Newsgroups: bit.listserv.sas-l
Date:         Fri, 14 Aug 1992 17:03:10 EDT
Reply-To:     BLEBLANC@UMIAMIVM.BITNET
From:         BLEBLANC@UMIAMIVM.BITNET
Subject:      The Role of the SAS Consultant

Dear SAS-L'ers

  I'm planning on delivering a paper named "The Role of the SAS
Consultant" at the SESUG 93 conference taking place Feb 14-16 in
warm, beautiful St. Petersburg, FL.  I've included a rough
outline in the hope that it might generate some discussion that I
can use to improve/refine my presentation.  I would appreciate
comments from both sides of the fence: from SAS users, and from
those who support them.

  The outline I've included is not exactly what I do every day,
but it is a pretty complete summary of what I've done over the
years.  My experience includes over 5 years as the full-time
stat/stat package consultant in a university computer center.  I
assume that the conditions I work under are similar to those of
my counterparts in other universities, but different from those
experienced by people in the private sector.  My impression is
that there is less time and more hair-pulling on the private side
(and more money for toys, and certainly salary).  Y/N?

  I will summarize for the list any responses that don't appear
publicly.

  For more information regarding SESUG 93, contact the co-chairs:

          Tamara Fischell: Tamara@glia.biostr.washington.edu

          Dave Riba      : Dave.riba@f120.n3603.z1.fidonet.org
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Bill LeBlanc
Academic Support Group
University of Miami
PO Box 248011
Coral Gables, FL 33124
305-284-3915
BITNET:   BLEBLANC@UMIAMIVM
INTERNET: BLEBLANC@UMIAMIVM.IR.MIAMI.EDU

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                 The Role of the SAS Consultant
                (subtitle: If The User Only Knew)

                       William G. LeBlanc
                       University of Miami

1. Responsibilities of local SAS Consultant (Tech Report U-117)
     Identify site designated people by SITEINFO command
          SAS Software Consultant (SC)
          SAS Training Coordinator (TC)
          SAS Software Representative (SR)
     Tech support: SC links local users and SAS Institute
     Training (SC,TC)
          local
          SI based
     Maintain Documentation
          manuals
               intro: basic introductory material
               user's guides: documents procedures in a product
               reference: reference info
               usage: common tasks
               documentation index: for system docs and SUGIs
               publications catalog
               third party books
          Tech Reports
          OS Companions
          "SAS Communications"
          "SAS Training"
          "Observations"
          usage notes
          sample programs
          on-line help
          "SASware Ballot"
     Install SAS software (SC, SR)
     Maintain SAS software
          apply updates
          apply zaps
          set options

2. Data related
     Data access (since you know what SAS can read)
     Data management
          transfer between
               platforms/operating systems
               media
               sites
          good programming habits
          data validation (cleaning, verifying)
          data storage (raw data, sas datasets, disk, tape)
          data transformation/format
     Data analysis: know SAS, as well as alternate products
     Data presentation
          graphical display
          output devices

3. Network related
     Human connections
          In-house, local, and regional SAS Users Groups
          SUGI
          Know the interests and needs of users at your site
          Coordinate the use of resources of different people at
               your site
          Bring together users working on similar problems
     Electronic connections
          ONCSF
          DIAL-A-ZAP
          SAS-L/SAS-L Archives
          STAT-L
          UICSTAT Archives
          FTP

4. SC problem solving sequence
     RTFM
     Usage Notes
     SAS-L Archives
     SI Tech Spt
     SAS-L
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU