Responsible for analyzing internal and external customer needs. Identifies and determines equipment, software and process/procedural solutions to problems. Establishes system parameters and formats, and ensures hardware/software compatibility.
Analyzes science, engineering, business, and all other data processing problems for application to electronic data processing systems. Analyzes user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate or improve existing systems and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software. May supervise computer programmers.
Performs process and data modeling in support of the planning and analysis efforts using both manual and automated tools. Applies reverse engineering and re-engineering disciplines to develop strategic and planning documents. Provides group facilitation, interviewing, training, and provides additional forms of knowledge transfer. Constructs sound, logical business improvement opportunities consistent with corporate Information Management guiding principles, cost savings, and system architecture objectives. Key coordinator between multiple project teams to ensure enterprise-wide integration of reengineering efforts.
Tasks:
- Analyze new hardware and software to determine their need or application in the existing or proposed system
- Advise on new techniques and estimated costs associated with new or revised programs and utilities - taking into consideration personnel, time, and hardware requirements and makes trade-off analyses
- Review documentation, describing system specifications and operating instructions, and revise existing processes and procedures to correct deficiencies and maintain more effective data handling, conversion, input/output requirements and storage.
- Test, maintain, and monitor computer programs and systems, including coordinating the installation of computer programs and systems.
- Use object-oriented programming languages, as well as client/server applications development processes and multimedia and Internet technology.
- Confer with clients regarding the nature of the information processing or computation needs a computer program is to address.
- Coordinate and link the computer systems within an organization to increase compatibility and so information can be shared.
- Consult with management to ensure agreement on system principles.
- Expand or modify system to serve new purposes or improve workflow.
- Interview or survey workers, observe job performance or perform the job to determine what information is processed and how it is processed.
- Determine computer software or hardware needed to set up or alter system.
- Train staff and users to work with computer systems and programs.
- Analyze information processing or computation needs and plan and design computer systems, using techniques such as structured analysis, data modeling and information engineering.
- Assess the usefulness of pre-developed application packages and adapt them to a user environment.
- Define the goals of the system and devise flow charts and diagrams describing logical operational steps of programs.
- Develop, document and revise system design procedures, test procedures, and quality standards.
- Review and analyze computer printouts and performance indicators to locate code problems, and correct errors by correcting codes.
- Recommend new equipment or software packages.
- Read manuals, periodicals, and technical reports to learn how to develop programs that meet staff and user requirements.
- Supervise computer programmers or other systems analysts or serve as project leaders for particular systems projects.
- Utilize the computer in the analysis and solution of business problems such as development of integrated production and inventory control and cost analysis systems.
- Prepare cost-benefit and return-on-investment analyses to aid in decisions on system implementation.
- Specify inputs accessed by the system and plan the distribution and use of the results.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Design - Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Tools used in this occupation:
- Desktop computers
- Mainframe computers
- Notebook computers
- Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers - Personal digital assistants PDA
Technology used in this occupation:
- Configuration management software - Automated installation software; IBM Rational ClearCase; Wise Solutions software; Wise Solutions Wise for Windows Installer
- Data base management system software - Database management software; Microsoft SQL Server; Oracle DBMS; Relational database management software
- Development environment software - C; IBM Rational Rose XDE Developer; Microsoft Visual Basic; Symantec Visual Caf
- Object or component oriented development software - C++; Distributed component object model DCOM software; Rapide; Sun Microsystems Java
- Program testing software - Compatibility testing software; Defect tracking software; Mercury Interactive LoadRunner; Usability testing software
- Web platform development software - Active directory software; Allaire ColdFusion; Hypertext markup language HTML; JavaScript
