What you MUST know before a system development

Stakeholders: Players in the Systems Game A stakeholder is any person who has an interest in an existing or proposed information system. Stakeholders can be technical or nontechnical workers. They may also include both internal and external workers. –System owners –System users –System designers –System builders –Systems analysts (project managers)

System Owners System owners – an information system’s sponsor and executive advocate, usually responsible for funding the project of developing, operating, and maintaining the information system. –Top Management (CEO, CFO, CIO…) Primary Concerns - how much will the system cost? - how much value or what benefits will the system return to the business?

System Users System users – a “customer” who will use or is affected by a system on a regular basis Primary concern: get the job done using the system –Internal users Clerical and service workers, technical and professional staff, supervisors, middle managers, and executive managers –External users Internet EC consumers, suppliers, partners…

System Designers and System Builders System designer – a technical specialist who translates system users’ business requirements and constraints into technical solution. –DBAs, Network architects, web designers, security experts… System builders – a technical specialist who constructs information systems and components based on the design specifications generated by the system designers. –Programmers (applications, systems, and DB), network administrators, web masters..

Systems Analysts Systems analyst – a specialist who studies the problems and needs of an organization to determine how people, data, processes, and information technology can best accomplish improvements for the business. Roles: − Bridge (facilitator: next slide) between management and technical specialist − Understand both business and computing − Initiate change within an organization − Ultimately, a problem solver

The Systems Analyst as a Facilitator

Where Do Systems Analysts Work?