Which of the following is a core competency of a business analyst?

• A. Stakeholder management
• B. Network security
• C. Mechanical design
• D. Culinary arts

Answer: (A)

Managing stakeholders is a central capability for a business analyst because the role hinges on connecting business needs with effective solutions. A BA must identify who is affected, gather and clarify requirements, and coordinate between diverse groups—from executives and sponsors to end users and project teams. Strong stakeholder management enables clear communication, sets realistic expectations, negotiates scope, and secures buy-in, ensuring requirements are understood, prioritized, and traceable through to a delivered solution that creates value. Without this, even well-defined problems can stall, drift, or fail to meet objectives. The other areas—network security, mechanical design, and culinary arts—lie outside the typical scope of business analysis and don’t represent the core abilities a BA uses to elicit, analyze, and manage requirements and stakeholders.