SUMMARY

• Over ten years of IT experience in Business Systems Analysis, Requirement Management, Product / Project / Release Management across the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) in executing several enterprise - wise development initiatives including new development, legacy migration, product development, data warehouse, data mining, Commercial Off-The Shelf (COTS) implementation and enhancement projects.
• A PhD, a strong team player, great facilitator with extensive knowledge o, Financial Accounting/Management, Data Mining, Telecommunications, and Business intelligence. Expertise in Project/Release Management, Business Analysis, Business Process Re-Engineering, Tactical and Strategic Planning, and Requirement Management practices.
• Proficient in the project management processes including initiation, execution, monitoring and controlling and closing processes
• Expert knowledge and practice of project planning and management activities- developing the project charter, statement of work (SOW), scope management plan, work breakdown structure (WBS), budgeting and cost estimating, scheduling, requirements management, communication management and risk management plan, quality management plan and procurement management plan
• Versed in project forecasting tools necessary for computing Earned Value Management values, that is, Budget at Completion (BAC), Planned Value (PV), Actual Cost (AC), Earned Value (EV), Estimate at Cost (EAC), Estimate to Complete (ETC), Variance at Completion (VAC), Cost Performance Index (CPI), schedule performance index (SPI), Cost Variance (CV) and Schedule Variance (SV)
• Skilled in conducting Joint Application Design (JAD) and Rapid Application Development (RAD) sessions, brainstorming sessions, requirement reviews, system walkthroughs and customer interviews for various business processes.
• Supervisory experience in Functionality, Usability, Reliability, Performance and Regression testing and UAT for various projects using manual methodologies (Black Box testing) and automated tools.
• Experience with working with Change Control Board to avoid scoop creep, budget overruns, gold plating, and contract disputes; overall excellent client relationship management
• Experience in leading analysis and requirement-gathering efforts for application development projects involving Agile, Rational Unified Process (RUP), Agile, and Waterfall processes, and creating Use Case Models, Data Flow Diagrams (DFD), Activity Diagrams and State chart diagrams.
• Experience in repository management with ClearCase, change management with ClearQuest, and submitting change proposals and analysis to Change Control Boards (CCBs).
• Experienced in coordinating with the user experience team in conducting usability studies, validating Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERDs) and test cases with queries in SQL.
• Experience in conducting GAP analysis, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), SWOT analysis, Cost benefit analysis and ROI analysis.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, communications and problem solving skills, and timely execution of several client/server projects.
• Adept at closing contracts and documenting the lessons learned process to maintain organizational process assets
• Keen and focused on having deliverables completed in a timely manner
• Effective liaison between business units to maintain high morale and productivity using strong communication, interpersonal and management skills
• Comprehensive and advanced management knowledge and expertise (PhD- level) for excellent team building practices, decision-making, mentoring, communicating and motivating the project team

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Business Modeling Tools: UML CASE Tools, Rational Rose, MS Visio

Processes: RUP, SDLC, BPM, Agile Modeling

Modeling Languages: UML

Requirements Management: Telelogic DOORS, Rational RequisitePro

Repository Management: Rational ClearCase

Change Management: Project Management

Rational ClearQuest: MS Office Suite, MS Project, MS Sharepoint

Databases: MS Access, SQL Server, SPSS

Operating Systems: Windows (98, 2000, NT, XP, Vista, 7)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Confidential, MD

Project Manager

Responsibilities:

• Defined project scope, timelines, and budgets from consultations with project sponsor, champion and financial analysts, programmers, database administrators and IT auditors during the project initiation process
• Conducted and analyzed interviews and surveys to assess priorities, requirements and deliverables and to determine project scope
• Developed and maintained the requirements traceability matrix to ensure requirements traceability at all stages in the project according to project scope
• Developed and maintained the communication plan and stakeholder management plan to effectively communicate with all stakeholders
• Assigned resources according to Work Breakdown Schedule (WBS) using Microsoft Project
• Prepared Business Requirements Documents (BRDs) and Functional Requirement Documents (FRD)
• Reviewed and edited text use cases and activity diagrams as developed by business analysts
• Acted as a liaison between business units such as Credit Cards, Banking, External Vendors, and Customer Care to reduce miscommunication among business units and to clarify expectations
• Applied strong problem-solving skills to ensure project plans deliver on intent, to increase trust among team members and to work overcome scheduling challenges
• Identified risks during brainstorming sessions with team and created a risk management plans for these risks
• Developed contingency plans to avoid budget overruns and scheduling challenges
• Assisted in the testing activities on the projects using SQL scripts
• Assisted in writing and execution of test cases using Mercury QC
• Actively worked with the quality team to verify that requirements were implemented successfully
• Ensured requirements were traceable, complete, verifiable and consistent
• Effectively tracked defects to closure in a timely manner to ensure customer satisfaction
• Constantly communicated with stakeholders to clarify status and assess expectations
• Communicated with stakeholders to provide strategic and tactical thought and advice
• Conducted formal performance reviews for team members to keep productivity and morale at high levels
• Engaged with the Change control board (CCB)and project stakeholders for approvals on all change requests; recorded all change requests and approvals using ClearCase
• Ensured teams met schedule milestones and achieved project objectives
• Worked with stakeholders to verify requirements were implemented and gain acceptance of deliverables
• Organized and facilitated lessons learned sessions to identify pain points within the team and implement suggested and feasible process improvements on a regular basis ; Maintain key project documentation for lessons learned process

