A Good Systems Analyst...

In order for me to identify what characteristics I possess as a good Systems Analyst, let me first define what a Systems Analyst is and what are this profession’s characteristics and roles in the world of Information System based on what our classmates reported last meeting in our class. 

As what was presented by the first set of reporters, they defined Systems Analyst as a business professional who uses analysis and techniques in order to solve business planning with the use of information technology. Based on my own understanding about the definition of a Systems Analyst, they are the ones who make the “blueprint” of a certain system. Why blueprint? It is because blueprint serves as the foundation and guide of a planned structure to be built, same as with the Systems Analyst’s role, they are the ones who analyze a certain business problem and through proposing a system, a problem may be solved. A Systems Analyst makes sure that the system he handles performs for the betterment of the organization and achieves the goal in the business, which is to have progress as future rapidly approaches.

The work of a Systems Analyst is really a tough profession because it needs a lot of skills to perform his tasks. Before he could solve the business problem, it must be analyzed thoroughly and analysis phase could take ample time before he could move to his next step. According to nextstep.direct.gov.uk, other than analyzing the business problems, his work would also include the following:

Identifying the client organization’s needs. One of the main works of a Systems Analyst. In order for him to have a specific system to deal with, he must identify the needs of the business organization. The organization may comprise of different departments and of different needs and it is the job of the Systems Analyst to find out what those needs are.

Drawing up plans for a modified or replacement IT system. Before a system can be develop, it has do undergo through lots of planning and analysis. After several phases of planning and analysis, a Systems Analyst should not implement his system directly and replace the existing system of the business organization, he should first plan for the modified system and seek approval to the client.

Carrying out feasibility studies of proposals and making recommendations. After the problem has been identified, the Systems Analyst should make feasibility studies on the future system and seek recommendations on which part of the system should they revise or upgrade before developing it.

Working closely with programmers and software developers to build the system. The work of Systems Analyst is to analyze the problem, understand the problem, make some plans on how to solve the problem by developing a system, and design the system to solve the problem. In order to implement the system, he needs the help of a programmer and software developers to actually implement the system. In other words, Systems Analysts cannot stand alone in implementing a system.

Overseeing installation and testing correcting problems ('bugs') before the final version is released. A Systems Analyst may deploy an initial system or trial version to check whether bugs may occur as the system runs, if there are no bugs found, final version may be released.

Providing staff training and instruction manuals for the new or upgraded system. In order for the clients to embrace the new or upgraded system the Systems Analyst has deployed, he must provide manuals or guidelines with regards to the functionalities of the system.

Based on the woks that a Systems Analyst would deal with, I can say that I do not have enough experience yet on making those works but as soon as we handle a company to analyze with, maybe I should give importance to those tasks listed above to perform the role of a Systems Analyst. It is not enough to just have knowledge on what are the works of a Systems Analyst; we have to have ideas also on the skills possessed by a good Systems Analyst. There are a lot of skills required to perform the task of a Systems Analyst, according to the reporters, the skills needed involves Technical, Business, and People Knowledge. On the narrower description of each skills, Technical Knowledge and Skills deal mainly with the hardware, database, the programming languages used, etc.; Business Knowledge deals with strategies, plans and other functions in the business organization; and People Knowledge which is concern on how clients think, learn, react to change, communicate, work, etc.

*On Technical Knowledge and Skills

Computers/peripheral devices. One of the fundamental requirements when you are to deal with the world of Information System is about hardware. Being a Systems Analyst may deal mainly on the software but he/she must ensure that there would be no compatibility issues regarding the software being deployed to a certain hardware. There is a need of specification for software to minimize compatibility issues towards the hardware.

On my part, I have undergone IT Fundamentals since first year and one of our topics were the parts of a computer or the peripheral devices. I think that it is the basic thing that an IT related profession should know before digging up to their forte.

Communication networks and connectivity. As a Systems Analyst, you are to develop a system that can make the work of each department in the business organization convenient, easier, and faster. The System Analyst should have knowledge on communication networks and connectivity in order to meet the need of the client that is to reach every department with the use of technology.

My background on this skill is our subject on Network Technologies. In our subject, we discussed different topologies that can be made in order for the computers to be connected using wires. We also made simulation on connecting the different campuses of USEP using the Packet Tracer that our instructors introduced to us.

Database and Database Management Systems (DBMS). When dealing with a system, its primary job is to handle data being stored by clients and these data are essential in every business organization. Systems Analyst should have knowledge on the database in order to deal with the data storage, data retrieval, and data recovery which are some of the concern of the clients.

We had our Database subject last year under Sir Ariel Pabilona and we had a lot of learning from the past subject. We learned new programming language that supports database system, the Virtual Basic. Virtual Basic is more user-friendly than other language in my own opinion because the codes are understandable and easier modification on the user interface.

Programming languages. Some of the Systems Analyst limit their job in analysis and designing and need not to implement the system because other profession may do the coding but for a good Systems Analyst, there is a need to have knowledge on programming languages even on deciding what language he/she must use in a certain system. It is not necessary that the Systems Analyst should dig deeper on each programming languages, knowledge on each language is enough to support the system he/she would design.

The basic foundation of an IT student is the programming language being taught in school. We have already learned C++, Java, and the previous language which is the Visual Basic. It is necessary in an IT related course to learn programming language because it is the way to communicate instructions to the computer.

Operating systems and utilities. When designing a system, one of the things that need to be considered is the operating system. A user cannot run an application program on the computer without an operating system; therefore an implemented system may not work also without the operating system.

