Business Analyst Toolkit

Overview

This skill provides structured frameworks and automation tools for business process analysis, requirements documentation, and workflow optimization. It is specifically tailored for retail, supply chain, and technology organizations.

Core Value: 60% faster process documentation, 40% reduction in stakeholder alignment time, 50% less time analyzing processes with automation tools

Target Audience: Business Analysts, Process Improvement Specialists, Product Managers working in retail, supply chain, or technology sectors

Industry Focus: Retail (including e-commerce), Supply Chain, Technology/SaaS

Core Capabilities

• Process Discovery & Analysis - Map current-state operations, identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies
• Requirements Documentation - Capture business needs with structured templates and acceptance criteria
• Process Improvement Design - Create future-state workflows with measurable benefits
• Stakeholder Management - Map influence networks and develop engagement strategies
• Gap Analysis - Identify missing elements with severity scoring and recommendations

Industry-Specific Guidance

Retail & E-commerce

Common Processes to Analyze:

• Order fulfillment and shipping workflows
• Inventory management and replenishment
• Point-of-sale (POS) transaction flows
• Customer returns and exchanges
• Omnichannel experience (online, in-store, mobile)
• Loyalty program operations

Key Constraints:

• Peak season scalability (Black Friday, holidays)
• Real-time inventory accuracy requirements
• Payment processing compliance (PCI-DSS)
• Customer experience expectations (speed, convenience)
• Multi-location coordination

Metrics to Track:

• Order-to-delivery cycle time
• Inventory turnover rate
• Cart abandonment rate
• Customer satisfaction (NPS, CSAT)
• Return rate and processing time

Supply Chain

Common Processes to Analyze:

• Procurement and vendor management
• Warehouse operations and picking/packing
• Transportation and logistics coordination
• Demand forecasting and planning
• Quality control and inspection
• Reverse logistics and returns

Key Constraints:

• Lead time variability from suppliers
• Warehouse capacity limitations
• Transportation cost optimization
• Regulatory compliance (customs, safety)
• Supplier reliability and risk

Metrics to Track:

• Perfect order rate
• Inventory days on hand
• Supplier on-time delivery
• Warehouse utilization
• Cost per unit shipped

Technology / SaaS

Common Processes to Analyze:

• Software development lifecycle (SDLC)
• Customer onboarding and provisioning
• Support ticket escalation and resolution
• Feature request intake and prioritization
• Release management and deployment
• Integration and API workflows

Key Constraints:

• Technical debt and legacy systems
• Data security and privacy requirements
• Scalability and performance needs
• Integration complexity across platforms
• Rapid feature velocity expectations

Metrics to Track:

• Time to first value (TTFV)
• Support ticket resolution time
• System uptime and reliability
• Feature adoption rate
• Customer churn rate

Methodology Variants

Agile BA Approach

When to Use: Fast-moving environments, iterative delivery, continuous collaboration

Workflow Adaptations:

• User stories instead of comprehensive BRDs
• Iterative refinement over upfront documentation
• Continuous stakeholder collaboration
• Sprint-based requirement delivery
• Just-in-time analysis

Key Artifacts:

• User stories with acceptance criteria
• Story maps
• Sprint backlog items
• Definition of Done
• Retrospective insights

Waterfall BA Approach

When to Use: Regulated environments, fixed-scope projects, contractual requirements

Workflow Adaptations:

• Comprehensive upfront requirements
• Formal sign-off gates
• Detailed BRD and FRS documents
• Structured change control
• Sequential phase delivery

Key Artifacts:

• Business Requirements Document (BRD)
• Functional Requirements Specification (FRS)
• Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM)
• Formal change requests
• Sign-off documentation

Hybrid Approach

When to Use: Most real-world projects, balancing flexibility with structure

Workflow Adaptations:

• High-level requirements upfront
• Detailed user stories per sprint
• Flexible scope within fixed timeline
• Iterative stakeholder validation
• Phased delivery with checkpoints

Key Artifacts:

• Vision document (high-level)
• Epic definitions
• Detailed user stories (just-in-time)
• Rolling wave planning docs
• Milestone sign-offs

Common Challenges & Mitigations

Challenge	Impact	Mitigation Strategy
Ambiguous requirements	Rework, delays	Use structured templates, validate with examples
Conflicting stakeholder priorities	Scope creep, politics	RACI matrix, executive sponsor alignment
Limited stakeholder availability	Incomplete analysis	Async documentation, targeted workshops
Tight project timelines	Quality shortcuts	Prioritize critical requirements, timeboxed analysis
Changing business priorities	Scope instability	Change control process, impact assessment
Technical constraints unknown upfront	Late surprises	Early technical feasibility reviews
Legacy system limitations	Integration complexity	Document constraints, plan workarounds
Organizational resistance to change	Adoption failures	Stakeholder mapping, change management plan

