System Analysts are becoming business analysts, According to Raz Hershtig, Leader of the software engineering department at John Bryce Training: Information systems analysts, in their new functions as business analysts, are required to know and understand in-depth a long list of concepts and phenomena that have become common currency in the world of business.

They must also acquire a new and improved set of tools and skills to meet the changing requirements of the market. BMP, Scrum, and SOA tools, as well as in-depth understanding of such areas as UI and Web 2.0, have become a significant part of the present-day systems analyst's toolbox.

In the demanding business environment of today, which sanctifies the concept of time-to-market, the focus has shifted from systems analysis to business analysis. The recent financial crisis further contributed to this process.

In the past, the systems analyst served as a bridge between the demands of information systems employees and the technical team that was supposed to meet these demands. In the new work environment, characterized by many and rapid changes in user demands, the information systems unit is liable to become the bottleneck of the organization.

The many talents of systems analysts

In their new function as business analysts, information data analysts are required to build cross-organizational processes and provide customers with system-wide graphic displays of each process from beginning to end. To accomplish this, the new systems analyst must acquire an additional set of tools and skills.

At the top of the list are the business process management (BPM) tools that enable analysts to match business processes with the organization's strategic goals through a systematic definition and management of requirements. Another important ingredient in understanding customer needs and creating a system that matches their requirements is requirement traceability and life cycle management.

Systems analysts must also take into account and deepen their knowledge of user interfaces, which have become increasingly significant given the profusion of information systems. The need to learn quickly how to use each system and how to overcome natural user resistance and habits that have developed over time, mandates the creation of a considerate user interface, with special emphasis on system usability and friendliness. As this is what ultimately determines whether the system will meet customer and end user demands, systems analyst must understand these matters as well.

Yet another topic that systems analysts must consider is the Web 2.0 phenomenon, which has changed completely the rules of the game on the Internet and has entirely broken down the walls and boundaries between information providers and consumers, between the global and the local, between various media and the diverse channels. The consequences for the business world are many, and information systems analysts must be aware of the range of possibilities that Web 2.0 makes available, and take advantage of them for the benefit of the enterprise system.

Systems analysts are also required to be fluent in the secrets of system architecture because high-quality architecture shortens significantly the duration of development and its cost. To enable the organization to develop systems quickly and securely, the systems analyst must be able to use a range of services such as SOA. These services help organizations develop applications quickly, use them efficiently, and create business processes quickly and easily.

The systems analyst must also adopt an agile approach, a combination of quickness and flexibility, made necessary by the rapid rate at which requirements change, by the need for ongoing increase in efficiency and for the preservation of a high level of customer satisfaction. A successful transition to the agile approach requires planning and leadership on the part of management, and therefore systems analysts must acquire the knowledge and tools needed for the successful implementation of flexible management methods based on Scrum, and at the same time be familiar with the managers' work processes and everyday tools.

IT upgrade

Most organizations in the world have already internalized the fact that their IT area is an inseparable part of the services they provide and that it affects greatly the ability of the organization to be competitive and available in today's business climate. Systems analysts must therefore learn to meet customer needs using IT service management as part of ITIL, with a focus on correct work processes.

Read it in Training Press Release website