Computer Systems Analysts - 15-1121.00

Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to implement and improve computer systems. Analyze user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate or improve existing systems and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.

Sample of reported job titles: Applications Analyst, Business Analyst, Business Systems Analyst, Computer Analyst, Computer Systems Analyst, Computer Systems Consultant, Information Systems Analyst (ISA), Information Technology Analyst (IT Analyst), System Analyst, Systems Analyst

Tasks

• Test, maintain, and monitor computer programs and systems, including coordinating the installation of computer programs and systems.
• Troubleshoot program and system malfunctions to restore normal functioning.
• Expand or modify system to serve new purposes or improve work flow.
• Use the computer in the analysis and solution of business problems, such as development of integrated production and inventory control and cost analysis systems.
• Consult with management to ensure agreement on system principles.
• Confer with clients regarding the nature of the information processing or computation needs a computer program is to address.
• Develop, document and revise system design procedures, test procedures, and quality standards.
• Train staff and users to work with computer systems and programs.
• Coordinate and link the computer systems within an organization to increase compatibility and so information can be shared.
• Assess the usefulness of pre-developed application packages and adapt them to a user environment.
• Define the goals of the system and devise flow charts and diagrams describing logical operational steps of programs.
• Provide staff and users with assistance solving computer related problems, such as malfunctions and program problems.
• Use object-oriented programming languages, as well as client and server applications development processes and multimedia and Internet technology.
• Review and analyze computer printouts and performance indicators to locate code problems, and correct errors by correcting codes.
• Supervise computer programmers or other systems analysts or serve as project leaders for particular systems projects.
• Read manuals, periodicals, and technical reports to learn how to develop programs that meet staff and user requirements.
• Determine computer software or hardware needed to set up or alter system.
• Analyze information processing or computation needs and plan and design computer systems, using techniques such as structured analysis, data modeling and information engineering.
• Interview or survey workers, observe job performance or perform the job to determine what information is processed and how it is processed.
• Specify inputs accessed by the system and plan the distribution and use of the results.
• Prepare cost-benefit and return-on-investment analyses to aid in decisions on system implementation.
• Recommend new equipment or software packages.