Confidential, FL

Project Manager

Responsibilities:

• Facilitated Joint Application Development (JAD) sessions with internal and external stakeholders as part of requirements gathering process of the project planning phase
• Developed Work Breakdown Schedule (WBS) according to the Agile Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology
• Developed communication plans to effectively communicate with all stakeholders
• Reviewed and edited Activity Diagrams and Use Case Diagrams as developed by business analysts
• Identified risks and created risk management plans to mitigate risks
• Developed and applied contingency plans to avoid budget overruns and mitigate risks
• Constantly communicated with stakeholders to clarify project status and to assess expectations
• Worked with finance and accounting functional heads and other pertinent stakeholders to develop cost estimates and budgets
• Facilitated brainstorming sessions with the project team to develop solutions to identified project constraints
• Worked with human resource department to develop staff management plan and release calendars
• Practiced motivational methods such as giving appropriate rewards and recognition to deserving team members
• Worked with human resource department to plan further training for team members as necessary as part of achieving deliverables at high quality assurance levels
• Organized lessons learned meetings and maintained key project documentation for the lessons learned process
• Regularly engaged with the Change Control Board (CCB) to manage gold plating and scope creep
• Performed periodic reviews of project plans to monitor project’s progress and applied Earned Value Management (EVM) tools such as computing Estimate at Completion (EAC) values to control resources
• Monitored the quality of deliverables by reviewing histograms and charts and performing root cause analyses when necessary
• Constantly worked with all stakeholders to ensure that requirements were traceable, complete, and consistent through project duration to accomplish accepted deliverables milestone

Confidential, PA

Project Manager/Senior Business Analyst

Responsibilities:

• Facilitated and conducted Joint Application Development (JAD) sessions with stakeholders to develop Statement of Work (SOW) and the project charter during project initiation stage
• Prepared Business Requirements Documents (BRDs) and Functional Requirement Documents (FRDs) for project team, project sponsor and vendors using Telelogic DOORS
• Worked with functional managers to develop a staff management plan when building cross-functional team
• Developed a requirements traceability matrix (RTM) for effective management and traceability of resources
• Reviewed and edited text use cases and activity modeling diagrams as developed by business analysts
• Constantly engaged with financial analysts, developers, database architects, and testers to maintain workflow
• Designed communication plans to effectively communicate with stakeholders on managing conflicting priorities and expectations
• Identified risks, estimated impacts of risks, and created risk management plans to mitigate, transfer and to avoid risks
• Developed contingency plans to avoid going over budget and behind schedule
• Assisted in the testing phases of the projects using SQL scripts
• Assisted in test cases using Mercury QC
• Constantly communicated with stakeholders to clarify project status and assess expectations; constantly communicated with vendors and contractors to keep project execution on schedule according to contract terms
• Applied Earned Value Management techniques of Estimate at Completion (EAC) and Estimate To Complete (ETC) to appraise project status with respect to cost management plan and schedule management plan
• Engaged more resources and personnel as necessary to crash project schedule to stay within schedule; applied contingency funds to engage more resources to stay within schedule
• Applied motivational theories such as Herzberg two-factor theory, McClelland theory and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to manage team morale by providing prompt resources and assistance as needed by team members, by creating open lines of communication, and by commenting on job well done
• Created trusting mentor-mentee relationships among team members as part of establishing good employee relationships and leadership skill building in matrix teams
• Monitored scrum stages to keep project within schedule
• Escalated change requests to project sponsor as necessary to prevent gold plating and scope creep
• Worked with the CCB to obtain necessary approvals to implement change requests
• Recorded all change requests and approvals using ClearCase
• Ensured requirements were of high quality using methods such as Ishikawa diagrams(Cause and effect) and root cause analysis techniques
• Was swift to manage changing requirements and resource demands by using excellent communication, strong interpersonal and sound management skills
• Teams met schedule milestones and achieved project objectives as ascertained during verify scope phase
• Presented Software as a Service (SaaS) to stakeholders as part of project closing activities after accepted deliverables phase was completed

Confidential, PA

Project Manager

Responsibilities:

