Stakeholders and their interests in systems

Information Systems Stakeholders

People are involved in information systems in just about every way you can think of: people imagine
information systems, people develop information systems, people support information systems, and,
perhaps most importantly, people use information systems.

The Creators of Information Systems

The first group of people we are going to look at play a role in designing, developing, and building
information systems. These people are generally very technical and have a background in programming
and mathematics. Just about everyone who works in the creation of information systems has a
minimum of a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information systems, though that is not
necessarily a requirement.

Systems Analyst
The role of the systems analyst is to straddle the divide between identifying business needs and
imagining a new or redesigned computer-based system to fulfill those needs. This individual will work
with a person, team, or department with business requirements and identify the specific details of a
system that needs to be built. Generally, this will require the analyst to have a good understanding of
the business itself, the business processes involved, and the ability to document them well. The analyst
will identify the different stakeholders in the system and work to involve the appropriate individuals in
the process.

Once the requirements are determined, the analyst will begin the process of translating these
requirements into an information-systems design. A good analyst will understand what different
technological solutions will work and provide several different alternatives to the requester, based on
the company’s budgetary constraints, technology constraints, and culture. Once the solution is selected,
the analyst will create a detailed document describing the new system. This new document will require
that the analyst understand how to speak in the technical language of systems developers.

A systems analyst generally is not the one who does the actual development of the information system.
The design document created by the systems analyst provides the detail needed to create the system
and is handed off to a programmer (or team of programmers) to do the actual creation of the system. In
some cases, however, a systems analyst may go ahead and create the system that he or she designed.
This person is sometimes referred to as a programmer-analyst.

In other cases, the system may be assembled from off-the-shelf components by a person called a
systems integrator. This is a specific type of systems analyst that understands how to get different
software packages to work with each other.

To become a systems analyst, you should have a background both in the business and in systems design.
Many analysts first worked as programmers and/or had experience in the business before becoming
systems analysts.

1
Programmer
Programmers spend their time writing computer code in a programming language. In the case of
systems development, programmers generally attempt to fulfill the design specifications given to them
by a systems analyst. Many different styles of programming exist: a programmer may work alone for
long stretches of time or may work in a team with other programmers. A programmer needs to be able
to understand complex processes and also the intricacies of one or more programming languages.
Generally, a programmer is very proficient in mathematics, as mathematical concepts underlie most
programming code.

Computer Engineer
Computer engineers design the computing devices that we use every day. There are many types of
computer engineers, who work on a variety of different types of devices and systems. Some of the more
prominent engineering jobs are as follows:

Hardware engineer. A hardware engineer designs hardware components, such as microprocessors.

Many times, a hardware engineer is at the cutting edge of computing technology, creating something
brand new. Other times, the hardware engineer’s job is to engineer an existing component to work
faster or use less power. Many times, a hardware engineer’s job is to write code to create a program
that will be implemented directly on a computer chip.

Software engineer. Software engineers do not actually design devices; instead, they create new
programming languages and operating systems, working at the lowest levels of the hardware to develop
new kinds of software to run on the hardware.

Systems engineer. A systems engineer takes the components designed by other engineers and makes
them all work together. For example, to build a computer, the mother board, processor, memory, and
hard disk all have to work together. A systems engineer has experience with many different types of
hardware and software and knows how to integrate them to create new functionality.

Network engineer. A network engineer’s job is to understand the networking requirements of an

organization and then design a communications system to meet those needs, using the networking
hardware and software available.

There are many different types of computer engineers, and often the job descriptions overlap. While
many may call themselves engineers based on a company job title, there is also a professional
designation of “professional engineer,” which has specific requirements behind it. In the US, each state
has its own set of requirements for the use of this title, as do different countries around the world. Most
often, it involves a professional licensing exam.

Information-Systems Operations and Administration

Another group of information-systems professionals are involved in the day-to-day operations and
administration of IT. These people must keep the systems running and up-to-date so that the rest of the
organization can make the most effective use of these resources.