Keywords

business analysis, process mapping, workflow documentation, requirements gathering, process improvement, stakeholder analysis, RACI matrix, process charter, business process modeling, gap analysis, root cause analysis, as-is to-be analysis, process optimization, operational efficiency, change management, business requirements, functional requirements, process documentation, improvement proposals, business case development, retail operations, supply chain, e-commerce, technology, SaaS, omnichannel

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Quick Start

For Process Analysis:

# Parse and analyze existing process documentation
python scripts/process_parser.py process-document.md --output analysis.json

# Identify gaps in process documentation
python scripts/gap_analyzer.py --input process.json --format human

# Map stakeholders and generate engagement strategies
python scripts/stakeholder_mapper.py stakeholders.csv --output markdown

For Process Improvement:

# Generate improvement plan from gap analysis
python scripts/improvement_planner.py --gaps gaps.json --timeline 12 --output markdown

# Create process charter with objectives and stakeholders
python scripts/charter_builder.py --process "Customer Onboarding" \
  --objectives "Reduce cycle time by 50%" --output markdown

# Calculate KPIs and track metrics
python scripts/kpi_calculator.py executions.csv --baseline baseline.json

For Documentation:

# Generate RACI matrix from process definition
python scripts/raci_generator.py process.json --output markdown

# Create process charter from template
cp assets/process-charter-template.md my-process-charter.md

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Key Workflows

1. Process Discovery & Analysis

Understand current-state operations, identify inefficiencies, and document workflows for improvement opportunities.

Steps:

1. Gather process documentation and interview stakeholders
2. Parse documentation using process_parser.py
3. Analyze workflow for bottlenecks and redundancies
4. Document findings in process charter template

Output: Current-state process map with identified improvement areas

2. Requirements Documentation

Capture business needs, functional requirements, and acceptance criteria for new initiatives or improvements.

Steps:

1. Conduct stakeholder interviews and workshops
2. Document requirements using structured templates
3. Create RACI matrix for role clarity
4. Validate requirements with stakeholders

Output: Comprehensive requirements document with stakeholder alignment

3. Process Improvement Design

Develop future-state processes with measurable benefits and clear implementation roadmaps.

Steps:

1. Analyze current-state pain points
2. Design improved workflow with efficiency gains
3. Create improvement proposal with business case
4. Build stakeholder analysis for change management

Output: Actionable improvement proposal ready for approval

4. Stakeholder Management

Map influence networks, assess engagement needs, and create communication strategies for successful change adoption.

Steps:

1. Identify all stakeholders using stakeholder template
2. Assess power, interest, and support levels
3. Develop targeted engagement strategies
4. Track progress and adjust approach

Output: Stakeholder engagement plan with communication schedule

5. Evaluation & Lessons Learned

Assess solution effectiveness against original requirements and capture insights for future improvements.

Steps:

1. Compare delivered solution against original requirements
2. Measure KPIs using kpi_calculator.py against baseline
3. Gather stakeholder feedback on solution adoption
4. Document lessons learned and improvement recommendations
5. Create handoff documentation for operations team

Output: Solution evaluation report with benefits realization and lessons learned

Key Questions to Answer:

• Did we achieve the stated objectives?
• What was the actual ROI vs projected?
• What would we do differently next time?
• What process improvements emerged during implementation?

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Python Tools

process_parser.py

Parses business process documentation and extracts structured workflow information for analysis and visualization.

Usage:

python scripts/process_parser.py <input-file> [--output json|markdown] [--visualize]

Features:

• Extract process steps, roles, and decision points from natural language
• Identify workflow bottlenecks and inefficiencies
• Generate JSON output for further analysis
• Create visual process diagrams (when --visualize flag used)
• Calculate complexity metrics and cycle time estimates

Use Cases:

• Analyzing legacy process documentation
• Converting unstructured processes to structured formats
• Identifying automation opportunities
• Creating process maps from written descriptions

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charter_builder.py

Generates comprehensive process improvement charters from objectives, gap analysis, and stakeholder data.

Usage:

python scripts/charter_builder.py --process PROCESS --objectives OBJECTIVES [OPTIONS]

Features:

• Create structured process charters with executive summary, scope, and metrics
• Integrate gap analysis results automatically
• Include stakeholder mappings and engagement plans
• Support multiple output formats (markdown, HTML, JSON)
• Calculate project complexity and timeline estimates
• Choose improvement strategy (efficiency, quality, capacity, experience)

Use Cases:

• Formalizing process improvement initiatives
• Building business cases for change projects
• Creating executive-ready documentation
• Standardizing charter creation across teams

Example:

python scripts/charter_builder.py --process "Customer Onboarding" \
  --objectives "Reduce cycle time by 50%" \
  --gaps gaps.json --stakeholders stakeholders.json \
  --output markdown

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stakeholder_mapper.py

Maps stakeholders and generates engagement strategies based on influence and interest analysis.

