The Modern Systems Analyst Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998 1 Prepared by Kevin C. Dittman for...

The Modern Systems Analyst

Prepared by Kevin C. Dittman for

Systems Analysis & Design Methods 4ed

by J. L. Whitten & L. D. BentleyCopyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 19982

Introduction

The chapter will address the following questions: What business trends and drivers are influencing the careers of

systems analysts? How can you prepare yourself for a career as a systems or

business analyst? What does the future hold for systems analysts?





Who Should Read This Book

What is an Information System? An information system is an arrangement of people, data,

processes, interfaces, networks, and technology that interact for the purpose of supporting and improving both day-to-day operations in a business (sometimes called data processing), as well as supporting the problem solving and decision making needs of management (sometimes called information services).

What is a Computer Application System? A computer application is computer-based solution to one or

more business problems and needs. One or more computer applications are typically contained within an information system.





Who Should Read This Book

The Systems Analyst - A Key Resource The systems analyst performs systems analysis and design.

Systems analysis is the study of a business problem domain for the purpose of recommending improvements and specifying the business requirements for the solution.

Systems design is the specification or construction of a technical, computer-based solution for the business requirements identified in a systems analysis. (Note: Increasingly, the design takes the form of a working prototype.).





The Systems Analyst As A Modern Business Problem Solver

What is a Systems Analyst? A formal definition:

A systems analyst facilitates the study of the problems and needs of a business to determine how the business system and information technology can best solve the problem and accomplish improvements for the business. The product of this activity may be improved business processes, improved information systems, or new or improved computer applications frequently all three.






What is a Systems Analyst? A systems analyst is a business problem solver.

A systems analyst helps the business by solving its problems using system concepts and information technology.

A systems analyst sell business management and computer users the services of information technology. A systems analyst sells change.






What is a Systems Analyst? The role of systems analyst is changing into two distinct positions

or roles, business analyst and application analyst. A business analyst is a systems analyst that specializes in

business problem analysis and technology-independent requirements analysis.

An application analyst is a systems analyst that specializes in application design and technology-dependent aspects of development. A synonym is system or application architect.






What Does A System Analyst Do? A system analyst is a system-oriented problem solver.

System problem solving is the act of studying a problem environment in order to implement corrective solutions that take the form of new or improved systems.

Most systems analysts use some variation of a system problem solving approach called a system development life cycle. A systems development life cycle (SDLC) is a systematic and

orderly approach to solving system problems.






What Does A System Analyst Do? The SDLC usually incorporates the following general-purpose

problem solving steps: Planning - identify the scope and boundary of the problem,

and plan the development strategy and goals. Analysis - study and analyze the problems, causes, and

effects. Then, identify and analyze the requirements that must be fulfilled by any successful solution.

Design - if necessary, design the solution not all solutions require design.

Implementation - implement the solution. Support - analyze the implemented solution, refine the design,

and implement improvements to the solution. Different support situations can thread back into the previous steps.





Planning

Analysis

Design

Support

Problem to be solved

Problem analysis and

Solution requirements

Acceptable solution

Obsolete solution

Implemen- tation

Implemented solution

Related problem to be solved

New solution to same problem

Implementation error

to be fixed






What Does A System Analyst Do? System analysts are responsible for other aspects of a system

including: PEOPLE, including managers, users, and other developers –

and including the organizational behaviors and politics that occur when people interact with one another.

DATA, including capture, validation, organization, storage, and usage.

PROCESSES, both automated and manual, that combine to process data and produce information.

INTERFACES, both to other systems and applications, as well to the actual users (e.g., reports and display screens).

NETWORKS, which effectively distribute data, processes, and information to the people.






Where Do System Analysts Work? The Systems Analyst in the Traditional Business.

Information services are centralized for the entire organization or a specific line of business.

• Information Services reports directly to chief executive officer, or the chief executive for a line of business.

• The highest ranking information officer is a vice president, sometimes called a chief information officer (CIO).






Where Do System Analysts Work? The Systems Analyst in the Traditional Business.

Information Services is organized according to the following functions or centers:

• Systems and Applications Development.

– Most systems analysts work here, along with most programmers.

– The systems analysts and programmers are organized into permanent teams that support the information systems and applications for specific business functions.

