Project Manager

Raj Dhawan PMP

**** ***** ****** #***

Coralville, Iowa 52241, USA

Cell: 561-***-****

Email: **********@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Highly technically oriented senior manager with over 20 years of experience

in managing software development and integration projects with nationally

ranked companies. Result oriented, self motivated senior project manager

with strong people management, leadership, communication, and

organizational skills. Demonstrated history of successfully delivering

complex system development and integration projects using best project

management practices for software delivery. Directing and working closely

with highly skilled staff in developing organization strategy and

architecture that meet current and future business and customer needs,

reduce costs and improve organization productivity and efficiencies.

Delivered complex application projects with high quality and customer

satisfaction in different industries such as US airlines, major banks, city

government, education and publishing companies.

Also PMI Certified, with extensive senior level Project Management

experience. Areas of expertise include project management of complex

systems, software development projects, management of E-business

development, and long term strategic product planning in matrix

organizations. Hands-on experience using Microsoft Project and Project

Management Institute (PMBOK) approaches from initiation to completion.

Management style involves establishing high expectations with constant

communication that has led to reputation of being type of leader sought out

by subordinates. Extensive experience with CMMI, Kiazen, Lean Software

Development, and Six Sigma processes. Proven expertise in software

development life cycle (SDLC) best practices and delivered multiple

projects using Rational Unified Process (RUP), Agile and Waterfall

methodologies.

Technology assets and expertise in:

Web-enabled application development, Portal Development, Java Application

Development, Operating Systems, Client/Server, Middleware Technologies (XML

SOA, BPM, ESB), J2EE, RSA, Real Time Systems, IBM Websphere, WebLogic,

Databases and Storage Technologies (IBM, HDS, EMC), Data Center

(Infrastructure) Management and Optimization, Business Process Management

(BPM), Report generation technologies (Crystal, Jasper, Cognos), Legacy

Systems (Mainframe), Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) processes,

Development of Business Cases using Object Oriented Design Technologies

(UML/RSA), Requirement capturing, Rational Toolsets, Budget Estimates and

Management, Cost Estimating & Controls, Scope Management, Change

Management, Risk identification, analysis, and mitigation, Vendor

management, Contract Negotiation & Management, RFP/RFQ processes, Proposal

Development, SOW Development, and Service Level Agreement (SLA).

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Working Knowledge:

RSA, RUP, Agile (SCRUM), UML, J2EE/EJB, Open Source (JBOSS, SPRING

Framework, Hibernate), Middleware Technologies (SOA, ESB, WMQ), BPM, Web

Services (XML, SOAP, WSDL), IBM WebSphere, MQSeries, Database and Storage

Technologies (IBM, HDS), Real-time High Transaction Systems, z/OS, Rational

Toolsets (ClearCase, ReqPro etc), VM, AIX, DB2, SQL, Oracle 10g, TCP/IP,

RDMS, LDAP, Networks Technologies, Data Center Migrations and Optimization,

and Mainframe Legacy Systems

Professional Tools:

Lotus 1-2-3, Lotus Word Pro, MS Project, MS Visio, MS Office

General:

Project Management Methodologies, EVM, Cost case methodologies for

outsourcing, Software Development Processes (SDLC, CMMI, Six Sigma, PMBOK,

and IDP), Product Planning, Proposal Development, Service Level Agreement

(SLA), and Quality Assurance Processes

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Pearson Education Measurement: October 2005 - Present

Senior Project Manager (Senior Manager): Successfully delivered software

development and integration projects with high quality, on time, and within

budget. Responsible to lead, direct, coach and mentor six project managers

and ten to twelve developers both onsite and offshore and business analyst

to deliver projects based on Web Services, SOA, Java (J2EE), Portal

development (Single sign on & authentication), and Legacy system

technologies. Extensively used iterative and incremental development

processes (RUP, Agile) and methodologies to deliver projects within cost

and on schedule with high quality. Responsible for all project management

tasks such as resources, costs, WBS, schedules, tasks, and prioritized

projects for development, delivery, and deployment. Presented project

status and progress to senior management and other stakeholders on regular

basis. Maintained strong communication with staff and other functional

areas management. Managed multiple project execution and ensured quality

project delivery on schedule and within budget. Reviewed project risks and

mitigation plans and implemented change control & management processes.

