Computer Systems Analysts: Massachusetts

COMPUTER SYSTEMS ANALYSTS: MASSACHUSETTS

Occupation Description

Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to implement and improve computer systems. Analyze user requirements, procedures, and problems to automate or improve existing systems and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and scheduling limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.

State and National Wages

2013 Pay Location Period 10% 25% Median 75% 90%

Hourly $24.18 $30.70 $39.03 $49.27 $60.32 United States Yearly $50,300 $63,900 $81,200 $102,500 $125,500

Hourly $25.56 $31.81 $40.17 $50.49 $61.59 Massachusetts Yearly $53,200 $66,200 $83,600 $105,000 $128,100

State and National Trends

Employment Projected Percent United States Annual Job Change 2012 2022 Openings 1

Computer Systems Analysts 520,600 648,400 +25% 20,960

Employment Projected Percent Massachusetts Annual Job Change 2012 2022 Openings 1

Computer Systems Analysts 16,820 20,840 +24% 670

1Projected Annual Job Openings refers to the average annual job openings due to growth and net replacement. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Source: “Computer Systems Analysts.” O*NET Resource Center. National Center for O*Net Development, n.d. Web. 2 April 2015. Computer Systems Analysts are grouped into the following occupations for which the most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed.

 Computer Systems Analysts  Informatics Nurse Specialists **************************************************

Computer Systems Analysts

Knowledge:

 Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.  English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.  Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.  Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.  Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services. Skills:

 Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.  Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.  Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.  Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.  Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. Abilities:

 Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).  Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. Source: “Computer Systems Analysts.” O*NET Resource Center. National Center for O*Net Development, n.d. Web. 2 April 2015.  Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.  Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.  Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.  Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).  Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).  Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.  Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. **************************************************

Informatics Nurse Specialists

Knowledge:

 Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.  Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.  Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.  English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.  Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. Skills:

 Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.  Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.  Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.  Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Source: “Computer Systems Analysts.” O*NET Resource Center. National Center for O*Net Development, n.d. Web. 2 April 2015.  Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.  Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively. Abilities:

 Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.  Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.  Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.  Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).  Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Tasks and Activities:

Occupation Specific Tasks:

 Expand or modify system to serve new purposes or improve work flow.  Test, maintain, and monitor computer programs and systems, including coordinating the installation of computer programs and systems.  Develop, document and revise system design procedures, test procedures, and quality standards.  Provide staff and users with assistance solving computer related problems, such as malfunctions and program problems.  Review and analyze computer printouts and performance indicators to locate code problems, and correct errors by correcting codes.  Consult with management to ensure agreement on system principles.  Confer with clients regarding the nature of the information processing or computation needs a computer program is to address.  Read manuals, periodicals, and technical reports to learn how to develop programs that meet staff and user requirements.  Coordinate and link the computer systems within an organization to increase compatibility and so information can be shared.  Determine computer software or hardware needed to set up or alter system. Source: “Computer Systems Analysts.” O*NET Resource Center. National Center for O*Net Development, n.d. Web. 2 April 2015.  Supervise computer programmers or other systems analysts or serve as project leaders for particular systems projects.  Assess the usefulness of pre-developed application packages and adapt them to a user environment.  Analyze information processing or computation needs and plan and design computer systems, using techniques such as structured analysis, data modeling and information engineering.  Define the goals of the system and devise flow charts and diagrams describing logical operational steps of programs.  Train staff and users to work with computer systems and programs.  Recommend new equipment or software packages.  Use object-oriented programming languages, as well as client and server applications development processes and multimedia and Internet technology.  Prepare cost-benefit and return-on-investment analyses to aid in decisions on system implementation.  Use the computer in the analysis and solution of business problems, such as development of integrated production and inventory control and cost analysis systems.  Specify inputs accessed by the system and plan the distribution and use of the results.  Interview or survey workers, observe job performance or perform the job to determine what information is processed and how it is processed. Generalized Work Activities:

 Interacting With Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.  Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.  Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.  Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.  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. Detailed Work Activities:

 Analyze data to identify or resolve operational problems.  Analyze project data to determine specifications or requirements.  Apply information technology to solve business or other applied problems.  Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.  Collect data about customer needs. Source: “Computer Systems Analysts.” O*NET Resource Center. National Center for O*Net Development, n.d. Web. 2 April 2015.  Configure computer networks.  Coordinate software or hardware installation.  Design integrated computer systems.  Develop diagrams or flow charts of system operation.  Develop testing routines or procedures.  Document design or development procedures.  Estimate time or monetary resources needed to complete projects.  Evaluate utility of software or hardware technologies.  Identify information technology project resource requirements.  Manage information technology projects or system activities.  Modify software programs to improve performance.  Monitor computer system performance to ensure proper operation.  Provide recommendations to others about computer hardware.  Provide technical support for software maintenance or use.  Read documents to gather technical information.  Supervise information technology personnel.  Test software performance.  Train others in computer interface or software use.  Write computer programming code. **************************************************

Occupation Specific Tasks:

 Design, develop, select, test, implement, and evaluate new or modified informatics solutions, data structures, and decision-support mechanisms to support patients, health care professionals, and their information management and human-computer and human-technology interactions within health care contexts.  Analyze and interpret patient, nursing, or information systems data to improve nursing services.  Apply knowledge of computer science, information science, nursing, and informatics theory to nursing practice, education, administration, or research, in collaboration with other health informatics specialists.  Translate nursing practice information between nurses and systems engineers, analysts, or designers using object-oriented models or other techniques.  Identify, collect, record or analyze data that are relevant to the nursing care of patients.

