What Most Business Analysts Get Wrong About Agile (And How to Fix It)
Agile doesn’t need fewer analysts — it needs faster, smarter, braver ones. Here's how to step up.
If you’re stepping into an Agile project — or want to make sure you’re helping (and not accidentally slowing the team down) — here are the hard-earned lessons I wish I’d known earlier.
(They would’ve saved me months of stress — and probably prevented a few project disasters.)
Over my journey working alongside Agile teams, I’ve seen many BAs struggle to adapt to the fast-paced, flexible nature of Agile. It’s easy to get lost in the noise or fall into the trap of doing things the "old" way. But Agile isn't about doing less work — it’s about doing the right work, in the right way, and at the right time.
Here’s how you can avoid common pitfalls and become the kind of BA that Agile teams truly need.
📚 1. Agile Still Needs Analysis (But It's Different)
One of the biggest mistakes I see is the belief that Agile means less analysis.
This couldn’t be farther from the truth.
In Agile, analysis is still a core function, but it’s done differently. Instead of large, upfront requirements gathering, Agile BAs perform small, incremental analyses that align with each sprint or feature.
How to approach it:
Break discovery into micro-discoveries. Each feature needs its own lightweight discovery process.
Write light acceptance criteria but cover both the "happy path" and edge cases.
Engage real users or the dev team early to validate requirements — even before a ticket is picked up.
🛑 If you’re just copying stakeholder wishlists into Jira without further analysis, you’re doing it wrong. Agile requires agile analysis — quick, iterative, and constantly evolving.
🔍 2. You Must Protect the "Why"
The constant sprinting in Agile makes it easy to focus only on what needs to be done and forget why you’re doing it.
This is a critical oversight.
As a Business Analyst, your job is not just to move stories around. You’re responsible for protecting the Why. If that’s lost, the team may end up building something that doesn’t align with the business’s true goals.
How to approach it:
Link every story to a user goal or business outcome.
If the “Why” isn’t clear, raise it immediately during grooming or planning sessions.
Don’t let vague requests like "improve UX" or "make it more modern" go unchecked. Ask what success looks like in measurable terms.
🎯 Remember, your job is to move the product towards the right goals — not just move stories through the board.
🛠️ 3. Micro-Waterfalls Still Kill Agile
One of the most damaging things to Agile is the micro-waterfall approach.
This happens when large batches of requirements are handed off all at once, fully polished, before development even begins. This is Agile theater, not Agile practice.
How to approach it:
Embrace progressive elaboration — start with rough outlines and add more detail as you move along.
Discuss stories with the team before they are fully written.
Accept that some questions will only emerge during development, and that's perfectly fine — just make sure you have a plan for quick follow-ups.
🧩 In Agile, it's OK to leave some details TBD — but you must have a clear process to finalize them later.
🎤 4. You Are the Best Early Warning System
As a BA, you’re closest to the action. You’re right in the middle of the user needs, stakeholder requests, and the development team’s output. This puts you in the best position to spot issues before they escalate.
How to approach it:
Keep a "smell list" of things that feel off. If something doesn’t seem right — flag it early.
Create a standing 15-minute sync with Product Owners to check on priorities or any shifts in scope.
Don’t assume someone else will catch it. They usually won’t.
🚨 One simple question asked early can save weeks of development time later.
🧩 5. The "Good Enough" Mindset Wins
Perfectionism? It’s an Agile killer.
Agile demands flexibility and speed, not perfection. Instead of seeking perfect requirements, aim for good enough to build and adapt.
How to approach it:
Use the rule: Every user story should be understandable by a smart intern on the team.
Don’t overcomplicate — clarify assumptions but avoid adding unnecessary detail.
Every refinement session should answer the question: Is this making things clearer or more complicated?
📈 Momentum beats perfection every time in Agile.
🏆 Final Thoughts
If you’re a BA stepping into Agile (or stuck in the middle of it), remember:
✅ Agile doesn't need fewer analysts.
✅ Agile needs faster, smarter, and braver analysts.
Be the one who:
Protects clarity at all costs
Stays focused on the user
Speaks up when things start to drift
Chooses useful over perfect
This is how you stop Agile from becoming chaos — and how you make yourself indispensable to the team.
📣 Before You Go:
👉 Ever caught a critical requirement gap mid-sprint?
👉 Saved the day with a single, powerful question?
Hit reply and tell me — I'd love to feature some real-world stories in the next edition of BA Bites.
If you’re nodding along thinking, “Damn, I needed to hear this,” you’re my kind of reader.
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— Monica | The Data Cell