Mood's In Control
A thinker who focuses on the problem as stated and tries to synthesize information and knowledge to achieve a solution, is a problem solver. A Systems analyst as defined is a business professional who uses analysis and design techniques to solve business problems using information technology. Therefore, a systems analyst is a problem solver. That is what I learned last Wednesday as we started discussing the world of information system analyst as the first topic of our Systems Analysis and Design I subject.
I learned many things about the systems analyst even the various characteristics an analyst should possess. An analyst as a business problem solver has computer technology knowledge and programming expertise that is, an analyst must certainly know about computers and computer programs, understands business problems, uses logical methods for solving problems, has fundamental curiosity which is an analyst must also bring to the job a fundamental curiosity to explore how things are done, wants to make things better and is more of a business problem solver than a technical programmer.
Now, the characteristics that I have that are similar to a good systems analysts are the following:
• Has computer technology knowledge and programming expertise. I may not be an expert in programming but I can slowly develop expertise in it and also possess special skills.
• Has fundamental curiosity. Since I like to know and explore how things are made and done.
• Has the determination to work better.
In chapter 1, I also learned about the required knowledge and skills for a systems analyst, the technical knowledge and technical skills where an analyst needs a technical expertise that should understand the fundamentals about computers, tools and techniques for developing systems, business knowledge and business skills which are those that apply to understanding business organizations, and people knowledge and people skills where interpersonal skills are involved. Interpersonal skills in business contexts often used to refer to the measure of a person’s ability to operate within business organization through social communication and interaction. Meaning, it is how people relate to one another.
Having recognized those knowledge and skills, I can tell that I possess some of those characteristics an analyst has. Talking about the technical knowledge and skills, since I am a computer literate and having some knowledge about technicalities, I may possess this kind of skill. For the business knowledge and business skills, systems analysts benefit from a fairly broad understanding of businesses, so during college years they typically study business administration. Computer information systems or management information systems majors are often included in the college of business for that reason. Just like what we have in our school for information technology students, management information systems were also included as one of our subjects. Including this kind of subject in a curriculum let the students learn and gain knowledge on how to manage businesses and how to deal with the information systems as well as the processes in a business organization. One must understand the organization, its culture, its mission, and its objectives before jumping to conclusions about system solutions. You cannot manage if you don’t have any idea on how an organization should be dealt with. It is a big help for us students to have at least an idea on how businesses perform in the real world especially when a student graduated and started to work. The learnings and the importance of it should not be overlooked for this is in fact, very useful and beneficial as they continue working on their future to achieve a successful career and have a better life. The last knowledge and skill which is the people knowledge and people skill is where I can relate most. This is where a lot should take notice of because of its involvement in people. People knowledge and people skills are perhaps the most important skill of an analyst because they rely on others such as the manager, users, programmers, technical specialists, customers, and vendors to take a system from initial idea to final implementation. To be a translator for all projects participants, translating business objectives, and even technical jargon and details into terms that nontechnical personnel can easily understand is a form of people skill. Also, being an effective communicator is another form of people skill.
Possessing those different characteristics of a good systems analyst proved me that I, even just a student can be an analyst too. It’s not always that one should hold a title on his profession and have been certified or should have all the required knowledge and skills and other specific characteristics for him to consider oneself that he/she is a good analyst. Those who do not hold any profession may think and analyze better than those who do. No one thinks the same as the other. They may have the same idea yet, they have their own special way of explaining and expressing their ideas in such a way others can understand what they were thinking and what exactly they were trying to convey to their listeners. A person differs from the other person. Always remember, “You are unique, just like everyone else.”
I learned many things about the systems analyst even the various characteristics an analyst should possess. An analyst as a business problem solver has computer technology knowledge and programming expertise that is, an analyst must certainly know about computers and computer programs, understands business problems, uses logical methods for solving problems, has fundamental curiosity which is an analyst must also bring to the job a fundamental curiosity to explore how things are done, wants to make things better and is more of a business problem solver than a technical programmer.
Now, the characteristics that I have that are similar to a good systems analysts are the following:
• Has computer technology knowledge and programming expertise. I may not be an expert in programming but I can slowly develop expertise in it and also possess special skills.
• Has fundamental curiosity. Since I like to know and explore how things are made and done.
• Has the determination to work better.
In chapter 1, I also learned about the required knowledge and skills for a systems analyst, the technical knowledge and technical skills where an analyst needs a technical expertise that should understand the fundamentals about computers, tools and techniques for developing systems, business knowledge and business skills which are those that apply to understanding business organizations, and people knowledge and people skills where interpersonal skills are involved. Interpersonal skills in business contexts often used to refer to the measure of a person’s ability to operate within business organization through social communication and interaction. Meaning, it is how people relate to one another.
Having recognized those knowledge and skills, I can tell that I possess some of those characteristics an analyst has. Talking about the technical knowledge and skills, since I am a computer literate and having some knowledge about technicalities, I may possess this kind of skill. For the business knowledge and business skills, systems analysts benefit from a fairly broad understanding of businesses, so during college years they typically study business administration. Computer information systems or management information systems majors are often included in the college of business for that reason. Just like what we have in our school for information technology students, management information systems were also included as one of our subjects. Including this kind of subject in a curriculum let the students learn and gain knowledge on how to manage businesses and how to deal with the information systems as well as the processes in a business organization. One must understand the organization, its culture, its mission, and its objectives before jumping to conclusions about system solutions. You cannot manage if you don’t have any idea on how an organization should be dealt with. It is a big help for us students to have at least an idea on how businesses perform in the real world especially when a student graduated and started to work. The learnings and the importance of it should not be overlooked for this is in fact, very useful and beneficial as they continue working on their future to achieve a successful career and have a better life. The last knowledge and skill which is the people knowledge and people skill is where I can relate most. This is where a lot should take notice of because of its involvement in people. People knowledge and people skills are perhaps the most important skill of an analyst because they rely on others such as the manager, users, programmers, technical specialists, customers, and vendors to take a system from initial idea to final implementation. To be a translator for all projects participants, translating business objectives, and even technical jargon and details into terms that nontechnical personnel can easily understand is a form of people skill. Also, being an effective communicator is another form of people skill.
Possessing those different characteristics of a good systems analyst proved me that I, even just a student can be an analyst too. It’s not always that one should hold a title on his profession and have been certified or should have all the required knowledge and skills and other specific characteristics for him to consider oneself that he/she is a good analyst. Those who do not hold any profession may think and analyze better than those who do. No one thinks the same as the other. They may have the same idea yet, they have their own special way of explaining and expressing their ideas in such a way others can understand what they were thinking and what exactly they were trying to convey to their listeners. A person differs from the other person. Always remember, “You are unique, just like everyone else.”
