Ditch the BRD: Amplify value with Design Thinking and Lean Startup methodologies
Business analysts often ask ‘did we deliver within scope, budget and time?’ instead of ‘did we solve the real customer problem with the right solution?’ This session makes the case that BAs must move beyond passive requirements gathering and adopt entrepreneurial thinking as a core capability.
It introduces a framework that merges Design Thinking with Lean Startup methodologies to cultivate an intrapreneurial mindset. By combining Design Thinking’s human-centric problem discovery with Lean Startup’s rapid experimentation, BAs can treat every project as a venture that creates value for the customer and the organisation. Attendees will learn how to leverage Minimum Viable Products as a tool to test assumptions early, reduce waste, and directly amplify the impact of a BA function.
Key Takeaways
- The Intrapreneurial Mindset: adopt entrepreneurial thinking to treat internal projects as high-value ventures rather than mere checklist tasks.
- The Hybrid Advantage: merge Design Thinking’s deep user empathy with Lean Startup’s rapid experimentation to validate solutions quickly.
- Data-Driven Decisions: empower the organisation to safely pivot or continue on a path using real customer feedback.
About the Speaker
Ouma Hlapyadi Bodila is a strategic, solutions-driven professional with 17 years of experience in technology and financial services, specialising in digital transformation. As a Lead Solution Analyst for Absa CIB, she optimises business processes, drives automation, and leads technology-enabled change, bridging Operations, Technology, Product, Risk and Change to deliver client-centred solutions.
Beyond her role at Absa, Ouma is an active volunteer within the IIBA South Africa Chapter, taking on roles that strengthen the local BA practice and build a culture of collaboration. She recently completed her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), deepening her expertise in strategy, digital transformation and leadership.