Computer Systems Analysts
15-1211.00
Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to develop and implement solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues, or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions, improve existing computer systems, and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and schedule limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.
Sample of reported job titles: Applications Analyst, Business Systems Analyst, Computer Analyst, Computer Systems Analyst, Computer Systems Consultant, Data Processing Systems Analyst, Information Systems Analyst (ISA), IT Analyst (Information Technology Analyst), IT Business Analyst (Information Technology Business Analyst), IT Consultant (Information Technology Consultant), IT Systems Analyst (Information Technology Systems Analyst), Programmer Analyst, Software Analyst, Systems Analyst
Occupation-Specific Information
Tasks
- Troubleshoot program and system malfunctions to restore normal functioning.
- Provide staff and users with assistance solving computer-related problems, such as malfunctions and program problems.
- Test, maintain, and monitor computer programs and systems, including coordinating the installation of computer programs and systems.
- Use the computer in the analysis and solution of business problems, such as development of integrated production and inventory control and cost analysis systems.
- Coordinate and link the computer systems within an organization to increase compatibility so that information can be shared.
- Use object-oriented programming languages, as well as client and server applications development processes and multimedia and Internet technology.
- Analyze information processing or computation needs and plan and design computer systems, using techniques such as structured analysis, data modeling, and information engineering.
- Consult with management to ensure agreement on system principles.
- Specify inputs accessed by the system and plan the distribution and use of the results.
- Expand or modify system to serve new purposes or improve work flow.
- Train staff and users to work with computer systems and programs.
- Assess the usefulness of pre-developed application packages and adapt them to a user environment.
- Determine computer software or hardware needed to set up or alter systems.
- Read manuals, periodicals, and technical reports to learn how to develop programs that meet staff and user requirements.
- Develop, document, and revise system design procedures, test procedures, and quality standards.
- Recommend new equipment or software packages.
- Define the goals of the system and devise flow charts and diagrams describing logical operational steps of programs.
- Confer with clients regarding the nature of the information processing or computation needs a computer program is to address.
- Review and analyze computer printouts and performance indicators to locate code problems, and correct errors by correcting codes.
- Interview or survey workers, observe job performance, or perform the job to determine what information is processed and how it is processed.
- Supervise computer programmers or other systems analysts or serve as project leaders for particular systems projects.
- Prepare cost-benefit and return-on-investment analyses to aid in decisions on system implementation.
Technology Skills
- Access software - Access management software; Citrix cloud computing software
- Accounting software - Fund accounting software; Tax software
- Administration software - Cisco Systems CiscoWorks; Element management software
- Analytical or scientific software - Hierarchical simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis HSPICE; IBM SPSS Statistics π₯; Minitab; SAS π₯; StataCorp Stata; Structure prediction software; The MathWorks MATLAB π₯
- Application server software - Docker π₯; GitHub π₯; Oracle Application Server; Oracle WebLogic Server; Red Hat OpenShift π₯; Red Hat WildFly; Spring Boot π₯
- Backup or archival software - System and data disaster recovery software; Veritas NetBackup
- Business intelligence and data analysis software - Apache Spark π₯; Business intelligence system software; IBM Cognos Impromptu; MicroStrategy; Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition; Qlik Tech QlikView; Tableau π₯
- Cloud-based data access and sharing software - Microsoft SharePoint π₯; Slack π₯
- Cloud-based management software - Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation π₯; IBM WebSphere; Oracle Cloud software π₯; Splunk Enterprise π₯
- Clustering software - VMware
- Communications server software - IBM Domino
- Compiler and decompiler software - Time sharing option TSO software
- Computer aided design CAD software - Computer aided design and drafting CADD software; Dassault Systemes CATIA; Electronic design automation EDA software; OrCAD Capture; SpectraQuest
- Configuration management software - Application management software; Automated installation software; Chef π₯; HyperSpace; IBM Rational ClearCase; InstallShield; Patch and update management software; Perforce Helix software; Puppet π₯; Software distribution software; Systems and application deployment and migration software; Wise Solutions Wise for Windows Installer
