System administrator

A system administrator, systems administrator, or sysadmin, is a person employed to maintain and operate a computer system and/or network. System administrators may be members of an information technology department.

The duties of a system administrator are wide-ranging, and vary widely from one organization to another. Sysadmins are usually charged with installing, supporting, and maintaining servers or other computer systems, and planning for and responding to service outages and other problems. Other duties may include scripting or light programming, project management for systems-related projects, supervising or training computer operators, and being the consultant for computer problems beyond the knowledge of technical support staff. A System Administrator must demonstrate a blend of technical skills and responsibility.

Skills

The subject matter of systems administration includes computer systems and the ways people use them in an organization. This entails a knowledge of operating systems and applications, as well as hardware and software troubleshooting, but also knowledge of the purposes for which people in the organization use the computers.

However, perhaps the most important skill to a system administrator is problem solving -- frequently under various sorts of constraints and stress. The sysadmin is on call when a computer system goes down or malfunctions, and must be able to quickly and correctly diagnose what is wrong and how best to fix it.

System administrators are not software engineers or developers. It is not usually within their duties to design or write new applications software. However, sysadmins must understand the behavior of software in order to deploy it and to troubleshoot problems, and generally know several programming languages used for scripting or automation of routine tasks.

Particularly when dealing with Internet-facing or business-critical systems, a sysadmin must have a strong grasp of computer security. This includes not merely deploying software patches, but also preventing break-ins and other security problems with preventive measures. In some organizations, computer security administration is a separate role responsible for overall security and the upkeep of firewalls and intrusion detection systems, but all sysadmins are generally responsible for the security of the systems in their keep.

Related fields

Many organizations staff other jobs related to systems administration. In a larger company, these may all be separate positions within a computer support or Information Services (IS) department. In a smaller group they may be shared by a few sysadmins, or even a single person.

+ A database administrator (DBA) maintains a database system, and is responsible for the integrity of the data and the efficiency and performance of the system.

+ A network administrator maintains network infrastructure such as switches and routers, and diagnoses problems with these or with the behavior of network-attached computers.

+ A security administrator is a specialist in computer and network security, including the administration of security devices such as firewalls, as well as consulting on general security measures.

+ A web administrator maintains web server services (such as IIS or Apache) that allow for internal or external access to web sites. Tasks include managing multiple sites, administering security, and configuring necessary components and software. Responsibilities may also include software change management.

+ Technical support staff respond to individual users' difficulties with computer systems, provide instructions and sometimes training, and diagnose and solve common problems.

+ A computer operator performs routine maintenance and upkeep, such as changing backup tapes or replacing failed drives in a RAID array. Such tasks usually require physical presence in the room with the computer; and while less skilled than sysadmin tasks require a similar level of trust, since the operator has access to possibly sensitive data.

In some organizations, a person may begin as a member of technical support staff or a computer operator, then gain experience on the job to be promoted to a sysadmin position.

Training

Unlike many other professions, there is no single path to becoming a system administrator. Many system administrators have a degree in a related field: computer science, information technology, computer engineering, information system management, school of business or even a trade school program. Other schools have offshoots of their Computer Science program specifically for systems administration. Some schools have started offering undergraduate degrees in Systems Administration. 

One of the primary difficulties with teaching system administration as a formal university discipline, is that the industry and technology changes much faster than the typical textbook and coursework certification process. By the time a new textbook has spent years working through approvals and committees, the specific technology for which it is written may have changed significantly or is now obsolete.

In addition, because of the practical nature of systems administration and the easy availability of open-source server software, many systems administrators enter the field self-taught.

Generally, a prospective administrator will be required to have some experience with the computer system he or she is expected to manage. In some cases, candidates are expected to possess industry certifications such as the Microsoft MCSA, MCSE, Red Hat RHCE, Novell CNA, CNE, Cisco CCNA or CompTIA's A+ or Network+, Sun Certified SCNA, Linux Professional Institute among others.

Sometimes, almost exclusively in smaller sites, the role of system administrator may be given to a skilled user in addition to or in replacement of his or her duties. For instance, it is not unusual for a mathematics or computing teacher to serve as the system administrator of a secondary school.

Duties of a system administrator

+ A system administrator's responsibilities might include:

+ Analyzing system logs and identifying potential issues with computer systems.

+ Introducing and integrating new technologies into existing data center environments.

+ Performing routine audits of systems and software.

+ Performing backups.

+ Applying operating system updates, patches, and configuration changes.

+Installing and configuring new hardware and software.

+ Adding, removing, or updating user account information, resetting passwords, etc.

+ Answering technical queries.

