fective computer systems whose hardware and software enables the organization to operate smoothly and competitively, the analyst must often work with all persons involved in the flow of information within the company. They deal with programmers, clients, managers and others to develop and implement different software to enable the company to take maximum advantage of managing information and achieving competitive advantage with technology. The typical systems development life cycle is as follows: 1) Initiation, 2) Project Planning, 3) Analysis, 4) Logical Design, 5) Physical Design, 6) Implement, 7) Maintain (What 3). The systems analysts must understand that information systems are a combination of process and data. There are key differences between process orientation and data orientation but most system needs have a combination of elements of the two or use both orientations to a degree. The main distinctions between a process-oriented system and a data oriented system are listed in the table below: PROCESS ORIENTATION DATA ORIENTATION Focuses on what the system is supposed to do Data the system needs to operate Data files are designed for each individual application Data needs do not change as Rapidly as processed Much controlled duplicationData files designed for enterprise Limited, controlled duplication (What 5) Throughout the public and private sectors, computer systems are needed for a variety of purposes and to perform a variety of functions. From hooking up local area Frag networks (LANs) or wide area networks (WANs) to ordering, implementing or even designing customized software. The following duties or services are some of the most common ones performed by these often mysterious workers. "Analyze and find computer solutions to clients' information processing, database or computation needs; Write requirement specifications for computer programs, identifying steps in the program and ...
