FREE ESSAY ON COMPUTER SYSTEMS ANALYST

COMPUTER SYSTEMS ANALYST

A Computer Systems Analyst decides how data are collected, prepared 
for computers, processed, stored, and made available for users. ("Computer 
Systems" COIN 1) The main achievement as a systems analyst is to improve 
the efficiency or create a whole new computer system that proves to be more 
efficient for a contracting company. When on an assignment, the analyst must 
meet a deadline. While striving for a deadline, he must create and comprehend 
many sources of information for the presentation. He must review the systems 
capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations ("Systems Analyst" 44), to 
determine if certain parts of the system must be modified for a new program. 
First, a computer programmer writes a program that he thinks will be 
beneficial for a certain system. He incorporates all of what he thinks is 
necessary. But the hard part is when the programmer runs the program. 99% of 
the time the program will not work, thus not creating a profit for the company. 
Then the analyst looks at the program. It is now his job to get rid of all of the 
glitches that are present. He must go over every strand of the program until the 
program is perfect. 
When the analyst is finished "chopping up" the program, he must then 
follow a technical procedure of data collecting, much like that of a science lab. 
The Dictionary of Occupational Titles says he must plan and prepare technical 
reports, memoranda, and instructional manuals as documentation of program 
development. (44) 
When the presentation day is near, the analyst submits the proof. He 
must organize and relate the data to a workflow chart and many diagrams. More 
often than not, an idea is always to good to be true unless the proof is there. For 
this new program that will go into the system, detailed operations must be laid 
out for the presentation. Yet, when the system hits the market, the program must 
be as simple as possible. A computer systems analyst must always look for the 
most minute points whenever a program is be reviewed. 
Education and Training 
Many people think that this is the type of a job where you must really like 
the concept. This is true. Many people thing that you need a great prior 
experience to ever make it somewhere. This is true. Many people think that you 
need a Bachelors degree to at least star out somewhere. This is not true. 
Through research, it a known fact that you don't really have to go to college to 
ever make it. In this particular field, a college education would be helpful to 
impress the employer, but for a basic analyst job, the only proof really needed to 
go somewhere is the Quality Assurance Institute. This awards the designation 
Certified Quality Analyst (CQA) to those who meet education and experience 
requirements, pass an exam, and endorse a code of ethics. ("Computer 
Scientists" 95) Linda Williams found a technical analyst at the Toledo Hospital, 
who went to the Total Technical Institute near Cleveland and earned his CQA. 
(11 -13) 
However, college is the best bet and a bachelors is the best reward to 
have after achieving the CQA. Employers almost always seek college graduates 
for analyst positions. Many however, have some prior experience. Many 
rookies are found in the small temporary agencies that need small help. The 
one who have really made it are in the business for at least 15 years. 
When in a secure professional position, an analyst will always need an 
upgrading just a quickly as the systems themselves do. Continuous study is 
necessary to keep the skills up to date. Continuing education is usually offered 
by employers in the form of paid time in night classes. Hardware and software 
vendors might also sponsor a seminar where analysts will go to gather ideas and 
new products. Even colleges and universities will sponsor some of these types 
of events. ("Computer Systems" America's 36) 
Environment, Hours, and Earnings 
Systems analysts work in offices in comfortable surroundings. They 
usually work about 40 hours a week - the same as other professionals and office 
workers. Occasionally, however, evening or weekend work may be necessary to 
meet deadlines according to America's 50 fastest Growing Jobs. (36) Most of 
the time, an analyst will live a quite lifestyle, unlike that of a lawyer or doctor. 
Even he has the freedoms that those occupations don't offer. The pay might 
decrease, but the family time increases. Although this may sound pretty basic, it 
is coming to the point where the common analyst will work from the everyday 
setting. In bed, at home, in the car and at the diner might all be places where an 
analyst might perform his work thanks to the technology available today. Even 
technical support can be done from a remote location largely in part to modems, 
laptops, electronic mail and even the Internet. ("Computer Scientists" 94) 
So as the hours per week is starting to vary because of where the work 
can be done, so are the earnings. The industry is growing and according to the 
Occupational Outlook Quarterly Chart, the industry will be the fastest growing 
from now until 2005. This occupation will grow so rapidly in fact, that in 2005, 
the number of systems analysts will have increased by 92%. To imagine that 
this is the only job that will practically double by the year 2005 is to think that the 
earnings would go up too. According to the same chart, the average weekly 
earning are $845. This is third only to the two obvious occupations of Lawyers, 
and Physicians. (48) 
In 1994, the median earning for a full time computer systems analyst was 
about $44,000. The middle 50% earned between $34,100 and $55,000. The 
highest tenth of all analysts earned $69,400 where those with degrees generally 
earn more. ("Computer Scientists" 95) It is also stated in America's 50 Fastest 
Growing Jobs that systems analysts working in the Northeast had the highest 
earnings and those working in the Midwest had the lowest earnings. (37) 
Bibliography 
"America's Fastest Growing Job Opportunities." Hispanic Times. 1996 
"Computer Scientists and Systems Analysts." Occupational Outlook Handbook. 
Indianapolis: JIST Works Inc. pp. 93-95. 
"Computer Systems Analyst." COIN Educational Products. CD-ROM, 1995-96: 
1-6 
Farr, J. Michael. (1994). America's 50 Fasted Growing Jobs. Indianapolis: JIST 
Works Inc. 
Emch, Brian. Job Shadowing. Dana Corporation. 1996 
Occupational Outlook Quarterly. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1996. 
"Systems Analyst." Dictionary of Occupational Titles. US Department of Labor. 
1992: p.44 
Williams, Linda. Careers Without College: Computers. Princeton: Peterson's 
Guides. 1992.