+ Responsibility for security.

+ Responsibility for documenting the configuration of the system.

+ Troubleshooting any reported problems.

+ System performance tuning.

+ Ensuring that the network infrastructure is up and running.

In larger organizations, some tasks listed above may be divided among different system administrators or members of different organizational groups. For example, a dedicated individual(s) may apply all system upgrades, a Quality Assurance (QA) team may perform testing and validation, and one or more technical writers may be responsible for all technical documentation written for a company.

In smaller organizations, the system administrator can also perform any number of duties elsewhere associated with other fields:

+ Technical support

+ Database administrator (DBA)

+ Network administrator/analyst/specialist

+ Application analyst

+ Security administrator

+ Programmer

System administrators, in larger organizations, tend not to be system architects, system engineers, or system designers. However, like many roles in this field, demarcations between systems administration and other technical roles often are not well defined in smaller organizations. Even in larger organizations, senior systems administrators often have skills in these other areas as a result of their working experience.

In smaller organizations, IT/computing specialties are less often discerned in detail, and the term system administrator is used in a rather generic way — they are the people who know how the computer systems work and can respond when something fails.

System Administrator Privileges

The term system administrator may also be used to describe a privilege which a computer owner must obtain on his or her own computer to perform certain actions even if the computer is not part of a larger system.

Ref. www.wikipedia.org  

Administration Assistant (business)

In business, administration consists of the performance or management of business operations and thus the making or implementing of major decisions. Administration can be defined as the universal process of organizing people and resources efficiently so as to direct activities toward common goals and objectives.

Administrator can serve as the title of the general manager or company secretary who reports to a corporate board of directors. This title is archaic, but, in many enterprises, this function, together with its associated Finance, Personnel and management information systems services, is what is intended when the term "the administration" is used.

In some organisational analyses, management is viewed as a subset of administration, specifically associated with the technical and mundane elements within an organization's operation. It stands distinct from executive or strategic work.

In other organizational analyses, administration can refer to the bureaucratic or operational performance of mundane office tasks, usually internally oriented and reactive rather than proactive.

Administrative functions

Administrators, broadly speaking, engage in a common set of functions to meet the organization's goals. These "functions" of the administrator were described by Henri Fayol.

Planning is deciding in advance what to do, how to do it, when to do it, and who should do it. It maps the path from where the organization is to where it wants to be. The planning function involves establishing goals and arranging them in logical order. Administrators engage in both short-range and long-range planning.

Organizing involves identifying responsibilities to be performed, grouping responsibilities into departments or divisions, and specifying organizational relationships. The purpose is to achieve coordinated effort among all the elements in the organization. Organizing must take into account delegation of authority and responsibility and span of control within supervisory units.

Staffing means filling job positions with the right people at the right time. It involves determining staffing needs, writing job descriptions, recruiting and screening people to fill the positions.

Directing is leading people in a manner that achieves the goals of the organization. This involves proper allocation of resources and providing an effective support system. Directing requires exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to motivate people. One of the crucial issues in directing is to find the correct balance between emphasis on staff needs and emphasis on economic production.

Controlling is the function that evaluates quality in all areas and detects potential or actual deviations from the organization's plan. This ensures high-quality performance and satisfactory results while maintaining an orderly and problem-free environment. Controlling includes information management, measurement of performance, and institution of corrective actions.

Budgeting, exempted from the list above, incorporates most of the administrative functions, beginning with the implementation of a budget plan through the application of budget controls.

What Does an Office Assistant Do?

Office assistant is a vague term that can describe many different types of jobs worked in an office. It can sometimes be used synonymously with words like administrative assistant, or it can refer to office support staff who help the work of administrative assistants, executive assistants, or secretaries. The average office assistant may work a variety of jobs in the office setting, and generally needs basic office skills for the job.

An office assistant of this last type might do any of the following jobs:

Answer phones

File and organize information

Take messages

Run errands

Type

Do data entry or word processing

Work to support other office staff

Operate office equipment like copiers or fax machines

Use specific programs like Microsoft Word®, Excel®, or Access®

Provide customer support

Help with office accounting

More advanced office assistants could be responsible for running an office, directly supporting executives, and supervising other office employees. Typically when support to executives or high level employees is more direct, the office assistant can be termed an administrative or executive assistant. If the office assistant supervises other employees, he or she may be called an office manager.

Frequently, office assistants must be “jack of all trades” employees. They must have good typing skills, be willing to take orders from other employees, be ready to work in a variety of capacities, and have at least beginning knowledge of typical office software. Work can vary from day to day and may depend upon the current needs of the office. You might be inputting data one day, filing the next, and faxing or mailing promotional materials on another day. Sometimes if the office is customer-service based, the extent to which you are busy may depend upon customer traffic.

