Does the BA Role Belong in IT or the Business?

The question of whether the BA role should be defined with IT or within the business is one of those ongoing questions of organizational structure. As we progress in professionalizing the role of the BA, we will need to hammer out a useful response that accounts for the pros and cons of each.

Are you a BA in IT or in a business unit or function? What do you see as the pros and cons of each? Where do you think a BA should be in the overall organizational structure, and why?

It seems to me that more and more people are landing on the side of the BA role being defined and “hosted” within the business. If that overall paradigm is inevitable, what can we, as a community of practice, do to ensure that we preserve the advantages of the BA-in-IT paradigm?

Behind this question are various complexities related to change management, relationship management, solution scope, risk management, and other elements that can make or break a business case.

I hope you can take a minute to comment on your situation, what you’ve learned based where you are in your organization, and what you believe to be a sound direction for the BA profession.