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“Excellent” systems analysis: The Singapore context

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Abstract

Within the broad context of Singapore's IT2000 Project, an exploratory research project was conducted as part of an on-going program to identify the perceptions of what constitutes the qualities of an “excellent” systems analyst. A grounded theory approach (theory building) was adopted using Kelly's RepGrid technique to conduct interviews with stakeholders in the systems analyst's performance in a large organization based in Singapore. In reviewing the constructs which emerged from the stakeholder interviews, 12 universal Themes were identified, such as Attitude, Knowledge, Communicate, including a number of sub-Themes. Each stakeholder group had its own interpretation of the relative importance of each Theme. These results have implications for the selection, training and development of systems analysts. Suggestions are made for further research to compare the cross-cultural perceptions of “excellent” systems analysts, as well as the testing of specific hypotheses derived from the results of this research project.

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Additional information

Dr M. Gordon Hunter is with the Faculty of Management, The University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4 CANADA, tel: (403) 329-2672; fax: (403) 329-2038; e-mail: HUNTMG@CETUS.MNGT.ULETH.CA. Dr John Beck is with the Division of Human Resource and Quality Management, School of Accountancy and Business, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 2263.

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Gordon Hunter, M., Beck, J. “Excellent” systems analysis: The Singapore context. Asia Pacific J Manage 13, 25–46 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01733815

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