What key aspect must a Business Analyst evaluate when proposing a new solution?

When proposing a new solution, a Business Analyst must evaluate how well the solution aligns with organizational strategy and goals. This alignment is crucial because it ensures that the proposed solution supports the overall mission and vision of the organization. A solution that doesn't fit within the strategic framework may lead to wasted resources, stakeholder dissatisfaction, or even derailment of critical initiatives.

The alignment helps to identify whether the solution meets long-term objectives, addresses the needs of stakeholders, and can be integrated into existing processes or systems. It also facilitates buy-in from leadership and key stakeholders, as they are typically more supportive of initiatives that clearly contribute to strategic objectives.

While factors such as cost of implementation, availability of resources, and timeline for execution are important considerations, they are secondary to ensuring that the proposed solution drives the organization towards its strategic goals. Without this alignment, even the most cost-effective or timely solutions might still fail to deliver value or be sustainable in the long run.