On our second assignment our task is to interview a Systems Analyst and ask what skills and characteristics must a systems analyst develop in order to be more effective in any design modeling process.
AMS Group of Companies
AMS Group of Companies is our adopted company in our group discussion in SAD 1 which is on “System Analyst as a Project Manager”. We interview the MIS Head/System Analyst of the Andres M. Soriano (AMS) Group of Companies, Mr. Gemrald Glibara.
System Analyst, in a narrow sense, analysis of the current and future roles of proposed computer system in an organization, The system analyst (usually a software engineer or programmer) examines the flow of documents, information, and material to design a system that best meets the cost, performance, and scheduling objectives.
System characteristics
A component - an irreducible part or aggregation of parts that make up a system, also called a subsystem
Interrelated components- Dependence of one subsystem on one or more subsystems
Boundary- The line that marks the inside and outside of a system and that sets off the system form its environment
Purpose-The overall goal or function of a system
Environment- Everything external to a system that interacts with the system
Interface- it is a point of contact where a system meets its environment or where subsystems meet each other.
Constraint- A limit to what a system can accomplish
Input- Whatever a system takes from its environment in order to fulfill its purpose
Output- Whatever a system returns from its environment in order to fulfill its purpose
Four main skills of a System Analyst
1.) Analytical Skills
It is the ability to see things as systems, identify, analyze, and solve problems in an optimal way for a specific organization.
To test for analytical skills one might be asked to look for inconsistencies in an advertisement, put a series of events in the proper order, or critically read an essay. Usually standardized tests and interviews include an analytical section that requires the examiner to use their logic to pick apart a problem and come up with a solution.
Although there is no question that analytical skills are essential, other skills are equally required as well. For instance in systems analysis the systems analyst should focus on four sets of analytical skills: systems thinking, organizational knowledge, problem identification, and problem analyzing and solving.
It also includes the way we describe a problem and subsequently finding out the solutions.
2.) Technical Skills
It is the ability to understand how computers, data networks, databases, operating systems, etc. work together, as well as their potentials and limitations.
He has the knowledge and proficiencies required in the accomplishment of engineering, scientific, or any specific task.
Many aspects of your job as a system analyst are technically oriented.
• The following activities will help you stay up-to-date:
– Read trade publications
– Join professional societies
– Attend classes or teach at a local college
– Attend many courses or training sessions offered by your organizations
– Attend professional conferences, seminars, or trade shows
– Participate in electronic bulletin, new groups
You should be familiar as possible with information technology:
• Microcomputer, micro station, workstation, mainframe computers
• Programming languages
• Operating systems
• Database and file management systems
• Data communication standards
• Software for local and wide networks
• Web developing tools
• Decision support system generators
• Data analysis tools
• Data design tools
3.) Management Skills
It include organization’s recourse management, project management (people and money), risk management, and change management.
Also it is the practice of understanding, developing and deploying people and their skills. Well-implemented skills management should identify the skills that job roles require, the skills of individual employees, and any gap between the two.
To be most useful, skills management needs to be conducted as an ongoing process, with individuals assessing and updating their recorded skill sets regularly. These updates should occur at least as frequently as employees' regular line manager reviews, and certainly when their skill sets have changed.
There are four classes of management skills:
1- Resources
2- Project
3- Risk
4- Change management
4.) Communication Skills
It includes effective interpersonal communication (written, verbal, visual, electronic, face-to-face conversations, presentations in front of groups), listening, group facilitation skills.
The ability or the skill to transfer one’s thoughts, ideas and information from the sender to the receiver with the latter being understood the same effectively and efficiently is known as communication skills. It is one of the greatest skills of the soft skills and its importance is growing rapidly due to the rising complexities as a result of technological inventions.
In corporate terminology, communication is the process of exchange of information from the sender to the receiver and vice versa. There are different types of communication such as downward communication, upward communication, horizontal communication, crosswise communication, verbal communication; written communication etc., In downward communication, the flow of information is from the people at the superior level to the people at the subordinate level. On the other hand, in upward communication, the flow of information is from the subordinate level to the superior level. In horizontal information, the flow of information is from the people of same level to that of their counterparts at the same level. In crosswise communication, the flow of information is from one level to any other level which is either diagonal or crosswise without any reporting relationship. In verbal communication, the flow of communication, which is transferred orally to any level and it, is the most effective one as one can communicate effectively with one’s body language so as to have profound impact on the receiver. Whenever, there is a need to record the information in black and white, and then people go for written communication in which the communication is through mass mailing in written form.
Most important system concepts
1. Open system: a system that interacts freely with its environment, taking input and returning output.
An open system is a system that regularly exchanges feedback with its external environment. Open systems are systems, of course, so inputs, processes, outputs, goals, assessment and evaluation, and learning are all important. Aspects that are critically important to open systems include the boundaries, external environment and equifinality.
