BA Brew - A Business Analysis Podcast

Service frameworks are a powerful yet often overlooked tool that can fundamentally change how teams understand, collaborate, and achieve outcomes.
In this episode of BA Brew, Jonathan Hunsley from AssistKD is joined by Chris Pyatt and Victoria Banner to discuss how service frameworks help business analysts, business architects and service designers clarify their value, improve collaboration and navigate complex organisational change ecosystems.
The discussion covers:
What a service framework actually is – and how it defines the value a role delivers
Why business analysis, architecture and service design overlap more than we think
How frameworks create clarity on roles, responsibilities and boundaries
The role they play in reducing confusion, conflict and duplication across teams
How they support career growth, capability building and even recruitment decisions
Practical advice on getting started – and why you don’t need to build everything at once
Whether you are a business analyst, business architect, service designer or other digital change professional, this episode offers practical advice for improving conversations and outcomes.
EXPLORE ASSISTKD TRAINING
AssistKD offers Business Analysis and Service Design training online, in person and through eLearning, with over 30 years' experience in professional development.
Relevant courses for this episode:
BCS Business Analysis Practice - https://www.assistkd.com/courses/business-analysis-diploma-courses/bcs-certificate-business-analysis-practice
BCS Business Architecture - https://www.assistkd.com/courses/architecture-courses/bcs-certificate-business-architecture
A4Q Business Service Design - https://www.assistkd.com/courses/service-design-courses/a4q-certificate-business-service-design
WATCH THIS EPISODE
Watch all episodes of the BA Brew on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxdeXIxtEOU&list=PLEvIolukjrawamafeBkNM3pELcNqVrPN6

Once you learn business analysis skills, do they ever really switch off?
In this episode of BA Brew, Mike, Ruth, Kerry and Stu discuss how BA thinking becomes embedded into everyday life - shaping how we solve problems, make decisions and interact with others.
The discussion covers:
Why BA skills naturally carry over into everyday situations
Real-life examples of using BA thinking outside of work
When analysis and problem-solving can be unhelpful
The risk of “analysis paralysis”
How to recognise when to switch off BA mode
Techniques like circles of control, root cause thinking and options analysis in daily life
The importance of empathy, presence and reading the room
Whether you're a business analyst, change professional or team leader, this episode offers practical insights into balancing analytical thinking with real-world human situations.
EXPLORE ASSISTKD TRAINING
AssistKD offers Business Analysis and Service Design training online, in person and through eLearning, with over 30 years' experience in professional development.
Relevant courses for this episode:
BCS Certificate in Business Analysis Practice
BCS Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis
BCS Certificate in Modelling Business Processes
Eexplore AssistKD's full range of Business Analysis training courses here: https://www.assistkd.com/our-business-training-courses-classes

Informal networks are one of the most powerful – and often overlooked - forces in organisations. For Business Analysts, understanding how information really flows can make the difference between struggling with change and successfully influencing it.
In this episode of BA Brew, Jonathan Hunsley is joined by Michelle, Fiona and Carlos to explore the role of gossip and informal networks in the workplace – and how they impact organisational change.
The discussion covers:
What “gossip” actually means in a workplace context
Why informal networks exist and how they create psychological safety during change
The difference between formal communications and how information really spreads
How informal networks can support better stakeholder engagement and change outcomes
The risks of negative gossip, politics and organisational culture
How Business Analysts can use informal networks to sense-check, influence and support change
Whether you are a Business Analyst, change professional, service designer or team leader, this episode provides practical insights into the human side of organisations – and how to work with it, not against it.
EXPLORE ASSISTKD TRAINING
AssistKD offers Business Analysis and Service Design training online, in person and through eLearning, with over 30 years’ experience in professional development.
Relevant courses for this episode:
BCS Stakeholder Engagement
BCS Digital Business Change
BCS Benefits Management and Business Acceptance
BCS Modelling Business Processes
Explore AssistKD's Business Analysis full range of training courses here: https://www.assistkd.com/our-business-training-courses-classes

Active listening is one of the most valuable skills a Business Analyst can develop — and one of the easiest to get wrong.
In this episode of BA Brew, Jonathan Hunsley from AssistKD is joined by Craig Rollason and Corrine Thomas to discuss how active listening helps business analysts build trust, improve stakeholder conversations and gather better requirements.
The discussion covers:
What active listening really means for business analysts
Why listening is central to effective stakeholder engagement
Common unhelpful listening behaviours and how to avoid them
How to prepare yourself to listen properly
The value of summarising, silence and open questions
How teams can practise and improve their listening skills together
Whether you are a business analyst, service designer, change professional or team leader, this episode offers practical advice for improving conversations and outcomes.
EXPLORE ASSISTKD TRAINING: AssistKD offers Business Analysis and Service Design training online, in person and through eLearning, with over 30 years' experience in professional development.
Relevant courses for this episode:
BCS Stakeholder Engagement
BCS Requirements Engineering
BCS Advanced Requirements Engineering
BCS Business Analysis Practice
LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE: Find BA Brew on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major platforms.

What’s it really like starting out as a Business Analyst - and how do you avoid feeling isolated, overwhelmed or “behind” in your early career? In this episode of The BA Brew, Mike is joined by Joe and Jo from the Young Business Analysts (YBA) - a fast‑growing, volunteer‑led community designed to support Business Analysts aged 35 and under.
They discuss:
Why YBA was created and the gap it set out to fill
How safe spaces help early‑career BAs ask the questions they’re afraid to ask at work
The impact of volunteering on confidence, networking and public speaking
How YBA has grown into a 2,500+ strong community across online and in‑person events
Why experienced practitioners still have an important role to play
From first‑job nerves to conference speaking, this is an honest conversation about growth, connection, and building a career in Business Analysis - without doing it alone.
FURTHER RESOURCES
YBA
YBA Website
YBA LinkedIn
BA Brews
BA Brew 9: Young BA Special
BA Brew 77: How to start your BA Career
BA Brew 88: BA Apprentice of the Year
Articles
The Young Business Analysts: How It All Began
Where are They Now? Business Analyst Apprentices