Skills can be acquired in two ways, first is you are born with it. You could be naturally good in arts, music, speech, dancing or communicating with others. And the second is skills that are acquired through experience or by training. Trainings like going into a school that teaches arts for one to be able to have skills in arts and the same way on the others, one must learn it. Those skills that are learned by going into schools are skills that can be considered as complex ones which do require time and patients in order to acquire or master it and one must have determination and eagerness to learn it. Relating it into gaming concepts, there are skills that can be only acquired at certain level so one should level up in order get it and make use of it. Leveling up in games is a bit different compared to the real life, in order to level up in real life one should increase its knowledge and have experience. Skills that can be acquired through learning or experiences depend on the one who wants it and on what situation he or she will going to use it.
So, what are the skills and characteristics that must develop by a system analyst in order to be effective in any design modeling process? Since those skills that should be developed can be acquired through experience, we ask one who has experience being a system analyst namely Mr. Cornelio Dagot which is a system analyst from the DMMA College of Southern Philippines. During the interview we ask a couple of questions which is as follows:
Question: What are the skills that would make you as a system analyst?
Answer: You need to have skills in programming, also it is a part of the course BSCS to have research for us to determine the problem in a particular department that wants to be computerize. You need to determine the problem before you could make the code or you need to identify what are the basic solutions of the problem. Probably since they want it to be computerize, it could be done with the use of technology in order to solve the problem in a particular department but it does not always apply computerization. It could be still be solve using manual system if the transaction is not too difficult. A system analyst needs to know how to analyze the problem and know how to decide what kind of solution you are going to apply with the use of technology.
As to what Mr. Cornelio said, a system analyst should have the skills in research. One should train itself in doing research works and read articles related to systems and technology in order to be able to determine the problem in a particular business environment. A system analyst must think above what he or she has research in order to determine problems that may occur. Once one is doing its research, a system analyst is looking into details that could reveal the problem in a particular environment. Other may claim that a particular system is perfect, it could mean that is only perfect on its outside appearance but once you’d done research on the inside part it could be as not as prefect as it claims to be. A system analyst must develop in-contentment by means of the details. It should not be enough that you would just look a shirt, thinks its okay then buy it without checking it if it fits on you.
Also, as to what comes in my mind when Mr. Cornelio answers is that a system analyst should develop intelligence with regards to the use of technology in system design process. One should know what technologies that he or she will use for the system and is it applicable to the environment where it is to be implemented and if it is user-friendly. Mr. Cornelio also shares to us what happens to a queuing system that he implemented in their accounting department. He said that, that system was not a success not because of the system itself but to the end user. Upon hearing it, it comes in my mind that problems can exist not only in technical environment but also to what it surrounds it. By realizing it, a system analyst should develop open-mindedness in order to determine the problems and decide and design a system that will address to those problems.
Question: What is the nature of the work of a system analyst?
Answer: If we there to base it on big companies, the work of a system analyst is only to conduct research on a particular problem that was given to them, like in finance department they common have problems in issuing receipts so the system analyst focus its research on that. But like in DMMA, the system analyst is also the one who does the analysis, design, code and implement the system.
When my fellow interviewee ask this question, it makes me realize that being a system analyst one should develop well-roundedness on in his or her work. A system analyst should not only be good in analysis but also in different phases of the system’s development so he or she also could do design, coding and implementation. By being all-around, who are defying your own limitations and has the needs to improve not only his or herself about also his or her colleagues.
In addition to the skills and characteristics that a system analyst must develop in design modeling process that are mentioned by Macie Hinton [1] are as follows:
· Management Skills [1] – A system analyst should be able to manage aspects that are critical to system’s development. Risk, changes and resources are example of those. A system analyst must able to handle risk that could make the system unsuccessful and should able to react and adapt changes throughout systems development cycle. A system analyst should able to manage resources and use it properly for most of the resources are at limited only. By developing these skills, a system analyst acts a project manager and has broader knowledge on system development other than on analysis.
