Required Skills of the Systems Analyst

An analyst should have fundamental technology knowledge of:

• Computers / peripheral devices (hardware)
• Communication networks and connectivity
• Database and database management systems (DBMS)
• Programming languages (for example: VB.NET or Java)
• Operating systems and utilities

Technical Knowledge and Skills

Analyst uses tools:

• Software productivity packages (MS Office)
• Integrated development environments (IDEs) for programming languages
• CASE tools / coding, testing, and documentation support packages

Analyst understands SDLC phase techniques:

• Project planning
• Systems analysis, systems design
• Construction, implementation, systems support

Business Knowledge and Skills

Analyst must understand:

• Business functions performed by organization
• Organizational structure
• Organization management techniques
• Functional work processes

Systems analysts typically study business administration in college


People Knowledge and Skills

Systems analysts need to understand how people:

• Think
• Learn
• React to change
• Communicate
• Work (in a variety of jobs and levels)

Interpersonal and communication skills are crucial to:

• Obtaining information
• Motivating people
• Getting cooperation
• Understanding the complexity and workings of an organization in order to provide necessary support

Integrity and Ethics

Analyst has access to confidential information such as salary, an organization’s planned projects, security systems, etc.

• Must keep information private
• Any impropriety can ruin an analyst’s career
• Analyst plans security in systems to protect confidential information

The World of the Modern Systems Analyst

Information Systems

• Crucial to success of modern business organizations
• Constantly being developed to make business more competitive
• Impact productivity and profits

Keys to successful systems development

• Thorough systems analysis and design
• Understanding what business requires

Systems analysis – what system should do

Systems design – how components of information system should be physically implemented

Systems analyst – uses analysis and design techniques to solve business problems with information technology


The Analyst as a Business Problem Solver

• Has computer technology knowledge and programming expertise
• Understands business problems
• Uses logical methods for solving problems
• Has fundamental curiosity
• Wants to make things better
• Is more of a business problem solver than technical programmer

Systems That Solve Business Problems

• System – interrelated components functioning together to achieve outcome
• Information systems – collection of interrelated components that collect, process, store, and provide as output information needed to complete tasks
• Subsystems – part of larger system
• Supersystem – larger system contains subsystem
• Functional decomposition – dividing system into smaller subsystems and components

Information Systems and Subsystems


Information Systems and Component Parts


System Boundary vs. Automation Boundary

Types of Information Systems

Transaction processing systems (TPS)

• Capture and record information about organization’s transactions

Management information systems (MIS)

• Take information captured by TPS
• Produce reports for planning and control

Executive information systems (EIS)

• Monitoring competitive environment and strategic planning

Decision support systems (DSS)

• Explore impact of available options or decisions (What-if scenarios)

Communication support systems

• Facilitate communication internally and with customers and suppliers

Office support systems

• Help employees create and share documents