1. Lecture 4

2. People Aspects in IS 2 To be covered: To be covered: More types of IS Roles of people (Stakeholders ) using, developing, and managing information system:

3. There are other types of IS such as Data warehouses Enterprise resource planning Enterprise systems Search engines Geographic information system Global information system Executive information systems

4. Provide critical information from MIS, DSS, and other sources tailored to the information needs of executives. Examples: systems for easy access to analyses of business performance, actions of competitors, and economic developments to support strategic planning.

5. Stakeholders in information system A stakeholder is any person who has an interest in an existing or new information system. Stakeholders can be technical or nontechnical workers. It is sometimes useful to identify individuals who might play the various roles in a typical information system.

6. Stakeholders Classification For information systems, the stakeholders can be classified as: 1. Management. 2. IS manger 3. Systems analysts in systems development 4. Programmers in systems development 5. End user in systems development 6. Other IS mangers/Technicians in system development Notes: single individual can play multiple roles in a project. For example: A person could be both a system owner and system user. Many systems analysts are also system designers and builders.

7. Role of people in Information system : 1- Management (Business managers ) 7 A group that has effort in system development is business managers such as functional department heads and corporate executives. These managers are important because they have the power to fund development projects and to allocate resources necessary for projects success.

8. Role of people in Information system : 1- Management (Business managers ) 8 Role of managers Perceive business challenges Set organizational strategy Allocate human and financial resources Creative work: New products, services Make Decisions about: Which computer system to be developed? Allocation of IS resources to current projects Must be made by general management with advise from IS department

9. Role of people in Information system : 2- IS Manger The manager of an IS department may have a direct role in the systems development process. IS mangers are more involved in allocating resources to and overseeing approved system development projects rather than in the actual project development process.

10. Role of people in Information system : 2- IS Manger (continued) 10 There are several IS mangers in any medium to large IS department. The manger of an entire IS department may have the title Chief Information Officer and may report to the president or chairman of the firm. Chief information officer (CIO): Employs the IS department’s equipment and personnel to help the organization attain its goals and communicate with top management and advise on strategic opportunities.

11. Role of people in Information system : 2- IS Manger (continued) 11 Each division of the IS department will also have a manger for example: Director of IS development, IS operation manger, IS programmer director, etc.

12. Role of people in Information system : 3- Analysts 12 System Analysis Is the process of understanding in detail what a system should accomplish. The person who works in system analysis field is called an analyst.

13. Role of people in Information system : 3- Analysts 13 System Analysts: is an Intermediary between Users, Programmers, Technicians who are playing role information system. That is why an analyst is characterized as a “facilitator” of the other stakeholders’ participation in systems development

14. The Systems Analyst as a Facilitator

15. Role of people in Information system : 3- Analysts Systems analysts are the key individuals in the systems development process. Develop user requirements & detailed design specifications A systems analyst studies the problems and needs of an organization to determine how people, data, processes, communications, and information technology can best accomplish improvements for the business.

16. 16 Examples of typical problems system analysts Typically solve Customers want to order product anytime of the day. Marketing want to know customer needs better. Management want to analyze financial information more efficiently. Role of people in Information system : 3- Analysts

17. 17 Analysts role, in many Organization, split into Business analyst System analyst Infrastructure analyst Change management analyst Project manager

18. The Analysts role in an Organization

19. Skills of a Successful Systems Analyst Analytical skills Problem solving skills 1.19 1.Research and understand the problem 2.Verify benefits of solving problem outweigh the costs 3.Define the requirements for solving the problem 4.Develop a set of possible solutions (alternatives) 5.Decide which solution is best and recommend 6.Define the details of the chosen solution 7.Implement the solution 8.Monitor to ensure desired results Analyst’s Approach to Problem Solving

20. Skills of a Successful Systems Analyst 20 Technical skills Understanding of potential and limitations of technology. Computer programming experience and expertise. Computers / peripheral devices (hardware) Communication networks and connectivity Database and database management systems (DBMS) Operating systems

21. Systems analyst tools in the technical aspect 21 Software productivity packages Integrated development environments (IDEs) for programming languages CASE tools, testing, documentation support, reverse engineering, configuration management Skills of a Successful Systems Analyst

