Chapter 1 - System Analyst

8/3/2019 Chapter 1 - System Analyst

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CHAPTER 1: THEWORLD OF THE

INFORMATION SYSTEMANALYST

1



Learning Objectives2

Explain the concept of an informationsystem

Describe the various types of systems an

analyst might work on Explain the key role of a systems analyst

in business

Explain the importance of technical,people, and business skills for an analyst

Describe the analyst’s role in a system

development project



What Is An InformationSystem?

3

An information system is a collection of interrelated components that collect,process, store, and provide as output the

information needed to complete abusiness task.



Examples of InformationSystems

4

Course registration system Online order system Account management system



Why Are Information SystemsImportant?

5

Crucial to success of modern businessorganizations

Constantly being developed to make

business more competitive Impact productivity and profits



Types of InformationSystems

6

Customer Relationship Management(CRM)

Supply Chain Management (SCM) Accounting and Financial Management

(AFM) Human Resource Management (HRM)

Manufacturing Management Knowledge Management (KM) Collaboration Support Systems (CSS)

Business Intelligence System



7

Information Systems and Subsystems



8

Information Systems and

Component Parts



9

System Boundary vs.

Automation Boundary



Strategic Planning10

Strategic planning is a process duringwhich executives try to answer suchquestions:Where the business is nowWhere they want the business to beWhat they have to do to get there



What Is System AnalysisAbout?

11

Understanding the goals and strategiesof the business.

Defining the information requirements

that support those goals and strategies. It is not about programming.



System Analysis12

Systems analysis is a process of understanding in detail what a systemshould accomplish.



System Design13

Systems design is a process of specifying in detail how components of an information system should be

physically implemented.



System Analyst14

A business professional who usesanalysis and design techniques to solvebusiness problems using information

technology.



Typical Problems SA TypicallySolve

15

Customers want to order productanytime of the day.

Suppliers want to minimize inventory

holding costs. Marketing want to know customer needs

better. Management want to analyzing financial

information more efficiently.



The Analyst as a BusinessProblem Solver

16

Has computer technology knowledge andprogramming 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 thana technical programmer



What is your problem solvingapproach?

17



Analyst’s Approach to ProblemSolving

18

1. Research and understand the problem

2. Verify benefits of solving problem outweigh the costs

3. Define the requirements for solving the problem

4. Develop a set of possible solutions (alternatives)

5. Decide which solution is best and recommend

6. Define the details of the chosen solution

7. Implement the solution

8. Monitor to ensure desired results



Required Skills of the SystemsAnalyst

19

Technical Business People



Technical Knowledge andSkills

20

Computers / peripheral devices(hardware)

Communication networks and connectivity

Database and database managementsystems (DBMS)

Programming languages (for example,

VB.NET or Java) Operating systems and utilities



Technical Knowledge and Skills– Tools

21

Software productivity packages Integrated development environments

(IDEs) for programming languages CASE tools, testing, documentation

support, reverse engineering,configuration management



Technical Knowledge and Skills– Techniques

22

Project planning, systems analysis Systems design, database design,

network design Construction, implementation, systems

support



Business Knowledge andSkills

23

Business functions performed byorganization

Strategies, plans, traditions, and values of the organization

Organizational structure

Organization management techniques

Functional work processes



People Knowledge and Skills24

Systems analysts need to understand howpeople

Think

Learn

React to change

Communicate Work (in a variety of jobs and levels)



People Knowledge and Skills(continued)

25

Interpersonal and communication skillsare crucial to

Obtaining information

Motivating people

Getting cooperation

Understanding the complexity and workings of an organization in order to provide necessarysupport



Hard and Soft Skills26

Hard skills are the skills in technicalareas such as database design,programming, and telecommunication.

Soft skills are the skills in nontechnicalareas such as interviewing, team

management, and leadership.



Integrity and Ethics27

Analyst has access to confidentialinformation, such as salary, anorganization’s planned projects, securitysystems, and so on.

Must keep information private

Any impropriety can ruin an analyst’s career

Analyst plans security in systems to protectconfidential information



Top Skills Employers Seek from Job-Seekers

28

Communications Skills (listening, verbal, written).

Analytical/Research Skills.

Computer/Technical Literacy.

Flexibility/Adaptability/Managing Multiple Priorities.

Interpersonal Abilities.

Leadership/Management Skills.

Multicultural Sensitivity/Awareness.

Planning/Organizing.

Problem-Solving/Reasoning/Creativity.

Teamwork.

(source: Quintessential Careers )

http://www.quintcareers.com/job_skills_values.html





Top Values Employers Seek from Job-Seekers

29

Honesty/Integrity/Morality.

Adaptability/Flexibility.

Dedication/Hard-Working/Work Ethic/Tenacity.

Dependability/Reliability/Responsibility.

Loyalty.

Positive Attitude/Motivation/Energy/Passion.

Professionalism.

Self-Confidence.

Self-Motivated/Ability to Work With Little or No Supervision.

Willingness to Learn.