– The Systems and Applications Development unit may include a development center.

– A development center establishes and enforces the methods, tools, techniques, and quality of all development projects.





Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or

Line of Business Chief Executive

VP of Information Services or

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Manager Systems Development

Telecommunications Administrator

Manager End User Computing

Data Administrator

Manager. Computer Operations

Data Analysts

Database Analysts

Database Administrators

Network Managers

Network Technicians

Network Analysts

End User Consultants

End User Trainers

System Programmers

Capacity Analyst

Computer Operators

Manager Financial Systems

Manager Development

Center

Manager Marketing Systems

Manager Manufacturing

Systems

Systems Analysts

Application Programmers






Where Do System Analysts Work? Modern Information Services in a Business

Dramatic reorganization trend in medium-to-large information services units that is highly decentralized with a focus on empowerment and dynamic teams .

Result is a federation of information systems centers that report directly to their functional business units (or groups of business units).

• Each of these centers is empowered to set priorities and make decisions on behalf of their constituent management and users.





Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or

Line of Business Chief Executive

Chief Information Officer (CIO) (for central information services)

Vice President Finance

Vice President Marketing

Vice President Manufacturing

Manager Financial

Information Services

Manager Financial


Manager Financial


Network Manager

Analyst/ Programmers

Team

Network Manager


Team

Network Manager


Team

Information Strategy Planning

Team

Information Technology Architecture

Team

Cross-Functional Systems &

Applications Development Teams

Information Technology Competency

Centers

Departmental Computing

Coordination

Data Administrator

Telecommuni-cations

Administrator

Project Managers

coordinate advise evaluate

Other Technical Specialists

Application Technology Specialists

Database Specialists

Network Specialists

indicates dynamic assignments

to teams as needed







Decentralized information services can, however, lead to information anarchy and systems that do not interoperate to the benefit of the business as a whole.

There will always be systems and applications that support more than one business function perhaps the entire enterprise.

• These are called cross-functional applications. There still exists a need for a central Information Services unit.







The central Information Services unit is responsible for:• Information Strategy Planning

– The information strategy planning team establishes direction and priorities for aligning information services for the entire business with the corporate mission, vision, and goals.

– Experienced systems analysts often play key roles in development.






Where Do System Analysts Work? Outsourcing in the Modern Business

Outsourcing is the act of contracting a service or function to an external third party.

Typically, the business must retain enough of a central Information Services unit to monitor and manage the outsourcing agreement.

Some mission critical information services functions and projects may not be outsourced.






Where Do System Analysts Work? Consulting

Management and systems consulting firms build information systems and applications for other organizations.

The systems analysts employed by management consulting firms are usually called management consultants or systems consultants.

• They are loaned (for a fee) to the client for engagements (a consulting term that means ‘project’) that result in a new system for the client.

• Once the engagement is completed, they are reassigned to a new engagement, frequently for a new business client.






Where Do System Analysts Work? Application Software Solution Providers

Application software solution providers are in the business of building information systems and application software packages for resale to other businesses.

Many businesses have a policy of not building any system they can purchase.

Software packages are typically written to the greatest common denominator of their intended market – that is, they are designed to meet general requirements and offer limited customizability.





Customers, Partners and Expectations

The Roles of Management and Users in Systems Problem Solving

The roles of management and users in: Planning

• Management must sponsor and fund all projects.

• Users must define the domain and boundaries of the problem. Analysis

• As subject matter experts, management and users must analyze the problem domain for causes, effects, and opportunities; as well as communicate the requirements to be fulfilled by any successful solution, regardless of technology chosen.

Design• Users must react to high-level solution designs and participate in

the solution’s design.






The Roles of Management and Users in Systems Problem Solving

The roles of management and users in: Implementation

• Users participate in system construction and testing. They are the recipients of training necessary to enable the full user community to work with the solution.

Support• Users and management should routinely evaluate the working

solution and suggest improvements.






Partners for the Systems Analyst – Information Technologists and Vendors

It takes more than systems analysts and users to build effective systems.

In addition to clients, the systems analyst works with a number of technical peers called information technologists.

The systems analyst's role in the typical project is to act as a facilitator.

The systems analyst may well be the only individual who sees the system or application as a whole.

