MIS Quarterly, 1985, Volume 9,
Issue 3, Page 221-241.
This study explores the content of the systems analyst's knowledge base. The study utilizes a protocol analysis methodology in a quasi-experimental research setting to define the types of knowledge used by 18 experienced systems analysts in solving an accounts receivable problem. The study provides preliminary findings regarding the core knowledge utilized by systems analysts, and differences in the knowledge utilized by high- and low-rated analysts. This article also investigates the characteristics of the practicing systems analyst's knowledge base. To accomplish this, the article focuses on knowledge used by the analyst in the information requirements determination phase. Previous studies have attempted to identify systems analyst's skills and knowledge requirements through expert opinion, introspective accounts, and retrospective reconstructions. These studies focused on general skills but not on their relative importance in different phases of systems development or on the underlying knowledge required for the skills.
Keywords: information requirements determination; problem solving behavior; Systems analysis; systems analyst's knowledge base; systems development.