Business analysts are essential to tech teams, with their evaluations and recommendations shaping the entire improvement initiatives. However, some business analysts find themselves seeking more overarching ownership over certain business processes. Product management is one area where business analysis skills can synergize, but moving into this area requires business analysts to take a broader perspective.
Product managers (PMs) define a product’s vision and strategy and then take it through execution by guiding cross-functional teams in multiple departments. They need to be able synthesize competing demands and coordinate between technical and business teams to make decisions that affect long-term outcomes.
For business analysts and IT professionals interested in transitioning into technology-driven product management, a Master of Science in Information Systems Technology (MSIST) offers the technical and leadership skills needed to bridge the gap.
Why Are Business Analysts Well-Positioned to Become Product Managers?
An efficient business analyst already possesses many of the skills and values that are foundational to product management. Their experience in managing multiple stakeholders’ requirements and understanding workflows enables these professionals to communicate effectively with both technical teams and stakeholders.
Overlapping Strengths
Both business analysts and product managers need to have expert analysis skills and strong communication abilities.
| Communication Skills | Analytical Skills |
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Shared Focus on Solving Business Problems
Business analysts identify process inefficiencies and provide recommendations to improve processes or outcomes. Product managers take data-informed insights and turn them into actionable strategies that guide teams toward successful product development and delivery.
The core value and principles of the role are the same: use all the information available to you and use it to solve problems facing your business. So while the application of problem-solving may be different (process vs. product), the end goal is the same.
The Experience Gap: From Analysis to Ownership
Although analysts possess strong analytical and stakeholder management skills, they often lack decision-making authority beyond the specific project they’ve been assigned to. This means that while they have valuable technical and management skills, business analysts need more training in both areas in order to succeed as product managers, who have full ownership of the product lifecycle.
A master’s in information systems technology is a great opportunity for business analysts to gain the skills and credentials they need to become strong PMs. These programs go beyond basic IT management and develop comprehensive skills for wide-reaching leadership opportunities.
Students work through a curriculum that includes structured approaches to enterprise-level system design and data management, while also developing leadership and project management skills. This dual focus allows graduates to think critically about product strategy, guide teams effectively and communicate with executive leadership in a business-oriented way.
What Is a Product Manager?
Product managers lead a product from the initial concept to delivery while managing customer needs and business objectives. They tend to work closely with engineering and design teams to develop actionable plans and ensure team alignment.
Technical product managers go beyond consumer app and surface-level product development by considering technical feasibility and optimization in addition to business value. Because of this expanded focus, technical product managers need additional expertise, such as:
- System architecture
- Enterprise platforms
- Data infrastructure
- System interdependencies
Why Are Technical PMs in Demand?
Companies that build enterprise systems and complex data platforms need product managers who can collaborate effectively with engineers while also understanding broader business objectives. These are highly complex initiatives that require true leadership and cross-functional expertise.
There were 210,266 job postings for product managers in 2024, with over 11,000 employers competing for PMs. In 2025, there were 301,756 total PM job postings, indicating excellent growth for an already high-demand role.
Technical PMs fill this gap: they can evaluate business infrastructure and integration requirements, then connect these technical considerations with customer needs and market efforts. This skill set is especially valuable in IT-driven industries, where businesses seek product managers who can contribute to both strategic planning and technical decision-making.
Business Analyst vs. Product Manager: Key Differences and Overlaps
Both roles call for strong collaboration, analytical skills and the ability to balance competing priorities. Moving from analyst to product manager involves taking a vastly expanded scope, where professionals are fully responsible for outcomes and emphasize strategic and operational objectives.
| BA vs. PM: High‑Level Differences | ||
|---|---|---|
| Business Analyst | Product Manager | |
| Core Responsibility | Gather information and analyze processes to provide recommendations for business improvement. | Develop the strategic vision and logistical direction for a product, then ensure successful delivery and implementation. |
| Decision‑Making Power | Moderate: Analysts inform important decisions | High: Product managers make their own decisions for product direction |
| Scope | Medium: Analysts focus on one task, process, or system at a time. | Large: PMs consider overall product performance and long‑term business goals. |
| Knowledge | Domain knowledge in specific systems or industries | Versatile domain knowledge, general business expertise, and leadership ability |
How an MSIST Bridges the Gap Between Business Analysis and Technical Product Management
A master’s in information systems technology is the best of multiple worlds. It offers hands-on technology training like an IT degree, systems-oriented tech solutions expertise like an information sciences degree and comprehensive business expertise like an MBA.
The MSIST provides the IT depth and strategic acumen to manage complex enterprise products from concept to deployment. That rigorous technical coursework is blended with business management training, preparing graduates to own product roadmaps, lead cross-functional collaboration and collaborate effectively with both technical and executive teams.
Ultimately, an MSIST degree provides business analysts with the combination of technical knowledge and leadership training they need to transition to product management.
