IT CAREER:IT CAREER:

INFORMATIONINFORMATIONANALYSTANALYST

What does an Information What does an Information Analyst Do?Analyst Do?

Definition:Definition:

Gather and collect information from different Gather and collect information from different sources. Take a look at existing information and sources. Take a look at existing information and make suggestions on how it can be better make suggestions on how it can be better organized to help people.organized to help people.

On a Simplistic Level:On a Simplistic Level:

Take Information

Look at it inDetail

Provide Information

Example Job Titles:Example Job Titles:-Information Analyst-Information Analyst-Business Analyst with Data Modeling Experience-Business Analyst with Data Modeling Experience-Technical Information Analyst-Technical Information Analyst

Job Descriptions:Job Descriptions:““Conducts technical and business analysis of user Conducts technical and business analysis of user needs and systems”needs and systems”New York Department of LaborNew York Department of Labor

“…“…Provides support and development for the firm’s Provides support and development for the firm’s knowledge management activities…Coordinates…knowledge management activities…Coordinates…the assessment, development and management of the assessment, development and management of …resources”…resources”Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP (Attorneys at Law)Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP (Attorneys at Law)

You can work in any Field, the work You can work in any Field, the work Intelligence Analysts do crosses traditional Intelligence Analysts do crosses traditional boundaries. boundaries.

Examples:Examples:- Business- Business- Geography- Geography- Medical- Medical

Main Duties:Main Duties:-conduct studies related to the -conduct studies related to the

development of development of information systemsinformation systems-work with clients to provide advice -work with clients to provide advice

about about information information Canada’s National Occupational ClassificationCanada’s National Occupational Classificationhttp://www.23.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/2001/e/groups2171.shtmlhttp://www.23.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/2001/e/groups2171.shtml

Interview:Interview:With Michael Plater of Glaxo Smith Kline With Michael Plater of Glaxo Smith Kline Pharmaceutical Company located in Stevenage, Pharmaceutical Company located in Stevenage, England.England.

Platers Background:Platers Background:degree in Microbiology, PHD in genetics and degree in Microbiology, PHD in genetics and

diploma in diploma in Information MangementInformation Mangement

GSK Background:GSK Background:-One of the larges pharmaceutical and -One of the larges pharmaceutical and

healthcare companies healthcare companies in the world.in the world.-R&D Budged estimated to be $3.6 Billion U.S -R&D Budged estimated to be $3.6 Billion U.S

Why are We talking about this Company?Why are We talking about this Company?-Can work in any field-Can work in any field-This is a good example of what an IA does-This is a good example of what an IA does

Highlights of Interview:Highlights of Interview:

-Information Analysts enable and facilitate-Information Analysts enable and facilitate

According to Plater:According to Plater:

““The drive at the moment is to deliver as much information as The drive at the moment is to deliver as much information as possible to the R&D scientist’s desktop so that they can answer possible to the R&D scientist’s desktop so that they can answer routine queries…”routine queries…”

-more analysis of information by informed professionals-more analysis of information by informed professionals

What an Information Analyst Does:What an Information Analyst Does:

-go to project meetings-go to project meetings

-provide reports to help make informed decisions-provide reports to help make informed decisions

-work as part of a group-work as part of a group

-use databases such as Medline and Current Connects-use databases such as Medline and Current Connects

(2001) (2001) $3.6 billion to spend, now what to buy? $3.6 billion to spend, now what to buy? Information World Review Information World Review (167) p.14-15. Retrieved from Business Source Premier Database.(167) p.14-15. Retrieved from Business Source Premier Database.

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Controlled analysis of events, data, and Controlled analysis of events, data, and information that avoids unwelcome or information that avoids unwelcome or otherwise biased conclusionsotherwise biased conclusions

Deciding the relevancy of information, Deciding the relevancy of information, and guiding that intelligence to and guiding that intelligence to decision-makersdecision-makers

Adherence to a Code of Ethics and Adherence to a Code of Ethics and professional conductprofessional conduct

Source: Aimee Zahora Dow AgroScience Global Competitive IntelligenceSource: Aimee Zahora Dow AgroScience Global Competitive Intelligence

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

Very academic and professional. Very academic and professional.

Small, focused teams in larger Small, focused teams in larger organizationsorganizations

Code of EthicsCode of Ethics

A strong sense of professional ethics A strong sense of professional ethics throughout the Competitive throughout the Competitive Intelligence industry. Intelligence industry.

Respect Confidentiality Respect Confidentiality Avoid Conflicts of InterestAvoid Conflicts of Interest Accurately disclose all informationAccurately disclose all information To provide honest and realistic recommendations and To provide honest and realistic recommendations and

conclusions in the execution of one’s duties conclusions in the execution of one’s duties Promote the Code of Ethics throughout the company, Promote the Code of Ethics throughout the company,

contractors, and the entire professioncontractors, and the entire profession

Professional Professional OrganizationsOrganizations

Society of Competitive Intelligence Society of Competitive Intelligence ProfessionalsProfessionals (SCIP) (SCIP)

The mission of the Society is to help The mission of the Society is to help professionals develop expertise in creating, professionals develop expertise in creating, collecting, and analyzing information; collecting, and analyzing information; disseminating competitive intelligence; and disseminating competitive intelligence; and engaging decision-makers in a productive engaging decision-makers in a productive dialogue that creates organizational competitive dialogue that creates organizational competitive advantage.advantage.

