Week 12: Clear

In week 12 we began to discuss the uses of systems and systems analysts which is actually great addition to the information covered on database management. After all it appears that systems are merely a very specific extension of basic databases that are put into terms that are easier for the user to interface. Only a couple of weeks ago I saw a headline on Yahoo that referred to systems analysts as one of the only growing career fields in this down economy. As computer systems become more prevalent it will be necessary to retain more specialists that can keep them running. It is obviously very difficult to tell a customer on the phone or in person that you are unable to do business with them because your computers are down. Especially considering our level of dependency on computers.

I thought it would be interesting to ask some of my employees some questions when they came to work on Friday. As soon as I got to work that morning I played a later April Fools Day joke on them and sent out an email telling them to be prepared that in the near future we would be closed while we remodeled a building that was less that 10 months old. As my employees arrived almost 80% had received and read the email by 8am. When they came to me to inquire about the email, I asked them how much money they had in there purses or wallets. I was amazed to learn that amongst 7 employees I was able to recover a total of $18.69. I asked them what they would do if they needed to purchase something and with the exception of one employee who had $10, they all responded they would use there bank cards.

The point of this it to show how important systems analysts can be just in the process of maintaining a platform for sales to be processed. If it came down to cash or nothing most people would have no means to make a purchase unless they could visit an ATM. Surprise to most, who do you think maintains the software for ATM's and banks?