1. Assuming The Role of
The System Analyst
Lecture 1
MSCH 241
Wid Yamani

2. Agenda
 Information
 System
 Types of Systems
 Technologies for Systems
 Roles of System Analyst

3. Information
 Information is a data that have been processed and
analyzed, so that the results are directly useful to
those in operation and management.
 Information is derived from data by interpretation
 Information is an organizational resource, which
must be managed as carefully as other resources.
 Costs are associated with information processing.

4. System Definition:
 The supervisor program or operating system on a
computer.
 The entire computer system, including
input/output devices
 Any large program.
 Any method or algorithm.
 Any collection of components that work together
to perform a task.
 An organized method of achieving a goal.
 A set of components that function together in a
meaningful way to accomplish a certain set of
objectives

5. System
 A collection of subsystems that are interrelated and
interdependent, working together to accomplish
predetermined goals and objectives. All systems have input,
processes, output, and feedback. One example is a computer
information system; another is an organization.
Input
System
Output
Processing

6. Types of Systems:
Information systems fall into one of the following eight
categories:
 Transaction processing systems (TPS).
 Office automation systems (OAS).
 Knowledge work systems (KWS).
 Management information systems (MIS).
 Decision support systems (DSS).
 Expert systems (ES) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
 Group decision support systems (GDSS) and
Computer-Supported Collaborative Work Systems.
 Executive support systems (EES).

7. Transaction Process System (TPS)
 Operational level
 Developed to process large amount of data
for routine transaction.
 Reduces time
 People still must input data to computerized
systems
 Up-to-the-minute information about the
companies
Example: Payroll , Inventory.

8. Office Automation Systems (OAS)
 Knowledge level
 Support data workers who analyze
information as to transform data or
manipulate it before sharing it with
organization
 Word processor, spreadsheet, desktop
publishing, E-mail, video conferencing,
voice mail.

9. Knowledge work System (KWS)
 Knowledge level
 Support professional workers such as
scientists, engineers, doctors.
 Aiding professional to create new knowledge

10. Management information System
(MIS)
 Definition: a computer-based system composed of
people, software, hardware, and procedures that
share a common database to help users interpret
and apply data to the business
 Higher level
 Do not replace TPS , but it Includes TPS
 Users share common data base ( Data & Models)
 Output information that is used in decision making
 Help unite functions of a business
 Does not exist as a singular structure

11. Decision support system
 Higher level class
 Depends on a database as a source of data
 support the decision making, but leave the
ultimate decision to decision maker
 Closely tailored to the person or group using
them

12. Expert Systems and Artificial
Intelligence
 (AI) machines behave intelligently by:
 Understanding natural language
 Reason through problems to its logical conclusion
 Expert system use the approach of AI reasoning to
solve problem put to them by business users
 Expert system = knowledge-based system
 Select the best solution to a problem
 component of expert system:
 Knowledge base (SQL)
 user interface

13. Group Decision Support System
 Permit groups to interact with electronic specialized
software and special group facilitator
 Bring group together to solve problem ex. polling,
questionnaires, brain storming.
 Minimize negative group behavior
 Lack of participation due to the fear of expressing unpopular
viewpoint
 Domination by vocal group member
 Group thinking.
 Computer-supported collaborative work system is another
general term for GDSS but include team collaboration via
networked computers

14. Executive Support System
 Help executives organize their interactions
with the external environment by providing
graphics and communication support in
boardrooms or personal offices
 Relay on information generated by TPS and
MIS

15. Integrating Technologies for
Systems
 E-Commerce application and web systems
 Enterprise resource planning systems
 System for wireless and handheld devices
 Open source software

16. Ecommerce applications and web
systems
 Increase awareness of availability of a
service, product, industry, person, or group.
 The possibility of 24 hour access for users
 Standardizing the design of the interface
 Creating a system that can extend globally
rather than remain local, thus reaching people
in remote locations without worry of the time
zone in which they are located.

17. Enterprise resource planning
systems
 Integrate many information systems existing
on different management level and within
different functions
 Requires enormous commitment and
organizational change
 Software: SAP, PeopleSoft, and packages
from oracle.
 Requires vender training for maintenance,
install , update and use.

18. Systems for wireless and handheld
devices
 Designing systems for wireless devises and
handheld computers. (Palm , PDAs)
 Designing standard or wireless communication
network (voice, video, and email)
 Wireless ecommerce is referred to as mcommerce.
 Designing wireless local area network ( WLANs)
 Designing intelligent agent software. (amazon.com)

19. Open Source Software
 Software development in which proprietary code is
hidden from users.
 Distributing software free and publishing its source
code
 Code can be studied, shared and modified by many
users and programmers. Large problems may
solved through extensive collaboration.
 How companies make money?
Providing support, customizing programs for users
 Useful for handheld devices and communication
equipment.

20. Need for System Analysis and
Design
 Analyze, design , and implement
improvements in the functioning of business
through the use of computerized information
system
 Installing a system without proper planning
will lead to great dissatisfaction and
frequently causes the system to fall.

21. Roles of System Analyst
 Systems analysts act as:
 Outside consultants to businesses.
 Supporting experts within a business.
 As change agents.

22. System Analyst as Consultant
 Analyst are hired to address information systems
issues within a business
 Analyzing and designing appropriate information systems
 Rely on info sys users to understand the org. culture from
others viewpoint.
 Advantage: Bring with them a fresh prospective
that other member of an organization do not posses
 Disadvantage: True organization culture can never
be known to an outsider

23. System Analyst as support expert
 Draws on professional expertise concerning
the computer hardware and software and their
uses in business.
 They are not managing the project but serving
as a resource for those who are.

24. System analyst as Agent of Change
 Perform any activity in the system development life cycle.
 Develops a plan for change and works with others in
facilitating the change
 Interact with users and management from the very beginning
in order to understand what is happening in the organization.
 If change seems reasonable after analysis the next step is to
develop a plan for the change with people who must enact the
change
 Support a particular avenue of change involving the use of
information system.
 Teach users the process of change, because changes in the
information system do not occur independently , but cause
change in the rest of the org.

25. Qualities of the System Analyst
 Problem solver, view and analyze problems as a
challenge and enjoy devising workable solutions.
 Communicator, relate to people over extended
periods of time.
 Computer experience
 Have strong personal and professional ethics to
help shape the relations with clients.
 Self disciplined and self motivated who can manage
numerous projects.

26. Homework
 Define the term expert system. How expert system
differ from decision support system.(q5, p. 23)
 List the problem of group interaction that group
decision support system (GDSS) and computer-
supported collaboration work system (CSCWS)
were designed to address ( q.6, p. 23)
 List three roles that the system analyst is called
upon to play. Provide a definition for each one.
(q13 ,p.23)