Strengthening Technical Expertise
MSIST students work through a complex technical curriculum, preparing them to evaluate technological enhancement initiatives and understand how tech implementation can be conducted most effectively. Some core topics include system design and data architecture and management.
Students are also introduced to the latest technologies, allowing them to step into environments with rapidly evolving technical requirements. This education prepares future product managers to communicate technical concepts to stakeholders and demonstrates credibility when leading enterprise technology initiatives.
Developing Strategic Business Leadership
A master’s in information systems also provides focused leadership development for professionals who want to manage high-impact tech teams. Students learn to:
- Conduct financial analyses of proposed projects
- Explain the value of products to decision-makers
- Prioritize initiatives based on impact
- Balance technical requirements with business goals
- Guide teams toward meaningful outcomes
Coursework in risk assessment and resource allocation further prepares graduates to explore the impact of product decisions as they relate to organizational strategy.
Building Cross-Functional Confidence
The ability to lead product management without silos is a crucial skill for product managers, especially given that many PMs report struggling with cross-functional communication in their organizations. With the winning combination of technical expertise and strategic business management, information systems technology graduates can clearly communicate with engineers, designers, operations staff and even executives.
This level of preparation ensures that graduates can manage enterprise products from concept to deployment successfully, which earns them trust across both technical and business groups.
What Steps Should You Take to Make the Transition?
In order to make the leap from business analysis to product management, professionals will need to gain skills, experience and credibility that demonstrates their readiness:
- Gain technical fluency by gaining an understanding of foundational knowledge, like system architecture and development processes.
- Build a product thinking mindset that emphasizes understanding customer needs and operating under measurable success criteria.
- Earn an advanced degree, like an MSIST, to earn both technical and leadership skills.
- Explore transitional roles like product analyst or associate product manager to gain entry-level experience.
- Network with product managers so you can gain a stronger sense of market expectations and real-world strategic considerations.
- Engage in mentorship programs or shadow a PM so that you understand what it takes to manage enterprise-level products.
- Showcase readiness by building a portfolio that demonstrates strategic knowledge and leadership skills.
What Skills Do You Need to Make the Transition from BA to PM?
Technical product managers can build upon their existing business analysis skills to prepare for product management, but some skills may be entirely new. For example, business analysts will already understand how to leverage data to interpret metrics and guide decisions, but they may not have an understanding of software architecture and data flows.
Other critical competencies include:
- Product lifecycle knowledge
- Creating actionable insights from qualitative feedback
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Strategic decision-making
- Communicating value to stakeholders
| What You Have: Business Analysis Skills | What You Need: Product Management Requirements | How You Get There: Skills Gained in an MSIST | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Knowledge |
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| Product Strategy |
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| Communication & Management |
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| Development Practices | Agile participation | Sprint planning and backlog ownership | Advanced project management |
| Data & Metrics | Basic reporting | Data-driven product decisions | Data interpretation and analytics |
Career Outcomes: What You Can Expect After Moving From BA to PM
Transitioning into a product management role offers unique opportunities to lead enterprise products and influence business strategy. With an MS in Information Systems Technology, professionals are well-suited to PM roles that involve guiding technical teams toward measurable, impactful results, such as:
- Technical product manager
- Product owner
- IT product manager
By transitioning into a product management role, professionals will enjoy increased responsibility and exciting opportunities to shape product direction across business units.
The median annual salary for a technical product manager in the United States is $80,084, with the top 10% of earners having a median annual salary of $93,323.
Market Trends & Future Demand
Demand for technical product managers is continuing to rise as companies invest in enterprise software and data platforms. Organizations value the ability to combine technical understanding with strategic thinking, which can accelerate career growth. And, the ability to make informed decisions about infrastructure, integration and security while balancing market strategy and business value will continue to be a crucial skillset for years to come.
Graduates of GW Business’s MS in Information Systems Technology program are well-positioned in the competitive market, benefiting from the credibility demonstrated by the program’s STEM designation. With enterprise-level product expertise, technical savvy and leadership acumen, graduates can excel in managing cross-functional teams and making informed decisions that guide products from concept to deployment.
Advanced Tech Skills for Tomorrow’s Challenges: GW’s MSIST
Advance your career with the GW School of Business’s Master of Science in Information Systems Technology (MSIST), available online or in person. The MSIST prepares you to succeed in the face of IT challenges, use data effectively and drive sustainable growth. Through online MSIST coursework and live lectures, you’ll gain the skills you need to spearhead major technology initiatives and translate complex data into strategic business decisions.
We believe in supporting our students through their academic journeys: every student accepted into our online graduate programs will receive an automatic tuition scholarship.
Learn more about the online MSIST by requesting a brochure, or starting your application today!
Since 1928, GW School of Business students have leveraged our global presence to pursue practical, insightful expertise in the world of business from an enviable vantage point. One of the most diverse cities in the United States, D.C. is home to leading organizations in the health care, hospitality, media, government, defense and technology sectors. Our faculty are thought leaders and educators in these areas and more, and they’re ready to provide you with the business and management expertise you need to succeed.