______________________________________________________All SCIP information available from: http://www.scip.org/ All SCIP information available from: http://www.scip.org/

SCIP Facts:SCIP Facts:

SCIPSCIP is a global, nonprofit organization is a global, nonprofit organization providing education and networking providing education and networking opportunities for business professionals opportunities for business professionals working in the rapidly growing field of working in the rapidly growing field of CI.CI.

Promoting CI as a discipline bound by Promoting CI as a discipline bound by strict strict ethical guidelinesethical guidelines and practiced and practiced by trained professionals is the by trained professionals is the paramount goal of the Society. paramount goal of the Society.

______________________________________________________All SCIP information available from: All SCIP information available from: http://http://www.scip.orgwww.scip.org//

A membership organization for everyone involved A membership organization for everyone involved in creating and managing business knowledge. in creating and managing business knowledge.

SCIP provides education and networking SCIP provides education and networking opportunities for business professionals working in opportunities for business professionals working in the rapidly growing field of competitive intelligence the rapidly growing field of competitive intelligence

Many SCIP members have backgrounds in market Many SCIP members have backgrounds in market research, strategic analysis, or science and research, strategic analysis, or science and technology. technology.

________________________________________All SCIP information available from: http://www.scip.org/ All SCIP information available from: http://www.scip.org/

SCIP Facts con’t:

TheThe Society of Competitive Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals Intelligence Professionals

(SCIP)(SCIP) Established in 1986, today SCIP has  Established in 1986, today SCIP has 

over 50 chapters around the world, over 50 chapters around the world, with individual members in more with individual members in more than 50 nations. In addition, SCIP than 50 nations. In addition, SCIP has alliance partnerships with has alliance partnerships with independent  affiliate organizations independent  affiliate organizations in many countries.in many countries.

______________________________________________________All SCIP information available from: http://www.scip.org/ All SCIP information available from: http://www.scip.org/

Professional ResourcesProfessional Resources

Society for Completive Intelligence Society for Completive Intelligence (SCIP)(SCIP)

Hoover’s online-Analysis of business Hoover’s online-Analysis of business and corporate enterprise information, and corporate enterprise information, largely helpful to private-sector jobs largely helpful to private-sector jobs and information seekersand information seekers

National Institute of Standards and National Institute of Standards and Technology-Founded in 1901, NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency Technology-Founded in 1901, NIST is a non-regulatory federal agency within the U.S. Commerce Department's Technology Administration. NIST's within the U.S. Commerce Department's Technology Administration. NIST's mission is to develop and promote measurement, standards, and technology mission is to develop and promote measurement, standards, and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life. to enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life.

Academic ResourcesAcademic Resources

Competitive Intelligence Magazine-Competitive Intelligence Magazine-SCIP’sSCIP’s member publication-” a format member publication-” a format that is sharp, succinct, and that is sharp, succinct, and journalisticjournalistic “ “

Studies in Intelligence-A government Studies in Intelligence-A government Publication-Unclassified articles from Publication-Unclassified articles from Classified studiesClassified studies

http://www.odci.gov/csi/studies.htmlhttp://www.odci.gov/csi/studies.html

Information Analyst Career Information Analyst Career PathsPaths

Bright job outlook Bright job outlook Jobs growing Jobs growing muchmuch faster than faster than

economy economy Wide range of possible industries Wide range of possible industries High starting salaries High starting salaries Multiple career paths Multiple career paths

Career Paths Cont.Career Paths Cont.

Information analysts can work in a Information analysts can work in a wide range of jobs. Through wide range of jobs. Through maintaining the current technology maintaining the current technology in place at a given company or in place at a given company or relating this technology to other relating this technology to other workers in the business, these are workers in the business, these are two critical characteristics that an two critical characteristics that an analyst must be able to achieve. analyst must be able to achieve.

Background & Background & Experience Experience

Systems and Technology Knowledge Systems and Technology Knowledge Programming Experience Programming Experience General Business Knowledge General Business Knowledge Problem-Solving Skills Problem-Solving Skills Interpersonal Communications Skills Interpersonal Communications Skills Interpersonal Relations Skills Interpersonal Relations Skills Flexibility and Adaptability Flexibility and Adaptability Character and Ethics Character and Ethics Systems Analysis and Design Skills Systems Analysis and Design Skills

Requirements For Requirements For InterviewInterview

Self-motivationSelf-motivation Technical proficiency & diversityTechnical proficiency & diversity Clear, concise communicationClear, concise communication Team collaboration skillsTeam collaboration skills General business acumenGeneral business acumen FlexibilityFlexibility

CI ProfessionalsCI Professionals

Source: http://www.scip.org/Library/salsamp03.pdf (SCIP)

OutlookOutlook Expected to be among the fastest Expected to be among the fastest

growing occupations through 2012growing occupations through 2012 Job increases will be driven by very Job increases will be driven by very

rapid growth in computer system rapid growth in computer system design and related services design and related services

Job growth will not be as rapidJob growth will not be as rapid IT sector beginning to matureIT sector beginning to mature Routine work increasingly outsourced Routine work increasingly outsourced

overseasoverseas

Source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos042.htm