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Chapter 1: The World of the Information System Analyst

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Learning Objectives Explain the key role of a systems

analyst in business

Describe the various types of systems an analyst might work on

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

Explain why ethical behavior is crucial for a systems analyst’s career

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Learning Objectives (continued) Describe various job titles and places of

employment where analysis and design work is done

Discuss the analyst’s role in strategic planning for an organization

Describe the analyst’s role in a system development project

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Overview Information systems are

Crucial to success of modern business organizations

Constantly being developed to make business more competitive

Impact productivity and profits Keys to successful system development

Thorough systems analysis and design Understanding what business requires

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What Is System Analysis About?

Understanding the goals and strategies of the business.

Defining the information requirements that support those goals and strategies.

It is not about programming.

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System Analysis

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

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System Design

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

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System Analyst

A business professional who uses analysis and design techniques to solve business problems using information technology.

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Typical Problems SA Typically Solve Customers want to order product

anytime 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.

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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

a technical programmer

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What is your problem solving approach?

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Analyst’s Approach to Problem Solving1. 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

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What Is An Information System?

An information system is a collection of interrelated components that collect, process, store, and provide as output the information needed to complete a business task.

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Examples of Information Systems

Course registration system Online order system Account management system

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Why Are Information Systems Important?

Crucial to success of modern business organizations

Constantly being developed to make business more competitive

Impact productivity and profits

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Information Systems and Subsystems

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Information Systems and Component Parts

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System Boundary vs. Automation Boundary

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Types of Information Systems 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

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Types of Information Systems

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Required Skills of the Systems Analyst

Technical Business People

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Technical Knowledge and Skills 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

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Technical Knowledge and Skills – Tools

Software productivity packages Integrated development

environments (IDEs) for programming languages

CASE tools, testing, documentation support, reverse engineering, configuration management

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Technical Knowledge and Skills – Techniques

Project planning, systems analysis Systems design, database design,

network design Construction, implementation,

systems support

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Business Knowledge and Skills Business functions performed by

organization

Strategies, plans, traditions, and values of the organization

Organizational structure

Organization management techniques

Functional work processes

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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)

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People Knowledge and Skills (continued) 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

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Hard and Soft Skills

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

Soft skills are the skills in nontechnical areas such as interviewing, team management, and leadership.

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Integrity and Ethics Analyst has access to confidential

information, such as salary, an organization’s planned projects, security systems, and so on.

Must keep information private

Any impropriety can ruin an analyst’s career

Analyst plans security in systems to protect confidential information

Top Skills Employers Seek from Job-Seekers 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

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Top Values Employers Seek from Job-Seekers 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

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Analyst-Related Careers

ERP software related Business Analysts in different

business functions Auditing, compliance, and security Web Development

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Some Job Titles of SA 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 Sites

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

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Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is a process during which executives try to answer such questions: Where the business is now Where they want the business to be What they have to do to get there

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The Analyst’s Role in Strategic Planning Develop information systems that

support strategic planning Develop an application architecture plan

A description of the integrated information systems that the organization needs to carry out its business function.

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

communications networks required to implement planed information systems.

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Rocky Mountain Outfitters (RMO) RMO - a sports clothing manufacturer and

distributor is about to begin a customer support system project

Need to understand the nature of the business, approach to strategic planning, and objectives for customer support system

RMO system development project used to demonstrate analysis and design concepts

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Introduction to Rocky Mountain Outfitters (RMO) Business Began in Park City, Utah supplying winter

sports clothes to local ski shops Expanded into direct mail-order sales with

small catalog—as catalog interest increased, opened retail store in Park City

Became a large, regional sports clothing distributor by early 2000s in Rocky Mountain and Western states

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

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

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RMO Strategic Issues

Substantially underperforming Web-based ordering system.

RMO sales growth was slow down and was losing the market share.

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Customer Support System

An order processing and fulfillment system that seamlessly integrates with supply chain management system to support mail order, phone order, and direct customer access via Web.

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Existing RMO Systems Small server cluster system

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

High capacity network connects distribution and mail-order sites

LANs and file servers Supports central office functions,

distribution centers, and manufacturing centers

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Existing RMO Systems (continued) Supply Chain Management System

Client/Server system in C++ and DB2 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

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Existing RMO Systems (continued) 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

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The Information Systems Strategic Plan Supports RMO strategic objectives

Build more direct customer relationships

Expand marketing beyond Western states

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

Project launch: New customer support system to integrate phone orders, mail orders, and direct customer orders via Internet

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RMO Application Architecture Plan Supply chain management (SCM)

Product development, product acquisition, manufacturing, inventory management

Customer support system (CSS) Integrate order-processing and fulfillment

system with SCM

Support customer orders (mail, phone, Web) Strategic information management system

Extract and analyze SCM and CSS information for strategic and operational decision making and control

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RMO Application Architecture Plan (continued) Retail store system (RSS)

Replace existing retail store system with system integrated 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 employee

access to human resources forms, procedures, and benefits information

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RMO Technology Architecture Plan 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)

Direct customer ordering via dynamic Web site

Customer relationship management (CRM)

Web-based intranet for business functions

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Timetable for RMO Strategic Plan

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The Customer Support System (CSS) RMO core competency is their ability to

develop and maintain customer loyalty CSS is a core system supporting complete

customer relationship management Inquiries, order entry, order tracking, shipping,

back ordering, returns, sales analysis Systems analysis activities will define

system requirements in detail Strategic plan’s stated objectives will form

guidelines as project proceeds

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Summary A systems analyst solves business problems

using information systems technology

Problem solving means looking into business problem in great detail, completely understanding problem, and choosing best solution

Information system development is much more than writing programs

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Summary (continued) System – collection of interrelated components

that function together to achieve some outcome

Information systems outcome – solution to a business problem

Information systems, subsystems, and components interact with and include hardware, software, inputs, outputs, data, people, and procedures

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Summary (continued) Systems analyst has broad knowledge and

variety of skills, including technical, business, and people

Integrity and ethical behavior are crucial to success for the analyst

Systems analyst encounters a variety of rapidly changing technologies

Systems analyst works on strategic plans and then system development projects