Source: “Computer Systems Analysts.” O*NET Resource Center. National Center for O*Net Development, n.d. Web. 2 April 2015.  Develop strategies, policies or procedures for introducing, evaluating or modifying information technology applied to nursing practice, administration, education, or research.  Develop or implement policies or practices to ensure the privacy, confidentiality, or security of patient information.  Read current literature, talk with colleagues, and participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in informatics.  Provide consultation to nurses regarding hardware or software configuration.  Develop, implement or evaluate health information technology applications, tools, processes or structures to assist nurses with data management.  Disseminate information about nursing informatics science and practice to the profession, other health care professions, nursing students, and the public.  Use informatics science to design or implement health information technology applications to resolve clinical or health care administrative problems.  Develop or deliver training programs for health information technology, creating operating manuals as needed.  Analyze computer and information technologies to determine applicability to nursing practice, education, administration and research.  Inform local, state, national and international health policies related to information management and communication, confidentiality and security, patient safety, infrastructure development and economics.  Design, conduct, or provide support to nursing informatics research.  Plan, install, repair or troubleshoot telehealth technology applications or systems in homes. Generalized Work Activities:

 Interacting With Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.  Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.  Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.  Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.  Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. Detailed Work Activities:

 Analyze health-related data.  Apply information technology to solve business or other applied problems.  Communicate project information to others.

Source: “Computer Systems Analysts.” O*NET Resource Center. National Center for O*Net Development, n.d. Web. 2 April 2015.  Conduct research to gain information about products or processes.  Design healthcare-related software applications.  Design research studies to obtain scientific information.  Develop computer or information security policies or procedures.  Develop guidelines for system implementation.  Document operational activities.  Evaluate utility of software or hardware technologies.  Implement security measures for computer or information systems.  Install computer software.  Provide recommendations to others about computer hardware.  Provide technical support for software maintenance or use.  Test computer system operations to ensure proper functioning.  Train others in computer interface or software use.  Troubleshoot issues with computer applications or systems.  Update knowledge about emerging industry or technology trends.

Tools and Technology

Tools:

 Desktop computers - Desktop computers  Mainframe computers - Mainframe computers  Notebook computers - Notebook computers  Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers - Personal digital assistants PDA Technology:

 Configuration management software - Application management software, Automated installation software, Configuration management software, HyperSpace software, IBM Rational ClearCase  Development environment software - Ada, Advanced business application programming ABAP, C, Common business oriented language COBOL, Eclipse software  Enterprise application integration software - Enterprise application integration EAI software, Extensible markup language XML, IBM WebSphere, Oracle Fusion Middleware, SAP Netweaver

Source: “Computer Systems Analysts.” O*NET Resource Center. National Center for O*Net Development, n.d. Web. 2 April 2015.  Object or component oriented development software - C++, Component object model COM software, Distributed component object model DCOM software, Eiffel, Microsoft Visual Basic.NET  Program testing software - Compatibility testing software, Defect tracking software, Dynamic analysis software, Functional testing software, IBM Rational PurifyPlus. **************************************************

Tools:

 Desktop computers - Desktop computers  Liquid crystal display projector - Liquid crystal display LCD projectors  Medical picture archiving computer systems PACS - Medical image database systems  Notebook computers - Laptop computers  Overhead projectors - Overhead projectors Technology:

 Calendar and scheduling software - McKesson ANSOS One-Staff  Charting software - Microsoft Office Visio  Computer based training software - Learning management system LMS software  Data base user interface and query software - Microsoft Access, Structured query language SQL  Medical software - Allscripts Professional EHR, Amkai AmkaiCharts, Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR System, Cerner Millennium, Cerner PowerChart

Education and Training Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree Typical work experience needed for a job in this occupation: None Typical on-the-job training once you have a job in this occupation: None

Related Instructional Programs:

 Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst  Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications  Computer and Information Sciences, General  Information Technology

Source: “Computer Systems Analysts.” O*NET Resource Center. National Center for O*Net Development, n.d. Web. 2 April 2015. Distribution of Educational Attainment

Percent of employees aged 25 to 44 in the occupation whose highest level of educational attainment is

Less High Occupation Some than school Doctoral or college, Associate's Bachelor's Master's high diploma professional no degree degree degree school or degree degree diploma equivalent

Computer Systems Analysts 0.5% 4.7% 14.9% 8.2% 47.6% 21.8% 2.3%

Computer Occupations 0.5% 5.8% 18% 10.7% 43.5% 18.2% 3.3%

Computer and Mathematical 0.5% 4.3% 14.6% 8.4% 42.2% 22.6% 7.4%

Total, All Occupations 9.4% 24.5% 20.2% 8.7% 19.8% 10.1% 7.2%

Related Occupation Profiles Occupations with similar skill requirements

 Computer Network Architects  Computer Network Support Specialists  Computer Operators  Computer Programmers  Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary  Computer User Support Specialists  Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers  Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment  Information Security Analysts

Source: “Computer Systems Analysts.” O*NET Resource Center. National Center for O*Net Development, n.d. Web. 2 April 2015.