System Analyst

Lecture#04

Md. Manowarul Islam

Associate Professor
Dept. of CSE
Jagannath University

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 1

Topics
l Role of System Analyst

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 2

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
System Analyst

“ … That is the question …”

Who is this Man (really)??

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 3

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
System Analyst
 The Systems Analyst - A Key Resource
 The systems analyst performs systems analysis and design.

 Systems analysis is the study of a business problem

domain for the purpose of recommending improvements

and specifying the business requirements for the solution.
 Systems design is the specification or construction of a

technical, computer-based solution for the business

requirements identified in a systems analysis. (Note:
Increasingly, the design takes the form of a working
prototype.).

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 4

System Analyst
 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.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 7

 System Analyst
l System analyst is a
multitasking personality.
l He has to perform different
roles at different stages of the
system development.
l His task can be divided into
five important areas of efforts
where he has to do various
roles.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 8

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROLE OF SYSTEM
ANALYST
l Problem identification:
• System analyst is the middle man between end user and
the development team.
• communicate between the two ends as well as to
understand customer’s needs, identify the exact nature of
the problem.
• discusses it with the development team in order to have
different solution alternatives.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 9

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROLE OF SYSTEM
ANALYST
l Evaluation & synthesis:
• After having various alternatives from the
development team a good analyst should be able to
evaluate the solution on the basis of cost, time and
technology which is called as feasibility test.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 10

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROLE OF SYSTEM
ANALYST
l Modeling:
• Once a proper choice of the alternatives is done by end user a
model or prototype is prepared by system analyst with the help
of development .
• Good logical and analytical mind helps him to understand the
information contents of the data, functional processing, and
behavioral operations and control flow of the system in order
to model the system.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 11

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROLE OF SYSTEM
ANALYST
l Verification of the model:
• The system analyst evaluates the length of the model with
respect to cost & time required for the implementation of the
system.
• Once the model is accepted by the user, the development
team sends the tested system to the analyst for verification of
the result.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 12

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROLE OF SYSTEM
ANALYST
l Modification:
• Then the system is sent to the user for acceptance.
• After acceptance of the system when the user starts working
on it he requests the analyst for the modifications.
• Then the modification specifications are prepared and sent to
the development team.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 13

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
 Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 14
Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
MULTIFACETED ROLE
l In order to perform all these tasks at every functional
level of system development system analyst has to
perform many roles such as

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 15

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
 MULTIFACETED ROLE
l An architect:
• An analyst is creator of physical design of
the system as per user requirements.
• He formulates the abstract ideas of user
into detailed format of the system which in
turn helps the development team to build
the end product.
• So he is the brilliant architect of the system.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 16

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
MULTIFACETED ROLE
l An agent of change:
• System analyst works towards the future which is uncertain.
• So analyst has to prepare model in this changing environment.
• So system analyst has to secure user’s acceptance through
the participation from designing till implementation phase of
the system.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 17

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
MULTIFACETED ROLE
l Investigator & monitor:
• An analyst should have fair capacity to investigate the
problem.
• He should be able to go to the root cause of the problem.
• Monitor: In order to complete the task the analyst must have
leading capacity, technical skills and project management
capacity
• He can control the flow of the system and thereby monitor the
system as a ‘whole’.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 18

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
MULTIFACETED ROLE
l An organizer:
• Analyst should have clear idea of all the activities of the
system .
• He is responsible for execution of the activities and hence the
result.
• He himself is an evaluator of the system.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 19

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
MULTIFACETED ROLE
l Motivator
• System acceptance is achieved through user participation right
from the beginning that is from designing phase to
implementation stage.
• This can be made possible by effective training & proper
motivation to use the system.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 20

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
MULTIFACETED ROLE
l Psychologist
• Good motivator has to be good physiologist because he has to
reach people, understand the client’s environment, dig out the
exact nature of the problem,
• Interpret it correctly to the developer team, asses the behavior
draw the conclusion.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 21

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
SKILLS REQUIRED BY SYSTEM
ANALYST
l In order to fulfill the responsibilities an analyst must have
• Abroad & flexible outlook.
• An orderly mind
• Disciplined approach & logical neatness
• Ability to express thoughts, ideas & proposals
clearly both orally & in writing

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 22

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
Skill required
l The skill sets required by system analyst can be
observed under two categories

I. Interpersonal Skills
II. Technical Skills

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 23

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
Interpersonal Skills
l Initiative & good communication skill
• Since analyst has to gather maximum information in less time,
he should have initiative attitude to ask detailed queries and
should have good communication skill.
• Interact with managerial level people as well as team
members & end users.
l Well understanding capacity
• Analyst should be able to identify the exact problem of
customer and
• should have fair understanding of organization structure,
system techniques policies & control.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 24

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
Interpersonal Skills
l Teaching
• analyst must have ability to train the development team
members.
• Also must be able to train users of the system to operate the
system efficiently.
l Motivation
• By active participation & moral building techniques analyst
must motivate the users

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 25

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
Technical Skills
l Creativity: Analyst must have ability to give innovative
ideas in designing system, screen reports.
l Knowledge of fact finding methods:
• System analyst must be aware of fact finding methods and
capable of proper use of them, to gather the required
information from the customer.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 26

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
Technical Skills
l Logical reasoning:
• Analyst must move forward towards the problem logically and
should solve it using computer system .
• For that he should have fair knowledge of data processing,
computer operations and programming languages.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 27

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
 Technical Skills
l Project management
• Analyst must be aware of various
management techniques.
• He should design the system,
develop the system with proper
modification (such as by updating or
deletion of existing subsystem or
procedure)
• Prepare planning and controlling
policies and procedures, also
should be able to implement the
system within time limit.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 28

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
Technical Skills
l Computing:
• Analyst should have working knowledge of equipments used in
the system.
• He should be conversant with the information regarding
various computer systems available in market, their cost
benefits versatility.

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 29

Md. Manowarul Islam, Dept. of CSE, JnU
 Any Question?

Software Engineering, COMP201 Slide 30