| "Good specifications will improve programmer | | | | happened for quite some time. The last time |
| productivity far better than any programming | | | | I heard of a systems analyst graduating to a |
| tool or technique." | | | | major management position was Dan Boone who |
| | | | was made President and COO of Armco Steel in |
| - Bryce's LawINTRODUCTIONIn terms of systems | | | | the late 1970's.If systems analysis is |
| development, during the 1960's and early | | | | performed correctly, programmer productivity |
| 1970's you were either a Systems Analyst or a | | | | should improve as analysts should be |
| Programmer. Period. At the time, there were | | | | providing good specifications for application |
| substantially more analysts than programmers | | | | assignments. In the absence of systems |
| (at least a 2:1 ratio). This was due, in | | | | analysts, considerable time is lost by the |
| part, to the fact that computing was just | | | | programmer who has to second-guess what the |
| coming into its own in the corporate world | | | | end-user wants. Inevitably, this leads to |
| and there were still people around who could | | | | rewriting software over and over again. Good |
| look at systems in its entirety. However, | | | | data and processing specs, as provided by a |
| there was a screaming need for people to | | | | systems analyst, will improve programmer |
| program computers and, as such, this became | | | | productivity far better than any programming |
| the boom years of programming. If you knew | | | | tool or technique. This means programmers |
| COBOL, Fortran, or PL/1 you could just about | | | | are the beneficiaries of good systems |
| right your own ticket. Salaries were good, | | | | analysis.This brings up an interesting point, |
| and you could intimidate your employer simply | | | | what should be the ratio of Systems Analysts |
| by what you knew (you had to commit something | | | | to Programmers in a development organization? |
| like murder to get fired). The emphasis on | | | | Frankly, I believe there should be twice as |
| programming became so great that authors | | | | many analysts than programmers. By |
| rushed out voluminous books to increase | | | | concentrating on the upfront work, |
| programmer productivity, hence the birth of | | | | programming is simplified. Let me illustrate |
| the Structured Programming movement of the | | | | the point by using the following triangles |
| late 1970's, which was followed shortly | | | | representing the total amount of effort in a |
| thereafter by the CASE movement (Computer | | | | project (as an aside, I picked this up from |
| Aided Software Engineering).While programming | | | | my customers in Japan who share my opinion), |
| was growing in stature, Systems Analysis was | | | | see: triangle on the left represents the |
| in sharp decline. Trade groups such as the | | | | traditional approach whereby there is twice |
| Association for Systems Management (ASM) saw | | | | the number of programmers to systems |
| their membership dwindle to nothing and were | | | | analysts. Under this approach, considerably |
| forced to close their doors. The last of the | | | | more time is spent producing software to |
| old Systems Analysts either retired or were | | | | satisfy poorly defined requirements. The |
| put out to pasture by corporations in the | | | | Japanese point out the bottom of the triangle |
| 1980's. New job titles emerged, such as | | | | is actually bottomless as it means more time |
| Software Engineer and Analyst/Programmer. | | | | is needed to complete a project. Compare it |
| This latter title is a bit of a misnomer as | | | | to the triangle on the right where there are |
| the emphasis was on programming and not | | | | twice as many analysts to programmers. Under |
| systems analysis.Although programming | | | | this scenario, more time is spent analyzing |
| excelled, a noticeable void began to appear | | | | the problem, designing the system, and |
| in terms of people who could see systems in | | | | producing better programming specs. |
| its totality. Writing a good program is one | | | | Consequently, the programmers do not have to |
| thing, getting it to interface with other | | | | second-guess what has to be performed and can |
| programs to form a whole system is something | | | | go about their work more productively.The |
| entirely different. By the turn of the | | | | problem with the diagram on the right though |
| century, the industry started to talk about | | | | is that Systems Analysis is considered to be |
| such things as "Enterprise Architecture," | | | | somewhat of a nebulous concept to management. |
| "Business Processes," "Business Rules," | | | | Programming, on the other hand, is more |
| "Business Analysis," etc. Further, new | | | | tangible and easier for people to grasp; you |
| conferences, trade groups, and job titles | | | | are either writing code and producing a |
| began to emerge. Today, programmers are | | | | program or you are not. Therefore, the |
| considered a dime a dozen and the stock of a | | | | mindset in management is that you are not |
| true analyst is on the rise.All of this is | | | | being productive unless you are coding, hence |
| indicative of the industry trying to reinvent | | | | the inclination to shortcut systems analysis. |
| systems theory. In reality there is nothing | | | | This is a key reason why Systems Analysis |
| new here as systems analysis is systems | | | | collapsed in the 1980's. And this is why it |
| analysis. But as companies implement these | | | | is necessary to provide training so |
| concepts and job titles again, they are a bit | | | | management appreciates the need for systems |
| uncertain as to where they fit in and their | | | | analysis. Frankly, I have found management |
| relationship to other Information Technology | | | | can be very supportive if it is presented to |
| functions.CHARACTERISTICSA Systems Analyst | | | | them properly.CONCLUSIONWhether you call them |
| goes by many names these days; e.g., Business | | | | Systems Analysts, Business Analysts, Systems |
| Analyst, Enterprise Architect, Systems | | | | Engineers, or Enterprise Architects, it is |
| Engineer (my personal preference), etc. | | | | very encouraging to see this vital function |
| Nonetheless, we are talking about a person | | | | being reintroduced to companies. As far as I |
| whose mission is to study the information | | | | am concerned, it was inevitable. I guess |
| requirements of a business and design a total | | | | companies finally figured out you cannot |
| system solution to satisfy them. Further, | | | | satisfy your systems problems simply by using |
| the analyst is responsible for specifying the | | | | better programming tools and techniques.We |
| software requirements and, as such, is | | | | are also beginning to see the resurgence of |
| considered the intermediary with the | | | | related trade groups to replace such groups |
| programming staff. The personal | | | | as the Association for Systems Management |
| characteristics of the analyst are | | | | (ASM), for example:The International |
| considerably different than the programmer. | | | | Institute of Business AnalysisThe IIBA |
| Whereas the programmer tends to be more | | | | appears to be picking up where ASM left off, |
| introverted and focused on technology, the | | | | including certification. Whereas ASM |
| analyst tends to be more business oriented | | | | developed and offered the Certified Systems |
| and extroverted. Analysts possess good | | | | Professional (CSP) certification years ago, |
| communications skills (verbal and written) to | | | | IIBA wants to create something similar.All of |
| effectively work with both the end-users and | | | | this is indicative of how the industry is |
| the programming staff. They know how to | | | | trying to reinvent systems theory. Whereas |
| conduct an interview and make a presentation | | | | such systems work was well known up until the |
| (salesmanship). In addition, they tend to | | | | 1980's it was forgotten over the last twenty |
| look at the bigger picture as opposed to just | | | | years due to the emphasis on programming. |
| a portion of it, and possess an | | | | Fortunately, companies have finally realized |
| entrepreneurial spirit.The analyst | | | | the importance of systems work and are trying |
| understands the business problems of the | | | | to get their houses in order. I guess what |
| end-user and is intimate with the operation | | | | goes around, comes around.Tim Bryce is the |
| of the user's department. In other words, | | | | Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates |
| the analyst can comfortably walk in the shoes | | | | (MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida, a management |
| of the end-user. If they are doing their job | | | | consulting firm specializing in Information |
| properly, analysts make excellent candidates | | | | Resource Management (IRM). Mr. Bryce has |
| to assume responsibility in the management | | | | over 30 years of experience in the field. He |
| hierarchy. But because analysts were in | | | | is available for training and consulting on |
| decline for so many years, this hasn't | | | | an international basis. |