Healthy open systems continuously exchange feedback with their environments, analyze that feedback, adjust internal systems as needed to achieve the system’s goals, and then transmit necessary information back out to the environment.
2. Closed system: a system that is cut off from its environment and does not interact with it.
It is a "state of being isolated from its surrounding environment."The term often refers to an idealized system in which closure is perfect. In reality no system can be completely closed; there are only varying degrees of closure.
3. Modularity is dividing a system into parts/chunks/modules of relatively uniform size.
4. Decomposition is the process of breaking down a system into its component parts.
The purpose of decomposition is to allow the system analysts to:
• Break a system into small, manageable subsystem
• Focus on one are at a time
5. Coupling is the extent to which subsystems are dependent on each other.
Subsystem should be independent as possible. If one subsystem fails and other subsystem are highly dependent on it, then the other will either fail themselves or have problems functioning.
One of the important approaches in the modeling of the design process is the axiomatic approach (Suh et al., 1978). This approach is based on developing a set of global principles, or axioms, which can be applied in making decisions during the design process. These axioms are considered as general truths such that no violations or counter-examples can be observed. However, they can not be proven, therefore development of axioms is mainly a heuristic approach. The creative processes in 4 different design steps based on the axiomatic design theory are discussed in (Sekimoto and Ukai, 1994). These design steps are the definition of functional requirements, the identification of design parameters, the analysis of the proposed solutions in order to choose the best solution and check the final solution. The mapping from functional domain to physical domain is explained and the properties of design matrix, which is responsible for this mapping, are given. The axiomatic theory is also discussed by Dimarogonas (Dimarogonas, 1993) and implication of these rules on the design and manufacturing methodology is presented.
Systems analysts will need to continually upgrade their technical expertise and improve their ability to interact with users as the sophistication and complexity of technology advances. As more computing power is made available to the individual user and users develop more sophisticated knowledge of computers, they become more aware of the machine's potential and better able to suggest how computers could be used to increase their own productivity and that of the organization. Increasingly, users are able to design and implement more of their own applications and programs. The result is a growing demand for computer support specialists, help desk personnel, and technical consultants.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analytical_skill
http://www.articlesbase.com/training-articles/communication-skills-218336.html
http://managementhelp.org/misc/orgs-open-systems.pdf
www.cba.edu.kw/abo/pdf/chapter-2.ppt
http://www.interlabs.bradley.edu/NSF_CCLI/Demo/class6/module6/Skills_Pretest_Posttest_Answers.pdf
http://mechatronics.atilim.edu.tr/courses/mece401/reading/Chapter%2004%20Design%20Process%20Models.pdf
AMS Group of Companies
AMS Group of Companies is our adopted company in our group discussion in SAD 1 which is on “System Analyst as a Project Manager”. We interview the MIS Head/System Analyst of the Andres M. Soriano (AMS) Group of Companies, Mr. Gemrald Glibara.
System Analyst, in a narrow sense, analysis of the current and future roles of proposed computer system in an organization, The system analyst (usually a software engineer or programmer) examines the flow of documents, information, and material to design a system that best meets the cost, performance, and scheduling objectives.
System characteristics
A component - an irreducible part or aggregation of parts that make up a system, also called a subsystem
Interrelated components- Dependence of one subsystem on one or more subsystems
Boundary- The line that marks the inside and outside of a system and that sets off the system form its environment
Purpose-The overall goal or function of a system
Environment- Everything external to a system that interacts with the system
Interface- it is a point of contact where a system meets its environment or where subsystems meet each other.
Constraint- A limit to what a system can accomplish
Input- Whatever a system takes from its environment in order to fulfill its purpose
Output- Whatever a system returns from its environment in order to fulfill its purpose
Four main skills of a System Analyst
1.) Analytical Skills
It is the ability to see things as systems, identify, analyze, and solve problems in an optimal way for a specific organization.
To test for analytical skills one might be asked to look for inconsistencies in an advertisement, put a series of events in the proper order, or critically read an essay. Usually standardized tests and interviews include an analytical section that requires the examiner to use their logic to pick apart a problem and come up with a solution.
Although there is no question that analytical skills are essential, other skills are equally required as well. For instance in systems analysis the systems analyst should focus on four sets of analytical skills: systems thinking, organizational knowledge, problem identification, and problem analyzing and solving.
It also includes the way we describe a problem and subsequently finding out the solutions.
2.) Technical Skills
It is the ability to understand how computers, data networks, databases, operating systems, etc. work together, as well as their potentials and limitations.
He has the knowledge and proficiencies required in the accomplishment of engineering, scientific, or any specific task.
Many aspects of your job as a system analyst are technically oriented.
• The following activities will help you stay up-to-date:
– Read trade publications
– Join professional societies
– Attend classes or teach at a local college
– Attend many courses or training sessions offered by your organizations
– Attend professional conferences, seminars, or trade shows
– Participate in electronic bulletin, new groups
You should be familiar as possible with information technology:
• Microcomputer, micro station, workstation, mainframe computers
• Programming languages
• Operating systems
• Database and file management systems
• Data communication standards
• Software for local and wide networks
• Web developing tools
• Decision support system generators
• Data analysis tools
• Data design tools
3.) Management Skills
It include organization’s recourse management, project management (people and money), risk management, and change management.
