System Analyst as a Project Manager

We all know how the system analyst works does. Its characteristics needed, the knowledge and skills needed. What is its function in a company or as an individual. In this topic we will discuss the function of system analyst as a project manager. We will discuss the role of a project manager and the role of system analyst and a project manager.

First, let us define what a system analyst is. According to Wikipedia, A 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. 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. 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. According to systemanalyst.com, 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. 

Before we discuss what a project manager is, let us first discuss the definition of a project. Based on the survey of the Standish Group, only 28% of system development projects successful and 72% of projects canceled, completed late, completed over budget, and/or limited in functionality. A project is a planned undertaking with a beginning and an end that produce predetermined result and is usually constrained by a schedule and resource. There are some reasons why project fails:

• Incomplete or changing requirements

• Limited user involvement

• Lack of executive support

• Lack of technical support

• Poor project planning

• Unclear objectives

• Lack of required resources

Also, there are factors the success of a project:

• Clear system requirement definitions

• Substantial user involvement

• Support from upper management

• Thorough and detailed project plans

• Realistic work schedules and milestones

Project Management is organizing and directing people to achieve a planned result within budget and on schedule. According to management.about.com, a successful Project Manager must simultaneously manage the four basic elements of a project: resources, time, money, and most importantly, scope. All these elements are interrelated. Each must be managed effectively. All must be managed together if the project, and the project manager, is to be a success. In resources, it includes People, equipment, and material. Time involves Task durations, dependencies, and critical path. Costs, contingencies, profit are belonging to Money. And lastly, Scope which consist of Project size, goals, and requirements. Success or failure of project depends on skills of the project manager. The responsibilities of project manager are both internal and external.

Project manager serves as the leader of the group. He/she Identify project tasks and build a work breakdown structure. He/she develop the project schedule. He/she will form a group, recruit members and train them. One of the duties of a project manager is to subdivide the tasks to the members of the group. He/she coordinate activities of team members. He/she will monitor and control project deliverables and milestones and verifies the quality of project deliverables. According to Wikipedia, A project manager is a professional in the field of project management. Project managers can have the responsibility of the planning, execution and closing of any project. A project manager is the person responsible for accomplishing the stated project objectives. Key project management responsibilities include creating clear and attainable project objectives, building the project requirements. Project manager has its external responsibilities.

The task of the project manager in the beginning of the project is that he/she is the over-all in charge of the project planning. He/she subdivides the task into his/her members. He/she acts as the leader of the group. During project, its work is Project execution management and Project control management.

The role of the system analyst as a project manager is very important. We all know that the system analyst plays the role of analyzing the problem, gathers data, and have a planning. In this way, the role of the system analyst as a project manager is that the other phases of developing a system will be subdivide to other members to the group. The project manager and system analyst play the role of planning in a group. They will give instruction to the group what to do. A project manager is often a client representative and has to determine and implement the exact needs of the client, based on knowledge of the firm they are representing. The ability to adapt to the various internal procedures of the contracting party, and to form close links with the nominated representatives, is essential in ensuring that the key issues of cost, time, quality and above all, client satisfaction, can be realized.

According to Wikipedia, the specific responsibilities of the Project Manager vary depending on the industry, the company size, the company maturity, and the company culture. However, there are some responsibilities that are common to all Project Managers:

• Developing the project plan

• Managing the project stakeholders

• Managing the project team

• Managing the project risk

• Managing the project schedule

• Managing the project budget

• Managing the project conflicts

As we interview the system analyst of the school DMMA College of Southern Philippines. we asked him if he was enaged as a project manager. He replied to us that he never experienced work as a project manager. He works alone as a system analyst. He develops system by himself. But he explains to us the work of the system analyst in the group and in the big companies. He said to us that the role of the system analyst in the group is he/she gathers data, analyze problem and the rest of the work will be from other part from the group.

Being a project manager and system analyst is not easy task. It’s not easy to be a system analyst, how much more becoming a project manager. Project manager plays the important role in the project in which he/she plans the whole project and whatever he/she formulates a solution, he/she will subdivides the task to his/her members. System analyst and project manager have the same tasks to do in developing a system.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_manager

http://management.about.com/cs/projectmanagement/a/PM101.htm

Evidence: