25 Questions about a Career in IS

Q1:  What Are the Elements of an Information System?

An information system consists of five components:

    Hardware, Software, Data, Procedures, and People.

• Hardware and People are actors; they do things.
• Software and Procedures are instructions; software tells the hardware what to do and procedures tell the people what to do.
• Data is the bridge between the hardware/software and procedure/people.
• When we automate a system, we move work from People following Procedures to Hardware following Programs.

Notice that an information system has a "hard side" Hardware and Software and a "soft side" Procedures and People.

Q2.  Why is IS Not the Same as Computer Programming?

Computer programming involves only one of the five components of an information system.  The other components must be developed and managed as well.

For example, what is the best way to enroll for classes?  Does your university have the best possible procedures?  Are all of the users (you, faculty, TAs, admins, department heads) well trained?  Is there a better way?  What is the procedure for attempting to enroll in a closed class?  Is it the best way?

Someone designed the procedures to use.  Those people were not computer programmers; they were, in fact, social scientists.  When creating the system they had to consider how people work, how they are motivated, how they manipulate for self-interest, how they resist change, etc.

If you like people, if you like orderly processes, if you like thinking about the best way for a group of people to interact, you might be interested in a career in IT.

Q3.  What is the Difference between Computer Science and Information Systems?

Computer science deals primarily with the software component of an information system.  Computer scientists learn how to write efficient and effective computer programs.  They also study database design and the efficient processing of databases.  Computer scientists are normally not concerned with the design and development of computer hardware; usually that topic is addressed in electrical engineering programs.  Computer science courses are taught in the College of Engineering.

IS students are concerned with the application of information systems to help organizations achieve their goals and objectives by creating competitive advantages, enabling organizational cost savings, solving problems, and so forth.  Information systems deal with all five components of an information system.  Information systems courses are taught in the College of Business.

Someone who specializes in IS needs to know not only technology, but also business.  An IS professional needs to know the fundamentals of accounting, management, marketing, finance, organizational behavior and strategy, as well as other business topics.  IS professionals do not need to be as technical as computer scientists, though some are.  IS professionals are like cultural brokers; they bridge between the needs of an organization and the capabilities of information technology.

Q4.  What Are Common Job Titles in Information Systems?

The IS discipline has many varied and interesting careers.  One way to think about them is to consider the five components of an information system:  hardware, software, data, procedures, and people.  Consider the following careers for each component:

People

Many information systems careers involve working with people.  Computer sales people sell hardware, network services, software, database consulting, and other systems services.  Such sales people must possess sophisticated knowledge of their customers and their industry as well as have broad knowledge of the capabilities of their products.  Sales support personnel assist the sales personnel with the installation and use of the product either pre- or post-sale.  Sales support personnel are usually more technical than sales people and are trained to give in-depth demonstrations of their products.

Computer support personnel assist system users.  They may work on telephone support, or they may write documentation for the support web site. Some support personnel work in the offices of the users whom they support.  Computer training personnel teach users how to employ the information system to accomplish their job tasks.

Change agents specialize in helping users adapt to new or modified information systems.  Typically, users resist change and it is the responsibility of a change agent to determine the source of the resistance and to help users overcome their reluctance to adapt to the new system.   

Procedures

Every information system has procedures for use.  Systems analysts work with users to determine, early in a project, what the information system is supposed to accomplish.  Systems analysts interview users to specify the features and functions that are needed.  Then, systems analysts work with other IS professionals to design and document procedures.  They coordinate with system support personnel for the development of training materials.

Technical writers develop documentation for using the system.  Some writers create the help text within computer programs, some create external documentation on a web site or other facility, and still others create training materials.  Technical writers need strong writing skills, an empathy for the user, and a fearless ability to dive into complicated subjects.

Data

Three job titles are common for the data component.  Database designers meet with users and systems analysts and create a data model of how the users view their data.  They then transform the data model into a database design.  Some database designers alter existing database designs to adapt to new or changed requirements.  Database design requires someone with both effective communications skills and strong conceptual thinking abilities.

Databases are shared resources and subject to conflict and misuse.  Database administrators establish policies and procedures for controlling and protecting a database.  A large database may be supported by an office of database administration.  Most database administrators have strong database skills.

Data administration is an enterprise-wide function that concerns the effective use and control of an organization's data assets.  A data administrator (or office of data administration) works with top management to set organizational data policy (for example, privacy restrictions on customer data) and to ensure that effective controls exist for protecting the organization's data.  Data administration requires strategic thinking and strong diplomacy skills more that it requires technical knowledge.

Software

The common jobs involving software are computer programmers and software testers.  Programmers design and code computer programs and software testers evaluate those programs against their specifications.  Maintenance programmers are entry level programmers who adapt existing programs to meet new or changed requirements,  Today, much software testing is done by automated systems and some software testers are also programmers who write the testing programs.

Some IS professionals install, tune, and test pre-built or licensed software.  These people, who may have been trained as programmers, do not actually design or write the computer code, but instead install an existing software product in a customer's site, tune that product to best meet the customer's needs, and test the installation.  

Hardware

Jobs for this component involve setting up and operating computer hardware and networks.  The titles system administrator and network administrator are common.  Such people setup new hardware, install components, and they sometimes repair computer and network gear.

Q5.  What does a systems analyst do?

        Systems analysts are cultural brokers.  They have one foot in the business world and one foot in the world of information technology.  They translate the needs of business users into specifications and designs for information systems.  Systems analysts need to be both people oriented and technology oriented.

       One of the most important jobs for systems analysts is to to interview users and determine needs for information systems.  Systems analysts document those needs using text descriptions, use cases, process diagrams, data models, and other formats.  Systems developers use that documentation to design and build the information system.  Systems analysts sometimes also test the information system to ensure that it conforms with the specifications.

        The U.S. Government's Bureau of Labor Statistics defines the job of a systems analyst as follows:

"Computer systems analysts solve computer problems and apply computer technology to meet the individual needs of an organization. They help an organization to realize the maximum benefit from its investment in equipment, personnel, and business processes. Systems analysts may plan and develop new computer systems or devise ways to apply existing systems’ resources to additional operations. They may design new systems, including both hardware and software, or add a new software application to harness more of the computer’s power. Most systems analysts 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.

"One obstacle associated with expanding computer use is the need 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."  source:  http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos287.htm#nature

Q6.  What are the job prospects for systems analysts?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an excellent outlook for the number of systems analysts jobs:

"Employment of computer systems analysts is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014 as organizations continue to adopt and integrate increasingly sophisticated technologies. Job increases will be driven by very rapid growth in computer system design and related services, which is projected to be among the fastest growing industries in the U.S. economy."  Source:  Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos287.htm.

In the verbiage of the BLS, grow much faster than average means grow 27 percent or more.

        By the way, because systems analysts often need to work face-to-face with users, it is difficult to outsource systems analysis tasks to off-shore vendors.

Q7.  How much do systems analysts earn?

        The BLS publishes the follow salary statistics for systems analysts:

"Median annual earnings of computer systems analysts were $66,460 in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $52,400 and $82,980 a year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $41,730, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $99,180. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer systems analysts in May 2004 were:

"According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, starting offers for graduates with a bachelor’s degree were $44,417 for those with a degree in management information systems; and $44,775 for those with a degree in information sciences and systems"  source:  http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos287.htm#earnings

        Note these data are for 2004.  2007 salaries are likely to be 10 percent higher than these figures, or more.