systems analysis – itec 3155 the world of the modern systems analyst

1Systems Analysis – ITEC 3155The World of the

Modern Systems Analyst

1

Systems Analysis and Design in a Changing World, 4th Edition 2

Learning Objectives

Define the role and responsibility of a systems analyst in business.

What is a system?

Systems Analysis defined.

Approach to problem solving.

Skills required of the systems analyst.

A word about ethics

1


Learning Objectives (continued)

Types of information systems

Data / Data Representation

Abstraction

1


The role of the Systems Analyst

The person most responsible for the analysis and design of information systems.

Studies the problems and needs of a business to determine how the business system and information technology can best solve the problems and accomplish improvements for the business.

The product may be improved business processes, improved information systems or new or improved computer applications, or all three.

Note that the best solution may not have anything to do with the computer!!!

1


What is a system?

A collection of interrelated components that function together to achieve some outcome.

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.

Subsystem – part of a larger system

1


Functional Decomposition Dividing a system into components based on subsystems

that are in turn further divided into subsystems.

1


System Boundary vs. Automation Boundary

1


Systems Analysis and Design

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

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

Systems analyst – uses analysis and design techniques to solve business problems

Is more of a business problem solver than a technical programmer!

1


Analyst’s Approach to Problem Solving

Verify benefits of solving problem outweigh the costs

Research and understand the problem

Define the requirements for solving the problem

Develop a set of possible solutions (alternatives)

Define the details of the chosen solution

Monitor to ensure desired results

Decide which solution is best and recommend

Implement the solution

1


Required Skills of the Systems Analyst

1


Technical Knowledge and Skills

An analyst should have fundamental technology knowledge of

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

1


Technical Knowledge and Skills (continued)

Analyst uses tools

Software productivity packages

Integrated development environments (IDEs) for programming languages

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

Analyst understands SDLC techniques

Project planning, systems analysis

Systems design, database design, network design

Construction, implementation, systems support

1


Business Knowledge and Skills

Analyst must understand

Business functions performed by organization

Strategies, plans, traditions, and values of the organization

Organizational structure

Organization management techniques

Functional work processes

Systems analysts typically study business administration/management in college with a major in CIS or MIS

1


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)

1


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

1


Integrity and Ethics

Analyst could have 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

1


Systems Analyst

Systems thinking Problem identification: difference between

existing situation and the desired situation Identifies data and processes that make up the

information system. Identifies Input/Output and interfaces Project management skills Interpersonal and communication (including

listening) skills Ability to work independently and in teams Professionalism and high ethical standards

1


Types of Information Systems

Transaction processing systems (TPS) Capture and record information about organization’s

transactions

Management information systems (MIS) Take information captured by TPS

Produce reports for planning and control

Decision support / knowledge-based systems (DSS/KBS) Explore impact of available options or decisions (what-if

scenarios)

Automate routine decision making

1


Types of Information Systems (continued)

Enterprise applications

Highly integrated systems that support company-wide operations and data

Often combine aspects of TPS, MIS, DSS/KBS

Communication support systems

Facilitate communication internally and with customers and suppliers

Office support systems

Help employees create and share documents

1


What is Data?

A collection of items

Words

Numbers

Images

Sounds

Data is the foundation of all information technology material.

1


Data as a concept

Each item is an abstraction of reality

Data represents, through symbols, items, ideas, concepts, etc. that which would otherwise be impossible to manipulate.

A symbol (letter, word, number, image, sound, etc.) is something that represents something else. Examples: alphabet, flag, traffic light, etc.

Symbolic representation is the idea of representing something by using something else (symbol).

1


Examples of Symbolic Representation

Letters

B

A symbol (letter) used to represent the sound “buh”

1



Letters

OKBO

A collection of letters (symbols).

Does it have meaning?

1



Words

BOOK

A collection of letters (symbols) now called a “word”.

Does it have meaning?

WHY? English speakers have agreed that it represents a

1


Examples of Data Representation

Data Example

PHYSICAL ITEMS

SYMBOLS THAT REPRESENT

PHYSICAL ITEMS

ATTRIBUTES THAT DESCRIBE THE

PHYSICAL ITEMS

red

Papers

Books

Apple red

green

written

typed

1

1


Some Common Symbols

Symbol Symbol Name Meaning (represents)

American flag

Traffic light

Cupid Love

Traffic control device

A nation, people culture, etc.

(emotion)

(state or condition)

(noun)

1


Abstraction

Expressing a quality apart from an object

The expression of a quality of an object leaving out unnecessary or irrelevant details.

Abstraction is used to isolate only relevant facts about an object.

Abstraction simplifies a process or model.

1


Abstraction

What is this? “Apple”?

1


Abstraction

& “Apple” are two different things:

1. an example of a real, live fruit vs.

2. a word (symbol) that represents the name that we have assigned to that fruit

1


Abstraction

We say that the word “apple” is an abstraction of ,

meaning that it expresses a particular quality or attribute of the real, live object.

1


Abstraction

We can also express other qualities of this fruit in addition to the name such as:

Color = Red

Condition = excellent

These qualities (attributes) come from observation and analysis and represent our evaluation of the real object.

1


Layers of Abstraction

Depending upon our view and interest in an object, our expression of quality or the attributes may be from differing perspectives.

1


Abstraction

Real-world items

Fruit

(collective word for all similar items)

Type, color

(words that describe 2 attributes of each fruit)

Apple, orange, pear, lemon, grape, cherry

(single words that describe each item’s type)

Red, green, orange, yellow

(single words describing each item’s color)

1


Next Week

Read Chapter 2

systems analysis – itec 3155 the world of the modern systems analyst

Documents