chapter 1: the world of the information system analyst

1. Chapter 1: The World of the Information System Analyst 1

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3. What Is An Information System? 3 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.

4. Examples of Information Systems 4 Course registration system Online order system Online banking system

5. Why Are Information Systems Important? 5 Support business functions in modern business organizations Make business more competitive Enhance productivity and profits

6. The Role of a System Analyst Investigate, analyze, design, develop, installs, evaluate, and maintains a company�s information systems. A business problem solver The solution to the �problem� is generally a new information system Help translate business requirements into IT projects. 6

7. Types of Information Systems 7 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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9. 9 Information Systems and Component Parts

10. 10 System Boundary vs. Automation Boundary

11. How are systems boundaries defined? What are the types of information systems found in most organizations? 11 ANSWER: Boundary is the separation between a system and its environment that inputs and outputs must cross. ANSWER: Knowledge management system (KMS), human resource management (HRM) system, customer relationship management (CRM) system, supply chain management (SCM), accounting and financial management (AFM) system, collaboration support system (CSS), and business intelligence system ANSWER: Boundary is the separation between a system and its environment that inputs and outputs must cross. ANSWER: Knowledge management system (KMS), human resource management (HRM) system, customer relationship management (CRM) system, supply chain management (SCM), accounting and financial management (AFM) system, collaboration support system (CSS), and business intelligence system

12. Strategic Planning 12 Strategic planning is a process during which executives try to answer such questions: Where the business is now Where they want the business to be What they have to do to get there

13. What Is System Analysis About? 13 Understanding the goals and strategies of the business. Defining the information requirements that support those goals and strategies. It is not about programming.

14. The Analyst�s Role in Strategic Planning 14 Develop information systems that support strategic planning Develop an application architecture plan A description of the integrated information systems that the organization needs to carry out its business function. Develop a technology architecture plan A description of the hardware, software, and communications networks required to implement planed information systems.

15. Quick Quiz What is the difference between the application architecture plan and the technology architecture plan? 15 ANSWER: The application architecture plan is more of a strategic plan, which identifies the major types of systems that an organization needs. The technology architecture plan identifies specific systems, including hardware and software that are needed. ANSWER: The application architecture plan is more of a strategic plan, which identifies the major types of systems that an organization needs. The technology architecture plan identifies specific systems, including hardware and software that are needed.

16. System Analysis 16 Systems analysis is a process of understanding in detail what a system should accomplish.

17. System Design 17 Systems design is a process of specifying in detail how components of an information system should be physically implemented.

18. System Analyst 18 A business professional who uses analysis and design techniques to solve business problems using information technology.

19. Typical Problems SA Typically Solve 19 Customers want to order product anytime 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.

20. The Analyst as a Business Problem Solver 20 Has computer technology knowledge and programming 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 than a technical programmer

21. What is your problem solving approach? 21 Assume that you are deciding whether to buy a new laptop to replace the old one.

22. Analyst�s Approach to Problem Solving 22 Research and understand the problem Verify benefits of solving problem outweigh the costs Define the requirements for solving the problem Develop a set of possible solutions (alternatives) Decide which solution is best and recommend Define the details of the chosen solution Implement the solution Monitor to ensure desired results

23. Quick Quiz What is the primary long-term value that an analyst can bring to an organization? 23 ANSWER: Tools and technologies continually change, but good problem-solving skills are always required in every organization. ANSWER: Tools and technologies continually change, but good problem-solving skills are always required in every organization.

24. Required Skills of the Systems Analyst 24 Technical Business People

25. Technical Knowledge and Skills 25 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

26. Technical Knowledge and Skills � Tools 26 Software productivity packages Integrated development environments (IDEs) for programming languages CASE tools, testing, documentation support, reverse engineering, configuration management

27. Technical Knowledge and Skills � Techniques 27 Project planning, systems analysis Systems design, database design, network design Construction, implementation, systems support

28. Quick Quizzes What is the primary difference between tools and techniques? What are the fundamental technologies an analyst needs to understand? 28 ANSWER: Tools are software products, e.g., things that are used. Techniques are strategies, e.g., methods or ways for completing development tasks or deliverables. ANSWER: Computers, devices that interact with computers, communication networks, databases and database management systems, programming languages, and operating systems/utilities ANSWER: Tools are software products, e.g., things that are used. Techniques are strategies, e.g., methods or ways for completing development tasks or deliverables. ANSWER: Computers, devices that interact with computers, communication networks, databases and database management systems, programming languages, and operating systems/utilities

29. Business Knowledge and Skills 29 Business functions performed by organization Strategies, plans, traditions, and values of the organization Organizational structure Organization management techniques Functional work processes

30. People Knowledge and Skills 30 Systems analysts need to understand how people Think Learn React to change Communicate Work (in a variety of jobs and levels)

31. People Knowledge and Skills (continued) 31 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

32. Hard and Soft Skills 32 Hard skills are the skills in technical areas such as database design, programming, and telecommunication. Soft skills are the skills in nontechnical areas such as interviewing, team management, and leadership.

