Mudassir Iqbal

7 Essential Business Analyst Skills A business analyst deals with corporate evaluation and modelling on an everyday basis. If you are contemplating becoming a professional analyst, you’re in the right place. If you want to stand out and enhance the productivity of your business, this list shares important corporate analyst strengths: 1. Communication:  Business analysts should be great correspondents. They should be capable of facilitating workplace conferences, asking for queries (and taking note of the responses), and constructively understanding what is being said. In today’s technical era, communication might not necessarily occur one on one. For that reason, being an efficient conversationalist in a virtual environment is also imperative. Being a new BA, you may lack sufficient experience in diverse business analyst qualifications that gradually come over time (and through multiple ventures). However, effective recording and writing abilities will help you get on track...

Project Management Process Groups – PMP/CAMP; PMBOK 6 According to WorkFront  2018 State of Work report , 57% of knowledge workers “have not been formally trained to manage projects but do manage projects.” Project Management is a large and complex field and it sometimes becomes difficult to comprehend it in totality. To be a successful project manager you need to master the skills, knowledge, creative problem solving, communication and many more. Project Management Institute, PMI covers this vast field of knowledge by diving this in 10 knowledge areas and 5 process group in the Project Management Body of knowledge (PMBOK ver 6).  These two categories are the backbone of the PMBOK Guide (Project Management Body of Knowledge). Project Management Knowledge area deals why are we doing process whereas Project Management Process Groups deals when are we doing any process The 49 processes divided in these 10 Knowledge Area”s or in 5 Process groups are interconne...

Closing Process Group – PMP/CAPM (PMBOK 6) The Closing Process Group consists of the process(es) performed to formally complete or close a project, phase, or contract. PMBOK 6 So the project that we initiated with the  Initiating phase  is coming to an end with Closing Process Group. A process which is mostly overlooked as resources are moved to other projects or phases and nobody closes the current project properly. This is the smallest process group with only 1 process but it has a big impact on the future of the organization largely because of documentation of the lessons learned, issues and storage of all these reports for future referrals. ‘Those processes performed to terminate formally all activities of a project or project phase, and the transfer of the completed product to others or to close a cancelled project.’ In this process group, the documents are reviewed to ensure completion before considering the project closed. This process also establishes t...

Monitoring and Controlling Process Group – PMP/CAPM (PMBOK 6) The Monitoring and Controlling Process Group consists of those processes required to track, review, and regulate the progress and performance of the project; identify any areas in which changes to the plan are required; and initiate the corresponding changes. PMBOK 6 How do you know the current status of your project? How is the current status of the project communicated to your organization’s management team? How do you ensure your clients know the project’s status? When do you introduce change or corrective action into the project based on the project’s current status? When do you decide to allow the project to continue “as is” with no changes being introduced? The answers to these question stem from the Monitoring and Controlling Process Group.* Changes are inevitable. No execution ever goes a hundred per cent as planned. Monitoring and controlling process help remain proactive to look for potential problems...

Executing Process Group – PMP/CAPM (PMBOK 6) The Executing Process Group consists of those processes performed to complete the work defined in the project management plan to satisfy the project requirements. PMBOK 6 The processes in Executing Process Group deal with the completion of the work defined in the Project Management Plan which is completed and approved by the stakeholders at the end of the project planning phase. It involves coordinating resources like people, equipment and resources to get the work done efficiently and effectively so that the project keeps delivering the promised objective. The most important output here is Deliverable, which is produced in line with the defined Project Management Plan. This process is where most of the work is carried out, and where products and deliverables are built, assembled, constructed, and created. Behind every successful project is a great team and a good team is a direct result of the good environment which is based o...

Initiating Process Group – PMP/CAPM (PMBOK 6) The Initiating Process Group consists of those Project management processes performed to define a new project or a new phase of anexisting project by obtaining authorization to start the project or phase. PMBOK 6 This is the first  Project Management process group  that translates the idea into a project. It helps in to understand the need for the project and what eventually organization is looking at in terms of benefits at the end of the project. Project Charter helps to set a vision for what is to accomplish as the project. Identify stakeholders  is as important as setting up a vision of the project. Failure to correctly and early identification and properly engaging stakeholders can literally make or break the project. This is the very first phase of the project that aims to define the project at a broad level. In this step, you will figure out whether the project is feasible enough to be undertaken. Stakehold...

Planning Process Group – PMP/CAPM (PMBOK 6) If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail by Benjamin Franklin The Planning Process Group consists of those processes that establish the total scope of the effort, define and refine the objectives, and develop the course of action required to attain those objectives.  A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) Sixth Edition Once authorized, the project management team needs to plan the project at an appropriate level of details using progressive elaboration techniques. This is thinking ahead of time about the project. The Planning Process group contain the biggest chunk of the Project Management processes from the 49 processes. The process group brings together all of the different types of planning needed to run the project. This is not only to identify the Scope ,  Cost, Schedule but also identify the resources needed and plan proper mitigation strategies against any unforeseen future event. ...

