Interview a System Analyst and ask what skills and characteristics must a System Analyst develop in order to be more effective in any design modeling process.
Before we proceed with the skills and characteristics of a Systems Analyst, let us have a refresh of what a Systems Analysts are. Base from my previous post and according to Wikipedia, “A systems analyst is responsible for researching, planning, coordinating and recommending software and system choices to meet an organization's business requirements. The systems analyst plays a vital role in the systems development process.” Therefore, a systems analyst plays a vital role in an organization. A systems analyst make sure that all the company and the costumers’ needs will be catered. One of their main resposibility is to come up with the most efficient computer solutions for the organization. They are the one in charge with the decisions on the different hardwares, softwares and settings for the organization. That is why a systems analyst should be up-to-date with the new trends of information technology.
As I surf the internet, the Wikipedia gave me an idea of what would be the skills that a systems analyst must acquire to be successful. These are analytical skills, technical skills, management skills and interpersonal skills. As what I have understood, these four elaborated skills should be present in a systems analyst. Skills that would help a systems analyst be good and expert with his field. An analytical skill is helpful because it enable a systems analyst understand the organization and its functions and lead him/her to identify the opportunities for the organization and to analyze and solve the firm’s problems. Developing a technical skill for a systems analyst would be a great advantage. Information Technology blooms in every part of the world. Almost everything are automated. Rapid changes in our environment can not be stop. So, if a systems analyst have this type of skill, he would be able to figure out the potential and limitations of information technology. Every systems analyst must know how to supervise different projects, risk, resources, and change. For this reason, we can conclude that a systems analyst must have a management skills. Interpersonal skills help out a systems analyst’s work with its end users and its staff, which includes the programmers, analysts, and other systems professionals.
Last December 16, 2009, me and some of my fellow classmates went to look for a company that will allow us to interview their Systems Analyst. Luckily, one of them allows to cater our needs for the said subject. The Managment Information System Supervisor of the Sta. Ana Multi-purpose Cooperative, which is located at Monteverde St., Davao City., shared some of his time to answer some of our questions that would solve our second assignment is Systems Analysis and Design.
Before we begin with the interview, he asked us one by one our first names. Then, with no hesitation, we asked him what are the skills and characteristics must a Systems Analyst develop in order to be more effective in any design modeling process. Considering that he is not prepared with our question, he asked for five minutes to meditate. We patiently waited for him to be ready to answer our question. Then, suddenly, he asked us what is a Systems Analyst. One of us responded and said “Systems Analyst analyzes and solve business problems using information technology”. And as the MIS supervisor elaborated that a systems analyst not only solve but they also plan and think for a future scalablity purposes. He explained scalability purposes by citing an exmple. According to him, its like when you build a system, soon or later you would probably think to add something to. A systems analyst is the one who analyzes the problem for a certain system and then solving the problem or certain issue.
Now going on with the skills and characteristics that a systems analyst must develop in order to be more effective in any design modeling purposes. The MIS supervisor of SAMULCO shared his idea as he elaborate some skills and characteristics. And they are as follows:
- Enough knowledge on systems integration or systems development
- Must have a wholestic and detailed approach
- Partially have a skill in calculating risk
- People person with good communication skills
- Must have an AQ or Adversity Quotient
- Flexible
One by one, he explained every skills and characteristics that he have mentioned. For us to understand well why those skills and characteristics are needed.
Enough knowledge on system integrationa or systems development
As what the MIS supervisor had explained, usually a good systems analyst are also programmers. There are a lot of systems analyst but mostly are usually programmers. An experience on how to develop a system is an advantage because once you have that, you will have an idea of how to do it, what to do, what’s there, what’s not there, what’s there to think. A systems analyst should start would something small. Small scales like programming because when you do systems analysis you interact with group of people. Usually, you have a programmer, developer, documentation team and any other who are needed in the team. I would like to quote a line that the MIS supervisor shared, “A systems analyts is a part of every part.” As what I have learned, a systems analyst must have quite experience of everything. He/she should have some idea about programming, documentations, how to develop a systems and everything because if he lack idea, how would he/she understand a process, how would he/she identify what are the things that needs to be done and what lacks on the databases and etc.