Technology Skills

• Access software - Access management software; Citrix
• Accounting software - Fund accounting software ; Tax software
• Administration software - Cisco Systems CiscoWorks; Element management software
• Analytical or scientific software - Minitab ; SAS ; StataCorp Stata ; The MathWorks MATLAB (see all 7 examples)
• Application server software - Docker ; GitHub ; Oracle WebLogic Server ; Spring Boot (see all 6 examples)
• Backup or archival software - System and data disaster recovery software; Veritas NetBackup
• Business intelligence and data analysis software - Business intelligence system software; IBM Cognos Impromptu ; MicroStrategy ; Tableau (see all 6 examples)
• Communications server software - IBM Domino
• Compiler and decompiler software - Time sharing option TSO software
• Computer aided design CAD software - Dassault Systemes CATIA ; Electronic design automation EDA software; OrCAD Capture; SpectraQuest (see all 5 examples)
• Configuration management software - Chef ; Perforce Helix software ; Puppet ; Systems and application deployment and migration software (see all 12 examples)
• Content workflow software - Atlassian JIRA
• Customer relationship management CRM software - Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge ; Oracle Eloqua ; Salesforce software
• Data base management system software - MongoDB ; MySQL ; Relational database management software ; Teradata Database (see all 14 examples)
• Data base reporting software - Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services ; Oracle Business Intelligence Suite; SAP Crystal Reports
• Data base user interface and query software - AWS Redshift ; Microsoft Access ; Oracle JDBC ; Structured query language SQL (see all 12 examples)
• Data conversion software
• Data mining software - Google Analytics
• Desktop communications software - CrossTec NetOp Remote Control; Remote control software; Stac Software ReachOut; Symantec pcAnywhere
• Desktop publishing software - Microsoft Publisher
• Development environment software - Apache Maven ; Eclipse IDE ; National Instruments LabVIEW ; Verilog (see all 25 examples)
• Document management software - Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
• Electronic mail software - IBM Notes ; Microsoft Exchange Server ; Microsoft Outlook
• Enterprise application integration software - Atlassian Bamboo ; Extensible markup language XML ; IBM WebSphere ; SAP Netweaver BW (see all 8 examples)
• Enterprise resource planning ERP software - Microsoft Dynamics ; NetSuite ERP ; Oracle PeopleSoft ; SAP (see all 10 examples)
• Enterprise system management software - IBM Power Systems software ; Splunk Enterprise
• Expert system software - Ansible software
• File versioning software - Apache Subversion SVN ; Git ; Version control software
• Financial analysis software - Cost estimation software; Delphi Technology ; Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
• Graphics or photo imaging software - Adobe Systems Adobe Fireworks; Adobe Systems Adobe Flash; Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop ; Microsoft Visio (see all 5 examples)
• Helpdesk or call center software - Help desk software
• Human resources software - ADP Workforce Now ; Human resource management software HRMS ; Oracle Taleo
• Industrial control software - Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
• Information retrieval or search software - LexisNexis
• Internet directory services software - Active directory software
• Map creation software - ESRI ArcGIS software ; Geographic information system GIS software
• Medical software - Epic Systems ; Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS ; MEDITECH software
• Metadata management software - CA Erwin Data Modeler ; Informatica Corporation PowerCenter; Oracle Master Data Management MDM Suite; SAP Master Data Management MDM
• Network monitoring software - Nagios ; Network intrusion prevention systems NIPS; Snort; Wireshark
• Network security or virtual private network VPN management software - Virtual private networking VPN software
• Object or component oriented development software - C++ ; Practical extraction and reporting language Perl ; Python ; Swift (see all 20 examples)
• Object oriented data base management software - Hibernate ORM ; Microsoft Visual FoxPro; PostgreSQL
• Office suite software - Microsoft Office
• Operating system software - Job control language JCL ; Linux ; Oracle Solaris ; Shell script (see all 12 examples)
• Pattern design software - Diagramming software; Flow chart software; Omni Group OmniGraffle
• Portal server software - Apache HTTP Server
• Presentation software - Microsoft PowerPoint
• Program testing software - Functional testing software; Hewlett Packard LoadRunner ; JUnit ; Selenium (see all 24 examples)
• Project management software - Confluence ; Microsoft Project ; Microsoft SharePoint ; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
• Requirements analysis and system architecture software - AcmeStudio; Architecture description language ADL; Popkin System Architect; Unified modeling language UML (see all 5 examples)
• Sales and marketing software - Marketo Marketing Automation
• Spreadsheet software - Microsoft Excel
• Transaction security and virus protection software - McAfee ; Symantec ; Virus scanning software
• Transaction server software - Customer information control system CICS ; Microsoft Internet Information Service IIS; Sun Microsystems Sun ONE; Web server software
• Video creation and editing software - YouTube
• Web page creation and editing software - Adobe Systems Adobe Dreamweaver
• Web platform development software - AJAX ; Enterprise JavaBeans ; Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVC ; PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor (see all 26 examples)
• Word processing software - Microsoft Word

Tools Used

• Desktop computers
• Mainframe computers
• Notebook computers
• Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers - Personal digital assistants PDA

Knowledge

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Skills

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Programming - Writing computer programs for various purposes.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
• Operations Analysis - Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Abilities

• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
• Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
• Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
• Speed of Closure - The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
• Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
• Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Interests

• Interest code: ICR
  • Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
  • Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Work Context

• Electronic Mail - 100% responded “Every day.”
• Telephone - 89% responded “Every day.”
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - 94% responded “Every day.”
• Work With Work Group or Team - 62% responded “Extremely important.”
• Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - 60% responded “Extremely important.”
• Spend Time Sitting - 50% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Face-to-Face Discussions - 77% responded “Every day.”
• Contact With Others - 56% responded “Constant contact with others.”
• Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - 66% responded “Extremely important.”
• Structured versus Unstructured Work - 72% responded “Some freedom.”
• Coordinate or Lead Others - 41% responded “Extremely important.”
• Time Pressure - 38% responded “Once a week or more but not every day.”
• Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - 64% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - 38% responded “Very important results.”
• Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - 39% responded “Continually or almost continually.”
• Duration of Typical Work Week - 50% responded “More than 40 hours.”
• Freedom to Make Decisions - 47% responded “Some freedom.”
• Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - 41% responded “Very high responsibility.”
• Deal With External Customers - 32% responded “Extremely important.”
• Frequency of Decision Making - 35% responded “Every day.”
• Level of Competition - 62% responded “Moderately competitive.”
• Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - 24% responded “Every day.”

Education

Percentage of Respondents	Education Level Required
33%	Bachelor's degree
29%	Associate's degree
14%	Master's degree

Work Styles

• Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
• Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
• Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
• Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
• Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
• Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
• Self Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
• Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
• Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
• Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
• Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
• Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
• Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
• Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Work Values

• Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
• Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
• Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Wages & Trends

• Median wages (2017)
  • $42.44 hourly, $88,270 annual
• Employment (2016)
  • 601,000 employees
• Projected growth (2016-2026)
  • Average (5% to 9%)
• Projected job openings (2016-2026)
  • 44,900