Ensured best project management practices are applied consistently and

provided direction to project managers. Constantly sought ways to improve

the development process, tools, quality, and methodologies used in the

development groups. Participated and worked closely with program management

team in the RFP, SOW and SLA processes for future businesses.

Recommended new technology directions in collaboration with senior

architecture and design teams. Ensured best project management practices

are applied consistently to deliver projects using iterative and

incremental development processes and tools (RSA, RUP, and Agile).

Constantly sought ways to improve the development process, tools and

methodologies used in the development groups.

Also led team of system programmers, senior developer, and database &

network experts to migrate and consolidate San Antonia data center (CSC

outsourced) to Iowa City data center as part of Pearson acquisition of

Harcourt. Successfully completed due diligence for capacity planning, HW/SW

requirements, network support, Database conversion/migration from IDMS to

DB2, Tape Management System, Storage systems, performance optimization, and

disaster recovery. Work closely with CSC and other software vendors to

eliminate redundant SW products and technologies. Performed all project

management tasks and presented status to all stakeholders on weekly basis.

Merger of two data centers saved Pearson $1.5M yearly.

Managed resources, and prioritized projects for development, delivery, and

deployment. Managed vendors, and service provider's relationships to ensure

product support, services, and knowledge transfer to staff were met.

Provided people care for individual through career planning, training,

compensation, and career advancement based on performance. Encouraged and

awarded innovation, creativity and team work.

IBM CORPORATION 1981 -- 2005

IBM Project Director at JPMorgan Chase:

As a project director for IBM at JPMorgan Chase led technology enhancements

and HW upgrade projects for their wholesale banking and retail banking

businesses. Managed and worked closely with team of twelve IBM and JPMC

technical staff & project managers to develop technical workbook for an end

to end solution to implement TCP/IP, Turbo MQ using IBM WebSphere & Message

Broker (MQSI) technologies on JPMC Delivery Processor (Transaction Engine).

Conducted various project management tasks such as requirement analysis,

system design, project scope, resource estimates, cost to deliver, and risk

identification and mitigation plans. Used SDLC processes to successfully

deliver the implementation of these technologies with high product quality

on time, within budget and with high customer satisfaction. Managed and

led efforts to migrate Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system from OS/390-

MQ to IBM-Real time (TPF) system running on DP.

Managed, developed and documented detail solution and implementation plans

with options and alternatives, advantages and disadvantage, risks, and cost

to run two active DP systems at two different data centers to achieve 100%

system availability (Hot Standby environment for automatic fallback). This

analysis included recommendations for infrastructure (HW/SW) costs, cost of

operation, and improvement in system availability and scalability.

Presented and received approval to implement these projects from JPMC

executive management. Used JPMC Six Sigma Project Life Cycle processes to

execute these projects & plans, tracked project progress, worked with JPMC

senior technical staff & project managers, and reported project status to

management on weekly basis. Successfully implemented & delivered these

technologies on time and within budget.

Also led, managed & directed JPMC and IBM technical staff to migrate some

of Bank One middleware applications and infrastructure to JPMC middleware

technologies and infrastructure as part of merged bank activities.

Eliminated redundant hardware, software and streamed lined business

process. Developed initial cost and effort estimates for new integrated

development environment (IDE) for C/C++ programming using IBM

ClearCase/Rational toolsets based on Eclipse technologies. Successfully led

team on site to deliver projects and earned the respect and confidence of

both JPMC/IBM management and technical staff.