22. Managerial skills Ability to manage projects, resources, risk and change. Understand Business functions performed by organization Know Strategies, plans, traditions, and values of the organization Understand organizational structure Understand organization management techniques Interpersonal skills Effective written and oral communication skills (technical & non-technical audiences) Help you work with end user as well as other system analysts and programmers Systems analysts need to understand how people Think,Learn, React to change,Communicate and Work (in a variety of jobs and levels) 1.22 Skills of a Successful Systems Analyst

23. 23 Integrity and Ethics skills: Analyst has access to confidential information, such as salary, an organization’s planned projects, security systems, and so on. Therefore, he/she has to Must keep information private plans security in systems to protect confidential information Any impropriety can ruin an analyst’s career

24. Role of people in Information system : 4- Programmers Programmers convert the specifications given to them by the analysts into instructions the computer can understand. Coding and testing: writing a computer program Code generators have been developed to generate code from specifications, saving an organization time and money. The aim of CASE tools (Computer-Aided Software Engineering) is to provide a variety of code generators that can automatically produce 90% or more from the system specifications normally given a programmer.

25. Role of people in Information system : 5- Technicians(individual technical roles) 25 will provide support for development project in design and implementation stages e.g. Database Admin. Expertise in design & construction of DB. e.g. Network specialist:Assists In design & implementation of WAN or LAN Communication. e.g. Web Admin.Responsible for development, delivery and integration of web sources. Internal Auditors is needed to review the control of the system

26. Role of people in Information system : 6- End-users 26 People who will ultimately use the new system In the past: They were ignored once the analysts got their requirements Modern Practice: Users should be involved in each stage of project development Which has two objectives: The user can define what he wants and give details of User Interface User involvement breakdown resistance to change and ensures a commitment to the successful implementation of the application

27. Users must have sufficient control over the design process to ensure that the system reflects their business priorities and information needs. Working on design increases users’ understanding and acceptance of the system The role of end users: Role of people in Information system : 6- End-users

28. Management issues Managerial issues involved with controlling the use of information systems by end-users include: Providing a suitable support function to assist end-users in their use of computers. Ensuring the appropriate skill levels for end-users through staff development and training. Controlling the cost of end-user activities and support. Role of people in Information system : 6- End-users

29. The development of information systems by end users with little or no formal assistance from technical specialists. End-User Development: Software tools that enable end users to create reports or develop software applications with minimal or no technical assistance. Fourth-Generation Languages: Role of people in Information system : 7- End-users Development

30. Allow rapid development but testing and documentation may be inadequate Seven categories of fourth-generation languages: PC software tools, query languages, report generator, graphics language, application generator, application software package, very high-level programming language Fourth-Generation Languages:(Continued) Role of people in Information system : 7- End-users Development

31. Reasons for growth of EUD Applications backlog: The demand for new applications by users exceeds the capacity of the IS department or IS outsourcing company to develop them. Improved tool sets such as Visual Basic for Applications The desire by users to query and analyze data and generate reports from information stored on databases available across the corporate network A trend to decentralization of computing to user departments for systems to support departmental activities Reduced expense of application development when conducted by end-users (from departmental rather than information systems budget) Better fit between end-user-developed software and their requirements (since no requirements translation is needed between the users and third-party developers). End-users are also less likely to ‘over-engineer’ a solution to a basic problem than an IS professional who will want to treat every problem with rigour. Role of people in Information system : 7- End-users Development

32. Outside Vendors 32 They may provide hardware, software, or their consulting expertise Many organizations use outside contractors (analysts, programmers) to help in development projects Disadvantage of Contractors Skills developed during the project can disappear when the contractor leave Possible Solution: Adequate documentation and training of in-house personnel Contractors are useful when: An organization lacks of technical skills in an area There are shortage of staff

33. More of Roles, Functions, and Careers in IS 33 Primary responsibilities in information system Operations: System operators primarily run and maintain IS equipment Systems development: Focuses on specific development projects and ongoing maintenance and review LAN administrators: Set up and manage the network hardware, software, and security processes Support: Provides user assistance in hardware and software acquisition and use, data administration, user training and assistance, and Web administration Information service units: A miniature IS department attached and directly reporting to a functional area in a large organization