Module Information

A clear understanding of the information needs and information behaviour of the 'consumers' of information is the basis for all aspects of information management and information system development. I was surprised recently to find that a book entitled The systems analysis interview: a guide to interviewing in organisations devoted half the text to a discussion of organisational and management theory. The title didn't indicate why systems analysts might need to consider the way an organisation operated in so much depth. Despite my initial surprise I do in fact wholly support Brian James (the author) in his views on the importance to the systems analyst of a full understanding of the way an organisation operates, and how it is managed. Systems analysts are involved in finding an information solution, often in the form of a computerised system, to a business problem. It's the problem that should come first, and there are a string of expensive information systems failures in the health service and in other sectors to remind us that the information system is not a solution in itself. Increasingly the skills of the analyst are to understand the nature of the business of the organisation, and how the people within that organisation use information.