We also had our Operating Systems subject last year, and the fact that we seldom meet with our instructor; we haven’t learned much from this subject. We only have basic knowledge on what is an operating systems and what is the role of operating systems in the computer.

Software productivity packages. The main role of a Systems Analyst is to design a system needed by the clients to attain progress in the business. The system should have the capacity to perform productive outcome to the business organization and some additional features that may be helpful to the clients.

*On Business Knowledge and Skills

Even though I am not yet indulged in any business matters, I can relate this one on handling a school organization because I was once a secretary in our environmental organization and handling an organization needs extra effort in order to attain the goal of the organization.

Business functions performed by organization. One of the things a Systems Analyst must analyze first is the business functions of the organization. As a Systems Analyst, he must determine the functions performed by the organization in order for him to know what system he would develop. In developing the system, he must consider the performance of the system if it is fit for the organization and satisfies the need of the client.

As for my experience as secretary of our organization, it is necessary to know what are the works of an organization in order for the group to perform the tasks needed to satisfy the goal of one’s organization. I can say that I have this kind of skill even though the work that I experienced is not related in becoming a Systems Analyst but a foundation of skills and knowledge in becoming one of it.

Strategies, plans, traditions, and values of the organization. A Systems Analyst must work as if he is part of the organization or he is one of the employees. He should have the knowledge on the strategies, plans, traditions, and values of the organization in order for him to work normally inside the organization. By attaining this mutual understanding with other workers, he may effectively develop a system that is acceptable to the employees and to the organization.

Having a position in an organization needs to have an idea on the plans, strategies, traditions, and values of the organization. Just like on becoming a Systems Analyst, you must have idea on what company you are dealing with.

Organizational structure. By having knowledge on the organizational structure of a certain organization, a Systems Analyst can determine the hierarchy of different entities such as the branches, department, workgroups and individual. This may be a critical part on a Systems Analyst because some data must be kept secured and only those authorized persons are allowed to access the file. A developed system must determine who should access a data for a specific operation.

Organization management techniques. Organization management deals with the planning, organizing, leading, and controlling the efforts of organization members and resources to achieve stated organizational goals. It has to do with managing different departments with different problems and needs. The work of the Systems Analyst is to put together in one system the necessary information needed by the different departments in order for them to have consistent data needed for any business transactions. The Systems Analyst should also learn other techniques that can be used in improving the system developed.

*On People Knowledge and Skills

A Systems Analyst needs to understand how people think. He must think as if he is the employee who is about to use the system. The system should be flexible enough to understand by the clients because the main objective of why Systems Analyst develops a system is for their clients.

I can relate this one when I was the leader of our group. In order for us to meet the expected output of the group, I have to know the opinion of each members of the group. Being a leader may have the control on overruling the group but it should not be practiced because in order to be a leader, you must be a good follower. In order for a Systems Analyst to perform his task, he must listen to what the clients want.

A Systems Analyst needs to understand how people learn. Clients that are trying to adopt the system may have difficulties in learning it. The Systems Analyst should consider the part of the clients as beginners of the system, thus certain manuals and guides may be necessary in the clients' learning.

Just like when we have new gadgets and we are so naïve on that matter because the fact that it is new, we can’t actually use it but the good thing is that gadgets are packed together with its user manual. Just like on the work of a Systems Analyst, he must able to produce a manual on the certain system he designed for the users to have guide on the system.

A Systems Analyst needs to understand how people react to change. As the old proverb says, "You can't please everybody," the Systems Analyst can have the system developed and deployed but the thing is, are the clients ready to embrace the new system being deployed by the Systems Analyst? It is the role of the Systems Analyst to adjust on the needs of the clients.

A Systems Analyst needs to understand how people work. A Systems Analyst must consider the types of work he has to deal with his system. A complex system may be deployed on the upper part of the organization (i.e. Management, finance departments) but it may not be necessary to deploy on the lower level of the organization.

One of the advantages of being a Systems Analyst is that he has the access on the confidential information of the business organization, such as the organization's planned project, security systems, salaries, and other confidential information. "With great power, comes with great responsibility" I may say because the Systems Analyst should keep the information private and confidential. If he gives importance to his job, he would not do any impropriety towards the organization's privacy because it can ruin his career as a Systems Analyst. Another advantage of being a Systems Analyst is the salary it may have in developing a system. According to jobsdescriptions.net, most of the employees working on the field of information technology earn more than the national average, and also for the Systems Analysts. Based on the figures in 2008, labor statistics show a non-supervisory systems analyst averaging around $1400 gross per week, compared to a national average of $600 gross per week. Systems analysts are really paid well because of their expertise and specialized skills. Those who have college degrees in business and courses related to computers also should be able to find jobs in this field. New jobs are expected as more companies try to use computers to improve their businesses. New Internet and wireless technologies are also expected to create more jobs.

Based on the characteristics and skills that are actually done discussing by the previous reporters, I can say that for a student like me, I may not have enough experience yet but looking at the characteristics of a good Systems Analyst I can communicate through means of writing and of verbal communication, I may say that I can easily get along with people especially when we have of same likes and tastes. In terms of work, as long as others would be helpful in attaining the result needed, I am open to other ideas. I may not have the specific skills defined above but may be some of it are progressively enhancing as I get along with my studies and future projects.

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Source:

https://nextstep.direct.gov.uk/PlanningYourCareer/JobProfiles/JobProfile0882/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.jobdescriptions.net/technology/systems-analyst/
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/systems_analyst_job_description.htm
http://jobs.virginia.gov/careerguides/ComputerSystemsAnalyst.htm