Characteristics of a successful systems analyst

Week 1 Discussion

Dallon Prestwich posted Jan 6, 2020 11:06 PM

1. Describe one characteristic that a successful “systems analyst” needs to have. Provide a brief description and explain how having that characteristic helps a systems analyst perform his/her duties successfully. There are several important characteristics to describe. Please try not to duplicate information that has already been posted by another student. Rather, extend and elaborate upon any information that has already been posted.

One characteristic of a successful systems analysts would be critical thinking. Critical thinking is essential to a systems analyst because they must solve problems in current and future systems. It is also preferable that problems are identified and addressed before they negatively impact the organization. Systems analysts must consider multiple elements (input/output, processors, control, feedback, …) and system classifications (physical, abstract, open or closed, …) (Jawahar, n.d.).

When an organization is considering change, it is the systems analyst’s job to get a clear picture of the users’ needs, what resources are available, and how will the system impact the organization. This information is collected through a feasibility study. The system analyst must then use critical thinking to develop a recommendation for a candidate system that will address these issues, along with any other future hurdles they can identify. If/when management approves the recommendation from the feasibility study, it becomes a formal agreement.

Once the candidate system is approved, the systems analyst must develop a plan to implement their recommendation. “The plan includes all systems design features, such as a new data capture needs, file specifications, operating procedures, equipment and personnel needs” (Jawahar, n.d.). Each of these decisions will be vital to the company’s future success. Without critical thinking, the likelihood of success for the implemented system is greatly reduced.

Scriven and Paul (2003) define critical thinking as “the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action”.

References:

Jawahar. (n.d.). Overview of systems analysis & design.

Paul, R., & Scriven, M. (2003). Defining critical thinking. Retrieved from http://louisville.edu/ideastoaction/about/criticalthinking/what