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MIS 3340 Chapter 1 : The World of the Modern Systems Analyst
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Page 1: Chapter 1

MIS 3340

Chapter 1:The World of the

Modern Systems Analyst

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Overview Why Invest in Information Systems

Information Systems Crucial to success of modern business organizations Constantly being developed to make business more

competitive Impact productivity and profits

Keys to successful systems development Thorough systems analysis and design Understanding what business requires

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Overview (analysis vs. design)

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Profile of an Analyst1. Understands business problems

2. Uses logical methods for solving problems

3. Has computer technology knowledge and programming expertise

4. Has fundamental curiosity

5. Wants to make things better

6. Is more of a business problem solver than technical programmer

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Analyst’s Approach to Problem Solving

Verify that the benefits of solving the problem outweigh the costs

Research and understand the problem

Define the requirements for solving the problem

Develop a set of possible solutions (alternatives)

Define the details of the chosen solution

Monitor to make sure that you obtain the desired results

Decide which solution is best, and make a recommendation

Implement the solution

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Systems That Solve Business Problems Information systems – collection of interrelated

components that collect, process, store, and provide as output information needed to complete tasks1. System – interrelated components functioning

together to achieve outcome2. Subsystems – part of larger system3. Super-system – larger system contains subsystem4. Functional decomposition – dividing system into

smaller subsystems and components

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Information Systems & Subsystems

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System Boundary vs. Automation Boundary

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Types of Information Systems

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Required Skills of the Systems Analyst

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Required Skills of the Systems Analyst

An analyst should have fundamental technology knowledge of: Computers / peripheral devices (hardware) Communication networks and connectivity Database and database management systems

(DBMS) Programming languages (for example: VB.NET

or Java) Operating systems and utilities

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Technical Knowledge and Skills1. Analyst uses tools:

Software productivity packages (MS Office) Integrated development environments (IDEs) for

programming languages CASE tools / coding, testing, and documentation

support packages2. Analyst understands SDLC phase techniques:

Project planning Systems analysis, systems design Construction, implementation, systems support

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Business Knowledge and Skills

1. Analyst must understand: Business functions performed by organization Organizational structure Organization management techniques Functional work processes

2. Systems analysts typically study business administration in college

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People Knowledge and Skills

1. Systems analysts need to understand how people: Think; Learn; React to change; Communicate; Work (in a

variety of jobs and levels)

2. Interpersonal and communication skills are crucial to: Obtaining information Motivating people Getting cooperation Understanding the complexity and workings of an

organization in order to provide necessary support

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Integrity and Ethics

Analyst has access to confidential information such as salary, an organization’s planned projects, security systems, etc.

Must keep information private

Any impropriety can ruin an analyst’s career

Analyst plans security in systems to protect confidential information

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The Analyst’s Role in Strategic The Analyst’s Role in Strategic PlanningPlanning

• Special projects affecting executives– Business process reengineering – radical

improvements to existing processes• Strategic planning development process• Information systems strategic planning

– Application architecture plan (business focus)– Technology architecture plan (infrastructure

focus)• Enterprise resource planning (ERP)

integrated systems

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Components of an information systems Components of an information systems strategic planstrategic plan

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Rocky Mountain Outfitters (RMO) & Its Rocky Mountain Outfitters (RMO) & Its Strategic Information Systems PlanStrategic Information Systems Plan

• RMO sports clothing manufacturer and distributor about to begin customer support system project

• First understand: nature of the business, approach to strategic planning, and objectives for customer support system– RMO systems development project used

to demonstrate analysis and design concepts

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Introduction to Rocky Mountain Introduction to Rocky Mountain Outfitters (RMO) businessOutfitters (RMO) business

• Began Park City, Utah in 1978 supplying winter sports clothes to local ski shops

• Expanded into direct mail-order sales with small catalog – as catalog interest increased, opened retail store in Park City

• Became large, regional sports clothing distributor by early 2000’s in Rocky Mountain and Western states

• Currently $100 million in annual sales and 600 employees and two retail stores

• Mail-order revenue to $60 million, phone-order revenue is $30 million

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RMO Strategic IssuesRMO Strategic Issues• Innovational clothing distributor, featured

products on Web site ahead of competitors• Original Web site functions:

– Enhance image, request copy of catalog, portal to Outdoor sports Web sites

• Enhanced Web site functions:– Add specific product information, weekly

specials, and all product offerings• Detailed IS strategic plan

– Supply chain management – Customer relationship management

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Existing RMO SystemsExisting RMO Systems Small mainframe-based system Small mainframe-based system

Supports inventory, mail-order, accounting and Supports inventory, mail-order, accounting and human resourceshuman resources