An office assistant may have completed certificate programs through trade schools or community colleges. Others have high school diplomas, and few lack even that. The main skills that are sought after are ability to type quickly and accurately, good phone manners, good people skills, and demonstrated ability to be organized. Other companies want to make sure you can work with office software, and some companies require you to take tests on such software to demonstrate capability.

When office assistants are really direct assistants to professionals, their jobs may be more focused. They will essentially do whatever office tasks are needed so that the professional doesn’t have to. Administrative and executive assistants tend to have more experience with office software and often act as go betweens for clients and their executives. They may manage offices and hire and fire office assistants who can assist them with their work in supporting the professional.

Since the term may mean so many things, pay range can also be variable. The office assistant with minimal office skills may make little over minimum wage. Administrative assistants may command a higher salary, with an average salary in the $30,000 US Dollar (USD) range. Many make much more than this, depending upon their experience and job responsibilities.

Written by Tricia Ellis-Christensen 

What is a Personal Assistant?

In a business world sense, a personal assistant is a trusted junior employee who assumes the role of an executive's chief-of-staff. Many of the everyday tasks necessary for an effective workday fall on the personal assistant, from scheduling meetings to arranging transportation. A personal assistant is also expected to screen incoming calls and messages, assign tasks to other junior employees and prioritize his or her employer's schedule. Running personal errands or setting appointments may also be part of a personal assistant's duties.

Becoming a personal assistant may be a case of being in the right place at the right time. Once an executive decides that hiring a personal assistant might be a necessity, he or she will often look within the company first. Employees with secretarial experience or a proven track record for loyalty may be the first ones considered.

There is no specific educational or job track that leads to the role of personal assistant. Having a strong work ethic, displaying self-discipline and proving an ability to multi-task under pressure are all good attributes for the position. Many executives and managers look for a good personal rapport between themselves and potential personal assistants.

As tempting as the position of personal assistant may sound, there are some drawbacks to consider. The average personal assistant may put in anywhere from 40 to 80 hours a week or more. If the executive decides to attend a week-long business seminar out of town, the personal assistant may have to accompany him as well or assume additional duties at the office. The average salary for an entry-level personal assistant may reflect his or her junior status, even if his or her employer is compensated well by the company. If the working relationship becomes strained, the role of personal assistant can become very stressful indeed.

There are also some benefits of being a personal assistant to consider. Personal assistants are often in a position to interact with high-level executives, which could lead to an inside track on promotions or other job opportunities. Executives may also invite a personal assistant to attend business dinners or private parties. Vacations for executives often become a working vacation for a personal assistant, with paid travel and an expense account. Working for a well-known businessman or celebrity can also be a social perk, with invitations to movie openings, concerts or other high-profile events.

Written by Michael Pollick 

Amanuensis

Amanuensis is a Latin word adopted in various languages, including English, for certain persons performing a function by hand, either writing down the words of another or performing manual labour. The term is derived from a Latin expression which may be literally translated as "manual labourer".

Origin and secretarial uses

The word originated in ancient Rome, for a slave at his master's personal service 'within hand reach', performing any command; later it was specifically applied to an intimately trusted servant (often a freedman) acting as a personal secretary.

A similar semantic evolution occurred at the French royal court, where the secrétaire de la main du roi, originally a lowly clerk specializing in producing (technically forging, but on royal command) the Sovereign's signature on more documents than he cared to put his pen to, developed into the secrétaires d'état, the first permanent portfolio ministers, to which the British Secretaries of State would be the counterpart.

The term is often used interchangeably with secretary or scribe.

Academic uses

It is also used in a specific sense in some academic contexts, for instance when an injured or disabled person is helped by an amanuensis at a written examination.

In the Netherlands it refers to a (technically schooled) physics laboratory assistant responsible for preparing and assisting with tests and maintaining the instruments. When employed as such in a school environment s/he will have the title of "TOA" Technical Teaching Assistant

In Norway, amanuensis is an academic rank corresponding to that of assistant professor in the United States. Førsteamanuensis (Norwegian for "first amanuensis") is the equivalent of associate professor.

In Sweden, amanuens is used to denote roughly a teaching assistant.

The term is used to describe one who assists an organist during a performance, by drawing and retiring stops, and by turning pages.

Laborial uses

On the other hand, certain employers use the term for (generally unskilled) manual labourers at the bottom of the hierarchy, e.g. as factotum.

Source: wikipedia.org