The whole chapter 1 talks about mainly on what is information system and how to become a system analyst. The role of a system analyst in a developing company is not an easy task to do. In words, it is easy to describe a system analyst but in works, one of the most crucial works. The success of a certain company depends on the works of a system analyst.
In chapter, system analyst was explained. But before it explained the characteristics of a system analyst, we must first understand what a system and information system is. Based on the report on chapter 1, an information system is a collection of interrelated components that collect, process, store, and provide as output the information needed to complete a business task. It is Crucial to success of modern business organizations. Why crucial? Because it can help you to gain more profit or it may lose your whole profit. But Example of these is what we called enrollment system. With the help of it, our process in enrolling is more convenient than the previous ones. There is also what we called banking system, registration system and many more that involves collecting of data. To analyze a system, in this way, this where system analyst works.
The role of a system analyst in a business company is very important and it is not an easy job to do. Some people would say that system analyst is problem solver. He/she knows hot investigate the problem of the company. He must know to analyze and design a system. In this regard, system analyst should undergo thorough research in a particular system. He/she must analyze a system and after that, he/she can conclude and start to make a design a system. Also, one of the roles of the system analyst is that he/she can help translate business requirements to IT projects. He/she can help to make the process of a certain system to an easier one with the help of technology. Another role of system analyst is in strategic planning. He/she develop information systems that support strategic planning. He can develop an application architecture plan, a description of the integrated information systems that the organization needs to carry out its business function. He can also develop a technology architecture plan, a description of the hardware, software, and communications networks required to implement planed information systems. In order for a system analyst to be effective, system analyst is the person who selects and configures computer systems for an organization or business. His or her job typically begins with determining the intended purpose of the computers. This means the analyst must understand the general objectives of the business, as well as what each individual user's job requires. Once the system analyst has determined the general and specific needs of the business, he can choose appropriate systems that will help accomplish the goals of the business. Systems analyst researches problems, plans solutions, recommends software and systems, and coordinates development to meet business or other requirements. They will be familiar with multiple varieties of programming languages, operating systems, and computer hardware platforms. Because they often write user requests into technical specifications, the systems analysts are the liaisons between vendors and information technology professionals. They may be responsible for developing cost analysis, design considerations, and implementation time-lines.
System Analyst as business problem solver has to understand business problems. He/she uses logical methods for solving problems. A system analyst wants to make things better. And also he/she is more of a business problem solver than a technical programmer. There are several approaches in solving a problem. He/she researches and understands the problem. A system analyst should verify benefits in solving the problem. He/she can define the requirements for solving a problem. He/she can develop a set of possible alternatives solutions. A system analyst will decide the details of the solution and also can implement the solution. He/she can maintain to ensure the desired result. As a systems analyst would be needed by a company to examine their systems and processes, and recommend improvements. A Systems Analyst serves as a business professional who uses analysis and design techniques to solve business problems using information technology. A systems analyst performs the following tasks: Interact with the customers to know their requirements, Interact with designers to convey the possible interface of the software, Interact or guide the coders or developers to keep track of system development, Perform system testing with sample data with the help of testers, Implement the new system, Prepare High quality Documentation
The system analyst is the person or persons who guides through the development of an information system. In performing these tasks the system analyst must always match the information system objectives with the goals of the organization. Based on what I have read, the role of System Analyst differs from organization to organization.
In System analysis, it understands the goals and strategies of the business. Defining the information requirements that support those goals and strategies. It includes system's study in order to get facts about business activity. It is about getting information and determining requirements. Here the responsibility includes only requirement determination, not the design of the system. In System analysis and design, system Analyst is responsible for the designing of the new system or application. In Systems analysis, design, and programming, a system analyst is also required to perform as a programmer, where he actually writes the code to implement the design of the proposed application.
The required skills of the system analyst are based on knowledge and skills. We have Technical knowledge and skills. We also have business knowledge and skills. And lastly people knowledge and skills.
· Technical knowledge and skills.
A system analyst should have fundamental technology knowledge of Computers or peripheral devices. It is more on hardware part. He/she should have skills in Communication networks and connectivity. It is more on networking. A knowledge on Database and database management systems or DBMS. In this way, system analyst knows how to create database and how to maintain it. System analyst should have knowledge and skills in programming language. Programming language is used in the implementation part of the system. It is the basic knowledge of being a programmer. Examples of it are VB.NET or Java. He/she should have knowledge on Operating systems and utilities. It is because it is the basic of the computers and we use computer nowadays. It is a help on maintaining a system by knowing the operating system used and its other functionalities.
Another aspect on technical knowledge and skill is that system analyst uses tools. A system analyst uses Software productivity packages. There are many Software productivity packages out there that can help the system analyst. He/she uses Integrated development environments or IDEs for programming languages. It is more convenient to write a code in an IDE because an IDE helps to compile the code and also it has type checking. It will if there are errors. A system analyst uses CASE tools, testing, documentation support, reverse engineering, configuration management. CASE tools or Computer-aided software engineering, is the scientific application of a set of tools and methods to a software system which is meant to result in high-quality, defect-free, and maintainable software products. It also refers to methods for the development of information systems together with automated tools that can be used in the software development process.
