2.  Systems analysts are the key individuals in the systems development process.  A systems analyst studies the problems and needs of an organization to determine how people, data, processes, communications, and information technology can best accomplish improvements for the business.  The functions of the system analyst are: ◦ Designing and implementing the systems to suit the organizational needs

3.  “A person who conducts a methodical study and evaluation of an activity such as business to identify its desired objectives in order to determine the procedures by which these objectives can be gained.”  The task of the system analyst is to elicit needs and resource constraints and to translate these into a viable operation”.

4. ◦ 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, and ◦ The flow of useful and timely information back to the business and its people.

5.  Interpersonal Skills ◦ Communication ◦ Understanding ◦ Teaching ◦ Selling  Analytical skills ◦ Understanding of organizations. ◦ Problem solving skills ◦ System thinking  Ability to see organizations and information systems as systems  Technical skills ◦ Understanding of potential and limitations of technology.

6.  Managerial skills ◦ Ability to manage projects, resources, risk and change  Interpersonal skills ◦ Effective written and oral communication skills ◦ Help you work with end user as well as other system analysts and programmers  Flexibility ◦ Ability to adapt flexible ideas and changes.

7. ◦ Working knowledge of information technology ◦ Computer programming experience and expertise ◦ General business knowledge ◦ Problem-solving skills ◦ Interpersonal communication skills ◦ Interpersonal relations skills ◦ Flexibility and adaptability ◦ Character and ethics ◦ Systems analysis and design skills

8.  Change agent(introduces the change(candidate system) to the organization)  Investigator of the current system.  Monitor the programs in relation to time, cost and quality.  Architect of the design of the system.  Psychologist-reaches people, interpret their thoughts, understand inter functional relationships.  Salesperson  Motivator-for convincing the user to use the system.  Politician-to gain the support of the user’s staff.

10.  Systems are designed to perform certain required functions – there could be new functions, or modifications of older functions.  A system which is being designed will often require changes and re-orientation in the way an organization works.  There could be changes in format of input, or reports, additional information to be gathered, new procedures to be followed.

11.  Changes that a system will result in are often resisted by the users.  This is because persons are used-to working in a particular way and find it difficult to change.  New system means new skills have to be learnt, job descriptions may change and so on.  Hence the system analyst is the creator of new environments.  For this, he has to be a persuader as well as a controller and appropriately named as an agent for changing the organization.