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ChaPter 1 • SyStemS, roleS, and develoPment methodologieS 3

COnSULting OppORtUnity 1.1

Healthy Hiring: Ecommerce Help Wanted

“You’ll be happy to know that we made a strong case to man- are always communicating in some way, through formal presen-
agement that we should hire a new systems analyst to specialize in tations, drawing diagrams, or interviewing users. If they under-
ecommerce development,” says Al Falfa, a systems analyst for stand decision making, it will make their job easier, too. Also,
the multioutlet international chain Marathon Vitamin Shops. He Marathon is interested in integrating ecommerce into the entire
is meeting with his large team of systems analysts to decide on business. We need someone who at least grasps the strategic
the qualifications that their new team member should possess. Al importance of the Web. Page design is such a small part of it.”
continues, saying, “In fact, they were so excited by the possibility Ginger interjects again with a healthy dose of practicality,
of our team helping to move Marathon into an ecommerce strategy saying, “Leave that to management. I still say the new person
that they’ve said we should start our search now and not wait until should be a good programmer.” Then she ponders aloud, “I
the fall.” wonder how important UML will be?”
Ginger Rute, another analyst, agrees, saying, “The demand After listening patiently to everyone’s wish list, one of the
for website developers is still outstripping the supply. We should senior analysts, Cal Siem, speaks up, joking, “We’d better see
move quickly. I think our new person should be knowledgeable in if Superman is available!”
system modeling, JavaScript, C++, and Rational Rose and familiar As the group shares a laugh, Al sees an opportunity to try
with Ajax, just to name a few.” for some consensus, saying, “We’ve had a chance to hear a
Al looks surprised at Ginger’s long list of skills but then number of different qualifications. Let’s each take a moment
replies, “Well, that’s certainly one way we could go. But I would and make a list of the qualifications we personally think are
also like to see a person with some business savvy. Most of the essential for the new ecommerce development person to pos-
people coming out of school will have solid programming skills, sess. We’ll share them and continue discussing until we can
but they should know about accounting, inventory, and distribution describe the person in enough detail to turn a description over
of goods and services, too.” to the human resources group for processing.”
The newest member of the systems analysis group, Vita Ming, What qualifications should the systems analysis team be
finally breaks into the discussion. She says, “One of the reasons looking for when hiring their new ecommerce development
I chose to come to work with all of you was that I thought we all team member? Is it more important to know specific languages
got along quite well together. Because I had some other opportu- or to have an aptitude for picking up languages and software
nities, I looked very carefully at what the atmosphere was here. packages quickly? How important is it that the person being
From what I’ve seen, we’re a friendly group. Let’s be sure to hire hired has some basic business understanding? Should all team
someone who has a good personality and who fits in well with us.” members possess identical competencies and skills? What
Al concurs, continuing, “Vita’s right. The new person should be personality or character traits are desirable in a systems ana-
able to communicate well with us, and with business clients, too. We lyst who will be working in ecommerce development?

This work is often not a full-blown systems project, but rather it entails a small modification or
decision affecting a single department.
As the supporting expert, you are not managing the project; you are merely serving as a
resource for those who are. If you are a systems analyst employed by a manufacturing or service
organization, many of your daily activities may be encompassed by this role.

Systems Analyst as Agent of Change
The most comprehensive and responsible role that the systems analyst takes on is that of an agent
of change, whether internal or external to the business. As an analyst, you are an agent of change
whenever you perform any of the activities in the systems development life cycle (discussed in the
next section) and are present and interacting with users and the business for an extended period
(from two weeks to more than a year). An agent of change can be defined as a person who serves as
a catalyst for change, develops a plan for change, and works with others in facilitating that change.
Your presence in the business changes it. As a systems analyst, you must recognize this fact
and use it as a starting point for your analysis. Hence, you must interact with users and manage-
ment (if they are not one and the same) from the very beginning of your project. Without their
help, you cannot understand what they need to support their work in the organization, and real
change cannot take place.