The person responsible for the development of an information system. Systems analysts design and modify systems by turning user requirements into a set of functional specifications, which are the blueprint of the system. They design the database or help design it if data administrators are available. They develop the manual and machine procedures and the detailed processing specifications for each data entry, update, query and report program in the system.
The Architects
Systems analysts are the architects, as well as the project leaders, of an information system. It is their job to develop solutions to users' problems, determine the technical and operational feasibility of their solutions, as well as estimate the costs to develop and implement them.
They develop prototypes of the system along with the users, so that the final specifications are examples of screens and reports that have been carefully reviewed. Experienced analysts leave no doubt in users' minds as to what is being developed, and they insist that all responsible users review and sign off on every detail.
A Balanced Mix
Systems analysts require a balanced mix of business and technical knowledge, interviewing and analytical skills and a good understanding of human behavior. See system development cycle, salary survey and Systemantics.
The Architects
Systems analysts are the architects, as well as the project leaders, of an information system. It is their job to develop solutions to users' problems, determine the technical and operational feasibility of their solutions, as well as estimate the costs to develop and implement them.
They develop prototypes of the system along with the users, so that the final specifications are examples of screens and reports that have been carefully reviewed. Experienced analysts leave no doubt in users' minds as to what is being developed, and they insist that all responsible users review and sign off on every detail.
A Balanced Mix
Systems analysts require a balanced mix of business and technical knowledge, interviewing and analytical skills and a good understanding of human behavior. See system development cycle, salary survey and Systemantics.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2010 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- SAP: the challenges ahead
- It's started. Speculation around whether SAP ex-CEO Leo Apotheker jumped or was pushed, a trawl through past failures, an implied writing off of SAP because its strategy seems muddled and as for SaaS? Pfft. This is what SAP insiders are telling me. The...
- Blog posts 2010-02-07
- Nine common SaaS marketing mistakes
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- Discussion threads 2010-02-01
- Apple and Oracle on way to do what IBM and Microsoft could not: Dominate entire markets
- Wait a second, so all those monopoly abuse cases were not "domination"?Microsoft was found by the US and the EU to have a monopoly in operating systems, which it abused. If that doesn't qualify as "dominate entire markets", what does?Are seriously claiming that MS hasn't dominated the os market?Whatever...
- Discussion threads 2010-01-29
- Proactive Vulnerability Management
- Speaker: Dr. Chenxi Wang, Principal Analyst, Security and Risk Management, Forrester Research, Inc. In this talk, Dr. Chenxi Wang, Principal Analyst for Security and Risk Management at Forrester Research, will cover the key aspects of proactive vulnerability management and more importantly, the steps via which you can follow...
- Webcasts 2010-01-28
- AT&T issues at the Consumer Electronics Show
- AT&T Drops CallsI've don't have an iphone but do have AT&T for my cell phone. Since I just signed a contract and upgraded my phone I've had my calls dropping A LOT. It has happened as much as 3 times in the course of one call. I can't...
- Discussion threads 2010-01-08
- Okay Here Goes - CRM Forecast 2010 - Part I
- Just so you know, this year, I’ll do even better than last year (notice by adding the word “even†it makes it seem like I did really well last year but will improve over that sterling performance. Looking Back at CRM 2009 Forecast and decide whether “evenâ€...
- Blog posts 2009-12-21
- Oracle: Delivers strong quarter; Outlines plans for Sun
- Updated: Oracle delivered better-than-expected fiscal second quarter results, touted its applications business vs. SAP and said it expects the European Union to "unconditionally clear the acquisition of Sun in January." Oracle also outlined some of its strategy for taking Sun hardware upmarket. The company reported net income...
- Blog posts 2009-12-17
- First 1GHz Snapdragon WM device in US comes as AT&T's $200 LG eXpo
- Nice phones...but the problem is they are on AT&T's network.And we all know how swell that's running these days.Way to be originalYou almost missed the wagon as it passed, but you managed to jump on...good for you...keep it up...And you almost sound intelligent...almost. nt...Oh no! It's WinMo :(Mobile 'smartphones'...
