What should a business analyst focus on to assess the effectiveness of a solution?

To assess the effectiveness of a solution, a business analyst should focus on the solution’s performance against defined metrics. Defining specific, measurable outcomes is crucial because these metrics provide a clear framework for evaluating whether the solution meets its intended goals. These metrics can include various quantitative and qualitative measures, such as user satisfaction, return on investment (ROI), system uptime, or the successful completion of specific tasks by users.

By analyzing how well the solution performs against these predefined metrics, the business analyst can determine its success and identify areas for improvement. This focus allows stakeholders to make informed decisions based on actual performance data rather than assumptions or anecdotal evidence.

In contrast, factors such as the time taken to develop the solution, the financial costs incurred, or the number of team members involved are not direct measures of effectiveness. While they can provide context and help inform project management decisions, they do not necessarily reflect whether the solution achieves its intended purpose or delivers value to users in the way that defined performance metrics do.