Description:
Analyze science, engineering, business, and all other data processing problems for application to electronic data processing 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. May supervise computer programmers.
Tasks
- 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 object-oriented programming languages, as well as client and server applications development processes and multimedia and Internet technology.
- Confer with clients regarding the nature of the information processing or computation needs a computer program is to address.
- Coordinate and link the computer systems within an organization to increase compatibility and so information can be shared.
- Consult with management to ensure agreement on system principles.
- Expand or modify system to serve new purposes or improve work flow.
- Interview or survey workers, observe job performance or perform the job to determine what information is processed and how it is processed.
- Determine computer software or hardware needed to set up or alter system.
- Train staff and users to work with computer systems and programs.
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.
- Design
- Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Telecommunications
- Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
- Mathematics
- Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- 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.
- 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.
- Communications and Media
- Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
- Administration and Management
- Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Skills
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- 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.
- Troubleshooting
- Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Quality Control Analysis
- Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension
- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- 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.
- 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).
- Written Comprehension
- The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression
- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Near Vision
- The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Speech Recognition
- The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Speech Clarity
- The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- 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).
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.
- Processing Information
- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Getting Information
- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Thinking Creatively
- Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
- Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Work Context
- Electronic Mail
- How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
- Structured versus Unstructured Work
- To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
- Telephone
- How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
- Spend Time Sitting
- How much does this job require sitting?
- Face-to-Face Discussions
- How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
- Work With Work Group or Team
- How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
- How do the decisions an employee makes impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company?
Interests
- Investigative
- Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Conventional
- Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
- Realistic
- Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Enterprising
- Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
- Social
- Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
- Artistic
- Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Work Style
- Adaptability/Flexibility
- Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Attention to Detail
- Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Analytical Thinking
- Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
- Persistence
- Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
- Dependability
- Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Initiative
- Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Integrity
- Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Cooperation
- Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Stress Tolerance
- Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
- Achievement/Effort
- Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Work Value
- Working Conditions
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
- Achievement
- Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
- Recognition
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
- Independence
- Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
- Support
- Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
- Relationships
- Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Related Occupations
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Support Specialists
- Computer Security Specialists
- Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts
- Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary
- Computer Operators
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
Common Lay Titles
- Applications Systems Analyst
- Automatic Data Processing Planner
- Business Analyst
- Business Continuity Analyst
- Business Systems Analyst
- Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
- Clinical Analyst
- Computer Analyst
- Computer Analyst Supervisor
- Computer Architect
- Computer Consultant
- Computer Methods Analyst
- Computer or Data Processing Systems Consultant
- Computer Specialist
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Computer Systems Consultant
- Computer Systems Design Analyst
- Computer Systems Designer
- Cross-Enterprise Integrator
- Data Processing Consultant
- Data Processing Systems Analyst
- Data Processing Systems Project Planner
- Database Analyst
- Database Design Analyst
- Digital Computer Systems Analyst
- E-Business Specialist
- Engineering Systems Analyst
- Enterprise Architect
- Functional Analyst
- Health Systems Analyst
- Information Scientist
- Information Systems Analyst
- Information Systems Architect
- Information Systems Auditor
- Information Systems Consultant
- Information Systems Planner
- Information Systems Specialist
- Information Technology Analyst (IT Analyst)
- Information Technology Consultant (IT Consultant)
- Information Technology Specialist
- Internet E-Commerce Specialist
- Network Administrator
- Program Manager
- Programmer
- Programmer Analyst
- Programming Specialist
- Quality Assurance Analyst (QA Analyst)
- Quality Assurance Manager (QA Manager)
- Quality Controller
- Reporting Analyst
- Scientific Systems Analyst
- Software Analyst
- Software Architect
- Software Consultant
- Software Engineer
- Software Quality Engineer
- Systems Analysis Information Technology Specialist
- Systems Analyst
- Systems Architect
- Systems Developer
- Systems Engineer
- Systems Integrator
- Systems Manager
- Systems Programmer
- Technical Analyst
- Usability Engineer