- Discussion threads 2009-12-17
- Linux kicks Microsoft back
- Market share from 'net applications'?Still shows Linux with 1% and Windows with about 93%. If 1/3 of all netbooks run linux how could their OS share be a mere 1%? Even if they do have 1/3 of the netbook market then the netbook market would only be about 3% of...
- Discussion threads 2009-12-13
- Is it really "game over" for Microsoft's consumer business?
- I guess the catis out of the bag if your son reads your blogs.In any event, I agree with you. MS used to be able to muscle its way into markets, late. They cannot do that any more, at least in the smartphone/mobile market, and the train has probably left....
- Discussion threads 2009-12-11
- SAP Business Influencers Summit - A Clear Path Forward?
- I have to admit that I enjoy going to conferences and summits as an analyst, journalist or paid speaker. Â I'm treated well by the vendors who bring me, my expenses are covered (and if a speaker, a fee too of course) and I know a lot of the staff who...
- Blog posts 2009-12-10
- The Clear Path Forward for the SAP Super Tanker...
- SAP are proposing a 'clear path forward' in their marketing materials, in an opaque global economic situation. At this week's Boston Influencers Summit financial volatility, rising customer power, sustainability, increased regulation and rapid change in technology and information were acknowledged as key influencers of the SAP supertanker. ...
- Blog posts 2009-12-10
- Anti-SAP? Pfft!!
- My Enterprise Advocates colleague Vinnie Mirchandani takes the high ground in a discussion about the forthcoming SAP Influencer Summit conference juxtaposed to the Sapience event. As is often the case, Vinnie addresses the issue square on. Here's a taster: I am presenting mostly on how to manage systems integration,...
- Blog posts 2009-12-03
- Apple's Black Friday sales under analysts' microscope
- A 36% decrease is considered slightly?[i]On Average, the stores were selling 8.3 Macs per hour, down from 13 on Black Friday last year according to similar checks we performed.[/i]I'd consider that significant not slight.Wait for a real report.Wow! Ambiguous reporting based on some guys going to am Apple Store and...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-30
- Chatting (Not Chattering) About Salesforce - Part I
- (NOTE BEFORE I START: This is one really long post. So rather than post it in all its glory in a single file or post it here over two days, I'm trying something new. I'm posting the first half here. And the second half on PGreenblog. Â Let's see how that...
- Blog posts 2009-11-23
- Microsoft Office 2010, SharePoint 2010 public betas now available for download
- Microsoft still firmly planted in the LAST century.NTLinux Kernel speaks?Hmmm, I'd fear for the future of Linux if this is what comes out of it. You'd think the "many eyes" would have caught such silly logic in the kernel years ago...and looking ready to dominate this oneas well.Google is...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-18
- Memo to AT&T: When you're in a hole, stop digging
- AT&T and Apple were made for each otherBoth are whiny multi-national, multi-billion $$$/year mega corporations that sell substandard products and services to customers who don't know any better. Waaaaaaaaaa!!!!You said it exactly rightquote- [b]"You see, the company thinks consumers are too dumb to know the difference between 3G and non-3G...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-13
- Why IT can't seem to deliver measurable productivity
- Sounds like excuses to me.If it can't be shown on the bottom line, its useless.IT really needs to be aligned with business needs.From what I have heard talking with several managers, IT needs to come out out the silo and focus on delivering business needs and services. From what...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-11
- Transform your Multi-Channel Customer Experience: Advantages of Customer Communications Management
- Improving the way you communicate with customers effectively managing and delivering more personalized and unified customer communications, across today's diverse media channels can maximize returns. Further, companies are generating tens of thousands of documents and businesses are facing exponential growth in the amount and types of communications, driving the need...
- Webcasts 2009-11-06
- Motorola and Palm; will 2009 be designated as a comeback year?
- wrongwell matthew, because you have been wrong consistently about the smartphone market the last few years i would argue they are both doomed, when you like them. the pre doesn't help palm as it should regardless of critical acclaim and motorola will participate in the race to the bottom (margin...
- Discussion threads 2009-11-04
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