Based on your learnings of chapter 1, identify and discuss some charateristics you have as a good Systems Analyst. (at least 2500 words)
What is a system analyst? Or should I say, Who is/are the system analyst?Defining “system analyst” from wiki, they are the one responsible for researching, planning, coordinating and recommending software and system choices to meet an organization's business requirements. They play important part in the company for a successful development process. They perform lots of task. Included here, they should interact with the customers to know their requirements,interact with designers to convey the possible interface of the software ,interact/guide the coders/developers to keep track of system development perform system testing with sample/live data with the help of testers, implement the new system and prepare high quality documentation.
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_analyst
In other words, a system analyst is business professional, who uses the techniques of systems analysis
and system design to solve business problems or to facilitate business to gain economically from new business opportunities using the information technology.A good systems snalyst is a precious asset of not only the systems development team, but also of the software development organization. She/he is also an idol in the minds of the juniors and the colleagues and therefore, the future career growth is almost assured. Therefore, cultivating one.s career as a systems analyst is a systematic and self-managed investment for a better future of oneself and of the organization she/he represents. The central task of a systems analyst is to work on the assigned software system development project. However, a systems analyst does a lot of significant work beyond planning and developing programs. She/he has to involve her/him self into the business problems, understand the business strategic issues and recommend technological solution alternatives to the user organization to meet the business goals in spite of the given constraints of budget, time and quality. She/he has to interact with users at various levels and has to demonstrate him/herself as a solution, person to all of them for solving a wide range of business problems.
As a developer the systems snalyst has to perform the following tasks:
A. The systems snalyst has to gather information requirements of the new software system using various techniques.
B. She/he records the information requirements in the form of various models, such as Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs), Entity Relationship Diagrams(ERDs) or Class Diagrams etc. These models in the early stage of systems development help identify ,missing details of requirements, recoding the detailed requirements for future use.
C. Gathering various alternatives for technical environment of the organization for developing and implementing the new software system, comparing them to meet the organizational goals and recommend the best alternative(/s) to the Top Management.
D. For continuing the system development further, the systems snalysts acts as the main link between different development teams, such as Design Team and Testing Team. She/he represents the user requirements domain in the software development project team and the Lead developer as seen by the user groups. She/he is a Friend, a Philosopher and a Guide to the development teams for further
tasks in designing, programming, testing and implementation.
The skills required by a Systems Analyst are listed in different categories as follows:-
A. Technical Knowledge and Skills
B. Business Knowledge and Skills
C. People Knowledge and Skills
D. Integrity and Ethics
A. Technical Knowledge and Skills
a. Though the systems analyst is not required to carry out programming, she/he needs necessary technical expertise to guide and monitor the programming team on one side and to guide the Users on selecting appropriate technological alternatives for the new software system.
b. Fundamental knowledge about the computer hardware, software, operating systems, database management systems, software development phase is required, recent rends and their comparison.
c. The systems snalyst should be well versed with the software system development techniques and tools, such as Integrated Development Environment (IDEs), CASE tools, and other system development tools.
d. In order to complete specific system development activities, the systems analyst needs to know the techniques of project planning, systems analysis, system design, coding and testing , implementation and system support.
B. Business Knowledge and Skills
a. The systems analyst should understand the business organization to be able to solve business problem. In general, therefore, she/he is required to know, the User organization.s activities and business processes, User organization.s structure, Management Styles and Techniques of managing major functions of the organizations, such as Marketing, Finance, Manufacturing, Human Resource Development, Logistics and Distribution etc.
b. The systems analyst should have the knowledge of the industry sector and of the commercial characteristics of that industrial sector, current trends and best business practices in that industry. Eg. Manufacturing industry is segmented broadly into chemical, pharmaceutical, engineering etc, the Services industry into hospitality (eg. hotels, etc.), health care (eg. hospitals, etc.), Tourism industry (eg. pilgrimage tourism, medical tourism, etc.), Financial Services industry (such as mutual funds, share trading etc.) etc. and retailing industry etc. A detailed and recent understanding of these industries would not only help to understand the User.s information requirements quickly but also help understanding the current situations well and recommending useful solution alternatives.
c. The Systems Analyst should understand the specific company, as a User Organization as a whole. The systems analyst should know the business strengths (what it can do better than its competitors?), the organization.scurrent strategies and policies, the traditions and values of the
organizations, etc.
d. The specific information required is who are the Users, their designations,primary responsibilities and role in the software development, etc. It takes very long to know about the organization, bu more the Systems Analyst know ahead of time, more effective is the his/her planning.
e. The Systems Analyst should also know, what is the role of the new software system in the current business strategy (eg. Central or Peripheral? ) and what is the level of significance attached to this software development by the Top Management of the User company. (Highest priority, High, Medium or Low), What are the major business gains the company is aiming to achieve through the use of the new software development system)
C. People Knowledge and Skills
a. A good Systems Analyst should have very strong people skills, since she/he works with people of variety of profiles, and her/his success at work depends a lot upon them she/he works through the people. Therefore, is important to understand how people think, learn, communicate, work at different levels and on variety of tasks, react to change.
b. The systems analyst is required to be good at interpersonal skills, and communication skills to motivate people all over the project teams to cooperate with him/her.
c. The System Analyst is required to be influential person working through various hierarchies of the User organization and Development team.
D. Integrity and Ethics . These are very important aspects of the career of a Systems Analyst for assuring a long term success. Personal integrity of very high level is required. The Systems Analyst refers to very vital information sources while performing his(/er) work. It is important that (s)he follows the User companies privacy policies an procedures very strictly. Eg. certain information resources may be available only for reference and not for photocopying also. Any act of private information.s piracy or theft or even any doubt related to that may harm the career of the Systems Analyst. Some information may be related to persons, such as their salary, medical history etc., it has to be kept confidential. The cpany strategy and policies also need to be kept secret. The integrity and ethical norms are applicable not only for the duration of the software systems development, but
also after it.
ref: http://www.mu.ac.in/sadi.pdf
1.The system analyst must be able to communicate in writing and orally.
Well, system analyst from the word itself, this is one of very difficult thing to do as part in the IT industry for the development process to be successful.He/She must have this four skills which is the analytical, technical, managerial, and interpersonal. And for me, I can communicate with people and also write but not much.Only slight but I can be as good as that if I'm going to let myself do it and learn more.
2. The analyst must easily get along with people. One of the factors to be successful in life is to be with people. Meaning, you have to be an understandable person to which you will feel comfortable to all people you will be dealing of. And as for me, I can't say that I can easily get along with people because sometimes you can't tell exactly that they like you or they understand you. Each of us have unique personality. But I have some of that attitude though. :-)
3. The analyst must be a good listener and be able to react to what people say. In order to have an understanding in every activities, an analyst should be open-minded. Meaning, he/she should be a good listener to which appreciation is a part and give any comments and suggestions if needed to be able to do the task correctly for the development of the company. Well, I am an open-minded person in which I am able to listen what other people will say and able to react if necessary.
4. 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 is essential. I have to admit that I am not as that an intelligent person but I have some knowledge about technology.
5. The 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. Hmmm...about business, I know only buy and sell...har2...But a deep one, I have to familiarize and learn more.
Having stated the characteristics of a good systems analyst, it is important to mention that not every one is a born System Analyst. However, with high desire to mould the career systematically and for long term benefits and pleasures of the successful career, a budding Systems Analyst can start cultivating his/her career in this manner today.