• Developed project charter in consultations with stakeholders and other strategic and operational planning executives
• Aligned Statement of Work with the strategic goal of process improvement
• Developed Work Breakdown Schedule (WBS) with regards to existing business policies and according to the Agile SDLC methodology using MS Project
• Conducted meetings with project members to determine deliverables and establish work trends
• Developed communication plans to identify pertinent stakeholders and best means of communication
• Identified risks during brainstorming sessions with team; created risk management plans to mitigate risks
• Reviewed and edited all Business Requirements Documents (BRD) and Functional Requirements Specification (FRD) documents
• Facilitated brainstorming sessions to develop solutions to project constraints
• Worked with department heads and the PMO office for resource allocations and scheduling
• Facilitated lessons learned meetings and maintained key project documentation for lessons learned process
• Engaged resources to crash schedule to deliver on time according to contingency plan during project execution phase
• Negotiated with vendors as part of business alliance building to arrive at the best contract terms
• Constantly communicated with vendors as build and maintain contractual relationships during project execution
• Monitored team-building activities and encouraged mentor-mentee relationships as part of establishing trusting employee relationships
• Practiced open communication style of management as part of leadership skill development
• Performed formal performance appraisal and evaluation to keep team members focused on project goals
• Followed policy and procedures in recommending personnel training as part of organizational process assets
• Met with quality assurance team to ensure functionality requirements and usability features are met
• Met with stakeholders on a regular basis to discuss the scope and implementation of change requests
• Closed project with vendors after contractual obligations were met
• Led team presentation of final application to stakeholders highlighting how application ties in with strategic goal of loss reduction and the existing business and IT architectures

Confidential, FL

Project Manager

Responsibilities:

• Attended Joint Application Development (JAD) sessions with stakeholders such as project sponsor, project champion, account managers, HR managers, financial analysts and financial advisors to define application scope
• Performed gap analysis to establish application boundaries using Rational RequisitePro.
• Participated in feasibility studies with steering committee comprising of executive-level managers, financial analysts, developers, database administrators and human resource personnel to determine product viability
• Worked with budgeting staff on benefit measurement methods such as cost-benefit analysis, cash flow analysis techniques (payback, discounted cash flow, internal rate of return) to determine project viability
• Organized facilitated workshops with functional managers to gain approval for use of resources during the project planning processes
• Identified and documented business requirements using RequisitePro and defined application’s functional requirements.
• Reviewed Business Use Cases as written by business analysts and presented these to project team for consideration and comments
• Used Rational Rose to formalize business modeling and data modeling (ER Diagrams) and developed application’s business architecture for rapid and controlled application development.
• Followed a structured approach during project initiation stage by paying attention to enterprise environmental factors (organizational culture, structure and processes, government and industry standards, established communication channels, commercial databases, organizational work authorization system) while developing project charter, statement of work (SOW) and allocating resources
• Performed stakeholder analysis to assess level of interest and impact on project and to gain and maintain support for project after it was approved
• Organized requirements into logical groupings of essential business processes, business rules, information needs and ensured that critical requirements were not missed
• Worked as an interface between executives, testers, and application development team so that all users understand business needs.
• Paid attention to stakeholder risk tolerances while developing requirements and the work breakdown structure (WBS)
• Sought, understood, and applied organizational process assets (historical information and corporate knowledge base) while allocating resources, deciding on vendors, and developing contract agreements
• Worked with team members during brainstorming sessions to determine risks and particularly high-level risks as determined by SWOT analysis, which were promptly communicated to pertinent stakeholders through approved communication channels
• Worked with team members using nominal group techniques on cause-and-effect diagrams, flowcharts, and influence diagrams to appropriately identify risks, develop a list of potential responses, and develop the risk register
• Reviewed and approved the risk breakdown structure (RBS) and probability and impact matrix as developed by assistant project manager
• Worked on a staff release plan and resource calendars with functional managers
• Ensured high-performing team members were given appropriate rewards and recognition as part of motivation and trust-building and maintaining a congenial organizational culture
• Communicated milestones to stakeholders using histograms and charts as required by the communication management plan and approved communication channels
• Constantly communicated with project manager and team members to clarify status and assess expectations according to the communication management plan
• Tracked project progress using Earned Value Management tools such as cost performance index (CPI), schedule performance index (SPI) and Estimate to Complete (ETC) computations
• Worked with testers to ensure quality assurance standards were met
• Compressed schedule as necessary to finish project on schedule
• Presented final application to stakeholders
• Recorded all milestones for lessons learned process and to update organizational process assets, that is corporate knowledge base
• Communicated with functional managers about staff release plans and ascertained that team members were recognized for their contributions with appropriate rewards

Confidential, FL

Business Analyst

Responsibilities:

• Facilitated Joint Application Sessions JAD) with project champion, sponsor, and other stakeholders during project planning phase to define project scope
• Facilitated meeting sessions with developers to define application scope.
• Performed gap analysis to establish application boundaries using Rational RequisitePro.
• Identified various business processes and developed process flow diagrams for the pre-approval business processes and validated the processes with Subject Matter Experts.
• Identified and documented business requirements using RequisitePro and defined application’s functional requirements.
• Wrote text use cases that were provided to developers and testers
• Developed class diagrams and sequence diagrams to validate different business processes.
• Used Rational Rose to formalize business modeling and data modeling (ER Diagrams) and developed application’s business architecture for rapid and controlled application development.
• Followed a structured approach to organize requirements into logical groupings of essential business processes, business rules, information needs and ensured that critical requirements are not missed for the approval.
• Worked as an interface between executives, testers and application development team so that all users understand business needs.
• Followed Change Control procedures to track changes during the development of the information system using JIRA.
• Prepared management reports and status reports as requested by the project manager and presented these reports at ad-hoc planning meetings with internal and external stakeholders