Must have a wholestic and detailed approach
In systems analysis, especially if we are looking to the system, you have to identify the whole nd specific information needed for the analysis. Its like when you put yoursel in the center of the platform you will never see the whole system, what you would acutally see is the detailed or specific part of the system but if you put yourself on the top of the platform, that time you would see the whole. Consequesntly, a systems analyst must have both the wholestic and detailed approach. Though it is required to have both, it is a mistake if you go detailed first before the whole. You should think the wholestic first before you dig deeper on its detailed part. Remembering the two ways of learning which is the wholestic approach and the systematic approach. A systems analyst is a wholestic learner and a systematic learner also because if you don’t do both ways you will miss some important things that is needed in designing modeling process. You failed to align with the organizations vision, mission and goals.
Partially have a skill in calculating risk
This skill is also very important. A systems analyst is a risk taker in a very smart way. A risk is a possibility of a loss. Every systems analysis must have a skill in calculating the risk. In every move your taking there are so many risk involved. You can never stop the risk from coming but you can prepare on how it will affect you. You have the control on it. There will always be risk that something will go wrong. According to the MIS supervisor, a good systems analyst are familiar with the Murphy’s Law,which states that, “if something will go wrong, it will and it will weaken you most in an appropriate time” and believe that it would last forever. Everytime a system analyst had a project he/ she must eager and skilled o identify the risk involved in his/her project. He/she must analyze, detect and face the risk involvedin view of the fact that you can’t attain change if the analyst will not take the risk (the calculated risk). There are actually four ways on how to treat the risk: tolerate, terminate, treat, and transfer risk. Tolerate the risk, let it come. There are kinds of risk that will slightly affect you so let it come. There are also risk that you have to stop it from coming. You can do that by terminating the risk. In treating the risk you have to prepare yourself of the possible effects of the risk that you have calculated. The fourth one is transfer. So how would you tranfer the risk? Some companys transfer the risk by getting an insurance company. It is for the systems analyst to decide on what he/she would with the risk, either he/she would tolerate, terminate, treat or transfer the risk. But there are also instances that you can’t control. The usual problems that the developers or the systems analyst encounter is that the company wont allow. Resistance to change. Even though you know how to solve the problem and your sure that this solution would benefit the company but the company won’t allow for changes. Budget constraints is also a risk. No matter how good your proposal is but if the company can’t give you enough budget or don’t want to invest for that would be a big risk. Another risk is that the company’s direction is not set out for changes. If its already not on their IT plan to automate their system you can’t force the organization.A systems analyst plan, implement the plan and then identify your risk.
People person with good communication skills
Another skill or characteristic of a system analyst is a people person. It is important that a system analyst know how to interact with everybody and be familiar with good communication skills both orally and written. A people person is the one who can work together with the people around, just anybody. If you dont have a good communication skills you will ba having a hard time explaining your work and you cannot present your ideas and you will miss up with everything else. The market has changed. People would lok into number right now. They are not satisfied with a slide to present your ideas or proposals. A systems analyst must show figures, numbers on the top management to explain the company’s problems and needs. You need to explain well the reasons why the company will be needing a certain hardwares and softwares.
Must have an AQ or Adversity Quotient
Everyone of us are familiar with IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and EQ (Emotional Quotient). But these two can never be use in business. What’s important now is AQ or the Adversity Quotient. A systems analyst must have an high adversity quotient skills so that when problems came in you are able to break the problem. Not only the systems analyst but every one.A high in EQ and low in IQ can go along with everybody and a high in IQ with low EQ is a man in an island. When we talk about adversity, it is another word for problem. A high in AQ signifies on how he/she could cope up when problem arises. Typically, in developing a system, more problems frequently occur on the implementation phase. So when a problem comes up, a system analyst should be able to have a strategy on how to deal with it.
Flexible
A good systems analyst should be flexible to be able to adapt with the rapid changes in the environment. He/she should know how to handle things in a certain circumstances. Not only the analysis should be flexible but also the Systems analyst.
After that interview, I really learned a lot. New ideas and learnings was shared in a short period of time. One thing that I always remember in the words that the MIS supervisor shared is that, “Systems Analyst are made not born”. Yes, his right. Its on the experience that mold an individual to be a master on his field. No one become who he/she is now and no one have the knowledge and the position he have now at birth. He/She was not born to be a systems analyst. Its the experience that he/she had encountered to reach that far. Everyone can be a systems analyst though you are not an IT degree or a graduate on accounting because according to him(MIS supervisor), “You just have to obsess”. If you aim to be that kind of person in the future, do evrything in a smart way. Try to reach that goal. Another thing that I have learned from this experience is that if I can graduate with an IT degree (hopefully) and I would be able to have a degree also in accounting shall be considered as a greater advanage if I want to be a Systems analyst someday. We can make it up. We can be what we want to be.
