Admission requirements
None
Description
This course is about the process of creating an ICT strategy and more in particular about the use of architectures as part of the ICT strategy. The use of the term architecture in the ICT context is often confusing, because it can refer to different types of architectures, with different purposes. We will distinguish three fundamentally different types of architectures: an enterprise architecture, a software architecture and the concepts of a service oriented architecture. The enterprise architecture represents a long term view of a company’s processes, systems and technologies, and guides a company through stages of maturity. A software architecture represents the fundamental organization of individual software solutions. The concepts of a service oriented architecture provide important theoretical notions on which both enterprise and software architectures can be built. The objective of this course is to understand these different types of architectures, and how these architectures support the implementation of a company’s ICT strategy, and ultimately help to build a solid foundation for business execution.
Throughout this course, practical cases will be presented to illustrate the application of architectures in practice. The third hour of every lecture is dedicated to applying and illustrating the theoretical models to practical cases, and to work on the assignments for this course. As an individual assignment, each student will have to develop an ICT strategy document, with a core enterprise architecture, for an organization of his/her choice. This individual assignment will be graded.
Course objectives
By the end of the course, the student should be able to:
Understand the process and products of ICT strategy and the relationship with a company’s overall strategy
Understand the most important technological developments and how these technologies may affect corporate strategy
Understand the goals and value of architectures in the ICT strategy process
Understand the difference between enterprise architecture, software architecture and service oriented architecture
Understand the concepts of a service oriented architecture, both in business and technical terms
Apply the presented frameworks and management tools to a practical situation (a case description).
Timetable
The schedule can be found on the LIACS website
Detailed table of contents can be found in blackboard.
Mode of instruction
Weekly a 3 hours lecture.
Assessment method
1) Individual assignments (25% of the course grade):
Individual paper
An ICT strategy document, with a core enterprise architecture, for an organization of the student’s choice
2) Exam:
- 75% of the course grade
Attendance and active class participation is required to pass this course.
Blackboard
Reading list
The following textbooks are required
Enterprise Architecture as Strategy, Jeanne W. Ross, Peter Weill, David C. Robertson, Harvard Business Press, 2006 (http://www.architectureasstrategy.com/)
SOA in practice, Nicolai M. Josuttis. O’Reilly 2007 (http://www.soa-in-practice.com/)
The following materials will be made available online.
a set of papers and articles
the slide handouts
Signing up for classes and exams
You have to sign up for classes and examinations (including resits) in uSis. Check this link for more information and activity codes.
There is a limited capacity for students from outside the master ICT in Business. Please contact the Programme Co-ordinator.
Contact information
Programme Co-ordinator ms. Judith Havelaar LL.M