Also it is the practice of understanding, developing and deploying people and their skills. Well-implemented skills management should identify the skills that job roles require, the skills of individual employees, and any gap between the two.
To be most useful, skills management needs to be conducted as an ongoing process, with individuals assessing and updating their recorded skill sets regularly. These updates should occur at least as frequently as employees' regular line manager reviews, and certainly when their skill sets have changed.
There are four classes of management skills:
1- Resources
2- Project
3- Risk
4- Change management
4.) Communication Skills
It includes effective interpersonal communication (written, verbal, visual, electronic, face-to-face conversations, presentations in front of groups), listening, group facilitation skills.
The ability or the skill to transfer one’s thoughts, ideas and information from the sender to the receiver with the latter being understood the same effectively and efficiently is known as communication skills. It is one of the greatest skills of the soft skills and its importance is growing rapidly due to the rising complexities as a result of technological inventions.
In corporate terminology, communication is the process of exchange of information from the sender to the receiver and vice versa. There are different types of communication such as downward communication, upward communication, horizontal communication, crosswise communication, verbal communication; written communication etc., In downward communication, the flow of information is from the people at the superior level to the people at the subordinate level. On the other hand, in upward communication, the flow of information is from the subordinate level to the superior level. In horizontal information, the flow of information is from the people of same level to that of their counterparts at the same level. In crosswise communication, the flow of information is from one level to any other level which is either diagonal or crosswise without any reporting relationship. In verbal communication, the flow of communication, which is transferred orally to any level and it, is the most effective one as one can communicate effectively with one’s body language so as to have profound impact on the receiver. Whenever, there is a need to record the information in black and white, and then people go for written communication in which the communication is through mass mailing in written form.
Most important system concepts
1. Open system: a system that interacts freely with its environment, taking input and returning output.
An open system is a system that regularly exchanges feedback with its external environment. Open systems are systems, of course, so inputs, processes, outputs, goals, assessment and evaluation, and learning are all important. Aspects that are critically important to open systems include the boundaries, external environment and equifinality.
Healthy open systems continuously exchange feedback with their environments, analyze that feedback, adjust internal systems as needed to achieve the system’s goals, and then transmit necessary information back out to the environment.
2. Closed system: a system that is cut off from its environment and does not interact with it.
It is a "state of being isolated from its surrounding environment."The term often refers to an idealized system in which closure is perfect. In reality no system can be completely closed; there are only varying degrees of closure.
3. Modularity is dividing a system into parts/chunks/modules of relatively uniform size.
4. Decomposition is the process of breaking down a system into its component parts.
The purpose of decomposition is to allow the system analysts to:
• Break a system into small, manageable subsystem
• Focus on one are at a time
5. Coupling is the extent to which subsystems are dependent on each other.
Subsystem should be independent as possible. If one subsystem fails and other subsystem are highly dependent on it, then the other will either fail themselves or have problems functioning.
One of the important approaches in the modeling of the design process is the axiomatic approach (Suh et al., 1978). This approach is based on developing a set of global principles, or axioms, which can be applied in making decisions during the design process. These axioms are considered as general truths such that no violations or counter-examples can be observed. However, they can not be proven, therefore development of axioms is mainly a heuristic approach. The creative processes in 4 different design steps based on the axiomatic design theory are discussed in (Sekimoto and Ukai, 1994). These design steps are the definition of functional requirements, the identification of design parameters, the analysis of the proposed solutions in order to choose the best solution and check the final solution. The mapping from functional domain to physical domain is explained and the properties of design matrix, which is responsible for this mapping, are given. The axiomatic theory is also discussed by Dimarogonas (Dimarogonas, 1993) and implication of these rules on the design and manufacturing methodology is presented.
Systems analysts will need to continually upgrade their technical expertise and improve their ability to interact with users as the sophistication and complexity of technology advances. As more computing power is made available to the individual user and users develop more sophisticated knowledge of computers, they become more aware of the machine's potential and better able to suggest how computers could be used to increase their own productivity and that of the organization. Increasingly, users are able to design and implement more of their own applications and programs. The result is a growing demand for computer support specialists, help desk personnel, and technical consultants.
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analytical_skill
http://www.articlesbase.com/training-articles/communication-skills-218336.html
http://managementhelp.org/misc/orgs-open-systems.pdf
www.cba.edu.kw/abo/pdf/chapter-2.ppt
http://www.interlabs.bradley.edu/NSF_CCLI/Demo/class6/module6/Skills_Pretest_Posttest_Answers.pdf
http://mechatronics.atilim.edu.tr/courses/mece401/reading/Chapter%2004%20Design%20Process%20Models.pdf
Evidence:
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