References:
www.wikipedia.com
Evidences:
-still waiting for the copy of our picture-
-sorry for the inconvenience-
Before we proceed with the skills and characteristics of a Systems Analyst, let us have a refresh of what a Systems Analysts are. Base from my previous post and according to Wikipedia, “A systems analyst is responsible for researching, planning, coordinating and recommending software and system choices to meet an organization's business requirements. The systems analyst plays a vital role in the systems development process.” Therefore, a systems analyst plays a vital role in an organization. A systems analyst make sure that all the company and the costumers’ needs will be catered. One of their main resposibility is to come up with the most efficient computer solutions for the organization. They are the one in charge with the decisions on the different hardwares, softwares and settings for the organization. That is why a systems analyst should be up-to-date with the new trends of information technology.
As I surf the internet, the Wikipedia gave me an idea of what would be the skills that a systems analyst must acquire to be successful. These are analytical skills, technical skills, management skills and interpersonal skills. As what I have understood, these four elaborated skills should be present in a systems analyst. Skills that would help a systems analyst be good and expert with his field. An analytical skill is helpful because it enable a systems analyst understand the organization and its functions and lead him/her to identify the opportunities for the organization and to analyze and solve the firm’s problems. Developing a technical skill for a systems analyst would be a great advantage. Information Technology blooms in every part of the world. Almost everything are automated. Rapid changes in our environment can not be stop. So, if a systems analyst have this type of skill, he would be able to figure out the potential and limitations of information technology. Every systems analyst must know how to supervise different projects, risk, resources, and change. For this reason, we can conclude that a systems analyst must have a management skills. Interpersonal skills help out a systems analyst’s work with its end users and its staff, which includes the programmers, analysts, and other systems professionals.
Last December 16, 2009, me and some of my fellow classmates went to look for a company that will allow us to interview their Systems Analyst. Luckily, one of them allows to cater our needs for the said subject. The Managment Information System Supervisor of the Sta. Ana Multi-purpose Cooperative, which is located at Monteverde St., Davao City., shared some of his time to answer some of our questions that would solve our second assignment is Systems Analysis and Design.
Before we begin with the interview, he asked us one by one our first names. Then, with no hesitation, we asked him what are the skills and characteristics must a Systems Analyst develop in order to be more effective in any design modeling process. Considering that he is not prepared with our question, he asked for five minutes to meditate. We patiently waited for him to be ready to answer our question. Then, suddenly, he asked us what is a Systems Analyst. One of us responded and said “Systems Analyst analyzes and solve business problems using information technology”. And as the MIS supervisor elaborated that a systems analyst not only solve but they also plan and think for a future scalablity purposes. He explained scalability purposes by citing an exmple. According to him, its like when you build a system, soon or later you would probably think to add something to. A systems analyst is the one who analyzes the problem for a certain system and then solving the problem or certain issue.
Now going on with the skills and characteristics that a systems analyst must develop in order to be more effective in any design modeling purposes. The MIS supervisor of SAMULCO shared his idea as he elaborate some skills and characteristics. And they are as follows:
- Enough knowledge on systems integration or systems development
- Must have a wholestic and detailed approach
- Partially have a skill in calculating risk
- People person with good communication skills
- Must have an AQ or Adversity Quotient
- Flexible
One by one, he explained every skills and characteristics that he have mentioned. For us to understand well why those skills and characteristics are needed.
Enough knowledge on system integrationa or systems development
As what the MIS supervisor had explained, usually a good systems analyst are also programmers. There are a lot of systems analyst but mostly are usually programmers. An experience on how to develop a system is an advantage because once you have that, you will have an idea of how to do it, what to do, what’s there, what’s not there, what’s there to think. A systems analyst should start would something small. Small scales like programming because when you do systems analysis you interact with group of people. Usually, you have a programmer, developer, documentation team and any other who are needed in the team. I would like to quote a line that the MIS supervisor shared, “A systems analyts is a part of every part.” As what I have learned, a systems analyst must have quite experience of everything. He/she should have some idea about programming, documentations, how to develop a systems and everything because if he lack idea, how would he/she understand a process, how would he/she identify what are the things that needs to be done and what lacks on the databases and etc.
Must have a wholestic and detailed approach
In systems analysis, especially if we are looking to the system, you have to identify the whole nd specific information needed for the analysis. Its like when you put yoursel in the center of the platform you will never see the whole system, what you would acutally see is the detailed or specific part of the system but if you put yourself on the top of the platform, that time you would see the whole. Consequesntly, a systems analyst must have both the wholestic and detailed approach. Though it is required to have both, it is a mistake if you go detailed first before the whole. You should think the wholestic first before you dig deeper on its detailed part. Remembering the two ways of learning which is the wholestic approach and the systematic approach. A systems analyst is a wholestic learner and a systematic learner also because if you don’t do both ways you will miss some important things that is needed in designing modeling process. You failed to align with the organizations vision, mission and goals.
