Software and Systems Development Jobs
Software Developer/Programmer
Software developers and programmers write programs that instruct a computer to perform specific tasks, such as controlling stock or updating records. They might write new programs or adapt existing ones.
When they write a new program, programmers might follow a specification provided by a business systems analyst. They translate this into the appropriate computer language.
It is increasingly common for an analyst programmer/software developer to be responsible for the whole process of analysing needs, designing an appropriate system, writing and developing programs.
Programmers might spend a lot of time testing and improving the product. They need to follow very logical steps to construct the program, keeping careful records so that other programmers can adapt it later.
Systems Analyst
Systems analysts (also known as business analysts) use information technology (IT) to help organisations work more quickly and efficiently. They investigate a business problem and then design or adapt a suitable computer system or application to improve the way the business works.
In many ways, they work as closely with people as they do with computers. They talk to people throughout a department or organisation to identify problems and find out what people need the new or improved system to achieve. Then, they design a detailed specification for programmers/developers to work from.