Meet Our Esteemed Speakers at IIBA Poland Summit 2024!

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In this presentation, we will be taking a unique approach by hosting an Oxford debate-style session. Our aim is to challenge assumptions, spark "aha" moments, and encourage vibrant discussions among the audience.

Using real-life examples from the experiences of business analysts, we will compare two contrasting approaches: analytical and experimental. By showcasing the tools, advantages, and limitations of each approach, we intend to inspire the audience to engage in a lively exploration and debate.

Rather than providing ready-made answers, our goal is to highlight that in today's dynamic and ever-changing world, there is also room for experimentation. We firmly believe that business analysts of the future need to possess skills in both analytical thinking and embracing experimentation.

Let's challenge the status quo and find new and creative solutions.

Learning objectives:

1. Rethinking and redefining existing ways of working in the area of business analysis as a result of faster and more dynamic changes in the product environment. 

2. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of traditional business analysis and experimental approaches in running projects and building products. 

3. Encourage experimentation.

  We work in the global village. Leaders across the world are our clients. We are responsible for effective information sharing and influencing people from different cultures. From time to time, to our surprise, we see that our communication effectiveness is lower than we would expect. There could be many potential reasons for that. However, often, we fall into cross-cultural communication pitfalls. Our cultural filters block our ability to hear what our partners try to say, or our communication style could be perceived as aggressive or arrogant.

That will be the main subject of my presentation. I will share with you hands-on advices how effectively work in international environment, how to recognize our own cultural filters and how to accept others' perspective.

We will discuss about effective communication, how to provide feedback, how to approach hierarchy and build trust in different cultures. I will invite you to a journey of reflections how beautifully we differ and how we can enhance, develop and change our perspective when working with other cultures

Have you ever thought about your C-level executives as Business Analysts?
They spend their time analyzing how to maximize their businesses and their work has a lot in common with Business Analysis.

In this talk I would like to share with you my experience in working with C-level executives, in particular:
- show you how they think
- how they operate at scale
- how they do strategic analysis to build the company strategy
- how they transform the business and run Digital Transformation

Together we will reflect on Business Analysis role in achieving company strategy and contributing to the overall company success. You will hear about the needs of C-level executive as well as their biases, so you will be able to help them more effectively in strategic analysis and become Chief Business Analyst aka Chief Strategy Officer.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand CEO way of thinking. 

2. Analyze the enterprise view of the organization. 3. Appreciate how your Business Analysis contribute to the overarching company strategy. 

4. Rethink how you can support your C-level executives and elevate your career. 

5. Encourage to be brave and take your business analysis on the strategic level.

Embarking on an infrastructure project without prior infrastructure experience can be compared to stepping into uncharted territory. As a Business Analyst and Project Manager, I found myself thrust into the realm of infrastructure, an arena vastly different from my previous projects. While initially daunting, this journey ultimately became a transformative experience, shaping both my professional growth and personal resilience.
In this talk, I will delve into the highs and lows of my work on infrastructure projects, shedding light on the invaluable lessons learned along the way. From the challenges of grappling with unfamiliar technical jargon to the exhilarating moments of successfully navigating complex stakeholder dynamics, each obstacle presented an opportunity for growth.
Through candid reflections and practical insights, I aim to share actionable takeaways for fellow professionals venturing into unfamiliar domains. Whether you're a seasoned expert or a newcomer to infrastructure projects, this talk offers a roadmap for embracing challenges, fostering resilience, and transforming adversity into triumph. Join me as we explore the transformative power of embracing the unknown in pursuit of professional excellence.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze the unique challenges faced by business analysts in infrastructure projects. 

2. Identify strategies for effectively bridging the gap between technical and business requirements in infrastructure settings. 

3.Explore methods for enhancing communication and collaboration between multidisciplinary teams in infrastructure project environments.

