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