Employment Spot

Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that computer systems analysts will be in even more demand over the next few years. From 2004 to 2014, network system and data communications analyst jobs are expected to increase at least 27 percent. With this level of growth, a little research about these interesting and rewarding jobs could yield unexpected benefits.

Employers often hire computer systems analysts with a bachelor’s degree, preferably in computer science, information science or management information systems. Increasingly, employers are hiring computer systems analysts who have a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in information systems. These skills are helpful at companies that increasingly do business on the Internet. Of course, constant study will be required of anyone in the computer systems analyst field. Training to keep up with new technology should be sought from employers, hardware or software vendors, colleges, universities, private training institutions or professional development seminars led by professional computing societies.

As indicated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “all organizations rely on computer and information technology to conduct business and operate more efficiently. The rapid spread of technology across all industries has generated a need for highly trained workers to help organizations incorporate” these new technologies. In other words, without computer systems analysts to integrate business and technology in the coming years, many businesses around the country and the world will be left without needed resources.

The job of a computer systems analyst requires a wide variety of abilities, knowledge and skills. The nature of technology is ever-changing; computer systems analyst jobs must be agile and adaptable. Computer systems analyst jobs may require some or all of the following:

· solve computer problems and apply computer technology to meet the individual needs of an organization

· help an organization to realize the maximum benefit from its investment in equipment, personnel, and business processes - specify the inputs to be accessed by the system, design the processing steps, and format the output to meet users’ needs

· prepare cost-benefit and return-on-investment analyses to help management decide whether implementing the proposed technology will be financially feasible

· determine what computer hardware and software will be needed to set the system up. They coordinate tests and observe the initial use of the system to ensure that it performs as planned. They prepare specifications, flow charts, and process diagrams for computer programmers to follow; then, they work with programmers to “debug,” or eliminate, errors from the system

· diagnose problems, recommend solutions and determine whether program requirements have been met

· design and update the software that runs a computer (also called programmer-analysts)

· plan and develop new computer systems or devise ways to apply existing systems’ resources to additional operations - discussing the system’s problem with managers and users to determine its exact nature

· use techniques such as structured analysis, data modeling, information engineering, mathematical model building, sampling, and cost accounting to plan a system

· design new systems, including both hardware and software, or add a new software application to harness more of the computer’s power

· work with specific types of systems—for example, business, accounting, or financial systems, or scientific and engineering systems—that vary with the kind of organization

· for different computer systems to communicate with each other. Because of the importance of maintaining up-to-date information—accounting records, sales figures, or budget projections, for example—systems analysts work on making the computer systems within an organization, or among organizations, compatible so that information can be shared among them

· involved with “networking,” connecting all the computers internally—in an individual office, department, or establishment—or externally, because many organizations rely on e-mail or the Internet

· design the hardware and software to allow the free exchange of data, custom applications and the computer power to process it all

· ensure the compatibility of computing systems between and among businesses to facilitate electronic commerce

There are few drawbacks to working as a computer systems analyst. These jobs are often in comfortable working environments such as laboratories or offices. Some computer systems analysts work from home since telecommuting technology allows them to perform their duties from remote locations. Due to the nature of the work and element of problem solving, occasional odd hours may be required. Interpersonal skills are obviously required in order to communicate effectively with both the customer and other computer systems analysts who may be working in conjunction on an issue.

This rewarding field is ideal for technologically trained people who love to problem solve. Look for increased opportunities in this field.

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