What is a Systems Analyst? & What Does A System Analyst Do?

• Systems analysts are people who understand both business and computing.
• Systems analysts study business problems and opportunities and then transform business and information requirements of the business into the computer-based information systems and computer applications that are implemented by various technical specialists including computer programmers.

A formal definition:

• A systems analyst facilitates the study of the problems and needs of a business to determine how the business system and information technology can best solve the problem and accomplish improvements for the business. The product of this activity may be improved business processes, improved information systems, or new or improved computer applications frequently all three
• When information technology is used, the systems analyst is responsible for:
• the efficient capture of data from its business source
• the flow of that data to the computer
• the processing and storage of that data by the computer
• the flow of useful and timely information back to the business and its people
• Information technology is a contemporary term that describes the combination of computer technology (hardware and software) with telecommunications technology (data, image, and voice networks).

What Does A System Analyst Do?

• A system analyst is a system-oriented problem solver.
• System problem solving is the act of studying a problem environment in order to implement corrective solutions that take the form of new or improved systems.
• Most systems analysts use some variation of a system problem solving approach called a system development life cycle.
• A systems development life cycle (SDLC) is a systematic and orderly approach to solving system problems.

The SDLC usually incorporates the following general-purpose problem solving steps:

• Planning - identify the scope and boundary of the problem, and plan the development strategy and goals.
• Analysis - study and analyze the problems, causes, and effects. Then, identify and analyze the requirements that must be fulfilled by any successful solution.
• Design - if necessary, design the solution not all solutions require design.
• Implementation - implement the solution.
• Support - analyze the implemented solution, refine the design, and implement improvements to the solution. Different support situations can thread back into the previous steps.

What is a user?

• A user is a person, or group of persons, for whom the systems analyst builds and maintains business information systems and computer applications. A common system is client.
• There are at least two specific user/customer groups: system users and system owners.
• System users are those individuals who either have direct contact with an information system or application or they use information generated by a system.
• System owners provide sponsorship of information systems and computer applications. In other words, they pay to have the systems and applications developed and maintained.