The systems analysts must possess a unique set of skills and abilities to accomplish the complex task of facilitating systems.





Systemsanalyst

Steering committee

User 1

User 2

User N

Management/ systemowner

Databaseadministrator

Interfacedesign expert

Networkadministrator

Applicationsprogrammers

Informationtechnologyvendors





Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst

Working Knowledge of Information Technology The systems analyst is an agent of change. The systems analyst is responsible for showing end-users and

management how new technologies can benefit their business and its operations.

The systems analyst must be aware of both existing and emerging information technologies and techniques.






Computer Programming Experience and Expertise A systems analyst must know how to program because they are

the principle link between business users and computer programmers.

It is wrong to assume that a good programmer will become a good analyst or that a bad programmer could not become a good analyst.

Most systems analysts need to be proficient in one or more high-level programming languages.






Computer Programming Experience and Expertise Historically, the language of choice has been COBOL for business

applications, but many organizations are shifting to visual programming languages or to object-oriented programming languages . The reasons for the shift are as follows:

• The transition to graphical user interfaces.

• The desire to downsize applications from the mainframe to networks of PCs.

• The pressures to improve productivity in applications development through rapid, iterative prototyping and the reuse of programming modules called objects and components.

Visual and object-oriented programming requires a completely different style of program design, construction, and testing.






General Business Knowledge The systems analysts are expected to immerse themselves in the

business and be able to specify and defend technical solutions that address the bottom-line value returned to the business.

Systems analysts should be able to communicate with business experts to gain knowledge of problems and needs.

It is not uncommon for systems analysts to develop so much expertise over time they move out of information systems and into the user community.






Problem-Solving Skills The systems analyst must have the ability to take a large business

problem, break that problem down into its component parts, analyze the various aspects of the problem, and then assemble an improved system to solve the problem.

The systems analyst must learn to analyze problems in terms of causes and effects rather than in terms of simple remedies.

The systems analyst must be well organized. System analysts must be able to creatively define alternative

solutions to problems and needs.






Interpersonal Communications Skills The systems analyst must be able to communicate effectively, both

orally and in writing. The systems analyst should have a good command of the English

language. Almost without exception, communications skills, not technical

skills, prove to be the single biggest factor in career success or failure.






Interpersonal Relations Skills Systems work is people-oriented and systems analysts must be

extroverted or people-oriented. Interpersonal skills help systems analysts work effectively with

people. Interpersonal skills are also important because of the political

nature of the systems analyst's job. The systems analyst's first responsibility is to the business, its

management, and its workers. The systems analyst must mediate problems between team

problems and achieve benefits for the business as a whole.






Flexibility and Adaptability No two systems development projects encountered by a systems

analyst are identical. There is no single, magical approach or solution applicable to

systems development. Successful systems analysts learn to be flexible and adapt to

special challenges or situations presented by specific systems development projects.

The systems analyst must be able to recognize when variations upon (or single-instance exceptions to) development standards are necessary and beneficial to a particular project.

The systems analyst must be aware of the implications of not following the standards.






Character and Ethics The nature of the systems analyst's job requires a strong character

and sense of ethics. Ethics is a personal character trait in which an individual(s)

understands the difference between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and acts accordingly.

Systems analysts must be very careful not to share their organization’s sensitive and secret information with others, either within or outside the organization.

Systems analysts must be very careful not to tell sensitive and private data and information about customers, suppliers, employees with the wrong people.






Systems Analysis and Design Skills All systems analysts need thorough and ongoing training in

systems analysis and design. Systems analysis and design skills can be conveniently factored

into three subsets: concepts and principles tools techniques





The Next Generation

Career Prospects According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for

systems analysts are expected to increase much faster than the average for all professions; even more than for programmers.

Depending on the economy, businesses will need between 173,000 and 264,000 new systems analysts by the year 2000 – an increase of 24 to 37 percent since 1988.

Systems analyst is ranked as the 12th fastest-growing occupation between now and the year 2000.





The Next Generation

Career Prospects Does a position as a systems analyst lead to any other careers?

Some analysts leave the information systems field and actually join the user community.

Some analysts become project managers, information systems managers, or move into technical specialties (such as database, telecommunications, microcomputers, and so forth).

The opportunities are virtually limitless.

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