· Analytical Skills [1] – Of all the characteristics that a system analyst should develop analytical skills is the most important. The analytical thinking capability gives us the concept on how we view the problem, its surrounding environment, the nature of its occurrence and the possible solution to it. According to Matthew 7, “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit”. It also implies that a good analysis of the problem doesn’t produce bad system but a bad analysis of the problem does. In my own views, analytical skills should be develop most by every system analyst for system itself depends on the analysis of the ones who created it.
· Interpersonal Characteristics [1] – Communication skills. A system analyst should be able to communicate and understand well especially the demands of the clients and should deliver efficiently the specs and details to the development team. A system analyst should able to express and listen to ideas of its teammates and client for the benefit of the both parties.
· Business Knowledge – Since the system analyst is the middle man between the business or company and the development team, he or she should develop knowledge about business especially those terms that are only common to business and be able to deliver it to the team in the sense that the development team could understand. Also, by having business knowledge the system analyst could make a deal with the company or business and should able to convince the company or business that they need this kind of solution and you as a system analyst and your team can provide best solution other the other.
· Particularity [2] – A system analyst should able to be particular especially on system development. One should be familiar with designing concepts that is appropriate for the particular development environment. A system analyst should able to focus on the problem and what are the needs to provide solutions to it.
· Able to use software design tools [2] – A system analyst should develop skills on using tools that are helpful in project designing. By this way, it cuts off the time consumed by just designing the system and could focus more in other phase of the system development. It also helps presenting data and design more effectively and visually presentable.
· Attentive and Observant – A system analyst must able to listen to what its clients wants because the system’s design also depends on what the clients wants. So that you could formulate initial feedbacks on what they want that should be in the propose system. This could save time and effort to both parties. Also, a system analyst would not miss important details in the propose system and would not do repetitive changes on the system’s design.
· Optimistic – The positivity in you will also reflect onto the system you developed. And not only to your self to all of your teammates as well. This characteristic helps the team to finish the system even though there are adversaries that comes on its way. The system analyst must not show weakness among its teammates. He or she should be the strength and pillar of the team.
· Leadership – Sticks are weak when they are few, but if they are many it is hard for them to break. To make the team to work as one and share each other’s ideas would help the analysis and design of the system, it is the role of the system analyst. And also a system analyst should be a good model to its teammates, leading by example. The system analyst also dictates the future of its teammates, it only depends on the decisions and actions of the system analyst. “With great power comes with great responsibility” as to what Ben Parker said on the movie Spiderman, so it is not easy to be a system analyst. It is the mixture of the qualities of a manager, businessman and a statistician.
· Deliver Quality Service – The main objective of the system analyze and designed by the systems analyst is to make task easier and provide dependable solution to the problem that is present. A system analyst should weight it design by means of analysis and not only system developed but also the analyst itself should deliver quality service.
· Social Skills – A system analyst must be capable of communicating to other people, not only to the people but also to the factors that surrounds it. A system analyst may use these parts of the society to gather ideas that could help in system’s development and design. Also, you are participating and you’re doing your role in the society.
· Flexibility – A system analyst must be flexible in especially when it comes to system design process. A system analyst should design the propose system which is capable to adapt with less drawbacks for future years to come. Also, a system analyst should be adaptive to change in order for his or herself to grow and learn more.
Other than skills and characteristic that are mentioned above that the system analyst should develop, a system analyst must have experience and field expertise in modeling process from it’s previous work [1]. The best teachers aside ours at school is experience. Having to experience the actual events and happenings and not just assumptions leaves a trail of learning that can’t be forgotten.
Our interview doesn’t take much time but we learned a lot from Mr. Cornelio. By realizing his answers to our questions, it comes in my mind that being a system analyst in not an easy job. In entitles you with great responsibility and hopes for the betterment of the business or company you are working with. As system analyst, one should have more experience (success or failure) in order to become a good and productive system analyst and build up characteristics of an efficient system analyst. Also, with those words it challenges me as a BSCS student to pursue and finish this degree. And I could not say, “Challenge Accepted”.
References:
1. System Analysis by Macie Hinton 2008
2. What skills and characteristics must a system analyst develop?
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