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.