Usage:

python scripts/stakeholder_mapper.py INPUT [--output json|markdown|mermaid]

Features:

• Parse stakeholder data from CSV or JSON files
• Calculate influence and interest scores automatically
• Classify stakeholders (Key Players, Keep Satisfied, Keep Informed, Monitor)
• Generate tailored engagement strategies per stakeholder
• Create visual relationship diagrams (Mermaid format)
• Identify communication preferences and impact areas

Use Cases:

• Planning change management initiatives
• Building stakeholder engagement plans
• Identifying project champions and resistors
• Creating communication strategies

Example:

python scripts/stakeholder_mapper.py stakeholders.csv --output markdown
python scripts/stakeholder_mapper.py stakeholders.json --output mermaid > diagram.mmd

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raci_generator.py

Creates RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) matrices from process documentation.

Usage:

python scripts/raci_generator.py INPUT [--output json|csv|markdown|html]

Features:

• Generate RACI matrices from process JSON, CSV, or Markdown
• Validate RACI assignments (one Accountable per activity)
• Support custom RACI templates with predefined assignments
• Identify workload imbalances across roles
• Flag missing assignments and over-allocation
• Multiple output formats for different audiences

Use Cases:

• Clarifying roles and responsibilities
• Preventing decision bottlenecks
• Balancing workload across teams
• Establishing clear accountability

Example:

python scripts/raci_generator.py process.json --output markdown
python scripts/raci_generator.py process.csv --template raci-template.csv --validate-only

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gap_analyzer.py

Identifies gaps and missing elements in process documentation with severity scoring.

Usage:

python scripts/gap_analyzer.py --input INPUT [--format json|human]

Features:

• Analyze process completeness across 9 dimensions
• Calculate completeness scores (0-100%)
• Flag critical gaps (missing owners, error handling, success criteria)
• Severity classification (critical, high, medium, low)
• Generate actionable recommendations
• Filter by severity threshold

Use Cases:

• Quality-checking process documentation
• Identifying high-risk process areas
• Prioritizing documentation improvements
• Pre-implementation validation

Example:

python scripts/gap_analyzer.py --input process.json --format human
python scripts/gap_analyzer.py --input process.json --severity-threshold high --output gaps.json

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improvement_planner.py

Generates detailed improvement plans from gap analysis with phased implementation roadmaps.

Usage:

python scripts/improvement_planner.py --gaps GAPS [OPTIONS]

Features:

• Create phased improvement plans from gap analysis results
• Prioritize improvements by impact and effort
• Generate Gantt charts for timeline visualization
• Estimate resource requirements and costs
• Identify dependencies between improvements
• Support custom resource constraints

Use Cases:

• Building implementation roadmaps
• Resource planning for improvements
• Creating project timelines
• Prioritizing improvement activities

Example:

python scripts/improvement_planner.py --gaps gaps.json --timeline 12 --output markdown
python scripts/improvement_planner.py --gaps gaps.json --output gantt > timeline.txt

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kpi_calculator.py

Calculates process KPIs and efficiency metrics from execution data with baseline comparison.

Usage:

python scripts/kpi_calculator.py INPUT [OPTIONS]

Features:

• Calculate standard process KPIs (cycle time, throughput, error rate, etc.)
• Compare current metrics against baseline targets
• Analyze trends over time periods
• Generate ASCII charts for markdown reports
• Support CSV and JSON input formats
• Export results in multiple formats

Use Cases:

• Measuring process performance
• Tracking improvement progress
• Creating executive dashboards
• Validating process changes

Example:

python scripts/kpi_calculator.py executions.csv --baseline baseline.json
python scripts/kpi_calculator.py executions.json --period 30 --output markdown --include-charts

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References

[Reference documentation will be added in future iterations. Current focus on templates and automation tools.]

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Templates

1. Process Charter Template

Location: assets/process-charter-template.md

Purpose: Define process scope, objectives, roles, metrics, and implementation plans

Use Cases:

• Formalizing existing informal processes
• Launching new business processes
• Process improvement initiatives
• Cross-functional workflow alignment

Sections: Executive summary, business context, process details, roles/responsibilities, performance metrics, dependencies, risk assessment, implementation plan, governance

2. RACI Matrix Template

Location: assets/raci-matrix-template.md

Purpose: Clarify roles and responsibilities across activities using Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed framework

Use Cases:

• Eliminating role confusion in complex projects
• Preventing decision bottlenecks
• Balancing workload across teams
• Establishing clear accountability

Sections: Role definitions, activity matrix, workload analysis, communication protocols, validation checklist, escalation paths

3. Improvement Proposal Template

Location: assets/improvement-proposal-template.md

Purpose: Build comprehensive business case for process improvements with ROI analysis and implementation roadmap

