Purpose of a System Analyst
The demand for system analysts across the globe is increasing, and it is one of the few jobs that will continue to see a rise in demand between 2019 to 2029. As a system analyst, you can help companies attain maximum efficiency by suggesting appropriate technology trends and upgrading their technology based on business needs. You also have the scope to work with multiple clients and agencies to boost their productivity.
Once you have completed your MBA (Masters in Business Administration) in IT and System Management, students can opt for various roles ranging from administrative to solution-oriented ones with the promise of good compensation. Likewise, as a system analyst, you can also be a part of a range of industries from healthcare and government to IT companies.
Duties of a System Analyst
A system analyst has several responsibilities but the primary one is to support and maintain the information systems of an organisation. They research and analyse the latest technological solutions and help in implementing them to meet the needs of an organisation.
They also troubleshoot data warehouse problems, and although they evaluate the hardware and software in use, system analysts are not directly involved in their development. While being responsible for innovation and upgrades, system analysts also need to prepare cost-benefit reports for the same. Since everyone may not be as equipped with technological understanding as system analysts, they must also train and prepare end-users by providing them with instructional manuals. These users could be the employees of the same organisation or even customers.
System Analyst - Skills Needed
Most job descriptions of system analysts mention a combination of soft and technical skills required to excel in the role. Foremost, like any other analyst, a system analyst must possess problem-solving skills as they are responsible for identifying issues in technological processes and systems, analysing the needs of the business and accordingly coming up with solutions.
As suggested earlier, system analysts need to simplify and communicate the use of systems to end-users. Hence, they must have strong verbal and written communication skills so that they are able to explain and write instructions that a non-technical person is able to understand easily.
As the role of a system analyst is highly demanding, they should be able to work under pressure and collaborate with other teams for best results. Above all, they must possess essential technical skills that would allow them to test, fix, update, and deploy systems for the benefit of the organisation.
Benefits of a System Analyst
The benefits of working in a field of computer systems with an MBA in IT and System Management are many. These include:
- The growing dependence of technology means that the role of a system analyst is here to stay. Given the job security and high salary that the role fetches, being in this field will only mean better opportunities for you.
- Those who need intellectual stimuli at the workplace will thrive as system analysts since they would be facing new challenges every day. The role of a system analyst demands higher-order thinking abilities and thus would never get repetitive.
- The role of a system analyst comes with its own flexibility. You can choose to be a full-time employee for an organisation, or be a contractual consultant for individual clients or companies, providing your services at your own rate. However, to do so, you must establish yourself as a sought-after system analyst.
- System analysts play a high-impact role as they can steer an organisation away from risks and implement systems that directly impact business growth. Thus, the role promises satisfaction that is rare compared to other job roles.
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Getting into System Management
If you have decided to become a system analyst, there are some essential academic milestones that you must achieve before applying for an MBA in IT and System Management.
System Analyst - Courses and Colleges
For the role of a system analyst, it is important that students pursue computer science, mathematics, economics, and statistics in their pre-university or secondary education (10+2). For the unreserved category, it is essential to score at least 50% to be eligible for the entrance examinations.
In order to pursue a bachelor's degree, some universities may also ask you to appear for entrance examinations such as:
- Delhi University: DUET (Delhi University Entrance Test)
- Indraprastha University: IPU CET (Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test)
- Jamia Millia Islamia: JMI EE (Jamia Millia Islamia Entrance Examination)
- Jawaharlal Nehru University: JNU EE (Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination)
- Narsee Monjee Institute for Management Studies: NPAT (National Test for Programs after Twelfth)
- Engineering Colleges (funded centrally or state-level), IITs, and NITs: Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)
Students interested in becoming system analysts can pursue the following degrees in their bachelors.
Then, to consolidate their profile for the role of a systems analyst, students can pursue an MBA in Information Technology (IT) and System Management. The duration of an MBA course in India is two years. This specialisation helps students gain a deep understanding of commerce and IT which would come in handy in today’s digital world.
Below are the entrance examinations that one must appear for in order to pursue an MBA in IT and System Management:
- Common Admission Test (CAT)
- Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
- Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT)
- Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP)
- Common Management Aptitude Test (CMAT)
Prospective candidates can refer to the schedule given below for MBA entrance examinations.
In order to get admission in the programme for MBA in IT and System Management, students should score at least 50% in their bachelors. In the selection process, the combination of their scores in the bachelor's degree and entrance examination would be considered.
Today, students also have the opportunity to pursue an MBA while working part-time or even remotely. However, currently, only Amity University is providing a distance MBA in IT and System Management. The duration of the course is two years with weekly lectures.
The standard duration of MBA (Masters of Business Administration) entrance examinations is between 120 to 180 minutes. The examination papers are usually divided into three to four sections. These sections include:
- Verbal Ability: Here, the student’s language proficiency is tested through grammar and reading comprehension questions. To prepare for this, students must read a variety of passages that would help in developing their comprehension skills.
- Reasoning Ability: Here, the focus is on testing a student’s logical and analytical thinking. Therefore, it is important that one pay attention to detail, be quick to think and come up with out-of-the-box solutions.
- Quantitative Ability: This section deals with a student’s mathematical skills. However, rather than focusing on complex theories, students must familiarise themselves with number functions and focus on increasing their mathematical speed.
Since some of these entrance examinations also include negative marking, it is important that you be extremely careful when answering the questions.
- It would also help if you solve past papers and time yourself while doing so.
- To improve vocabulary, you can also use game-based apps to make learning fun.
- Solving puzzles and situation-based questions will also help you in developing logical thinking.
However, along with preparation, it is important to strike a balance with nutritious food, adequate breaks, and appropriate sleep. This will ensure that you are mentally and physically ready for the examination.
System Analyst - Specialisation & more
An MBA in IT and System Management is a two-year professional degree where students are exposed to advanced business and technological trends that will help them thrive in the digital world.
To understand what an MBA in IT and System Management syllabus can offer you, let us look at some important subjects that the course offers:
- Information Technology Management
- Database Management Systems
- Management of Information System
- Operation Management
- Data Mining and Data Warehousing
- Knowledge Management and Information Systems
To build stronger profiles as system analysts, students may also pursue certifications that would help them stay updated and allow them to demand higher salaries:
- Hardware Description Languages for FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) Design
- CompTIA A+ certifications: This includes fundamental certification and specialisation in cybersecurity and network programming.
- Certified Software Testing Professional course
System Analyst - Colleges & Course Fees
The fee structure for an MBA in IT and System Management in India varies across government and private institutions. Some examples are given below:
Since an MBA is one of the most sought-after degrees in India, several banks offer loans to candidates to pursue this degree. These include:
- State Bank of India Student Loan Scheme
- ICICI Bank Education Loan
- Allahabad Bank Education Loan
- HDFC Bank Education Loan
These loans are offered at varied interest rates. There are also organisations like Propelld offering 100% digitised private student loans.
