Systems analysis and design methods 7th whitten and benley chapter 01

The Modern Systems Analyst
Introduction


The chapter will address the following questions:









What is the systems analyst’s role and responsibilities in the
modern business?
Why are organizations recruiting computer end-users to partner
with the traditional systems analyst?
What are the roles of systems analysts and business users in
systems problem solving?
Where are the career opportunities for systems analysts?
Who are the systems analyst’s customers and partners in systems
development?

1


The Modern Systems Analyst
Introduction


The chapter will address the following questions:






What business trends and drivers are influencing the careers of
systems analysts?
How can you prepare yourself for a career as a systems or business
analyst?
What does the future hold for systems analysts?

2


The Modern Systems Analyst
Who Should Read This Book


What is an Information System?




An information system is an arrangement of people, data,
processes, interfaces, networks, and technology that interact for
the purpose of supporting and improving both day-to-day
operations in a business (sometimes called data processing), as
well as supporting the problem solving and decision making needs

of management (sometimes called information services).

What is a Computer Application System?


A computer application is computer-based solution to one or
more business problems and needs. One or more computer
applications are typically contained within an information system.

3


The Modern Systems Analyst
Who Should Read This Book


The Systems Analyst - A Key Resource
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

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Many organizations consider information systems
and computer applications as essential to their
ability to compete or gain competitive advantage.
Information has become a management resource
equal in importance to property, facilities,

employees, and capital.
All workers need to participate in the development of
these systems and applications – not just the
computer and information specialists.
But one specialist plays a special role in systems and
applications development, the systems analyst.
 A systems analyst(s) facilitates the development of
information systems and computer applications.
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The Modern Systems Analyst
Who Should Read This Book


The Systems Analyst - A Key Resource


The systems analyst performs systems analysis and design.
 Systems analysis is the study of a business problem domain
for the purpose of recommending improvements and specifying
the business requirements for the solution.
 Systems design is the specification or construction of a
technical, computer-based solution for the business
requirements identified in a systems analysis. (Note:
Increasingly, the design takes the form of a working
prototype.).

5

The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Why do businesses need Systems Analysts?


The system analyst bridges the communications gap between
those who need the computer and those who understand the
technology.

6


The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
What is a Systems Analyst?




Systems analysts are people who understand both business and
computing.
Systems analysts study business problems and opportunities and
then transform business and information requirements of the

business into the computer-based information systems and
computer applications that are implemented by various technical
specialists including computer programmers.

7


The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
What is a Systems Analyst?


A formal definition:
 A systems analyst facilitates the study of the problems and
needs of a business to determine how the business system and
information technology can best solve the problem and
accomplish improvements for the business. The product of this
activity may be improved business processes, improved
information systems, or new or improved computer
applications frequently all three.

8


The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
What is a Systems Analyst?




When information technology is used, the systems analyst is
responsible for:
 the efficient capture of data from its business source
 the flow of that data to the computer
 the processing and storage of that data by the computer
 the flow of useful and timely information back to the business
and its people
Information technology is a contemporary term that describes the
combination of computer technology (hardware and software) with
telecommunications technology (data, image, and voice networks).

9


The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
What is a Systems Analyst?




A systems analyst is a business problem solver.
 A systems analyst helps the business by solving its problems
using system concepts and information technology.
A systems analyst sell business management and computer users
the services of information technology.
 A systems analyst sells change.

10


The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
What is a Systems Analyst?


The role of systems analyst is changing into two distinct positions
or roles, business analyst and application analyst.
 A business analyst is a systems analyst that specializes in
business problem analysis and technology-independent
requirements analysis.
 An application analyst is a systems analyst that specializes in
application design and technology-dependent aspects of
development. A synonym is system or application architect.

11

The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
What Does A System Analyst Do?




A system analyst is a system-oriented problem solver.
 System problem solving is the act of studying a problem
environment in order to implement corrective solutions that
take the form of new or improved systems.
Most systems analysts use some variation of a system problem
solving approach called a system development life cycle.
 A systems development life cycle (SDLC) is a systematic and
orderly approach to solving system problems.

12


The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
What Does A System Analyst Do?


The SDLC usually incorporates the following general-purpose
problem solving steps:
 Planning - identify the scope and boundary of the problem,
and plan the development strategy and goals.
 Analysis - study and analyze the problems, causes, and
effects. Then, identify and analyze the requirements that must
be fulfilled by any successful solution.
 Design - if necessary, design the solution not all solutions
require design.
 Implementation - implement the solution.
 Support - analyze the implemented solution, refine the design,
and implement improvements to the solution. Different support
situations can thread back into the previous steps.
13


The Modern Systems Analyst
Obsolete solution

Problem to be solved

Planning

Related problem to be solved
Analysis

Support
New solution
to same problem

Implementation
error
to be fixed

Problem analysis
and
Solution requirements

Implemented
solution
Implementation

Acceptable
solution

14

Design


The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
What Does A System Analyst Do?


