Problem: Article: Part of your job as a business analyst is to gather and assess information regarding the business itself. You may be able to use your own data collections methods or you may end up relying on data provided to you by others. Either way, you need to be efficient and flexible when looking over the available information. For example, you might discover that job that remained unfilled was the cause of breakdown in the chain of command. You are looking for weaknesses and strengths when you assess. After you've looked over the data, you will want to craft a single report, or even multiple reports, describing a set of possible solutions. When you are a business analyst, you should try to dig deeply into any potential problems by asking the standard who, what, when, where, why, and how questions. The answers will help you to craft a solution that helps the many over the few. For example, if you find that the progress of paperwork markedly slows down in one department, you might suggest bypassing that area altogether or sending more resources their way to speed up the process. You will need to act as the intermediary between the company and the shareholders. This means communicating important information to them in both formal and informal settings. They will expect to see clear, evidence-based solutions with traceable results. You will touch base with your shareholders frequently to see what they expect from each project. It is possible to do this with both group sessions and private interviews. Working with shareholders will involve a fair amount of tact and diplomacy. You will want to work around disagreements quickly and recover quickly if a project falls through. The best business analysts are comfortable talking with anyone in the company about pretty much anything. You will be especially close with technology-based departments as you will need to balance shareholder expectations with the realities of that sector. Recognizing and working around the limitations of IT is a behavior that will bring you additional loyalty from those workers, which may make future projects easier. For example, if an executive wants a computer program to perform a certain task, you will need to work with the IT specialists in order to find a good option that is available and appropriate. You will want to ask a ton of questions. This is especially the case when you are presented with a new project or when you meet a new person. By asking questions, you get important information that you can pass along to others, thus improving the efficiency of a company. Being curious about others' views will also let them help you to identify possible problems and solutions. For example, you might ask an associate, "Why do you follow that protocol?" Or, you could say, "How would you describe the company's chain of command?"
Summary: Complete frequent company evaluations. Recommend changes and improvements. Communicate with stakeholders. Work with all levels. Stay curious.

Problem: Article: Jewelry should not be flashy or make noises when you move. For this reason, you should not wear a column of bracelets that jangle against each other as you move your arm. You should also remove loose change from your pockets. Anything that makes a loud noise as you walk should be removed. The less jewelry you wear, the better. Other than a watch and a wedding ring, you probably don't need to wear any other piece of jewelry. Take out nose rings or any other studs that you had implanted on your face. Anything that you got because it was "edgy" or "different" will work against you in court. If you can't remove earrings, try to cover your ears with your hair. You can use a piercing filler for any piercings. Cover up tattoos with clothing. A long-sleeved shirt can cover arm tattoos, and long pants will cover leg tattoos. If you have a tattoo on your face or neck, then use makeup to conceal it. You should not wear a hat in the courtroom; it is considered disrespectful. If, for religious reasons, you wear a headscarf, turban, kippah or other headgear, then that should be fine. However, courts are undecided whether or not you can wear a full-face veil if you need to testify to the judge. You should consult with a lawyer if you wear a veil. Also remove sunglasses when you enter the courtroom unless there are medical reasons that you need to wear them. If you do need to wear dark glasses for medical reasons, try to bring a note from a doctor to that effect. Do not bring into the courtroom anything that can beep or ring. Check your watch to make sure it does not make a noise at a certain time. Because you want to avoid giving the judge a reason for disliking you, then you should not wear anything that shows your political leanings or other affiliations. Avoid political buttons, college rings, and religious symbols if possible.
Summary: Avoid loud or large jewelry. Cover tattoos and piercings. Remove your hat. Leave cell phones in your car. Do not signal your political affiliation.

Problem: Article: There are many different types of fountain pen nibs, and they are appropriate for different situations and to create different effects. For everyday writing, opt for: A round nib, which is great for making uniform lines A small nib, which will create thinner lines A firm nib that doesn't have a lot of flex between the two tines, so the tines won't spread out under pressure to create a broader stroke Fountain pen nibs are also available in a variety of different metals, and each of these has unique properties. The most common metals for nibs are: Gold, which has lots of flexibility, so you can control the width of the stroke Steel, which has more spring, meaning you can press harder without separating the tines, so your stroke won't get broader when you press harder
Summary: Choose the right nib for everyday writing. Understand the different nib materials.

Problem: Article: "A lot" is a noun phrase (an indefinite article a + a noun) that functions as an adjective to refer to the quantity of something. This makes it like any other noun phrase, such as "a wagon" or "a puppy," and it is always spelled as two words. For example: I have a lot of money. I have a lot of burritos. I have a lot of Bratz dolls. I like you a lot. "A lot" is often used in informal conversation to describe the quantity of something, but it is usually considered too colloquial for use in formal prose. Some people prefer to use a lot to describe quantities for collective nouns, or things that cannot be counted individually, such as sugar or water. For example: "There was a lot of sugar on the floor." It may be preferable to use other words, such as "several," "many," or "a great deal of" when referring to count nouns (things that can be counted individually). Allot is a verb, something you do, rather than an adjective that describes something. For example: He was allotted three feet of space to set up his art stall. I will allot these lottery tickets to my friends. It no longer exists as an acceptable word in English. It was taught in the U.S. school systems in the 60's through the 90's which may be causing some confusion between generations. If you catch yourself writing alot, even in informal situations, rewrite it as a lot as it is the accepted appropriate use.
Summary:
Use the informal phrase "a lot" when you wish to describe quantity. Understand that "a lot" is often considered slang. Use "allot" when you are referring to giving out, apportioning, dividing or granting something. Refrain from using "alot". Practice your usage.