The discovery of the Rosetta Stone in 1799 was one of the most important breakthroughs in history. By presenting the same text in three different scripts—Hieroglyphic, Demotic, and Greek—it provided the key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, a language that had been a mystery for centuries. The stone was a tool of translation and clarification, turning incomprehensible symbols into a source of immense knowledge.
This is the perfect metaphor for the role of a skilled business analyst. They are the translators who decipher the complex "language" of a business process to unlock its hidden value.
Many business processes are like an undeciphered script. They are filled with confusing steps, unclear handovers, and redundant tasks that make the entire workflow slow and inefficient. Team members may understand their individual part of the process, but no one has a clear view of the whole. This lack of clarity makes it impossible to identify the root causes of problems or to see the opportunities for improvement. The process is a black box, and the value locked inside remains inaccessible.
The Rosetta Stone's power was not in the text it contained, but in the clarity it provided. By providing a direct translation, it created a moment of understanding that unlocked a lost world of information. The principle is fundamental: you cannot improve what you do not understand. The first and most critical step in any transformation is to achieve a clear, shared understanding of the current reality.
At MPX, our Business Analysis & Process Optimisation service is the discipline of bringing this clarity to your organisation. Our business analysts act as the translators who can decipher your most complex workflows. The process begins by eliciting evidence-based requirements and rigorously validating the nature of your business problems and processes. This is the "deciphering" phase, where we work with your teams to create a clear, shared understanding of how work actually gets done.
This analysis then allows us to identify specific inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and opportunities to optimise workflows and streamline operations. Critically, this is not based on guesswork. The entire process leverages data-driven insights to facilitate informed decision-making and foster a culture of continuous improvement. It is the systematic process of turning complexity into clarity, and clarity into value.
Transformation begins with a clear definition of the problem. A great problem statement is the first step to deciphering any issue.
Context (The Ideal State)
Briefly describe the process and its intended purpose. What is it supposed to achieve?
The Issue (The Reality)
Describe what is actually happening. What is going wrong? Be specific and use data and metrics (e.g., "The average cycle time is 48 hours, which is 24 hours over our target.").
The Impact (The Cost)
Quantify the business cost of this issue in terms of wasted time, excess cost, increased risk, or reduced quality. This creates the business case for change.
The Vision (The Solution)
In one sentence, describe what the world would look like if this problem were solved.
Just as the Rosetta Stone unlocked the secrets of an ancient civilisation, skilled business analysis can unlock the hidden potential within your organisation. By bringing clarity to complexity, you can transform your inefficient processes into powerful engines of value creation.
Contact MPX to learn how our business analysts can help you decipher your operational challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth.