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Content workflow software -
Atlassian JIRA
- Customer relationship management CRM software - Blackbaud The Raiser's Edge; Oracle Eloqua; Salesforce software π₯
- Data base management system software - Amazon DynamoDB π₯; Apache Cassandra π₯; Apache Hadoop π₯; Apache Hive π₯; Apache Pig; Apache Solr; Elasticsearch π₯; MongoDB π₯; MySQL π₯; NoSQL π₯; Oracle Database π₯; Oracle PL/SQL π₯; Relational database management software; SAP Adaptive Server Enterprise; Teradata Database π₯
- Data base reporting software - Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services SSRS π₯; Oracle Business Intelligence Suite; SAP Crystal Reports
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Data base user interface and query software -
Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2 π₯; Amazon Redshift π₯; Amazon Web Services AWS software π₯; Blackboard software; Database software; FileMaker Pro; IBM DB2 π₯; Microsoft Access π₯; Microsoft SQL Server π₯; Oracle JDBC; SAP BusinessObjects Desktop Intelligence; ServiceNow π₯; Software asset management SAM software; Structured query language SQL ; Transact-SQL π₯
- Data conversion software - Data conversion software
- Data mining software - Google Analytics π₯
- Desktop communications software - CrossTec NetOp Remote Control; Remote control software; Skype; Stac Software ReachOut; Symantec pcAnywhere
- Desktop publishing software - Microsoft Publisher
- Development environment software - Ada; Adobe ActionScript; Apache Ant; Apache Kafka π₯; Apache Maven π₯; C π₯; Common business oriented language COBOL; Eclipse IDE π₯; Embarcadero JBuilder; Formula translation/translator FORTRAN; Go π₯; IBM Rational ClearQuest; IBM Rational Rose XDE; Integrated development environment IDE software; J; Microsoft .NET Framework π₯; Microsoft Azure software π₯; Microsoft PowerShell π₯; Microsoft Visual Basic π₯; Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications VBA π₯; Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition VBScript; Microsoft Visual Studio π₯; National Instruments LabVIEW; OpenAI ChatGPT; Oracle Java 2 Platform Enterprise Edition J2EE π₯; Oracle SQL Developer π₯; Ruby π₯; Symantec Visual Cafe; Verilog
- Document management software - Adobe Acrobat π₯
- Electronic mail software - IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook π₯
- Enterprise application integration software - Atlassian Bamboo π₯; Extensible markup language XML π₯; IBM InfoSphere DataStage; Microsoft SQL Server Integration Services SSIS π₯; Oracle Fusion Middleware; SAP NetWeaver; SAP NetWeaver BW; WebFOCUS
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Enterprise resource planning ERP software -
Microsoft Dynamics π₯; Microsoft Dynamics GP; NetSuite ERP; Oracle Fusion Applications; Oracle Hyperion; Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; Oracle PeopleSoft π₯; Oracle PeopleSoft Financials; SAP Business Objects; SAP software
- Enterprise system management software - IBM Power Systems software
- Expert system software - Ansible software π₯
- File versioning software - Apache Subversion SVN π₯; Git π₯; Version control software
- Financial analysis software - Cost estimating software; Delphi Technology; Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
- Geographic information system - ESRI ArcGIS software π₯; Geographic information system GIS software
- Graphical user interface development software - Salesforce Visualforce
- Graphics or photo imaging software - Adobe Illustrator π₯; Adobe Photoshop π₯
- 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
- Instant messaging software - Blink
- Internet directory services software - Active directory software
- Internet protocol IP multimedia subsystem software - Voice over internet protocol VoIP system software
- Medical software - Epic Systems π₯; Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS; Medical condition coding software; Medical procedure coding software; MEDITECH software π₯
- Metadata management software - Informatica Corporation PowerCenter; Oracle Master Data Management MDM Suite; Quest Erwin Data Modeler; SAP Master Data Management MDM
- Network conferencing software - Slido interaction software
- 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
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Object or component oriented development software -
Advanced business application programming ABAP; Apache Groovy; C# π₯; C++ π₯; Component object model COM software; Distributed component object model DCOM software; Eiffel; jQuery π₯; Jupyter Notebook; Microsoft ActiveX; Microsoft Visual Basic.NET; Microsoft Visual C# .NET; Objective C π₯; Oracle Java ; Perl π₯; Python ; R π₯; Rapide; Scala π₯; Smalltalk; Swift π₯
- Object oriented data base management software - Hibernate ORM π₯; Microsoft Visual FoxPro; PostgreSQL π₯
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Office suite software -
Microsoft Office software
