I love the idea of maintaining a collection of reusable interview questions. As well as having value for individual business analysts, I also see benefits of sharing such a collection throughout an organisation's business analysis community. A valuable resource for experienced and novice BAs alike, encouraging consistent ways of working and maximising effectiveness of interviews. The simple ideas are always the best.

The jazz musician, Charles Mingus, is quoted as having once said “Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.”

Unfortunately - when deadlines are looming - we don't always get the time we need to keep it simple!

I often experience the same thing. For the most part I think this is because my business analysis skills are constantly evolving, whether through background reading or direct experience. Also reactions from customers or colleagues can make me sit back and think about how I can improve on what I've done. I look back on earlier work with mixed feelings - I wish I'd known then what I know now, but I'm glad I know now what I didn't know then! This is one of the great appeals of the profession.