U.S. Occupations Where Systems Analysis Plays A Major Role

by Ava Rodriguez

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Systems analysis, which involves determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes, is a skill that belongs to a group known as systems skills. Systems skills is a set of skills that describes developed capacities used to understand, monitor, and improve socio-technical systems. Other skills that belong in this group are

Judgment and Decision Making
Systems Evaluation

The occupations where systems analysis play a major role are listed below.

Chief executives
Chief executives determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers. Other skills that are considered important for this occupation include active learning, active listening, complex problem solving, coordination, critical thinking, judgment and decision making, management of financial resources, management of material resources, management of personnel resources, monitoring, negotiation, persuasion, reading comprehension, speaking, systems evaluation, time management and writing.
Median Annual Salary: $165,080

Foresters
Foresters manage public and private forested lands for economic, recreational, and conservation purposes. They may also inventory the type, amount, and location of standing timber, appraise the timber's worth, negotiate the purchase, and draw up contracts for procurement. They may also determine how to conserve wildlife habitats, creek beds, water quality, and soil stability, and how best to comply with environmental regulations. They may also devise plans for planting and growing new trees, monitor trees for healthy growth, and determine optimal harvesting schedules. Other skills that are considered important for this occupation include coordination, critical thinking, judgment and decision making and monitoring.
Median Annual Salary: $54,540 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 12.13%

Actuaries
Actuaries analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. They may also ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits. Other skills that are considered important for this occupation include complex problem solving, critical thinking, judgment and decision making, mathematics, reading comprehension and systems evaluation.
Median Annual Salary: $87,650 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 21.37%

Urban and regional planners
Urban and regional planners develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas. Other skills that are considered important for this occupation include critical thinking, judgment and decision making and reading comprehension.
Median Annual Salary: $63,040 Projected 10-Year Employment Growth: 19.02%