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CHAPTER 1: THEWORLD OF THE
INFORMATION SYSTEMANALYST
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Learning Objectives2
Explain the concept of an informationsystem
Describe the various types of systems an
analyst might work on Explain the key role of a systems analyst
in business
Explain the importance of technical,people, and business skills for an analyst
Describe the analyst’s role in a system
development project
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What Is An InformationSystem?
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An information system is a collection of interrelated components that collect,process, store, and provide as output the
information needed to complete abusiness task.
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Examples of InformationSystems
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Course registration system Online order system Account management system
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Why Are Information SystemsImportant?
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Crucial to success of modern businessorganizations
Constantly being developed to make
business more competitive Impact productivity and profits
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Types of InformationSystems
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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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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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Strategic Planning10
Strategic planning is a process duringwhich executives try to answer suchquestions:Where the business is nowWhere they want the business to beWhat they have to do to get there
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What Is System AnalysisAbout?
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Understanding the goals and strategiesof the business.
Defining the information requirements
that support those goals and strategies. It is not about programming.
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System Analysis12
Systems analysis is a process of understanding in detail what a systemshould accomplish.
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System Design13
Systems design is a process of specifying in detail how components of an information system should be
physically implemented.
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System Analyst14
A business professional who usesanalysis and design techniques to solvebusiness problems using information
technology.
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Typical Problems SA TypicallySolve
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Customers want to order productanytime 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 BusinessProblem Solver
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Has computer technology knowledge andprogramming 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 thana technical programmer
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What is your problem solvingapproach?
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Analyst’s Approach to ProblemSolving
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1. 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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Required Skills of the SystemsAnalyst
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Technical Business People
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Technical Knowledge andSkills
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Computers / peripheral devices(hardware)
Communication networks and connectivity
Database and database managementsystems (DBMS)
Programming languages (for example,
VB.NET or Java) Operating systems and utilities
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Technical Knowledge and Skills– Tools
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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
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Project planning, systems analysis Systems design, database design,
network design Construction, implementation, systems
support
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Business Knowledge andSkills
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Business functions performed byorganization
Strategies, plans, traditions, and values of the organization
Organizational structure
Organization management techniques
Functional work processes
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People Knowledge and Skills24
Systems analysts need to understand howpeople
Think
Learn
React to change
Communicate Work (in a variety of jobs and levels)
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People Knowledge and Skills(continued)
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Interpersonal and communication skillsare crucial to
Obtaining information
Motivating people
Getting cooperation
Understanding the complexity and workings of an organization in order to provide necessarysupport
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Hard and Soft Skills26
Hard skills are the skills in technicalareas such as database design,programming, and telecommunication.
Soft skills are the skills in nontechnicalareas such as interviewing, team
management, and leadership.
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Integrity and Ethics27
Analyst has access to confidentialinformation, such as salary, anorganization’s planned projects, securitysystems, and so on.
Must keep information private
Any impropriety can ruin an analyst’s career
Analyst plans security in systems to protectconfidential information
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Top Skills Employers Seek from Job-Seekers
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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
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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 Careers30
ERP software related Business Analysts in different business
functions Auditing, compliance, and security Web Development
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Some Job Titles of SA31
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
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Job Listing Web Sites32
http://promotions.monster.com/ www.employment.com/ www.jobs.com/ www.jobs.net/
Th A l ’ R l i S i
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The Analyst’s Role in StrategicPlanning
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Develop information systems that supportstrategic planning
Develop an application architecture plan
A description of the integrated informationsystems that the organization needs to carry outits business function.
Develop a technology architecture plan A description of the hardware, software, and
communications networks required toimplement planed information systems.
R k M t i O tfitt
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Rocky Mountain Outfitters(RMO)
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RMO - a sports clothing manufacturer anddistributor is about to begin a customersupport system project
Need to understand the nature of thebusiness, approach to strategic planning,and objectives for customer supportsystem
RMO system development project used todemonstrate analysis and design concepts
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Introduction to Rocky MountainOutfitters (RMO) Business
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Began in Park City, Utah supplying winter sportsclothes to local ski shops
Expanded into direct mail-order sales with smallcatalog—as catalog interest increased, openedretail store in Park City
Became a large, regional sports clothingdistributor by early 2000s in Rocky Mountain andWestern states
Currently $180 million in annual sales and 600employees and two retail stores
Mail-order revenue is $90 million; phone-orderrevenue is $50 million; Web-based revenue is $30million
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RMO Strategic Issues36
Substantially underperforming Web-based ordering system.
RMO sales growth was slow down and
was losing the market share.
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Customer Support System37
An order processing and fulfillmentsystem that seamlessly integrates withsupply chain management system to
support mail order, phone order, anddirect customer access via Web.
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Existing RMO Systems38
Small server cluster system
Supports inventory, mail-order, accounting,and human resources
High capacity network connects distributionand mail-order sites
LANs and file servers
Supports central office functions,distribution centers, and manufacturingcenters
Existing RMO Systems
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Existing RMO Systems(continued)(
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Supply Chain Management System
Client/Server system in C++ and DB2C
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
Existing RMO Systems
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Existing RMO Systems(continued)(
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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
Th I f ti S t
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The Information SystemsStrategic Plan
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Supports RMO strategic objectives
Build more direct customer relationships
Expand marketing beyond Western states
Plan calls for a series of information system developmentand integration projects over several years
Project launch: New customer support system tointegrate phone orders, mail orders, and direct customer
orders via Internet
RMO Application
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RMO ApplicationArchitecture Plan
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Supply chain management (SCM)S
Product development, product acquisition,manufacturing, inventory management
Customer support system (CSS)C
Integrate order-processing and fulfillment systemwith SCM
Support customer orders (mail, phone, Web)S
Strategic information management system Extract and analyze SCM and CSS information forstrategic and operational decision making andcontrol
RMO A li ti A hit t Pl
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RMO Application Architecture Plan(continued)(
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Retail store system (RSS)R
Replace existing retail store system with systemintegrated 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 employeeaccess to human resources forms, procedures, andbenefits information
RMO Technology
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RMO TechnologyArchitecture Plan
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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)S
Direct customer ordering via dynamic Web site
Customer relationship management (CRM)C Web-based intranet for business functions
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Timetable for RMO Strategic Plan
The Customer Support
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The Customer SupportSystem (CSS)
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RMO core competency is their ability todevelop and maintain customer loyalty
CSS is a core system supporting completecustomer relationship management Inquiries, order entry, order tracking, shipping, back
ordering, returns, sales analysis
Systems analysis activities will define systemrequirements in detail
Strategic plan’s stated objectives will formguidelines as project proceeds
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Summary47
A systems analyst solves business problemsusing information systems technology
Problem solving means looking into businessproblem in great detail, completelyunderstanding problem, and choosing bestsolution
Information system development is much morethan writing programs
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Summary (continued)S48
System – collection of interrelated componentsthat function together to achieve someoutcome
Information systems outcome – solution to abusiness problem
Information systems, subsystems, and
components interact with and includehardware, software, inputs, outputs, data,people, and procedures
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Summary (continued)S49
Systems analyst has broad knowledge andvariety of skills, including technical, business,and people
Integrity and ethical behavior are crucial tosuccess for the analyst
Systems analyst encounters a variety of rapidly
changing technologies Systems analyst works on strategic plans and
then system development projects