GENERAL DEFINITION

This is advanced analytical work designing, implementing, and applying computer-based management information systems to improve operating efficiency and facilitate management reporting and analysis at the departmental level. An employee in this class adapts microcomputer systems and systems utilizing nonprocedural mainframe applications to departmental functions. The employee coordinates the provision of services from the City's information center and other consultants, provides for the training of departmental users of the system, insures that departmental reporting needs are met, and maintains the department's data base. In more advanced environments, the employee may also identify procedures better addressed by procedural computer applications and coordinate the implementation of such applications. Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with officials and staff of the City's office of information management and information center are especially significant. Work is performed under the direction of an administrative superior.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

• Determines procedures to be studied and analyzed; defines requirements for analytical studies; studies and analyzes existing departmental operating procedures and organization; confers with departmental officials to gain understanding of their responsibilities, needs, and objectives; prepares work flow charts; identifies existence and causes of impediments in work operations, overlap or duplication of functions, or improper utilization of personnel, equipment, and facilities.
• Determines current and projected departmental needs for information; investigates feasibility of applying nonprocedural computer applications and microcomputers to management analysis and reporting; makes recommendations for automation to departmental administrators.
• Determines procedures to be automated; determines hardware and software necessary to implement application; confers with officials and staff of the City's information center to determine available resources; reviews hardware and applications programs available from information center, vendors and consultants for applicability to departmental functions to be automated.
• Prepares specifications and requests for proposals for the acquisition of hardware and software required; coordinates the provision of services by the information center or consulting contractors; oversees installation of hardware and software in the department; establishes procedures for the use of equipment within the department; develops formats for output to satisfy departmental needs for information and to effect implementation of automated system; modifies existing programs or writes new programs in nonprocedural languages to perform special applications for management analysis and reporting; modifies microcomputer applications to meet departmental needs; coordinates production of reports with information management office personnel; maintains integrity of automated system and security of information; maintains departmental data base; insures that reporting needs of department are met.
• Conducts training sessions to familiarize staff and users within department with the capabilities of systems; periodically updates users on new procedures and additional capabilities; arranges training sessions provided by information center staff when necessary; instructs users on application and techniques of new or revised software packages; instructs and orients new employees; may direct activities of a clerical staff engaged in departmental data base maintenance.
• Analyzes existing system for efficiency and cost-effectiveness; documents cost-benefits analyses; prepares systems flow charts; writes narrative explaining existing system; analyzes organizational factors and resources such as amount of personnel invested and operational environment; analyzes weak links in the system; analyzes efficiency of forms and flow of clerical work; analyzes data flow; analyzes program efficiency.
• Applies departmental data processing resources to revision of existing system or design of new system; determines output required; determines data items needed to produce output; devises efficient methods of data collection; establishes procedures for use and revision of systems; develops appropriate departmental systems security and control procedures; prepares revised systems flow charts.
• Identifies departmental procedures more appropriately addressed by applications using procedural computer languages; confers with officials of centralized office of information management to determine resources necessary to implement procedural systems; serves as liaison with systems development staff for design and implementation of procedural systems; serves as project leader and directs the activities of contractual personnel for design and implementation of procedural systems; reviews and makes recommendations on the requirements of procedural systems.
• Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• the functions, goals, and objectives of a large business or governmental organization.
• the principles and practices of utilizing computers for management reporting and analysis in a large business or governmental organization.
• the principles and practices of methods and procedures analysis.
• the current uses and programming principles of one or more nonprocedural languages, such as Easy-trieve, RAMIS, SPSS, Execucalc, CMS, or their equivalent and their applications in solving managerial problems.
• the current uses and capabilities of electronic data processing equipment, with particular emphasis on microcomputers and microcomputer applications.
• the principles and practices of management control and work simplification.
• the conventions used in systems flow charting.
• the theory and practice of systems design and analysis as they relate to the design and maintenance of computer-based management information systems utilizing nonprocedural languages and microcomputers.

ABILITY TO:

• analyze and evaluate proficiency, work flow, and staff utilization to increase efficiency.
• apply current nonprocedural computer languages and microcomputer systems to improve agency operations.
• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, officials and staff of the City's office of information management and information center, and representatives of consultant contractors.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

(The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 11/84.)

• Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university.
• Three years of experience gathering and analyzing data in a technical or administrative field for a large business or governmental organization, one year of which has been at the full performance level implementing and applying computer-based management information systems to improve operating efficiency and facilitate management reporting and analysis.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

PAY RANGE: EP21
Class Established: 6/1980
Title Change and Spec. Revision: 11/1984

SK/vp/sb