Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Modern Systems Analyst: The Chapter Will Address The Following Questions
The Modern Systems Analyst: The Chapter Will Address The Following Questions
Introduction
Prepared by 1
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Introduction
Prepared by 2
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Who Should Read This Book
Prepared by 5
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Why do businesses need Systems Analysts?
The system analyst bridges the communications gap between
those who need the computer and those who understand the
technology.
Prepared by 6
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
What is a Systems Analyst?
Systems analysts are people who understand both business and
computing.
Systems analysts study business problems and opportunities and
then transform business and information requirements of the
business into the computer-based information systems and
computer applications that are implemented by various technical
specialists including computer programmers.
Prepared by 7
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
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
Prepared by 8
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
What is a Systems Analyst?
When information technology is used, the systems analyst is
responsible for:
the efficient capture of data from its business source
Prepared by 9
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
What is a Systems Analyst?
A systems analyst is a business problem solver.
A systems analyst helps the business by solving its problems
Prepared by 10
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
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
Prepared by 11
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
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
Prepared by 12
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
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,
require design.
Implementation - implement the solution.
New solution
Implementation
to same problem
error
to be fixed
Problem analysis
and
Implemented
Solution requirements
solution
Implemen- Acceptable
Design
tation solution
Prepared by 14
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
What Does A System Analyst Do?
System analysts are responsible for other aspects of a system
including:
PEOPLE, including managers, users, and other developers –
usage.
PROCESSES, both automated and manual, that combine to
Prepared by 16
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
The Systems Analyst in the Traditional Business.
Information services are centralized for the entire organization
Prepared by 17
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
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.
Prepared by 18
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
The Systems Analyst in the Traditional Business.
Information Services is organized according to the following
Prepared by 19
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
The Systems Analyst in the Traditional Business.
Information Services is organized according to the following
Prepared by 20
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
The Systems Analyst in the Traditional Business.
Information Services is organized according to the following
Prepared by 22
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
or
Line of Business Chief Executive
VP of Information Services
or
Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Manager Network
Database End User System
Development Analysts
Administrators Consultants Programmers
Center
Manager
Data Network End User Capacity
Financial
Analysts Managers Trainers Analyst
Systems
Manager
Database
Marketing Network Computer
Analysts
Systems Technicians Operators
Manager
Manufacturing
Systems
Systems
Analysts
Application
Programmers
Prepared by 23
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
Modern Information Services in a Business
Dramatic reorganization trend in medium-to-large information
Prepared by 24
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) indicates dynamic
or assignments
Line of Business Chief Executive to teams
as needed
Chief Information Officer (CIO) Vice President Vice President Vice President
(for central information services) Finance Marketing Manufacturing
Information Information
Departmental
Strategy Technology
Computing coordinate advise evaluate
Planning Competency
Coordination
Team Centers
Data Database
Administrator Specialists
Cross-Functional Network Network Network
Systems & Manager Manager Manager
Applications
Development Teams
Telecommuni- Network Analyst/ Analyst/ Analyst/
cations Specialists Programmers Programmers
Programmers
Administrator Team Team
Team
Application
Technology
Specialists
Other
Technical
Specialists
Prepared by 25
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
Modern Information Services in a Business
Decentralized information services can, however, lead to
Prepared by 26
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
Modern Information Services in a Business
The central Information Services unit is responsible for:
Prepared by 27
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
Modern Information Services in a Business
The central Information Services unit is responsible for:
(continued)
• Information Technology Architecture
• An information technology architecture team establishes and
maintains a blueprint for which technologies will be approved for
the entire business, including the decentralized information
services centers.
Prepared by 28
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
Modern Information Services in a Business
The central Information Services unit is responsible for:
(continued)
• Information Technology Competency Centers
– The centers provide a pool of technology specific specialists
which are provided to both centralized and decentralized units
for project work.
– Each expert contributes their expertise to any project to which
they are assigned, for both centralized and decentralized
projects.
Prepared by 29
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
Modern Information Services in a Business
The central Information Services unit is responsible for:
(continued)
• Cross Functional Systems and Applications Development
– This center develops and supports the shared information
systems and cross-functional applications for the business.
– This center employs experienced systems analysts.
– As projects are started and completed, both systems analysts
and technical specialists are assigned to and released from
project teams.
Prepared by 30
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
Modern Information Services in a Business
The central Information Services unit is responsible for:
(continued)
• Departmental Computing Coordination
– This unit provides both consulting services and quality
management services to the decentralized information and
computing centers.
– Experienced systems analysts may be employed here to help
establish standards and guidelines, and to provide training and
consultation to departmental projects.
Prepared by 31
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
Outsourcing in the Modern Business
Outsourcing is the act of contracting a service or function to
Prepared by 32
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
Outsourcing in the Modern Business
As many as fifty percent of medium-to-large businesses have
Prepared by 34
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
Consulting (continued)
A variation on consulting firms is systems integration.
