Application Developers

Responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the Application Developer are to:

• Identify, define, and model the application requirements,
• Define data structures and distribution to satisfy the application solution,
• Define application solutions that meet Customer requirements,
• Act as the main project team liaison between the Customer Representatives,
• Prepare deliverables to support the development and deployment of the solution such as application guides and test plans,
• Provide continuity during the transition from one stage to the next,
• Define physical program units and data structures based on the logical model to satisfy the requirements of the application,
• Prepare deployment and post deployment plans to support the conversion and deployment of the solution,
• Design and build prototypes. On a RAD project, the Application Engineer builds the Rapid Prototype, which becomes the application system.

Key Role Interactions

The Application Engineer has key interactions with the following roles. These interactions are guidelines only and do not reflect all possible project organizations.

• Application Architect. Develops application solutions to meet the business needs.
• Data Architect. Develops an information architecture to meet the business needs.
• Technical Architect. Obtains guidance and support on the implementation of specific technologies.
• Team Leader. Reports on the status of assigned tasks and estimates and raises problems and concerns for resolution. Raises scope issues for resolution.
• Human Factors Analyst. Reviews screen, report, and dialogue design and provides feedback.
• Developers. Provide orientation on the application solution, explains processing requirements, data requirements, and program unit processing, and walks through program unit test plans.
• Customer Representatives. Define application requirements, demonstrates application solutions, provides training, and guides testing activities.
• Quality Assurance Manager. Presents deliverables for quality control inspections.

Professional Skills

Ability to:

• perform the activities and tasks for which this role is responsible,
• apply the techniques necessary to complete the responsibilities of this role,
• use the tools required by these activities, tasks and techniques.

Experience:

• with the selected System Development Environment, including the specific development tools sets, on at least one other project or work assignment,
• in the application area on at least one other project or work assignment,
• in defining requirements and conceptualizing solutions on a number of other projects or work assignments.

Interpersonal Skills

All team members require a high level of:

• Personal Attributes,
• General Business Skills.


Business Analysts

Who is the Business Analyst?

A Business Analyst or “Business System Analyst” is an individual whose primary role is to investigate business systems, analyze business processes of business enterprises, identify bottlenecks in efficient running of business processes, suggest solutions for improvement and modifications in business processes and, more particularly, work in association with an Enterprise Architect, Functional system experts and Technology implementation heads (such as CTO and CIO) to align business goals of the business enterprise with implementation of some IT solutions.

Business analysis involves soliciting, analyzing and documenting a set of business requirements that a solution to a business problem must satisfy. For information systems, requirements generally fall into the following Architectural Categories:

1. Business Concepts and Data
2. Business Processes and Functions
3. Business Locations and Communications
4. Business Roles and Interactions
5. Business Events and Schedules
6. Business Policies, Procedures and Rules

In addition to requirements, analysts will solicit information and act as facilitator among various organizational groups in order to discover potential risks and gaps within the proposed solution. This may extend into a full cost-benefit analysis of potential projects in order to advise management on the project's expected value to the business.

Once Requirements are stable (enough), and a project is in progress, they will act as a facilitator between the business team and the development team. Because of the wide variety of projects that may be encountered, the analyst must be familiar with, and have a working knowledge of various modeling and development theories and methodologies.

The Business Analysts normally liaise with the stakeholders of business enterprises to identify current and future business requirements as well as with Enterprise Architects to enable their development of business blueprints. They also conduct business gap analysis to plan appropriate technology implementation in alignment with business goals.

The Business Analyst is not...

1. A Project Manager
2. A Quality Assurance Analyst (Tester)

These roles are separate disciplines, and require full commitment to be successful. Business Analysts are often asked to play these roles on a project team, as well as being the Business Analyst; this is acceptable in small and/or low profile projects. Otherwise, specialists in those roles should participate.

Types of Business Analysts

There are several different types of business analysts including:

• Data Warehouse Business Analyst
• IS Business Analyst
• Business Analyst - Applications Development
• Business Analyst - AD
• TECH - Senior Business Analyst
• IB TECH - Business Analyst - AD

Job Duties

Job duties of a business analyst often include:

• Identify technology implications for business needs
• Assist in creating test plans and test cases
• Research new web features and create requirements
• Propose improvements to further automate processes in order to reduce time while improving accuracy
• Interfaces with the users, assesses needs, gathers requirements, writes functional specs, sometimes write technical specs, sometimes uses processes and workflows, most of the time creates or assists with test plans and cases.


Database Administrators (DBA)

The Database Administrator creates and manages the physical database and database utilities.

Responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the Database Administrator are to:

· define the physical database including database structures and access paths,

· manage physical placement of data within the network and conduct performance tuning,

· develop database utilities,

· assure database integrity and availability,

· manage changes to the database.

Key Role Interactions

The Database Administrator has key interactions with the following roles. These interactions are guidelines only and do not reflect all possible project organizations.

