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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