Prepared by 35
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
Application Software Solution Providers
Application software solution providers are in the business of
can purchase.
Software packages are typically written to the greatest common
Prepared by 36
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?
Application Software Solution Providers
Software and solutions vendors usually hire two types of
systems analyst.
• Software engineers, are responsible for designing (and
programming) the package itself.
• Sales engineers, are responsible for helping customers that
purchase the package to integrate it into their business operations.
Prepared by 37
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
Customers – Users and Management
What is a user?
A user is a person, or group of persons, for whom the systems
Prepared by 38
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
Customers – Users and Management
A manager can also be one of the end users of a system.
Two types of system users:
Traditionally, most system users were internal users, that is
Prepared by 39
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
The Roles of Management and Users in Systems
Problem Solving
The roles of management and users in:
Planning
Prepared by 41
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
Modern Business Trends and Implications for the
System Analyst
Systems analysts must keep up with rapidly changing
technologies, but today’s priorities are rapidly shifting from
technology-driven solutions to business-driven solutions.
Total Quality Management (TQM)
One of the majors business trends of the 1990s is Total Quality
Management.
• Total Quality Management or TQM is a comprehensive approach
to facilitating quality improvements and management within a
business.
• TQM commitments require every business function, including
information services, identify quality indicators, measure quality,
and make appropriate changes to improve quality.
Prepared by 42
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
Modern Business Trends and Implications for the
System Analyst
Total Quality Management (TQM)
TQM impacts systems analysts on at least two fronts.
Prepared by 43
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
Modern Business Trends and Implications for the
System Analyst
Business Process Redesign (BPR)
Total quality management has forced many businesses to
Prepared by 44
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
Modern Business Trends and Implications for the
System Analyst
Business Process Redesign (BPR)
A BPR project begins with identification of a value chain, a
Prepared by 45
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
Modern Business Trends and Implications for the
System Analyst
Business Process Redesign (BPR)
Systems analysts figure prominently in BPR because:
Prepared by 46
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
Modern Business Trends and Implications for the
System Analyst
Continuous Process Improvement (CPI)
Another TQM related trend is continuous process
improvement.
• Continuous process improvement is the continuous monitoring
of business processes to affect small but measurable improvements
to cost reduction and value added.
In a sense, CPI is the opposite of BPR.
• BPR is intended to implement dramatic change.
• CPI implements a continuous series of smaller changes.
Prepared by 47
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
Modern Business Trends and Implications for the
System Analyst
Continuous Process Improvement (CPI)
Continuous improvement contributes to both cost reductions,
Prepared by 48
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
Modern Business Trends and Implications for the
System Analyst
Globalization of the Economy
Competition became global with emerging industrial nations
globally.
Prepared by 49
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
Modern Business Trends and Implications for the
System Analyst
Globalization of the Economy
Systems analysts are affected by the following:
Prepared by 52
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
Modern Business Trends and Implications for the
System Analyst
Empowerment
Individuals and teams are allowed to make decisions that
make.
• This is accomplished through a compensation approach that puts
some percentage of everyone’s salary ‘at risk,’ meaning dependent
on the team or organization’s performance.
Systems analysts can expect greater degrees of empowerment
in their assignments.
Prepared by 53
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Customers, Partners and Expectations
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.
Prepared by 54
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Steeringcommittee
User 1 Information
technology
vendors
User 2
Systems Applications
analyst programmers
User N
Network
administrator
Prepared by 55
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
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.
Prepared by 56
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst
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.
Prepared by 57
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst
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:
Prepared by 59
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst
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.
Prepared by 60
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst
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.
Prepared by 61
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst
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
Prepared by 62
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst
Interpersonal Relations Skills
Systems analysts work in teams composed of IS professionals,
end-users, and management.
Being able to cooperate, to comprise, and to function as part of
Prepared by 63
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst
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.
Prepared by 64
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst
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)
Prepared by 65
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst
Character and Ethics
Systems analysts must not take (or sell) designs and programs they
developed to another company.
Systems analysts have a moral obligation to set a good example
for end-users and management, especially in the area of software
copyrights.
Prepared by 66
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst
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
Prepared by 67
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
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.
Prepared by 68
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
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
Prepared by 69
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
The Next Generation
Predictions
A greater percentage of tomorrow's systems analysts will not work
in the information systems department, but work directly for their
end-users.
A greater percentage of systems analysts will come from non-
computing backgrounds.
Today's business and non-computing graduates are becoming
Prepared by 70
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998
The Modern Systems Analyst
Summary
Introduction
Who Should Read This Book
The Systems Analyst As A Modern Business
Problem Solver
Customers, Partners and Expectations
Preparing For a Career as a Systems Analyst
The Next Generation
Prepared by 71
Copyright Irwin/McGraw-Hill 1998