Use Cases:

• Securing budget for process improvements
• Demonstrating value of efficiency initiatives
• Prioritizing improvement opportunities
• Gaining executive approval

Sections: Executive summary, current-state analysis, proposed solution, business case (costs/benefits), implementation plan, risk assessment, success metrics, change management

4. Stakeholder Analysis Template

Location: assets/stakeholder-analysis-template.md

Purpose: Map stakeholder landscape, assess influence and interests, and develop targeted engagement strategies

Use Cases:

• Planning change management approaches
• Building coalition support for initiatives
• Identifying resistance and mitigation strategies
• Creating communication plans

Sections: Stakeholder inventory, power-interest grid, detailed profiles, influence network map, engagement plan, support tracking, success metrics

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Examples

Example 1: Process Improvement Initiative

Scenario: Customer onboarding takes 15 days with 8% error rate. Goal is to reduce to 7 days with <2% errors.

Workflow:

# Step 1: Analyze current process
python scripts/process_parser.py current-onboarding-process.md --output analysis.json

# Step 2: Create process charter
cp assets/process-charter-template.md onboarding-charter.md
# Edit charter with current metrics and improvement targets

# Step 3: Build improvement proposal
cp assets/improvement-proposal-template.md onboarding-improvement.md
# Complete business case with ROI calculations

# Step 4: Plan stakeholder engagement
cp assets/stakeholder-analysis-template.md onboarding-stakeholders.md
# Map key stakeholders and engagement approach

Expected Outcome: Executive-ready improvement proposal with 50% cycle time reduction, quantified ROI, and stakeholder buy-in strategy.

Time Estimate: 2-3 days for comprehensive analysis and documentation

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Example 2: Cross-Functional Workflow Design

Scenario: Sales, product, and engineering teams lack clarity on feature request handling. Need to establish clear process with role definitions.

Workflow:

# Step 1: Document current state through interviews
# (Manual step - gather input from all teams)

# Step 2: Create RACI matrix
cp assets/raci-matrix-template.md feature-request-raci.md
# Define who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed for each activity

# Step 3: Design new process
cp assets/process-charter-template.md feature-request-process.md
# Document trigger events, steps, inputs/outputs, success criteria

# Step 4: Analyze and validate process structure
python scripts/process_parser.py feature-request-process.md --visualize
# Review workflow for bottlenecks or missing steps

# Step 5: Plan rollout
cp assets/stakeholder-analysis-template.md feature-request-stakeholders.md
# Identify change champions and communication plan

Expected Outcome: Formalized feature request process with clear accountability, reducing confusion and improving response times by 40%.

Time Estimate: 1 week for design, validation, and stakeholder alignment

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Integration with Other Skills

Agile Product Owner Toolkit: Use RACI matrices and process charters to clarify sprint roles and ceremonies

OKR Strategist: Link process improvement KPIs to organizational OKRs and track progress

UX Research Toolkit: Incorporate user research findings into process improvement proposals

RICE Prioritizer: Score process improvement opportunities using RICE framework for prioritization

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Benefits

Time Savings:

• 60% faster process documentation using templates vs. starting from scratch
• 40% reduction in stakeholder alignment time through structured RACI approach
• 50% less time analyzing processes with automation tools

Quality Improvements:

• Consistent documentation format ensures nothing is missed
• Structured analysis reveals hidden inefficiencies
• Data-driven improvement proposals increase approval rates

Business Impact:

• Clear ROI calculations in improvement proposals
• Reduced cycle times through optimized workflows
• Better change adoption through stakeholder management

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Best Practices

1. Start with Current State: Always document as-is before designing to-be state
2. Quantify Everything: Use metrics, not opinions, to justify improvements
3. Engage Early: Involve stakeholders from discovery through implementation
4. Think Incrementally: Break large improvements into phased rollouts
5. Validate Assumptions: Test process designs with end users before full rollout
6. Measure Results: Track KPIs post-implementation to prove value

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Next Steps

Getting Started:

1. Identify a process pain point in your organization
2. Use process_parser.py to analyze current documentation
3. Create process charter to formalize scope and objectives
4. Build stakeholder analysis to plan engagement approach

Advanced Usage:

• Combine multiple templates for comprehensive initiative planning
• Chain tool outputs into improvement proposals
• Build process repository for organizational knowledge management
• Create standardized playbooks for recurring process types

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Documentation: Full skill guide and workflows available in this file

Support: For issues or questions, refer to parent domain guide at ../CLAUDE.md

Version: 1.1.0 | Last Updated: 2025-11-27 | Status: Production Ready

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Version History

Version	Date	Changes
1.1.0	2025-11-27	Added retail/supply chain/tech industry focus, methodology variants, common challenges, 5th workflow (Evaluation & Lessons Learned)
1.0.0	2025-11-21	Initial release with 4 workflows and Python tools