SYSTEM ANALYST

SYSTEM ANALYSTS IN SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT

Analytical skills

Technical skills

Managerial skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

System thinking

Ability to see organizations

Information systems

Technical skills

Helps you to understand the potential and limitations of information technology.

Managerial skills

Helps you manage projects, resources, risks and changes.

Interpersonal skills

Helps you work with last users, other analysts and programmers.

SIMON & TAYLOR, INC.SYSTEM ANALYST

Simon & Taylor, Inc., a candy manufacturer, has an immediate opening for a systems analyst in its Montana-based Office.

The ideal candidate will have:

A bachelor’s degree in management information systems and/or computer science.

Two to three years’ UNIX/RDBMS programming experience.

Experience with the HP/UX Operating System or Linux, and HTML. Experience with ColdFusion and knowledge of XML are desired but not essential.

Familiarity with distribution and manufacturing concepts (allocation, replenishment, shop floor control, and production Schedule).

Working knowledge of project management and all phases of software development life cycle.

Strong analytical and organizational skills.

We offer a competitive salary, a signing bonus, relocation assistance, and the challenges of working in a state-of-the-art IT environment.

E-mail your resume to www.human _resources@simontaylor.com with salary requirement.

Simon & Taylor, Inc. İs an Equal Opportunity Employer

ANALITICAL SKILLS FOR SYSTEM ANALYSTS

Systems thinking

Examining what we mean by a system and identify the characteristics that define a system

Definition of an system and its parts System Components Interrelated Components A Boundary A Purpose An Environment Interfaces Input Output Constraints

INTERFACE FUNCTIONS

Because an ınterface exists at the point where a system meets its environment, the interface has several special, important functions. An interface provides

Security, protecting the system from undesirable elements that may want to infiltrate it

Filtering unwanted data, both for elements leaving the system and entering it

Coding and decoding incoming and outgoing messages

Detecting and correcting errors in its interaction with the environment

Buffering, providing a layer of slack between the system and its environment, so that the system and its environment can work on different cycles and at different speeds

Summarizing raw data and transforming them into the level of detail and format needed throughout the system (for an input interface) or in the environment (for an output interface)

Because interface functions are critical in communication between system components or a system and its environment, interfaces receive much attention in the design of information systems

Important system concepts

Open systems

Closed systems

DECOMPOSITION FUNCTIONS

Decomposition aids a systems analyst and other systems development project team members by

Breaking a system into smaller, more manageable, and understandable subsystems

Faciliating the focusing of attention on one area (subsystem) at a time without interference from other parts

Allowing attention to concentrate on the part of the system pertinent to a particular audience, without confusing people with details irrelevant to their interests

Permitting different parts of the system to be built at independent times and/or by different people

There are several other impotant system’s concepts with which system analysts need to become familiar:•Decomposition•Modularity•Coupling•Cohesion

Logical and Physical Systems

Logical Systems

Physical Systems

Benefits from System Thinking

Applying Systems Thinking to Information Systems

Organizational Knowledge

Problem Identificationo Problem

How Work Officially Gets Done in a Particular Organization •Terminology, abbreviations, and acronyms •Policies •Standarts and procedures•Standarts of practice•Formal organizations structure •Job descriptionsUnderstanding the Organization’s Internal Politics•Influence and inclinations of key personel•Who the experts are in different subject areas •Critical incidents in the organization’s history•Informal organization structure •Coalition membership and power structures Understanding the Organization’s Competitive and Regulatory Environment•Government regulations•Competitors, domestic and international•Products, services, and markets•Role of technologyUnderstanding the Organization’s Strategies and Tactics•Short-and long-term strategy and plans •Values and mission

Selected Areas of Organizational Konowledge for a Systems Analyst

Problem Analyzing and Solving

Intelligence

Design

Choice

Implementation

Implementation Intelligence

design

Planning

AnalysisMaintenance

Implementation Design

Choice

The systems development life cycle and Simon’s problem-solving model

TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR SYSTEM ANALYSTS

The following alternatives will help you versatile and up to date:

Read trade publications and books Join professional societies or other clubs and attend their

meetings Attend classes or teach, teaching is a way to force yourself to

stay current and learn from others. Attend training sessions offered by your organization. Attend professional conferences, of trade shows Participate in electronic bulletin boards on local, national and

international Networks Browse websites regularly

You should be familiar with the following families of technologies:

Microcomputers, work stations, minicomputers and main frame computers

Programming languages Operating systems for single machines and networks Database and file management systems Data communication standarts and software for LAN and

WAN System development tools and environments ( forms, reports,

generators and design tools) Web development languages and tools such as HTML,

ColdFusion and FrontPage Decision support system generators and data analysis tools

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS FOR SYSTEM ANALYSTS

Communication Skills

Interviewing and Listeningo Interviewing o Listening

Written and Oral Presentations

Meeting agenda Meeting minutes Interview summaries Project schedules and descriptions Requesting in information Proposal contractors and vendors

How can you improve your communication skills;

1) Take every opportunity to practice.

2) Videotape your presentations and do a critical self-appraisal of your skills.

3) Make use of writing centers.

4) Take classes on business and technical writing.

Working Alone and with a Team

We must be able to organize and manage our own schedule commitments and deadlines.

Many people in the organization will depend on our individual performance.

We must understand the strengths and weaknesses of other team members

1) Shared, elevated vision or goal

2) Sense of team identity

1) Result-driven structure

1) Competent team members

1) Commitment to the team

1) Mutual trust

1) Interdependence among team members

1) Effective communication

1) Sense of autonomy

1) Sense of empowerment

1) Small team size

1) High level of enjoyment

Characteristics of a High-Performance Team

Facilitating Groups We need to interact with a group in order to

communicate and receive information.In Managing Expectations System’s developments is a change process and any

organizational change is greeted with anticipation and uncertainty by organization members.

Organization member will have certain ideas based on their hopes and wishes.

The new system can easily run out of control. We need to understand the technology and what it can

do. We must understand the work flows that the technology

will support.

Become comfortable with your role as faciliator by gaining confidence in your ability, being clear about your purpose, and finding a style that is right for you.

At the baginning of the meeting, make sure the group understands what is expected of them and of you.

Use physical movement to focus on yourself or on the group, depending on which is called for at the time.

Reward group member participation with thanks and respect.

Ask questions instead of making statements.

Be willing to wait patiently for group members to answer the questions you ask them.

Be a good listener.

Keep the group focused.

Encourage group members to feel ownership of the group’s goals and of their attempts to reach those goals.

Some guidelines for running effective meetings

SYSTEMS ANALYSIS AS A PROFESSION

Standarts of Practice Standard methods or practices of performing

system’s development are emerging. That are making system development less of an

art and more of a science. Standards are developed through education and

practice.

Stockholder Stakeholder Social Contrast

Conform to laws and Regulations

Avoid fraud and deception

Maximize profits

Determine who are relevantstakeholders

Determine rights of each ;reject options that violatethese

Accept remaining option that best balances interestsof stakeholders

Reject action that are fraudulent/deceptive,dehumanize employees,or involve discrimination

Eliminate options thatreduce welfare of society’s members

Choose remaining option that maximizes probability of financial success

Comparison of Ethical Obligations for Three Different Approaches to Business Ethics

Ethics

Career Paths

Network Administration Technical Support Specialist Help Desk Support E-Business and Multimedia Product

and Service Development Decision Support Analyst Data Warehouse Specialist Quality Assurance Specialist

Project Manager

Who is a Project Manager(PM)???

What are the important qualities of a PM?? Problem Solving Skills

Team-Building Skills

Good Communicator

Enthusiasm

Cool Under Pressure

Ability to Delegate Tasks

What are the roles of PM during the project???

1. Planning the work or objectives

2. Analysis & Design of objectives

3. Allocation of resources

4. Organizing the work

8. Acquiring human and material resources

9. Directing activities

10. Controlling project execution

8. Tracking and Reporting progress

9. Defining the products of the project