(source: Quintessential Careers )http://www.quintcareers.com/job_skills_values.html


































Analyst-Related Careers30

ERP software related Business Analysts in different business

functions Auditing, compliance, and security Web Development














Some Job Titles of SA31

Programmer Analyst Business System Analyst System Liaison End-user Analyst

Business/system consultant System support analyst System designer Software engineer

System architect Web architect Web developer



























Job Listing Web Sites32

http://promotions.monster.com/ www.employment.com/ www.jobs.com/ www.jobs.net/

Th A l ’ R l i S i




http://promotions.monster.com/

http://www.employment.com/

http://www.jobs.com/

http://www.jobs.net/


http://www.jobs.com/

http://www.employment.com/

http://promotions.monster.com/




The Analyst’s Role in StrategicPlanning

33

Develop information systems that supportstrategic planning

Develop an application architecture plan

A description of the integrated informationsystems that the organization needs to carry outits business function.

Develop a technology architecture plan A description of the hardware, software, and

communications networks required toimplement planed information systems.

R k M t i O tfitt






















Rocky Mountain Outfitters(RMO)

34

RMO - a sports clothing manufacturer anddistributor is about to begin a customersupport system project

Need to understand the nature of thebusiness, approach to strategic planning,and objectives for customer supportsystem

RMO system development project used todemonstrate analysis and design concepts


















Introduction to Rocky MountainOutfitters (RMO) Business

35

Began in Park City, Utah supplying winter sportsclothes to local ski shops

Expanded into direct mail-order sales with smallcatalog—as catalog interest increased, openedretail store in Park City

Became a large, regional sports clothingdistributor by early 2000s in Rocky Mountain andWestern states

Currently $180 million in annual sales and 600employees and two retail stores

Mail-order revenue is $90 million; phone-orderrevenue is $50 million; Web-based revenue is $30million
























RMO Strategic Issues36

Substantially underperforming Web-based ordering system.

RMO sales growth was slow down and

was losing the market share.











Customer Support System37

An order processing and fulfillmentsystem that seamlessly integrates withsupply chain management system to

support mail order, phone order, anddirect customer access via Web.











Existing RMO Systems38

Small server cluster system

Supports inventory, mail-order, accounting,and human resources

High capacity network connects distributionand mail-order sites

LANs and file servers

Supports central office functions,distribution centers, and manufacturingcenters

Existing RMO Systems




















Existing RMO Systems(continued)(

39

Supply Chain Management System

Client/Server system in C++ and DB2C

Mail Order System

Mainframe COBOL/CICS. Unable to handle phone orders

Phone order system

Oracle and Visual Basic system built 6 years ago

Retail store systems

Eight-year-old point-of-sale and batch inventory package,overnight update with mainframe

Existing RMO Systems


























Existing RMO Systems(continued)(

40

Office systems

LAN with office software, Internet, e-mail

Human resources system

Thirteen-year-old mainframe-based payroll and benefits Accounting/finance system

Mainframe package bought from leading vendor

Web Catalog and Order System

Outside company until 2011. Irregular performance

Th I f ti S t
























The Information SystemsStrategic Plan

41

Supports RMO strategic objectives

Build more direct customer relationships

Expand marketing beyond Western states

Plan calls for a series of information system developmentand integration projects over several years

Project launch: New customer support system tointegrate phone orders, mail orders, and direct customer

orders via Internet

RMO Application




















RMO ApplicationArchitecture Plan

42

Supply chain management (SCM)S

Product development, product acquisition,manufacturing, inventory management

Customer support system (CSS)C

Integrate order-processing and fulfillment systemwith SCM

Support customer orders (mail, phone, Web)S

Strategic information management system Extract and analyze SCM and CSS information forstrategic and operational decision making andcontrol

RMO A li ti A hit t Pl




























RMO Application Architecture Plan(continued)(

43

Retail store system (RSS)R

Replace existing retail store system with systemintegrated with CSS

Accounting/finance system Purchase intranet application to maximize employee

access to financial data for planning and control

Human resources (HR) system

Purchase intranet application to maximize employeeaccess to human resources forms, procedures, andbenefits information

RMO Technology

























RMO TechnologyArchitecture Plan

44

Distribute business applications

Across multiple locations and systems

Reserve data center for Web server, database, and

telecommunications

Strategic business processes via Internet

Supply chain management (SCM)S

Direct customer ordering via dynamic Web site

Customer relationship management (CRM)C Web-based intranet for business functions


























45

Timetable for RMO Strategic Plan

The Customer Support






The Customer SupportSystem (CSS)

46

RMO core competency is their ability todevelop and maintain customer loyalty

CSS is a core system supporting completecustomer relationship management Inquiries, order entry, order tracking, shipping, back

ordering, returns, sales analysis

Systems analysis activities will define systemrequirements in detail

Strategic plan’s stated objectives will formguidelines as project proceeds





















Summary47

A systems analyst solves business problemsusing information systems technology

Problem solving means looking into businessproblem in great detail, completelyunderstanding problem, and choosing bestsolution

Information system development is much morethan writing programs
















Summary (continued)S48

System – collection of interrelated componentsthat function together to achieve someoutcome

Information systems outcome – solution to abusiness problem

Information systems, subsystems, and

components interact with and includehardware, software, inputs, outputs, data,people, and procedures


















Summary (continued)S49

Systems analyst has broad knowledge andvariety of skills, including technical, business,and people

Integrity and ethical behavior are crucial tosuccess for the analyst

Systems analyst encounters a variety of rapidly

changing technologies Systems analyst works on strategic plans and

then system development projects

















Chapter 1 - System Analyst

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