why some business analysis professionals seem to effortlessly grasp the big picture while others struggle to make sense of complex data? The difference often boils down to one crucial skill: visual thinking.

In the latest episode of Business Analysis Live! hosts Susan Moore and Scott Bennett were joined by expert Pradeep “Paddy” Danda. The three experts discussed the transformative power of visual thinking in business analysis. Turns out, visual thinking isn’t just some passing trend. It’s a game-changing approach that can significantly enhance stakeholder engagement, boost understanding, and streamline communication.

Who saw it coming?

Visual thinking can revolutionize business analysis by engaging stakeholders more effectively, simplifying complex concepts, and improving understanding through visuals. It helps professionals see the bigger picture (literally), and they learn to communicate and collaborate better along the way.

Want to drive better outcomes and elevate your analysis? Start by mastering these practical techniques and embrace your inner artist. Grab your kid’s Crayola box, because it’s time to start drawing your way to better business analysis!

1. It Can Improve Stakeholder Engagement

Visual thinking is a game-changer for engaging stakeholders. As Paddy highlights, traditional communication methods—think endless specs or bullet-point slides—often get lost in the noise of our distraction-filled world.

Enter visuals: they cut through the clutter and present complex ideas with clarity and impact. Savvy business analysis professionals can captivate stakeholders, winning their hearts and minds, and making it easier to communicate ideas and rally support for projects.

2. “Visual Reporters” Can Enhance Understanding

Visuals can transform understanding by breaking down complex concepts into digestible pieces. To illustrate, Paddy introduces the idea of "visual reporters," who skillfully distil intricate ideas into clear visual summaries that everyone can grasp.

This approach is especially invaluable in Agile environments, where rapid comprehension is essential for effective team collaboration and swift decision-making. It enables teams to streamline communication and keeps everyone on the same page.

3. There Are 5 Types of Visual Thinkers

Paddy gives shape to the fascinating world of visual thinking by introducing five distinct roles that can enhance your toolkit (or should we say, rollkit):

• The visual reporter summarizes complex ideas visually
• The visual co-creator facilitates discussions using visuals, often seen in retrospectives
• The visual analyst uses visual representations for business analysis, such as flowcharts and data flows
• The visual storyteller articulates messages through visuals, enhancing presentations
• The visual designer focuses on creating aesthetically pleasing visuals, often in a digital format

Understanding these roles empowers business analysis professionals to seamlessly integrate visual thinking into their work, unlocking new levels of communication and creativity.

4. Visuals Are More Efficient Than Words

Did you know the average person's attention span is around 47 seconds? (Ahem… are you still with us?)

This statistic, taken from research by Gloria Mark, shows the need for engaging visuals that can capture and maintain attention. It’s not enough to complement reams of copy with a few basic PowerPoint designs. Visuals are processed significantly faster than text, making them an effective way to communicate information quickly and efficiently.

Still think visuals should take a backseat to the Word almighty? Think again.

5. It’s Easy to Implement

This episode is jam-packed with practical techniques that empower business analysis professionals to embrace visual thinking. Here are some of them:

• Start simple: Paddy encourages everyone to unleash their creativity with basic doodles or sketches. His fun exercise, "Squiggle Birds," shows how simple scribbles can morph into recognizable images, proving that anyone can draw!
• Use annotation tools: Elevate your presentations by highlighting key points with annotation tools. This approach sparks curiosity and keeps your audience engaged from start to finish.
• Incorporate visual metaphors: Enhance your visuals by weaving in metaphors that convey powerful messages. For instance, describing ideas as "flooding in like a river" creates vivid imagery that resonates deeply with your audience.

These techniques not only make communication more effective but also transform the way ideas are shared and understood.

6. Practice Makes Perfect

Visual thinking is like a muscle—you’ve got to exercise it regularly to see results! Just as writers sharpen their skills by devouring books, you can enhance your visual thinking by studying the visuals of others and practising your own creations.

Resources like The Noun Project and various books on visual thinking are fantastic places to find inspiration. Think of them as your gym for artistic development.

The Big Picture

This episode proves that visual thinking isn’t just a passing trend—it’s a game-changer for every business analysis professional out there! Explore the fascinating world of visual communication to enhance engagement, clear up confusion, and snag those shiny project outcomes you’ve long been chasing.

As Paddy puts it (with a wink): If you can write, you can definitely draw. So, grab those coloured pencils, unleash your creativity, and let your inner Picasso shine! With a sprinkle of practice, anyone can master visual thinking and become an unstoppable force in their role. Who knew that channelling your artistic flair could make such a splash?

If you’re still looking for more visual thinking tips, be sure to join Paddy and Grant Wright on Thursday, November 14 at 12:00 (UTC-4) for their free webinar, The Art of Persuasion: Transforming Stakeholder Engagement with Storytelling.

Until then, see you for the next episode!

Explore fresh and candid conversations on a wide array of business analysis topics with the Business Analysis Live podcast.

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