2
Computer Operator
A computer operator is the person who keeps the large computers running. This person’s job is to
oversee the mainframe computers and data centers in organizations. Some of their duties include
keeping the operating systems up to date, ensuring available memory and disk storage, and overseeing
the physical environment of the computer. Since mainframe computers increasingly have been replaced
with servers, storage management systems, and other platforms, computer operators’ jobs have grown
broader and include working with these specialized systems.

Database Administrator
A database administrator (DBA) is the person who manages the databases for an organization. This
person creates and maintains databases that are used as part of applications or the data warehouse.
The DBA also consults with systems analysts and programmers on projects that require access to or the
creation of databases.

Help-Desk/Support Analyst
Most mid-size to large organizations have their own information-technology help desk. The help desk is
the first line of support for computer users in the company. Computer users who are having problems or
need information can contact the help desk for assistance. Many times, a help-desk worker is a junior-
level employee who does not necessarily know how to answer all of the questions that come his or her
way. In these cases, help-desk analysts work with senior-level support analysts or have a computer
knowledgebase at their disposal to help them investigate the problem at hand. The help desk is a great
place to break into working in IT because it exposes you to all of the different technologies within the
company. A successful help-desk analyst should have good people and communications skills, as well as
at least junior-level IT skills.

Trainer
A computer trainer conducts classes to teach people specific computer skills. For example, if a new ERP
system is being installed in an organization, one part of the implementation process is to teach all of the
users how to use the new system. A trainer may work for a software company and be contracted to
come in to conduct classes when needed; a trainer may work for a company that offers regular training
sessions; or a trainer may be employed full time for an organization to handle all of their computer
instruction needs. To be successful as a trainer, you need to be able to communicate technical concepts
well and also have a lot of patience!

Managing Information Systems

The management of information-systems functions is critical to the success of information systems
within the organization. Here are some of the jobs associated with the management of information
systems.

CIO
The CIO, or chief information officer, is the head of the information-systems function. This person aligns
the plans and operations of the information systems with the strategic goals of the organization. This
includes tasks such as budgeting, strategic planning, and personnel decisions for the information-
systems function. The CIO must also be the face of the IT department within the organization. This
involves working with senior leaders in all parts of the organization to ensure good communication and
planning.

3
Interestingly, the CIO position does not necessarily require a lot of technical expertise. While helpful, it is
more important for this person to have good management skills and understand the business. Many
organizations do not have someone with the title of CIO; instead, the head of the information-systems
function is called vice president of information systems or director of information systems.

Functional Manager
As an information-systems organization becomes larger, many of the different functions are grouped
together and led by a manager. These functional managers report to the CIO and manage the employees
specific to their function. For example, in a large organization, there is a group of systems analysts who
report to a manager of the systems-analysis function.

ERP Management
Organizations using an ERP require one or more individuals to manage these systems. These people
make sure that the ERP system is completely up to date, work to implement any changes to the ERP that
are needed and consult with various user departments on needed reports or data extracts.

Project Managers
Information-systems projects are notorious for going over budget and being delivered late. In many
cases, a failed IT project can spell doom for a company. A project manager is responsible for keeping
projects on time and on budget. This person works with the stakeholders of the project to keep the
team organized and communicates the status of the project to management. A project manager does
not have authority over the project team; instead, the project manager coordinates schedules and
resources in order to maximize the project outcomes. A project manager must be a good communicator
and an extremely organized person. A project manager should also have good people skills. Many
organizations require each of their project managers to become certified as a project management
professional (PMP).

Information-Security Officer
An information-security officer is in charge of setting information-security policies for an organization,
and then overseeing the implementation of those policies. This person may have one or more people
reporting to them as part of the information-security team. As information has become a critical asset,
this position has become highly valued. The information-security officer must ensure that the
organization’s information remains secure from both internal and external threats.

Emerging Roles
As technology evolves, many new roles are becoming more common as other roles fade. For example,
as we enter the age of “big data,” we are seeing the need for more data analysts and business-
intelligence specialists. Many companies are now hiring social-media experts and mobile-technology
specialists. The increased use of cloud computing and virtual-machine technologies also is breeding
demand for expertise in those areas.

Bourgeois, D. (2014). Information systems for business and beyond. Saylor.org. Retrieved May 6, 2019,
from https://bus206.pressbooks.com/chapter/chapter-people/