Systems Analyst Career: Education, Skills, and Professional Growth

This essay explores the professional development of a systems analyst, focusing on the essential courses and skills required for success in the field. It emphasizes the importance of subjects like information systems, communications and networking, programming, business mathematics, strategic information systems, and systems design. The essay also discusses the significance of technical, analytical, team working, and interpersonal skills, highlighting the author's strengths and areas for improvement. Furthermore, it suggests incorporating networking and mathematical modeling into the Asia Pacific International College (APIC) curriculum to enhance the development of successful systems analysts. The essay concludes by addressing problem-solving techniques, such as accessing the R-mode of thinking through the Poincare method.

Running head: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMS ANALYST
Professional Development of Systems Analyst
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

1PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMS ANALYST
Professional Development can be used in reference to specialized training and formal
education that can help an individual in excelling in a profession. It can help in improving the
knowledge, skills and competencies of an individual. The subjects taught in a particular
course can help an individual in his profession and the knowledge gathered during studying
can be used by the student in his later professional life (Chang 2016). Business
Communication is indicative of an information sharing process with the help of which a party
sends a message that can be easily understood by another party. Effective communication by
the managers of a business can help in facilitating information sharing between the
employees of a company and it can be a cause for commercial success of an organisation.
This essay discusses about the course of study of a systems analyst and the communication
skills that are required by an individual for succeeding in a profession.
The subjects that should be completed so that one can become a successful systems
analyst are information system, communications and network, programming, introductory
business mathematics, strategic information system and systems design. Information system
is indicative of an organized system that can help in communicating information in an
organization. It refers to the study of the complementary networks which is made use of by
an organization for the collection, filtering and processing of data (Pearlson, Saunders and
Galletta 2016). Information system is indicative of a cluster of components that can help in
the process of interaction which can produce information. The study of information system
can be beneficial for a system analyst as it can teach the individual to learn about computer
system and business process that can help an individual in excelling in his career. Information
technology is primarily concerned with the end use of the information technology and it can
help in controlling performance of the business process. The different components that come
together for producing information system are hardware, software, data and procedures.
Hardware refers to the machinery and it includes the study of computer and the support

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equipments (Campbell, Jardine and McGlynn 2016). Software is indicative of the computer
programs and manuals that can help in supporting them. Data is indicative of the facts which
is made use of by the programs so that it can produce information that is useful. It is
important that a systems analyst should be knowledgeable about policies that can help in
governing operations pertaining to a computer system.
Internet has evolved to become an important component in our life and all businesses
in the present age take recourse to the internet for their operations. Communications and
networking is an important subject that is crucial for a systems analyst and understanding of
computer networks is necessary for a systems analyst. The understanding of layers composes
the framework surrounding which a network is built and the subject communications and
network can be of great help for a systems analyst (Galliers and Leidner 2014). This subject
will help an individual in understanding computing and provide one with knowledge
regarding how data can be sent and received within a framework. This subject can teach an
individual about computer information system and administration that can be of great
advantage for a systems analyst. The subject of communication and networking can help an
individual in understanding about protocol mechanism and network control that can make an
individual a proficient systems analyst (Bryman and Bell 2015).
The subject of computer programming can teach an individual various subjects
regarding the programming of the computer. This subject can teach one about computational
thinking and it can help an individual in digitizing the ideas. A computer programmer plays a
role in creating code that can help in the functioning of a program. Computer programming
can help in creating software that can be run on the personal computer, smart phone and the
tablet. Explosion in relation to smart phone technology has made mobile applications
important and computer programmers have a great role to play in the modern era. The present
era is the age of technology and it is imperative for an individual to learn about programming

3PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMS ANALYST
in the present age. This subject can help an individual in the aspect of critical thinking and
teach one about problem solving skills (Hinkelmann et al. 2016). The subject can encourage
the processing skills of an individual and it is of crucial importance for a systems analyst. The
increase in the demand of computers has increased the need of programming in the modern
age.
Business mathematics refers to the mathematics which is used by the commercial
enterprises that can help in the managing of the business operation. Commercial
organizations make use of mathematics that can prove to be useful in the aspect of
accounting, marketing and inventory management. Mathematics is widely used in the field of
commerce and the management of business can be carried out in an effective manner by
using advanced mathematics like calculus along with linear programming (Ren 2017).
Business has to face many kinds of challenges and dealing with them in the proper manner
can help in preventing the recurrence of such kinds of challenges in the future. The various
problems arising in business can be solved by taking recourse to mathematical model and it is
imperative for a business analyst to be adept at mathematics. It can help him in excelling in
his career.
Strategic information system refers to the information system which have been
developed for responding to the corporate initiatives. Strategic information system can
provide an organization with competitive advantage that can help a company in delivering a
service at a low cost. Strategic information management is of crucial importance in the
present world of information technology and it can help an organization in the aspect of
transferring of information (Dennis, Wixom and Tegarden 2015). This is an important subject
for a system analyst as it helps the companies in applying the metrics that can help them in
recognizing opportunities in relation to growth. The study of strategic information system can
help to improve the efficiencies of the operations of a business. Strategic information system