Has dedicated connectivity to distribution and Has dedicated connectivity to distribution and mail-order sitesmail-order sites

LANs and file servers LANs and file servers Supports central office functions, distribution Supports central office functions, distribution

centers, and manufacturing centerscenters, and manufacturing centers Manufacturing has dial-up capability Manufacturing has dial-up capability

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Existing RMO Systems (Existing RMO Systems (cont’dcont’d)) RMO informational Website RMO informational Website

Hosted by Internet service provider (ISP)Hosted by Internet service provider (ISP) Merchandising/DistributionMerchandising/Distribution

12 year old mainframe COBOL/CICS, DB2, 12 year old mainframe COBOL/CICS, DB2, VSAM application VSAM application

Mail orderMail order 14 year old mainframe COBOL application 14 year old mainframe COBOL application

Phone orderPhone order Oracle and Visual Basic system built 6 years Oracle and Visual Basic system built 6 years

ago ago

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Existing RMO Systems (Existing RMO Systems (cont’dcont’d)) Retail store systemsRetail store systems

8 Year old point-of-sale and batch inventory package, 8 Year old point-of-sale and batch inventory package, overnight update with mainframe overnight update with mainframe

Office systemsOffice systems LAN with office software, Internet, emailLAN with office software, Internet, email

Human resourcesHuman resources 13 year old mainframe-based payroll and benefits13 year old mainframe-based payroll and benefits

Accounting/FinanceAccounting/Finance Mainframe package bought from leading vendorMainframe package bought from leading vendor

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The Information Systems The Information Systems Strategic PlanStrategic Plan

Supports RMO strategic objectivesSupports RMO strategic objectives Build more direct customer relationships Build more direct customer relationships Expand marketing beyond Western statesExpand marketing beyond Western states

Plan calls for a series of information system Plan calls for a series of information system development and integration projects over several development and integration projects over several yearsyears

Project launchProject launch: new customer support system to : new customer support system to integrate phone orders, mail orders, direct integrate phone orders, mail orders, direct customer orders via Internetcustomer orders via Internet

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RMO Technology Architecture PlanRMO Technology Architecture Plan Distribute business applications Distribute business applications

Across multiple locations and systemsAcross multiple locations and systems Reserve mainframe for Web server, database, and Reserve mainframe for Web server, database, and

telecommunications telecommunications Allow incremental and rapid growth in capacityAllow incremental and rapid growth in capacity

Strategic business processes via InternetStrategic business processes via Internet Supply chain management (SCM)Supply chain management (SCM) Direct customer ordering via dynamic Web siteDirect customer ordering via dynamic Web site Customer relationship management (CRM)Customer relationship management (CRM) Web-based intranet for business functionsWeb-based intranet for business functions

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RMO Application Architecture PlanRMO Application Architecture Plan Supply chain management (SCM)Supply chain management (SCM)

Product development, product acquisition, Product development, product acquisition, manufacturing, inventory management manufacturing, inventory management

Customer support system (CSS)Customer support system (CSS) Integrate order-processing and fulfillment system with Integrate order-processing and fulfillment system with

SCMSCM Support customer orders (mail, phone, web)Support customer orders (mail, phone, web)

Strategic information management systemStrategic information management system Extract and analyze SCM and CSS information for Extract and analyze SCM and CSS information for

strategic and operational decision making and controlstrategic and operational decision making and control

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RMO Application Architecture RMO Application Architecture Plan (Plan (continuedcontinued))

Retail store system (RSS)Retail store system (RSS) Replace existing retail store system with system Replace existing retail store system with system

integrated with CSSintegrated with CSS Accounting/Finance systemAccounting/Finance system

Purchase intranet application to maximize Purchase intranet application to maximize employee access to financial data for planning and employee access to financial data for planning and controlcontrol

Human resource (HR) systemHuman resource (HR) system Purchase intranet application to maximize Purchase intranet application to maximize

employee access to human resource forms, employee access to human resource forms, procedures, and benefits informationprocedures, and benefits information

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Timetable for RMO Application Timetable for RMO Application Architecture PlanArchitecture Plan

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The Customer Support SystemThe Customer Support System RMO core competency is their ability to develop RMO core competency is their ability to develop

and maintain customer loyaltyand maintain customer loyalty Supply chain management (SCM) must be Supply chain management (SCM) must be

defined before CSS can begindefined before CSS can begin CSS is a core system supporting customer CSS is a core system supporting customer

relationship managementrelationship management Systems analysis phase will define system Systems analysis phase will define system

requirements in detailrequirements in detail Strategic plan’s stated objectives will form Strategic plan’s stated objectives will form

guidelines as project proceedsguidelines as project proceeds


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