System analysts are responsible for other aspects of a system

including:
 PEOPLE, including managers, users, and other developers –
and including the organizational behaviors and politics that
occur when people interact with one another.
 DATA, including capture, validation, organization, storage, and
usage.
 PROCESSES, both automated and manual, that combine to
process data and produce information.
 INTERFACES, both to other systems and applications, as well
to the actual users (e.g., reports and display screens).
 NETWORKS, which effectively distribute data, processes, and
information to the people.
15


The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?


Systems analysts can be found in most businesses; however, the
organization of information services in many businesses is in
turmoil as those businesses reorganize to improve service, quality,
and value.

16

The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?


The Systems Analyst in the Traditional Business.
 Information services are centralized for the entire organization
or a specific line of business.
• Information Services reports directly to chief executive officer, or
the chief executive for a line of business.
• The highest ranking information officer is a vice president,
sometimes called a chief information officer (CIO).

17


The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?


The Systems Analyst in the Traditional Business.
 Information Services is organized according to the following

functions or centers:
• Systems and Applications Development.
– Most systems analysts work here, along with most
programmers.
– The systems analysts and programmers are organized into
permanent teams that support the information systems and
applications for specific business functions.
– The Systems and Applications Development unit may include a
development center.
– A development center establishes and enforces the methods,
tools, techniques, and quality of all development projects.
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The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?


The Systems Analyst in the Traditional Business.
 Information Services is organized according to the following
functions or centers: (continued)
• Data Administration
– This center manages the data and information resource in the
organization.
– Data Administration usually employ several systems analystlike specialists called data analysts who analyze database
requirements and design and construct the corresponding

databases.

19


The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?


The Systems Analyst in the Traditional Business.
 Information Services is organized according to the following
functions or centers: (continued)
• Telecommunications
– This center designs, constructs, and manages the computer
networks that have become integral to most businesses.
– Network analysts perform many of the same tasks as applied to
designing local and wide area networks that will ultimately be
used by systems and applications.

20


The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern

Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?


The Systems Analyst in the Traditional Business.
 Information Services is organized according to the following
functions or centers: (continued)
• End-User Computing
– This center supports the growing base of personal computers
and local area networks in end user community.
– They provide installation services, training, and help desk
services (call-in help for various PC related problems).
– In mature businesses, they also provide standards and
consulting to end users who develop their own systems with
PC power tools such as spreadsheets and PC database
management systems.
– In this latter role, they employ analyst-like end user computing
consultants.
21


The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?


The Systems Analyst in the Traditional Business.

 Information Services is organized according to the following
functions or centers: (continued)
• Computer Operations
– This center runs all of the shared computers including
mainframes, minicomputers, and non-departmental servers.
– This unit rarely employs systems analysts.

22


The Modern Systems Analyst
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
or
Line of Business Chief Executive

VP of Information Services
or
Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Manager
Systems Development

Data
Administrator

Telecommunications
Administrator

Manager
End User Computing

Manager.
Computer Operations

Manager
Development
Center

Database
Administrators

Network
Analysts

End User
Consultants

System
Programmers

Manager
Financial
Systems

Data
Analysts

Network
Managers

End User
Trainers

Capacity
Analyst

Manager
Marketing
Systems

Database
Analysts

Network
Technicians

Manager
Manufacturing
Systems
Systems
Analysts

Application
Programmers

23

Computer
Operators

The Modern Systems Analyst


The Systems Analyst As A Modern
Business Problem Solver
Where Do System Analysts Work?


Modern Information Services in a Business
 Dramatic reorganization trend in medium-to-large information
services units that is highly decentralized with a focus on
empowerment and dynamic teams .
 Result is a federation of information systems centers that
report directly to their functional business units (or groups of
business units).
• Each of these centers is empowered to set priorities and make
decisions on behalf of their constituent management and users.

24


The Modern Systems Analyst
indicates dynamic
assignments
to teams
as needed

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
or

Line of Business Chief Executive

Chief Information Officer (CIO)
(for central information services)

Information
Strategy
Planning
Team

Information
Technology
Architecture
Team

Cross-Functional
Systems &
Applications
Development Teams

Information
Technology
Competency
Centers

Vice President
Finance

Departmental
Computing

Coordination

coordinate

Vice President
Marketing

advise

Data
Administrator

Database
Specialists

Telecommunications
Administrator

Network
Specialists

Application
Technology
Specialists

Other
Technical
Specialists

25

evaluate

Manager
Financial
Information
Services

Manager
Financial
Information
Services

Manager
Financial
Information
Services

Project
Managers

Vice President
Manufacturing

Network
Manager

Network
Manager

Network
Manager

Analyst/
Programmers
Team

Analyst/
Programmers
Team

Analyst/
Programmers
Team