IBM Project Director at CitiFinancial Corporation

Managed application and system modifications and migration of large

database to handle high volume consumer loans transactions for US and

Mexico customers. Developed project plans and executed all project

management, risk management, cost control, staffing requirements, and

change control and resource management tasks. Actively screened,

interviewed, and hired staff and subcontractors for the project. Used SDLC

processes to implement many legacy applications packages, communication

systems and database changes, system and user acceptance testing, which

made conversion more complex. Prepared and presented project status and

progress to senior management. Led nine to eleven system & application

programmers, and business analysts at customer site to complete project

early by couple of months and saved $125K leading to a follow-on

opportunity. Also coached and mentored CitiFinancial project managers

IBM Senior Project Manager at New York Police Department (911 system)

Managed migration and HW upgrade of complex 911 emergency response

applications to newer release of IBM TPF Real time operating system (high

performance and high volume transaction operating system). Migration

involved application, system and database changes, user acceptance test,

and coordination of simultaneous hardware upgrades of communication

controllers, DASD and processor, and application Y2K compliance upgrades.

Planned, managed and executed all project management activities such as

monitoring and reporting project status to customer and IBM management,

project change processes, and issues management. As a senior project

manager onsite, developed and managed project plans, scope management,

resource plans & project budgets, change control process, and risk

management. Managed and led a team of twelve to fourteen senior developers

and project managers using SDLC and PMBOK processes to deliver project on

schedule with high customer satisfaction. Gained high regards with

executives in New York City Mayor's office.

IBM Senior Project Manager at Federal Express Corporation

Managed complex project that involved cargo applications, system software

code modifications & development, hardware upgrade, communication systems

upgrade and testing with SITA networks, and third party software

development at two locations. Performed all project management tasks,

developed project plans and received approval. Managed and tracked project

tasks, issues resolution, and project control. Managed project variance,

developed and reported project status and progress to customer and IBM

management. Assisted in developing system and user acceptance test scripts

and participated in system and user acceptance testing by using tests

scripts. Managed team of nine system/application programmers and testers

onsite and applied SDLC and PMI processes to complete project ahead of

schedule. This saved $50K in cost along with high degree of customer

satisfaction leading to follow-on opportunity. Simultaneously reviewed SOW

for cost and schedule estimates for IRS consolidation project. On many

occasions provided assistance and advice to IRS project management team on

numerous issues.

Other Major Projects at IBM

IBM Senior Consultant at Southwest Airlines (SWA)

Served as a senior IBM consultant to provide project advice and assistance

to Southwest Airlines and global distribution system (SABRE Technologies

owned by American Airlines) that hosted SWA Reservation system. Working

with both entities, assisted in identifying requirements, defined and

developed migration project plan. Representing SWA, conducted project

reviews, reviewed and validated system and user acceptance test scripts.

Validated and conducted risk assessment of project plan, procedures,

processes and methodologies proposed by GDS. Also assisted and advised SWA

project team in placing a revised service level agreement (SLA) with Saber

Technologies.

Outsourcing of US Airways systems to IBM Global Services:

As a Senior IBM Real Time system expert, performed various due diligence

tasks to move US Airways Real-time systems in Tulsa from SABRE data center

(managed by EDS) to the IBM data center in Denver. Defined Real-time

systems scope of work. Developed manpower estimates for transition and

steady state phases. Developed transition plans for HW (infrastructures)

and SW installation, testing & validation, and QA certification. Also

conducted application interfaces testing requirements for the US Airways

commercial and distributed systems (UNIX, NT, and SUN) with Real-time

systems. Also assisted other project managers from Network services,

Helpdesk, Midrange systems, and Web hosting teams to develop the RFP

response (proposal development) which was delivered to the US Airways

management on time.

EDUCATION

MS, Computer Sciences, University of Southern California (USC), Los

Angeles, CA

MS Certificate, Project Management, George Washington University,

Washington, DC

PMP Certification, Project Management Institute (PMI)

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