Chapter 9 The People in Information Systems Learning

Chapter 9 The People in Information Systems

Learning Objectives Upon successful completion of this chapter, you will be able to: • Describe each of the different roles that people play in the design, development, and use of information systems • Understand the different career paths available to those who work with information systems • Explain the importance of where the information systems function is placed in an organization • Describe the different types of users of information systems

People • People are involved in every aspect of information systems: – Creators of Information Systems • Systems Analyst • Programmer • Computer Engineer – Information Systems Operations and Administration – involved in the day-to-day operations • • Computer Operator Database Administrator Help-Desk/Support Analyst Trainer

People continued • Managing Information Systems – Chief Information Officer (CIO) – Functional Manager – ERP Management – Project Managers – Information Security Officer • Emerging Roles

Systems Analyst • Bridge between the non-technical (end users) and the very technical (programmers) • Need very good oral communication skills • Must have knowledge of the business, business processes involved, and be able to document it well • Gathers business requirements and designs an information system to support them • Design document is then used by programmers to actually create the information system • Usually start as programmers which helps when designing – If the design is complex, the program code will also be complex

Programmer • Use the design document created by the Systems Analyst • Develops the programming code to meet the proposed design • Work independently but usually part of a team where their work is integrated into one information system • Usually know several programming languages

Computer Engineer • Design the computing devices we use: – Hardware engineer – Designs hardware components and the software to operate them – Software engineer – Create new programming languages and operating systems – Systems engineer – integrates all the individual hardware components to create a working device to meet the customers’ needs – Network engineer – determines the hardware and software needs to connect (network) the devices

Computer Operator • Operates the large mainframe computers in a data center • Also responsible for maintaining systems – Software up to date – Adequate storage space – Equipment protection • Physically • Environmentally

Database Administrator • Person who manages the databases for an organization • Creates and maintains databases usually connected to applications or data warehouses • Works with systems analysts and programmers

Help Desk/Support Analyst • • • First line of support for end users Try to resolve problems being experienced by end users Entry level position Very thankless job Need: – – Hardware and software skills Excellent communication skills Good documentation skills Good follow-up

Trainer • Conducts classes for people using the information system • Need: – Excellent oral communication skills – Excellent IT skills – Patience – Excellent written communication skills to develop training materials

Chief Information Officer (CIO) • Senior level position responsible for information systems • Aligns IS strategic plan with the overall organization strategic plan • Not technical position • Communicates with other senior level management • May also be known as the Vice President of Information Systems or Director of Information Systems

Functional Manager • Typically report to CIO or similar title mentioned in the previous slide • Responsible for an IS functional group – For example, computer operators • Blend of technical, project management, and communication skills are needed for this position

ERP Management • Responsible to ensure that: – The ERP is up to date – Implementing needed changes/improvements to the ERP – Various user departments are consulted on their needs • Reports • Data extracts • Data entry screens

Project Managers • Responsible for keeping projects on time and on budget • Reports to stakeholders of the project – Senior management – End users • Keeps the team organized and stakeholders informed on progress • More of a facilitator by coordinating schedules and resources to maximize project outcomes • Highly organized and excellent communicator

Information Security Officer (ISO) • Establishes and enforces information security policy for the organization – CPP Bronco. Direct password example: • Your Bronco. Password must meet the following requirements: • A minimum of 8 characters. • At least three of the following four types of characters: – – Upper-case letters, ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Lower-case letters, abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz Numbers, 1234567890 Special characters, <space> and. , ? !: ; ()[]{}<>/|+-=*@#$%&_~`^" • Cannot contain your Bronco. Name (user name) • Because your Bronco. Password must be changed once every 365 days (every 90 days if you have access to confidential data), you cannot reuse an old Bronco. Password • Responsible for security over all systems

Emerging IS Roles • Big data impact – Data Scientists – Data Analysts – Business Intelligence Specialists • • Social media experts Mobile technology specialists Cloud computing Virtual machines

IS Certifications • Most certifications indicate a mastery of the subject matter • Not all IS positions require certifications • Some require passing a test and others require a test with work experience – We encourage CIS students to pass those certifications valued for their specialty area • Where there is no well recognized certification, related work experience is more important

Organizing the IS Function • Typically reports to the CIO who reports to the CEO • ERP systems impacted the role IS has in an organization – More integral to the success of the overall organization – Support function to all business processes • Outsourcing – contractors perform IS services (usually programming) for a limited period of time – Can be temporary – Can be permanent to allow a company to manage an IS function (such as the Help Desk) for a fee • Allows the organization to focus on their core business and the outsource company manages the function

Types of Users • Largest and most critical percentage of people involved • Information systems need to meet the needs of users – If needs are not met, the system is a failure • Innovators – first to adopt new technology and take risk • Early adopters – adopt after a technology has been proven • Early majority – slower in the adoption process and not opinion leaders • Late majority – adopt after average members of society and tend to be skeptics • Laggards – last to adopt and are adverse to change

Summary • Described each of the different roles that people play in the design, development, and use of information systems • Now understand the different career paths available to those who work with information systems • Explained the importance of where the information systems function is placed in an organization • Described the different types of users of information systems