A Project-Centered Approach to Teaching Information Technology and System Architectures
Annette Lerine Steenkamp, Terry White, Kamal Kakish
The design and teaching ofa graduate course in information technology (IT) and system architectures, an elective in a Master ofScienee in Computer andInformation Systems (Software Management) program, is described. The rationale for the course was that an IT architecture should be designed in terms of an architecture framework that relates the organizational and IT resources, thereby enhancing the organization's strategic decision-making capabilityand ability to leverage the organization's competitive position. Business drivers and initiatives were translated to rr requirements and guidelinesfor the acquisition anddeployment ofITs. The concepts ofsystems architecting (i.e. the process ofcreating and building architectures) were coveredand then applied to a case study undertaken in team mode,Jollowing an appropriate architecting process and methodology. The teams modeled the application, data and physical infrastructure perspectives, respectively, at various levels ofabstraction using appropriate notations. The resulting IT and system architectures were documented/allowing an architecting documentation method. Various industry standards were consulted in devising the syllabus for the course.
Annette Lerine Steenkamp is an associate professor in computer and information systems in the College of Graduate Management at the Lawrence Technological University (LTU), Southfield, Michigan, as of January 2002. At the present time she teaches in the Master of Science in Information Systems Program, and is program director of the new Doctoral Program in Management of Information Technology. Dr. Steenkamp serves on various university committees.
She joined the faculty of the College of Business Administration, University of Detroit Mercy in the Fall 1996 as visiting professor. andcontinued on as associateprofessor in computer and information systems until Fall 200 I. Dr. Steenkamp holds emeritus full professor status from the University of South Africa (UNISA) since retiring in June 1997 after nineteen years of service there. She has taught a range of courses andsupervised research at the masters and doctoral level, dealing mainly with asynchronous modes of education to adult learners. Dr.Steenkamp's research interest is the object-oriented paradigm for modeling business, systems and software processes. She has developed a research framework for object-oriented system development to direct and focus the investigations of her large number of research students. Current projects focus on system and IT architectures, collaborative and virtual team software development, and teaching and learning models.
Dr. Steenkamp was educated at the University of Stellenbosch and UNISA in South Aftica, and at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, under supervision of Prof Daniel Teichroew, Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering. She is a fellow of the South African Institute of Computer Scientists and Information Technologists and is registered as a natural scientist with the South African Council for Natural and Scientific Professions. Dr. Steenkamp is an IEEE Society affiliate and a member of the South African Computer Society.
Terry White an EDS Fellow, is the chief architect for the EDS Solutions Consulting organization that supports General Motors. The titleEDS Fellow is awarded to the corporation's most innovative thought leaders in recognition of their exceptional achievements. As an EDS Fellow, Mr. White helps to development enterprise-wide initiatives that shape the future ofEDS. He and his group are responsible for ensuring the success of the Solutions Consulting line of business for one of EDS' largest clients, General Motors. Mr. White's responsibilities includeadvisorseniorleadership ontechnical issues and activities; building key client relationships; developing IT solutions; mentoring team members; and providing oversight and thought leadership to EDS and its clients.
Kamal Kakish is the founder and president of Cobam Inc., a worldwide business and technology consulting firm. He actively consults among several large companies. Prior to founding Cobam Inc., Mr. Kakish served for over 20 years in information technology with companies that included IBM, General Motors, NetSales Inc., and the National Academy of Sciences. He held several executive positions which Included CIO, Sr. VP of engineering, director ofIT, and VP of product development. In addition to his day responsibilities, Mr. Kakish teaches as adjunct professor at local Michigan universities at nights and weekendsin several quality control and information technology. topics. Mr. Kakish is a master black belt in Six Sigma. He has a masters degree in information and computer science from Georgia Tech
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