Partially have a skill in calculating risk
This skill is also very important. A systems analyst is a risk taker in a very smart way. A risk is a possibility of a loss. Every systems analysis must have a skill in calculating the risk. In every move your taking there are so many risk involved. You can never stop the risk from coming but you can prepare on how it will affect you. You have the control on it. There will always be risk that something will go wrong. According to the MIS supervisor, a good systems analyst are familiar with the Murphy’s Law,which states that, “if something will go wrong, it will and it will weaken you most in an appropriate time” and believe that it would last forever. Everytime a system analyst had a project he/ she must eager and skilled o identify the risk involved in his/her project. He/she must analyze, detect and face the risk involvedin view of the fact that you can’t attain change if the analyst will not take the risk (the calculated risk). There are actually four ways on how to treat the risk: tolerate, terminate, treat, and transfer risk. Tolerate the risk, let it come. There are kinds of risk that will slightly affect you so let it come. There are also risk that you have to stop it from coming. You can do that by terminating the risk. In treating the risk you have to prepare yourself of the possible effects of the risk that you have calculated. The fourth one is transfer. So how would you tranfer the risk? Some companys transfer the risk by getting an insurance company. It is for the systems analyst to decide on what he/she would with the risk, either he/she would tolerate, terminate, treat or transfer the risk. But there are also instances that you can’t control. The usual problems that the developers or the systems analyst encounter is that the company wont allow. Resistance to change. Even though you know how to solve the problem and your sure that this solution would benefit the company but the company won’t allow for changes. Budget constraints is also a risk. No matter how good your proposal is but if the company can’t give you enough budget or don’t want to invest for that would be a big risk. Another risk is that the company’s direction is not set out for changes. If its already not on their IT plan to automate their system you can’t force the organization.A systems analyst plan, implement the plan and then identify your risk.
People person with good communication skills
Another skill or characteristic of a system analyst is a people person. It is important that a system analyst know how to interact with everybody and be familiar with good communication skills both orally and written. A people person is the one who can work together with the people around, just anybody. If you dont have a good communication skills you will ba having a hard time explaining your work and you cannot present your ideas and you will miss up with everything else. The market has changed. People would lok into number right now. They are not satisfied with a slide to present your ideas or proposals. A systems analyst must show figures, numbers on the top management to explain the company’s problems and needs. You need to explain well the reasons why the company will be needing a certain hardwares and softwares.
Must have an AQ or Adversity Quotient
Everyone of us are familiar with IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and EQ (Emotional Quotient). But these two can never be use in business. What’s important now is AQ or the Adversity Quotient. A systems analyst must have an high adversity quotient skills so that when problems came in you are able to break the problem. Not only the systems analyst but every one.A high in EQ and low in IQ can go along with everybody and a high in IQ with low EQ is a man in an island. When we talk about adversity, it is another word for problem. A high in AQ signifies on how he/she could cope up when problem arises. Typically, in developing a system, more problems frequently occur on the implementation phase. So when a problem comes up, a system analyst should be able to have a strategy on how to deal with it.
Flexible
A good systems analyst should be flexible to be able to adapt with the rapid changes in the environment. He/she should know how to handle things in a certain circumstances. Not only the analysis should be flexible but also the Systems analyst.
After that interview, I really learned a lot. New ideas and learnings was shared in a short period of time. One thing that I always remember in the words that the MIS supervisor shared is that, “Systems Analyst are made not born”. Yes, his right. Its on the experience that mold an individual to be a master on his field. No one become who he/she is now and no one have the knowledge and the position he have now at birth. He/She was not born to be a systems analyst. Its the experience that he/she had encountered to reach that far. Everyone can be a systems analyst though you are not an IT degree or a graduate on accounting because according to him(MIS supervisor), “You just have to obsess”. If you aim to be that kind of person in the future, do evrything in a smart way. Try to reach that goal. Another thing that I have learned from this experience is that if I can graduate with an IT degree (hopefully) and I would be able to have a degree also in accounting shall be considered as a greater advanage if I want to be a Systems analyst someday. We can make it up. We can be what we want to be.
References:
www.wikipedia.com
Evidences:
-still waiting for the copy of our picture-
-sorry for the inconvenience-
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