Burnout is a prevalent issue in many professions, including business analysis, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced professional efficacy. It can have detrimental effects on individual well-being, team dynamics, and organizational performance.
Burnout poses significant challenges to the well-being and effectiveness of business analysts. By recognizing the signs and causes of burnout and implementing proactive strategies to address it, organizations can create a healthier and more sustainable work environment for their business analysts, ultimately enhancing productivity, creativity, and job satisfaction.
This presentation aims to shed light on the phenomenon of burnout within the profession of business analysis. We will explore the causes, symptoms, and potential solutions to address burnout among business analysts.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain insight into the concept of burnout, including its definition, causes, and manifestations, specifically within the context of the business analysis profession 2. Learn to identify the signs and symptoms of burnout among business analysts, including emotional, physical, and behavioural indicators 3. Explore the various factors contributing to burnout in the field of business analysis 4. Understand the detrimental effects of burnout on individual performance, team dynamics, and organizational outcomes 5. Discover proactive strategies and techniques to prevent burnout among business analysts 6. Explore methods for building resilience and coping mechanisms to effectively manage stress and prevent burnout in the demanding role of a business analyst

Leading a business analysis team involves more than just delivering excellent results. It requires properly defining roles, recognizing individual potential, and developing team competencies on both a team and individual level. IIBA provides valuable tools that can greatly support business analysis team leaders in these endeavors.

This presentation will explore the tools and methods that can be used to effectively define role scopes and career paths, ensuring that teams deliver outstanding results, understand their impact, and foster mutual growth and support.

As the President of the IIBA Poland Chapter, I am excited to share how IIBA’s tools and resources can assist team leaders in nurturing their teams and guiding them to reach their highest potential.

     Have you ever felt professionally misunderstood? Ever had stakeholders that don’t want to engage with business analysis work, or that involved BAs too late? If so, then this is the session for you! 

The harsh truth is that business analysis is misunderstood sometimes. Yet, it is our role as practitioners to cut through that misunderstanding and show stakeholders the value that we can add. In this session, you’ll hear tips and techniques from the world of sales that can be used to ‘sell’ the BA role internally. 

During the session you will hear: 

• A range of techniques and ideas from the world of sales that are directly relevant for BAs 
• Tips and tricks for getting skeptical stakeholders interested and engaged with business analysis 
• The importance of understanding stakeholder perspectives, and deepening relationships
  Whether you are an experienced or newer BA, you’ll walk away with techniques that you can apply in your day job.
   

The presentation delves into the pivotal role business analysts play in driving innovation within organizations. With a focus on bridging the gap between vision and execution, it explores how business analysts facilitate the journey from ideation to impactful outcomes. Through practical strategies and real-world examples (based on my expertise in the biotech industry), attendees gain insights into leveraging the business analyst's toolkit to identify emerging trends, facilitate stakeholder collaboration, and guide project implementation. Emphasizing the importance of adaptability, communication, and research, the presentation equips attendees with the tools and mindset needed to thrive in innovation-driven environments. From fostering a culture of innovation to championing transformative projects, business analysts emerge as catalysts for change, driving sustainable growth and competitive advantage.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the pivotal role of business analysts in driving innovation within organizations, Learn practical strategies for identifying emerging trends and opportunities for innovation, Explore effective techniques for facilitating stakeholder collaboration, Discover best practices for navigating the complexities of innovation-driven environments

Orange Polska offers an extensive business portfolio that enables the digital transformation of companies and local government institutions in a comprehensive manner. Explaining the technological aspects and the complexity of solutions such as 5G campus networks or SmartCity is a challenge. Therefore, educating customers about the possibilities offered to them and the benefits for their companies and organizations is essential in this process. The idea was to create a virtual space that engagingly demonstrates advanced technological solutions, enabling customers to understand and evaluate their potential in the context of real business applications. Orange Business Metaverse is a metaverse solution designed and programmed from scratch, enabling meetings with multiple participants and a multisensory presentation of Orange's offerings. Using VR goggles, guests join the meeting regardless of their physical location. They see each other as personalized avatars. They can move and communicate verbally, interacting with the digital space and the attractions prepared for them. Up to 20 people can participate in a meeting, and up to 5 such meetings can be organized independently and simultaneously.
I will talk about how Connected Realities led the entire software implementation process at Orange Polska, from requirements analysis to product delivery after testing

Learning Objectives:

1.Understand how immersive technologies support the sale of complex business solutions. 2. Learn what the process of collecting and analyzing business requirements for a complex technology project in the VR/AR/Metaverse area looks like. 3. Verify how to design a technological solution that maximally engages the user. 4. Apply a proven method for implementing an MVP in your own organization. 5. Analyze how AI connects with the Metaverse.

