Final answer:
B. Coding and technical skills. Business analysts require facilitation, observational, organizational, and leadership skills, excluding coding and technical skills, which are not a core function of their role.
Step-by-step explanation:
The skills that are important for business analysts, with the exception of one, include facilitation skills, which involve engaging stakeholders effectively; observational skills, critical for understanding user behavior and processes; organizational skills for managing information and tasks efficiently; and leadership skills, which encompass the ability to guide teams and drive projects forward. The skill that is not typically required for business analysts is coding and technical skills. While useful, they are not a core function of business analysis and are more relevant for roles such as software developers or IT specialists.
Understanding social systems and large bureaucracies, as well as the ability to execute research projects, collect and analyze statistical information, and prepare reports, are vital competencies. Business analysts must be adept at utilizing these skills to analyze data, identify trends, and make informed decisions to improve business processes and strategies. Critical thinking, creative thinking, and innovative inquiry mentioned by the World Economic Forum as top skills for 2025, also align closely with the skill set of proficient business analysts.