33. Integrity and Ethics 33 Analyst has 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

34. Quick Quiz How can an individual�s lack of integrity or ethics impact an organization? 34 ANSWER: An organization can be affected when trade secrets or customers are lost. Financial organizations, such as banks and insurance companies, can have major losses if employees are unethical. Examples include Enron, Arthur Anderson, and the New York Times. ANSWER: An organization can be affected when trade secrets or customers are lost. Financial organizations, such as banks and insurance companies, can have major losses if employees are unethical. Examples include Enron, Arthur Anderson, and the New York Times.

35. Analyst-Related Careers 35 ERP software related Business Analysts in different business functions Auditing, compliance, and security Web Development

36. Some Job Titles of SA 36 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

37. Job Listing Web Sites 37 http://promotions.monster.com/ www.employment.com/ www.jobs.com/ www.jobs.net/

38. IT Jobs IT jobs thriving despite lackluster economy CNBC.com (8/15/2011) Computerworld 2011 Salary Survey 38

39. Rocky Mountain Outfitters (RMO) 39 RMO - a sports clothing manufacturer and distributor is about to begin a customer support system project Need to understand the nature of the business, approach to strategic planning, and objectives for customer support system RMO system development project used to demonstrate analysis and design concepts

40. Introduction to Rocky Mountain Outfitters (RMO) Business 40 Began in Park City, Utah supplying winter sports clothes to local ski shops Expanded into direct mail-order sales with small catalog�as catalog interest increased, opened retail store in Park City Became a large, regional sports clothing distributor by early 2000s in Rocky Mountain and Western states Currently $180 million in annual sales and 600 employees and two retail stores Mail-order revenue is $90 million; phone-order revenue is $50 million; Web-based revenue is $30 million

41. RMO Strategic Issues 41 Substantially underperforming Web-based ordering system. RMO sales growth was slow down and was losing the market share.

42. Customer Support System 42 An order processing and fulfillment system that seamlessly integrates with supply chain management system to support mail order, phone order, and direct customer access via Web.

43. Existing RMO Systems 43 Small server cluster system Supports inventory, mail-order, accounting, and human resources High capacity network connects distribution and mail-order sites LANs and file servers Supports central office functions, distribution centers, and manufacturing centers

44. Existing RMO Systems (continued)? 44 Supply Chain Management System Client/Server system in C++ and DB2? 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

45. Existing RMO Systems (continued)? 45 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

46. The Information Systems Strategic Plan 46 Supports RMO strategic objectives Build more direct customer relationships Expand marketing beyond Western states Plan calls for a series of information system development and integration projects over several years Project launch: New customer support system to integrate phone orders, mail orders, and direct customer orders via Internet

47. RMO Application Architecture Plan 47 Supply chain management (SCM)? Product development, product acquisition, manufacturing, inventory management Customer support system (CSS)? Integrate order-processing and fulfillment system with SCM Support customer orders (mail, phone, Web)? Strategic information management system Extract and analyze SCM and CSS information for strategic and operational decision making and control

48. RMO Application Architecture Plan (continued)? 48 Retail store system (RSS)? Replace existing retail store system with system integrated 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 employee access to human resources forms, procedures, and benefits information

49. RMO Technology Architecture Plan 49 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)? Direct customer ordering via dynamic Web site Customer relationship management (CRM)? Web-based intranet for business functions

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51. The Customer Support System (CSS) 51 RMO core competency is their ability to develop and maintain customer loyalty CSS is a core system supporting complete customer relationship management Inquiries, order entry, order tracking, shipping, back ordering, returns, sales analysis Systems analysis activities will define system requirements in detail Strategic plan�s stated objectives will form guidelines as project proceeds

52. Summary 52 A systems analyst solves business problems using information systems technology Problem solving means looking into business problem in great detail, completely understanding problem, and choosing best solution Information system development is much more than writing programs

53. Summary (continued)? 53 System � collection of interrelated components that function together to achieve some outcome Information systems outcome � solution to a business problem Information systems, subsystems, and components interact with and include hardware, software, inputs, outputs, data, people, and procedures

54. Summary (continued)? 54 Systems analyst has broad knowledge and variety of skills, including technical, business, and people Integrity and ethical behavior are crucial to success for the analyst Systems analyst encounters a variety of rapidly changing technologies Systems analyst works on strategic plans and then system development projects