Transcript Slayt 1 - Bilkent University

SYSTEM ANALYST
SYSTEM ANALYSTS IN SYSTEMS
DEVELOPMENT
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Analytical skills
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Technical skills
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Managerial skills
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Interpersonal skills
Analytical skills
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System thinking
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Ability to see organizations
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Information systems
Technical skills
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Helps you to understand the potential and
limitations of information technology.
Managerial skills
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Helps you manage projects, resources,
risks and changes.
Interpersonal skills
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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 [email protected] with salary
requirement.
Simon & Taylor, Inc. İs an Equal Opportunity Employer
ANALITICAL SKILLS FOR
SYSTEM ANALYSTS
Systems thinking
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Examining what we mean by a system
and identify the characteristics that
define a system
Definition of an system and its
parts
System
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Components
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Interrelated Components
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A Boundary
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A Purpose
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An Environment
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Interfaces
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Input
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Output
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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
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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
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Logical Systems
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Physical Systems
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Benefits from System Thinking

Applying Systems Thinking to
Information Systems
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Organizational Knowledge

Problem Identification
Problem
o
Selected Areas of Organizational Konowledge for a Systems Analyst
How Work Officially Gets Done in a Particular Organization
•Terminology, abbreviations, and acronyms
•Policies
•Standarts and procedures
•Standarts of practice
•Formal organizations structure
•Job descriptions
Understanding 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 technology
Understanding the Organization’s Strategies and Tactics
•Short-and long-term strategy and plans
•Values and mission
Problem Analyzing and Solving
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Intelligence
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Design
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Choice
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Implementation
The systems development life cycle and Simon’s problem-solving model
Implementation
Intelligence
Planning
Analysis
Maintenance
Choice
Implementation
Design
design
TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR
SYSTEM ANALYSTS
The following alternatives will help you versatile and up to date:
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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:
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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
 Interviewing
o
Interviewing
o
Listening
Skills
and 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)
2)
3)
4)
Take every opportunity to practice.
Videotape your presentations and do a
critical self-appraisal of your skills.
Make use of writing centers.
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

Characteristics of a High-Performance Team
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
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.
Some guidelines for running effective meetings
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.
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.
Ethics
Comparison of Ethical Obligations for Three Different Approaches to Business Ethics
Stockholder
Stakeholder
Conform to laws and
Regulations
Determine who are relevant
stakeholders
Avoid fraud and deception
Determine rights of each ;
reject options that violate
these
Maximize profits
Accept remaining option
that best balances interests
of stakeholders
Social Contrast
Reject action that are
fraudulent/deceptive,
dehumanize employees,
or involve discrimination
Eliminate options that
reduce welfare of
society’s members
Choose remaining option that
maximizes probability of
financial success
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
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Project Manager
Who is a Project Manager(PM)???
What are the important qualities of
a PM??
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Problem Solving Skills
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Team-Building Skills
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Good Communicator
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Enthusiasm
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Cool Under Pressure
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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
5.
Acquiring human and material resources
6.
Directing activities
7.
Controlling project execution
8.
Tracking and Reporting progress
9.
Defining the products of the project