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being aligned to the strategy of a business can be a cause of success of a business and it is
important that a business analyst learn this subject that can greatly help him in his profession
(Scott 2015).
Systems Design refers to the defining of the architecture along with modules that can
help in satisfying the specified requirements. It deals with the applying of the systems theory
to the aspect of product development. A system analyst makes use of analysis along with
design techniques that can help in the solving of problems pertaining to a business. It is hence
important that a systems analyst learns about system design that can be used in his
professional life. The system analyst helps in the identification of the organizational
improvement needed and the design system that can help in the implementation of those
changes (Stair and Reynolds 2017). The study of systems design can help an individual in
analyzing data input of an organization and it can help them in solving problems. The
systems design can help in the designing and implementation of the improvement that can
work to the advantage of the users.
The course of Bachelor of Information System in Asia Pacific International College
can help in providing the graduates with expertise that can help them in shaping the
information system. This can help in facilitating performance within the global economy. The
subjects that will be taught in Asia Pacific International College (APIC) are programming,
information system, systems design and strategic information system (Apicollege.edu.au
2018). These subjects will be taught in the college course and it can greatly help in my
professional development. These subjects will sharpen my professional skills and help me
greatly in my professional development. Bachelor of Business Information System can teach
an individual regarding problem solving by making use of computer programming that can be
of great help for a systems analyst. The fundamentals of network that is taught in the
Business Information System course can equip an individual with the skill sets and the

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knowledge that can help him in emerging as a successful systems analyst (Ganguly 2017).
This subject is however not in the course of APIC and it should be included within the course
structure that can help the students in learning about the core aspects of networking. The
business often has to face challenges and mathematical models can be vital for the shaping of
a business. APIC should include the subject in its course so that the learners evolve to
become successful system analyst.
The skills that will be required for pursuing the profession of system analyst are
technical skills, analytical skills, team working skill and interpersonal skill. The skills that I
am good at are interpersonal skill and technical skill. Interpersonal along with
communication skill is crucial for the profession of a systems analyst. The interpersonal skills
are important at different stage of development process that can assist in the process of
interacting with the users. These skills help in affecting success in the profession of a systems
analyst. I am good in the aspect of interpersonal communication that can help me in the
aspect of working as a team (Ghaderi et al. 2015). The communication skill will be able to
help me in leading a team and communicating important information in a company. The
interpersonal skill can enhance the ability of an individual so that they can work successfully
in a team and co-ordinate appropriately. It will help me in interacting with the end user,
managers and the vendors in a company. Technical skills are important for computer related
profession as it can help an individual in using techniques like data flow diagram, data
modelling and computer programming. The technical skills can help me in gaining hardware
along with software knowledge that can greatly help me in my profession. I am imbued with
technical skills that can help in my professional development as a system analyst.
The skill that a system analyst should have but I am not good at is analytical skills
that is if great significance in relation to system development. Analytical skill refers to the
ability of an individual of examining things in a critical manner that can assist me in

6PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEMS ANALYST
separating clear picture into the individual components. This skill can help an individual to
adapt to the changes taking place in the realm of technology. I think that I lack these skills
that can ensure my success as a systems analyst and aid me in my professional development.
The lack of these skills can prevent the understanding of components and how they can be fit
together to create a complete picture.
R-mode refers to the non-verbal approach that one can associate with subconscious.
L-mode on the other hand is indicative of verbal approach that one can associate with the
“inner voice”. A problem appears intractable as one tries to solve it in the thinking mode that
is incorrect. The default mode of the programmers is the L-mode and one should be able to
access the R- mode that can help them in solving a problem. Poincare method can prove to be
useful for an individual in accessing the R-mode of thinking. Facts regarding the problem
should be written down at the outset and the easy aspects pertaining to the problem should be
checked in the beginning. The hard problems will need thorough thinking and single item can
be picked and one can move to a peaceful place so that one can think about the complicated
problem. The mind should be allowed to wander and any kind of interesting sensation which
arises owing to the problem should be notified. Due amount of time should be provided that
can help in coalescing. In the event of getting the inspiration one should write it down
immediately and the insight gained should be thought of at length that can help in the aspect
of solving of the complex problem.

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References:
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