Another aspect on technical knowledge and skill is that system analyst understands SDLC techniques. SDLC or what we called System Development Life Cycle is defined as the process of developing system or software to meet certain requirements. It covers many activities. It starts from understanding why the system should be built, studying the project feasibility, analyzing problems, choosing the system design and architecture, implementing and testing it, up to delivering the system as product to the user. In project planning, it is the process of understanding why the system should be built and defining its requirements. It also includes feasibility study from several different perspectives, technical, economic, and organization feasibility aspects. The next one is systems analysis, includes activities such as problems identifying and analysis, and even predicting potential problems that may arise in the future regarding the system. The deliverables or products of this phase will drive how the system will be built and guide the developer’s works. Next is system design. System analysis leads to design decision, which exactly determines how the system operates in terms of process, data, hardware, network infrastructures, user interface, and other important factors in the system environment. In implementation, this is probably the most consuming phase of all. It will consume time, resources and cost. This is when the system is actually built, tested, and finally installed. It also includes activities such as user training and system maintenance. SDLC tries to achieve high quality system that meets or exceeds the requirements. Many methodologies have been developed and introduced in order to implement SDLC or System development life cycle.
· Business knowledge and skills
When we talk about system analyst, it is just not depend on technical; a system analyst must also have knowledge and skills on business. Main purpose of system analyst is that, he/she is a business problem solver. That’s why we need to have knowledge and skills on business. A system analyst must understand Business functions performed by organization. He/she must understand strategies, plans, traditions, and values of the organization. The organizational structure of the business that you want to analyze. System analyst must understand the organization management techniques. He/she must understand functional work processes. These things needed by a system analyst for them to able to analyze a certain system of the company. He/she can identify the problem of the system. And he/she can implement a solution that is also connected to the company’s problem. As the analyst might have to develop any kind of a business system, he should be familiar with the general functioning of all kind of business.
· People Knowledge and Skills
System analyst need to understand how people think. He/she can think of what people think. If system analyst thinks that he is the employee, he/she maybe can identify the problem. System analyst need to understand how people learn. In planning in making solution to the problem of the system, system analyst should understand the people who are going to use the system. They are new to the system. They cannot easily adapt to the system. It can help to have tutorials in using the system or have a guideline in using the system. System analyst need to understand how people react to change. In this aspect, we cannot please people to love directly the system. Some of them are curious. Some of them have question in their mind on how are we going to use the system. Or maybe at least people would don’t like the system. System analyst should find ways to please the people and encourage them have a change in the system. We cannot deny on reacting on change, but system analyst can minimize on reacting, by analyzing them. System analyst need to understand how people communicate. It is very important to know on how people communicate to the system, whether they can adopt it or not. It is a big help for the system analyst on how people communicate in a system because he/she knows what to do and not for a certain system. System analyst need to understand how people Work (in a variety of jobs and levels). In this aspect, system analyst should consider the people who will use the system. Example of it is that it is not good to have complex systems if you are in encoding section. Interpersonal and communication skills are crucial to Obtaining information, Motivating people getting cooperation and understanding the complexity and workings of an organization in order to provide necessary support. It simply means that if we don’t have interpersonal and communication skill, we don’t have the knowledge and skills in people.
We can define those skills as hard skills and soft skills. The hard skills are the skill that is in technical area in which database design, programming, and telecommunication are involved while the soft skills are the skills in nontechnical areas such as interviewing, team management, interacting with other people and leadership.
There are other Characteristics of a good Systems Analyst. A system analyst must be flexible. it is one of the characteristics needed. A systems analyst should be flexible to be prepared for the rapid changing technology that we have. A systems analyst should have a skill on Calculating Risks because the systems Analyst should be a risk-taker in a smart way. He let us define what is risk for a company but he answered his own question he answered that risk is a possibility of a loss. In every move that a Systems Analyst take, there are so many risks involve. A good Systems Analyst should be able to identify, analyze and detect the risk that might be involved on his plans. A good Systems Analyst should also be able to take the risk. Some of them are the system analyst must be able to communicate in writing and orally, the analyst must easily get along with people, the system analyst must be a good listener and be able to react to what people say, system the analyst must be knowledgeable of technology. The analyst is not expected to know the intricacies of programming, but a decent general knowledge of concepts and terms are essential, the system analyst must be knowledgeable of business. The analyst is not expected to be an expert in business but a decent understanding of the client's world is required.
It is important for a system analyst to recognize the importance of ethical behavior. System analysts are trusted with private and proprietary information of a certain company. System analyst has access to confidential information, such as salary, an organization’s planned projects, and security systems. Any wrong doings of a system analyst can ruin his or her career.
Some system analyst doing analysis and design has many different job titles. Sometimes, analysis and design is part of their duties and responsibilities. System analyst can also manage a project or what we called the leader of the project as project manager. System analyst can also entitled as Programmer Analyst, Business System Analyst, System Liaison, End-user Analyst, Business/system consultant, System support analyst, System designer, Software engineer, System architect, Web architect, Web developer.
For me, as a computer science student, I can say that I may not have all the characteristics to be a good system analyst discussed above but I may have some of the skills and knowledge to be a good analyst. As a student, learning from our facilitator and from other people can help to improve some other characteristics. Being a system analyst is not easy task. The company’s future relies on the hands of a system analyst. The main task of a system analyst is the problem solver. It’s easy to explain a system analyst but it very difficult to do it. We have peers and our facilitator that can help us develop those skills mention above and to become a good system analyst.
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