Nada Kanaan

Current

Senior Business Analyst at Plateau Systems

Past

Senior Business Analyst / Project Manager at Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC)
Web Designer / Business Analyst at DynCorp
Internet Coordinator at AAMI

Director of Research at FRANDATA Corporation

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1 more...

Education

The George Washington University
American University
The Madeira School

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Recommended

6 people have recommended Nada

Connections

210 connections

Industry

Information Technology and Services

Websites

Plateau Systems

Nada Kanaan’s Summary

I am passionate about making software more user friendly and more social. I currently work in an Agile development environment where I embrace user centered design. I love integrating useful Web 2.0 features like workplace communities, networking, collaboration tools, mobile apps and making it all very usable. I follow web 2.0, gov 2.0 and enterprise 2.0 and evangelize social media, communities/ areas of practice, and Twitter. My expertise is in designing a product's features with an eye to creativity, usability, the community, the marketing and business gain and the technology necessary to make it all happen.

I've got over 10 years of experience in Project Management, Requirements Analysis, UI Design, Testing and process improvement for a wide variety of commercial and federal applications. I write detailed requirements specifications and collaborate with engineers, visual designers and usability experts in order to get the best product out to the public. I am able to contribute at any level - from management to innovation, dreaming up new features and wading through the weeds as an analyst writing up the requirements specifications. I work very well with usability and interaction experts and have managed usability testing for two projects.

Nada Kanaan’s Experience

Senior Business Analyst

Plateau Systems

(Privately Held; Computer Software industry)

July 2006 — Present (3 years 6 months)

Incorporate Social Design (social networking, collaboration tools, communities, adaptive content, suggestions based on similar traits) into business software to increase usability and collaboration. My eye is always on how the software will be used by our commercial, government and regulated industry clientele. I'm responsible for guiding product development by designing new product features, conducting competitive analysis, following and incorporating web 2.0 features, reviewing customer needs and requests, and writing detailed requirements specifications for new products and product features. Developed wiki requirements process to support Scrum Methodology within a mature software development group. Managed usability testing for two projects which included preparation of facilitator scripts, surveys and preparing recommendations for Product Managers. Ensured product was usable by JAWS users in order to meet Section 508 guidelines.
Senior Business Analyst / Project Manager

Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC)

(Public Company; CSC; Information Technology and Services industry)

2001 — July 2006 (5 years )

(started this position at DynCorp which was acquired by CSC in 2003).
Project Manager on Federal IT contracts involving Java, ColdFusion and other web based technologies. Oversaw team of 12 to 15 developers, testers, writers and analysts ensuring that estimates, schedules, work products, and final applications were developed on time, within budget and presented with the best quality possible. Projects met CMM Level 3 requirements and one of my projects was successfully audited with me in Requirements Management Role.

I worked closely with government clients to pitch ideas, define requirements, communicate status and manage change. Provided great customer service in my years at CSC and was recognized as a top performer annually.
Web Designer / Business Analyst

DynCorp

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

May 1998 — 2001 (3 years )

I began at DynCorp as a web designer, responsible for designing and programming the HTML and JavaScript for government web sites as well as creating logos and graphics in PhotoShop. My role expanded to include testing , creating online help and defining requirements for web applications. I then became a task lead for most web application development in the department in 2001 and essentially morphed into the position listed above at CSC (which acquired DynCorp in 2003).
Internet Coordinator

AAMI

(Public Company; 51-200 employees; Medical Devices industry)

January 1998 — May 1998 (5 months)

I oversaw all aspects of the maintenance, development and marketing of the association’s web site. I maintained HTML content, assisted in developing schedules and implementation plans for new web features and assisted the Art Director in creating and implementing new layouts for the website.
Director of Research

FRANDATA Corporation

(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Research industry)

June 1993 — January 1998 (4 years 8 months)

After two years as a marketing coordinator and research assistant, I was promoted to oversee the Research Department at this small franchise research firm.

Marketing activities involved generating lists of target products for existing clients based on previous purchase trends and interests, representing the firm at trade shows.

Research responsibilities involved managing long term and short term research projects and overseeing a staff of 5 research assistants to complete these assignments. I also worked closely with outside consultants in refactoring and redesigning the company wide data management system and document tracking system by defining high level system requirements, designing initial flowcharts and screen layouts for data entry/document tracking software module and defining the existing data model.

Nada Kanaan’s Education

The George Washington University

MS , Software Engineering and Information Systems Management , 2001 — 2003
American University

BSBA , Marketing , 1990 — 1993

Activities and Societies:

WVAU - Music Director/Production Director
The Madeira School

1986 — 1990