- Operating system software - Apple macOS π₯; Bash π₯; Hewlett Packard HP-UX; Job control language JCL; KornShell; Linux π₯; Microsoft Windows π₯; Microsoft Windows Server π₯; Operating system software; Oracle Solaris; Red Hat Enterprise Linux; Shell script π₯; Ubuntu; UNIX π₯; UNIX Shell π₯
- Pattern design software - Diagramming software; Omni Group OmniGraffle
- Portal server software - Apache HTTP Server
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Presentation software -
Microsoft PowerPoint
- Process mapping and design software - Flow chart software; Microsoft Visio π₯
- Program testing software - Compatibility testing software; Defect tracking software; Dynamic analysis software; Functional testing software; Hewlett Packard LoadRunner; IBM Rational PurifyPlus; Integration testing software; Interoperability testing software; JUnit π₯; Load testing software; Migration testing software; Mutation testing software; Personal computer diagnostic software; Recovery testing software; Regression testing software; Security testing software; Selenium π₯; Static analysis software; Stress testing software; System testing software; Test design software; Test implementation software; Unit testing software; Usability testing software
- Project management software - Atlassian Confluence π₯; Microsoft Project π₯; Microsoft Team Foundation Server π₯; Microsoft Teams π₯; Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management π₯
- Requirements analysis and system architecture software - AcmeStudio; Architecture description language ADL; Popkin System Architect; Requirements management software; Unified modeling language UML
- Sales and marketing software - Marketo Marketing Automation π₯
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Spreadsheet software -
Microsoft Excel
- Storage networking software - Amazon Simple Storage Service S3 π₯
- Transaction security and virus protection software - McAfee; NortonLifeLock cybersecurity software; Virus scanning software
- Transaction server software - Customer information control system CICS; Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS); Sun Microsystems Sun ONE; Web server software
- Video conferencing software - Cisco Webex π₯
- Video creation and editing software - YouTube
- Web page creation and editing software - Adobe Dreamweaver
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Web platform development software -
Adobe ColdFusion; Adobe Flex; AJAX π₯; Apache Struts; Apache Tomcat π₯; Backbone.js; Cascading style sheets CSS π₯; Django π₯; Drupal π₯; Dynamic hypertext markup language DHTML; Enterprise JavaBeans; Ext JS; Extensible hypertext markup language XHTML; Google Angular π₯; Hypertext markup language HTML π₯; JavaScript ; JavaScript Object Notation JSON π₯; LAMP Stack; Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP π₯; Microsoft ASP.NET π₯; Microsoft ASP.NET Core MVC; Node.js π₯; Oracle JavaServer Pages JSP π₯; PHP π₯; React π₯; Ruby on Rails π₯; Spring Framework π₯
- Word processing software - 3M Post-it App; Google Docs π₯; Microsoft Word π₯
Occupational Requirements
Work Activities
- Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
- Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
- Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
- Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
- Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment - Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment - Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
- Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
- Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
- Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
- Performing Administrative Activities - Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
- Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
- Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
Detailed Work Activities
- Troubleshoot issues with computer applications or systems.
- Provide technical support for software maintenance or use.
- Monitor computer system performance to ensure proper operation.
- Test software performance.
- Coordinate software or hardware installation.
- Apply information technology to solve business or other applied problems.
- Configure computer networks.
- Write computer programming code.
- Analyze project data to determine specifications or requirements.
- Design integrated computer systems.
- Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
- Modify software programs to improve performance.
- Train others in computer interface or software use.
- Evaluate utility of software or hardware technologies.
- Identify information technology project resource requirements.
- Read documents to gather technical information.
- Develop testing routines or procedures.
- Document design or development procedures.
- Provide recommendations to others about computer hardware.
- Develop diagrams or flow charts of system operation.
- Analyze data to identify or resolve operational problems.
- Collect data about customer needs.
- Supervise information technology personnel.
- Manage information technology projects or system activities.
- Estimate time or monetary resources needed to complete projects.