BobtheBA. I see and hear it all the time – Business Analysts make reference to their business partners saying, “they never know what they want”, “they keep changing their requirements again and again”, or “once again I led them to water”. Powerful statements. Disturbing statements for many reasons. Is it a lack of maturity of the business, the BA, or both? I have worked with, mentored, or coached many BAs in this situation and often the response or story that comes back to me is that they (the BA) would not have any requirements at all without first “leading” their business partners to water. I certainly understand the frustration as eliciting requirements is not easy! However, when I do hear the “lead to water” type statements, the first thing that always comes to my mind is the story of the Pied Piper, and what a dangerous tale it is.

The Pied Piper. The dictionary defines the Pied Piper as “a leader who entices people to follow (especially to their doom)”. If only it were not for that second part! I encourage and teach that all BAs be leaders in their domain; however, the leadership of the Pied Piper is not the kind of leadership that really works long-term or one that should be emulated (ends in doom you know). The story of the Pied Piper is that the Piper is a rat-catcher hired by a town to lure away some rats (with a magic pipe). The town refuses to pay the Piper for said service and the Piper retaliates by luring their children away (just like the rats), never to be seen again. Very doom and gloom and no one wins.