Infolific » Project Team Roles Definitions

Functional Manager Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Sun, 19 May 2013 11:36:43 +0000

The functional manager is the person project managers report to within their functional organization. Typically, they do the performance review. Project managers may also be functional managers, but they do not have to be. If the project manager is different from the functional manager, then the organization is probably utilizing [...]

Database Developer Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Fri, 03 May 2013 10:20:55 +0000

The term given to someone that develops software that works closely with a database. Most custom software development interacts with a database and, as such, technically speaking a web developer or client/server programmer can also be called a database developer. However, a database developer may not have the necessary skills [...]

Database Designer Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:12:12 +0000

Most software projects boil down to information storage and retrieval. Deciding how and where this information is stored is the domain of the database designer. Working with a system architect and a requirements analyst, the database designer ensures that all necessary data has a place to be stored. At the [...]

Database Administrator (DBA) Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:01:10 +0000

A database administrator (DBA) is similar to a database developer or designer except that the DBA's key responsibilities is ensuring that a database is available at all to the users and programs that need it. This includes making backups and archiving data. It also includes on-going monitoring to ensure that [...]

Copywriter Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:26:37 +0000

The "copy" in this case means the words that a user will see when visiting a website or using a software application. A lot of people undervalue the work of a copywriter and usually opt to write their own content. However, a good copywriter can transform otherwise boring text into [...]

Computer Programmer Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:57:52 +0000

Before the Internet became widely used, most custom software development fell in to the category of client/server software. The "client", in this case, was an end-user's computer and the "server" was often a powerful computer located in a computer room either on-site or off-site. The workload would be shared by [...]

Business Analyst Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:55:00 +0000

The business analyst is skilled at working with end-users to determine what their needs are. Often, the business analyst has some technical experience which is useful in determining if a user's requests are feasible. Note that the business analyst is more than just a glorified note taker as he is [...]

Requirements Analyst Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 06:11:52 +0000

A requirements analyst acts as the liaison between the business people and the software development team. Focusing on what the end users need to be more effective at their jobs, the requirements analyst isn't particularly concerned with the technical details. However, the requirements analyst is responsible for translating the business [...]

Web Site Builder Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:41:01 +0000

A website builder is responsible for programming the functionality of a website. So while a requirements analyst is tasked with determining what a website should do, the website builder figures out how it is going to do it and then writes the necessary programming code. Much of this programming code [...]

Web Programmer Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:23:42 +0000

A web programmer is responsible for programming the functionality of a website. So while a requirements analyst is tasked with determining what a website should do, the web programmer figures out how it is going to do it and then writes the necessary programming code. Much of this programming code [...]

Web Developer Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:00:48 +0000

A web developer is responsible for programming the functionality of a website. So while a requirements analyst is tasked with determining what a website should do, the web developer figures out how it is going to do it and then writes the necessary programming code. Much of this programming code [...]

Web Designer Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:50:30 +0000

A web designer is similar to a graphic designer. In fact, many graphic designers are web designers and vice versa. Sometimes the term web designer is used to describe a web developer, but really a web designer focuses on the user interface. They are responsible for layout, color palettes, and [...]

User Interface Designer Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:34:06 +0000

To be added. Related Terms Graphical User Interface Designer User Interface Specialist Other Definitions Business Analyst Computer Programmer Copywriter Database Administrator Database Designer Database Developer Functional Manager Graphic Designer Project Manager Report Designer Report Developer Requirements Analyst Software Tester Support Technician System Architect Technical Writer User Interface Designer Web Designer [...]

Technical Writer Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:21:39 +0000

A technical writer is often tasked with writing documentation that explains technical issues in ways that non-technical people can understand. A technical writer might be responsible for writing the how-to manual for a software application. Technical writers are often copy writers and vice-versa. A good technical writer can write about [...]

System Architect Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:20:35 +0000

The system architect has the task of putting together the skeleton of a software project. Depending on the specifications gathered by the requirements analyst, the system architect will choose to focus on ease of maintenance, application performance, compatibility with existing systems, or a combination of all three. Each decision that [...]

Support Technician Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:19:09 +0000

A good support technician has experience with the software and hardware that a particular company or department is using. They use this expertise to fix problems that a user is having. If the problem is beyond their expertise then the support technician usually has a hierarchy of other support personnel [...]

Software Tester Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:33:12 +0000

If releasing a relatively bug-free product is important then having a team of software testers is key. It is true that the developers developing the software should do some testing, but they are too involved with the application to be able to put it through a rigorous test regime. The [...]

Report Developer Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:51:43 +0000

Reports are often the most visible output of software a application. Reports can contain sales and inventory counts; usage statistics and metrics; and revenue vs. expense summaries. Reports are used by businesses to make decisions that sometimes have a very significant impact on the bottom line. As such, it is [...]

Report Designer Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:49:04 +0000

Project Manager Definition

Marios Alexandrou — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:31:47 +0000

A project manager is a facilitator. The ideal project manager does whatever it takes to ensure that the members of the software project team can do their work. This means working with management to ensure they provide the resources and support required as well as dealing with team issues that [...]