· Technical Architect. Obtains guidance and support in performance tuning and data distribution.

· Application Architect. Reviews data structure and access definitions.

· Network Specialist. Reviews data structure and distribution plans.

· Application Engineer. Provides advice on the use of the database structure and utilities.

Professional Skills

Ability to:

· perform the activities and tasks for which this role is responsible,

· apply the techniques necessary to complete the responsibilities of this role,

· use the tools required by these activities, tasks and techniques.

Experience:

· with the selected System Development Environment, including the specific development tools sets, on at least one other project or work assignment,

· in the application area on at least one other project or work assignment,

· on a number of projects in all stages of the development life cycle.

Graphic Designers

A graphic designer produces visual solutions to the communication needs of clients, using a mix of creative skills and commercial awareness. Designers need imaginative flair, awareness of current fashions in the visual arts, working knowledge of the latest computer packages and an understanding of material costs and time limits, all of which can impact on the design.

Appropriate medium and styles are selected in conjunction with the client's requirements. By providing quality visuals it is hoped the profit margins of the client will increase as potential customers become more informed or persuaded by the graphics.

The main activities of the graphic designer are:

• meeting clients to discuss their needs;
• interpreting the client's business needs;
• developing design briefs by gathering information and data to clarify design issues;
• thinking creatively to produce new ideas;
• using innovation to redefine a design brief and meet the constraints of cost, time and client;
• multi-tasking: graphic designers often work on more than one design brief at a time;
• using a wide range of media, including photography and computer aided design;
• producing accurate and high quality work;
• contributing ideas and design artwork to the overall brief;
• keeping abreast of developments in IT, particularly design programs.
• working well in a team, with printers, copywriters, photographers, other designers, account executives, website designers and marketing specialists;
• working to tight deadlines.


Project Managers

PROJECT/PRACTICE RELATED COMPETENCIES

Project /Practice Management

• Creates and executes project work plans and revises as appropriate to meet changing needs and requirements.
• Identifies resources needed and assigns individual responsibilities.
• Manages day-to-day operational aspects of a project and scope.
• Reviews deliverables prepared by team before passing to client.
• Effectively applies our methodology and enforces project standards.
• Prepares for engagement reviews and quality assurance procedures.
• Minimizes our exposure and risk on project.
• Ensures project documents are complete, current, and stored appropriately.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Business Development

• Identifies business development and "add-on" sales opportunities as they relate to a specific project.
• Leads proposal efforts including completing project scoping and LOE assessments.
• Effectively conveys our message in both written and verbal business development discussions.

Communication

• Facilitates team and client meetings effectively.
• Holds regular status meetings with project team.
• Keeps project team well informed of changes within the organization and general corporate news.
• Effectively communicates relevant project information to superiors.
• Delivers engaging, informative, well-organized presentations.
• Resolves and/or escalates issues in a timely fashion.
• Understands how to communicate difficult/sensitive information tactfully.

Technical Understanding

• Possesses general understanding in the areas of application programming, database and system design.
• Understands Internet, Intranet, Extranet and client/server architectures.
• Possesses a thorough understanding of our capabilities.
• Maintains awareness of new and emerging technologies and the potential application on client engagements.

PROFESSIONAL QUALITIES

Leadership

• Challenges others to develop as leaders while serving as a role model and mentor.
• Manages the development of team by ensuring, when possible, that project tasks are in line with each Innovator's career interests.
• Inspires coworkers to attain goals and pursue excellence.
• Identifies opportunities for improvement and makes constructive suggestions for change .
• Manages the process of innovative change effectively.
• Remains on the forefront of emerging industry practices.

Teamwork

• Consistently acknowledges and appreciates each team member's contributions.
• Effectively utilizes each team member to his/her fullest potential.
• Motivates team to work together in the most efficient manner.
• Keeps track of lessons learned and shares those lessons with team members.
• Mitigates team conflict and communication problems.
• Plans and facilitates regular team activities outside of the office.

Client Management

• Manages day-to-day client interaction.
• Sets and manages client expectations.
• Develops lasting relationships with client personnel that foster client ties.
• Communicates effectively with clients to identify needs and evaluate alternative business solutions.
• Continually seeks opportunities to increase customer satisfaction and deepen client relationships.
• Builds a knowledge base of each client's business, organization and objectives.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Innovator Development

• Conducts effective performance evaluations and mentors those with less experience through formal channels.
• Helps team execute career development plans.
• Seeks and participates in development opportunities above and beyond training required by us.
• Trains other innovators and clients through both formal and informal training programs.
• Encourages more junior Innovators to take responsibility for their development within the company.
• Challenges fellow Innovators to progress toward their professional development goals.

Internal Operations

• Suggests areas for improvement in internal processes along with possible solutions.
• Leads internal teams/task forces
• Approves team members' time and expense reports in a conscientious and timely manner.
• Reviews the status reports of team members and addresses issues as appropriate.
• Complies with and helps to enforce standard policies and procedures.


Web Developers