When communication breaks down, misunderstandings and conflicts can quickly escalate, leading to frustration and resentment on both sides.
In theory, self-organizing tech teams choose how best to accomplish their work. Theoretically, these teams consist of people with sufficient competencies - both soft and hard skills - to make things done. In reality, technical people have different communication requirements than business folks. Factors that contribute to communication failure may include differences in communication styles, cultural barriers, and technology-related issues. A message which is sufficient for a proper reaction of the business recipient may be incomprehensible or imprecise for the tech recipient. Or the other way around, the thing that is "obvious" for tech folks and does not require any further explanation from their perspective, not necessarily will have to be perceived that way by the business folks.
How to avoid the Chinese whisper effect? How to exclude redundant layers that negatively affect communication? How to be not only heard but also understood. How to find common ground and alignment with different parties including customers, users, engineering and development, marketing, sales, operations, and management? And last but not least, what needs to be done to catch tiny things that can have a big impact on the project or the product release? So.. Have you ever worked or cooperated with someone who made you feel awkward or uncomfortable? Or maybe you put yourself in the position where after your words there's been this long-lasting deafening silence and tension felt in the room? Or the joke just fell flat badly. Those are few of the topics that I would like to touch and share my hints.

Learning Objectives:

Contrast different methods to exclude redundant layers that negatively affect communication. Rethink strategies to ensure being not only heard but also understood. Review approaches to finding common ground and alignment with different parties, including customers, users, engineering and development, marketing, sales, operations, and management. Analyze what needs to be done to catch tiny things that can have a big impact on the project or product release. Compare various techniques for effective communication. Review strategies to mitigate the Chinese whisper effect.

Introduction to Ryanair LABS: Provide an overview of Ryanair LABS, highlighting its role as the innovation hub driving technological advancements within Ryanair.
Importance of Business Analysis in Data: The significance of leveraging data analytics to drive strategic decision-making, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction within the aviation industry.
Impact on Business Performance: Showcase the tangible benefits of our data-driven approach, such as revenue maximization, cost reduction, improved customer experience, and competitive advantage.
Success Stories and Case Studies: The real-world examples and case studies highlighting the successful implementation of data-driven initiatives and their impact on Ryanair's business outcomes.
Future Directions: The insights into the future direction of our business analysis in data efforts, including upcoming projects, technological advancements, and strategic priorities.

Learning Objectives:

Understand the importance of data-driven decision-making in aviation business strategies. Rethink business analyst role as a driver of changes and active contributor to change.Analyze techniques for leveraging data analytics to optimize operational processes and enhance efficiency. Explore methodologies for conducting customer segmentation and personalization to improve customer satisfaction.

Although most BAs today still work in IT, there are also more and more business analysts who are closer to business. Either to help product managers, scrum masters, data management managers, or digital transformation managers. Some, however, have the privilege of working with business decision-makers directly, even in digital business transformations.
In this presentation, Aleš Štempihar from Slovenia will present his business path from the beginning in the IT industry, where he worked for 15 years, then founded his own company, and in the following 15 years went from a BA IT to the strategic BA and consultant to companies in their business and digital transformations.
We will look at critical points on this path and what qualities and new competencies Aleš acquired so that today he can be a business challenger to executives and managers.

Learning Objectives:

How to get out of IT and become a business-ready BA? What skills do you need as a BA to be a business challenger? What are the critical business questions every business BA needs to ask their CEO?