No one can be a master of all; it’s too difficult a task. But you can definitely be a Jack-or-Jill-of-all-trades. As project managers, we wear multiple hats—from being facilitators and problem-solvers to translating corporate needs into actionable plans for teams and supporting assets This exposes our weaknesses on multiple fronts. I strongly believe that when it comes to project management in this advancing digital era, it’s equally important to identify your weakness—and work on them—as it is to know your strengths. Let’s look at some common weaknesses in many project managers… 1. Infrequent communication with team members:  No one negates the significance of consistent communication. Nonetheless, project managers often forget to meet with the team and provide updates to key stakeholders once the project is underway. Formulating the groundwork for everyday meetings—including who will join them to keep things on track—is essential. Project managers need to focus on having t...

Project Risk Management →  Video on Project Risk Management Changes and Risks are inevitable, you can't run from these. To be an effective project manager it is in your favour to plan for these calamities beforehand. The challenge with this planning is that both risks and changes are unknown. The war room or continuous communication and face to face interaction helps in identifying the unknown. Project Risk Management is the route to the identification, evaluation, and response to any risk that emerges and assists the project remains on track and meet its ultimate goal. Risk management is an important part of the planning process to determine the risks that might happen and how to control. As a project manager, there’s nothing better to make you sleep well at night knowing that you have got the risk to your project under control and the stakeholders know about them. "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong."   - Murphy's Law A risk is something that could p...

Project Stakeholder Management →  Video on Project Stakeholder Management Every project has stakeholders. The project wouldn’t be existing without stakeholders. Project Stakeholder management helps to build a bridge which is needed for better understanding of our audience. Stakeholders are individuals who either care about or have a vested interest in the project. They can be a supporter or adversary and may positively or negatively influence The project sponsor is the main stakeholder who expects to receive the project’s deliverables. Typically, there is a certain expectation at a particular time, budget, quality level, and other standards. A project can only be a success story if it meets its objectives and meets and sometimes exceeds the expectations of project stakeholders. The project manager must be aware of all the stakeholders, understand them, and keenly manage key stakeholders expectations and influences on the project. It’s a common scenario when many project ...

When we think of project managers, we think of team leaders accountable for delivering the project within the allocated deadline and budget set by the client. In reality, it takes a lot to become a project manager. Achieving a leadership position comes with massive responsibility and requires certain character qualities. Leaders often require at least some training in regards to soft skills. One can have the potential to become a great leader, but if he or she doesn’t have the right personality, they won't be able to make it far on just raw talent. Here are the skills that (in my point of view) are essential to be a good—and eventually great—leader: Effective communication The ability to interact with multiple people at different levels is a skill that draws a line between ordinary and great leadership. A project leader must call for clear communication regarding the project’s expectations and ultimate objectives. Therefore, he or she must be able to progressively ali...

Project Procurement Management - PMP/CAPM →  Video on Project Procurement Management No organization can deliver a project in a silo, they would need to buy a product, services or a combination of both from outside to deliver the project objectives. Project Procurement Management refers to the goods and services required to complete the project. These can be procured from other parts of the organization involved in performing the project through resource management. It refers to the formal processes that many organizations follow to acquire goods and services. Procurement Management is the procedure of choosing, monitoring, and closing vendor contracts. Managing project procurements require the project manager to effectively cooperate with the buying department on the procedure of scheduling and managing procurements. Procurement on the project will be heavily impacted how the performing organization deals with the procurement in general. What kind of policies and proced...

Resign Your Job, Not Your Dignity Most of us would agree that it’s a small world—and even smaller within professional circles. We need to make sure that we leave good impressions on the people we meet—especially where we work. I understand that this is not always possible—we can’t make everyone happy, but we must try. Preparing to embark on a new job opportunity is an exciting feeling since you are turning over an important page in your career book. Though if you are presently working, this eagerness can be outshined by the fact that you are at the point where you need to resign from the current job. You might be thinking about how to go about it. This is where the true character of all parties involved come to light. What do you think of a company that wants you to give short shrift to your previous employer by forcing you to join earlier than your notice period would allow? Would you cut your notice period in half and run away without a proper handover? And what of the company...

Project Communication Management →  Video on Project Communication Management Project Communications management is essential to any successful project; it comprises of the procedures required to ensure on time/prompt and suitable/appropriate production, assembly, dissemination, storage, and final outlook of project information. It offers crucial connections among individuals, ideas, and information that is essential for success. Organizations environment and culture impacts the level and the kind of communications one may have on the project. Many project managers have implemented the technical work to excellence in order to figure out that stakeholders are not contended due to poor communication. For that reason, project communication is equally important as the technical work.  Also, the project manager needs to communicate in case of any unexpected events. That’s the area of project risk management. T he constant and steady communication with stakeholde...

Project Resource Management →  Video on Project Resource Management Project Resource Management helps in managing the capacity, utilization of people and assets for project work by determining and deploying the most qualified resources. It centralizes the crucial resources to enhance customer and employee satisfaction and high enterprise profitability. Resource management comprises the processes to identify, utilize and manage resources required for the successful completion of the project. It involves acquiring and deploying both internal and external resources which are essential for progressively delivering a project or program. The procedure primarily emphasizes on precedence usage of resources, controlling resource utilization and productivity, and measuring resource efficiency. One area which now has more focused when you deals with a human is your emotional intelligence or Emotional Quotient. This is your soft side Project Resource Management Processes Resource Ma...