Course Title: Enterprise Architecture
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Enterprise Architecture
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
ISYS2377 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
140H Computer Science & Information Technology |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011, Sem 1 2012 |
ISYS2378 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
140H Computer Science & Information Technology |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2006, Sem 1 2007, Sem 1 2008, Sem 1 2009, Sem 1 2010, Sem 1 2011 |
Course Coordinator: Dr. Andy Song
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 9761
Course Coordinator Email: andy.song@rmit.edu.au
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
You should not enrol in this course unless it is explicitly listed as a core course in your enrolment program structure.
Course Description
This course presents the key components and processes involved in the effective creation and governance of software architectures for large enterprises. An enterprise architecture is an overall framework and strategic objective for the usage of technology over time across an organization. It provides a plan and objectives that align business goals with ICT strategy to enable the organization to make the most effective use of ICT to support and build a business. You will acquire knowledge about a broad range of aspects of enterprise architectures, including decision-making variables (technical, strategic and budgetary). You will learn how to explain, present and defend your decisions.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course contributes to the following program learning outcomes:
Enabling Knowledge
You will gain skills as you apply knowledge with creativity and initiative to new situations. In doing so, you will:
- Demonstrate mastery of a body of knowledge that includes recent developments in enterprise architecture;
- Recognise and use principles and methods applicable to enterprise architecture.
Critical Analysis
You will learn to accurately and objectively examine, and critically investigate enterprise architecture concepts, evidence, theories or situations, in particular to:
- Analyse and model complex requirements and constraints for the purpose of designing, implementing and integrating software infrastructure to deliver business-focussed IT solutions across an enterprise;
- Critically evaluate and compare alternative software systems architectures on the basis of organisational strategy and enterprise requirements.
Communication
You will learn to lead, influence and communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, in particular to:
- Interpret identified enterprise business needs, communicate architectural decisions and strategy to meet those needs, articulate risks and benefits of those decisions to the enterprise, and choose appropriate methods of communication.
On completion of this course you should be able to:
- theorise enterprise architecture principles and purpose and illustrate their translation to practice;
- construct models for enterprise architecture definition which conform to industry standards and frameworks;
- identify critical success factors for common enterprise architect approaches.
- analyse alternative models for enterprise architecture components and processes for different organisations;
- produce appropriate documentation and deliver oral presentations relating to enterprise architectures, for a variety of audiences.
Overview of Learning Activities
- Face-to-face lectures, where the lecturer presents some of the topics in the course material;
- Tutorial exercises where you explore team dynamics, diagnostics and management;
- Seminar-style discussions where you present additional topics in the course, and apply your prior knowledge to recognise underlying principles and potential applications of new topics;
- Group presentations to classmates, teaching staff, and industry representatives of outcomes from assessment activities;
- Guest lectures from industry experts on key topics.
As a Learner, you will be encouraged to display active listening and engagement with lectures; actively participate in the group discussions, to contribute significantly to the analytical exercises in the tutorials; and to contribute appropriately to the assessable exercise(s) which will require study time each week external to the face-to-face sessions.
Overview of Learning Resources
There is currently no single textbook that covers all the material for this course. However, a reading list of relevant books and articles will be provided during the lecture, seminars, tutorials, or through references during learning activities or via myRMIT. Any software required for the performance of exercises and assignments will be installed for access on RMIT servers and/or available for installation on personal computers/laptops.
Overview of Assessment
The assessment for this course will involve a demonstration of the specified Learning Outcomes and Capabilities, via
- Assignments in which you will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the skills required for enterprise architecture development and adoption. You will also be required to demonstrate an ability to critically analyse alternative scenarios and challenges.
- A written examination which requires you to describe different aspects, components and communication considerations when developing enterprise architecture.
- Group presentations to classmates, teaching staff and industry people of outcomes from assessment activities.
This course has no hurdle requirements.
Assessment tasks
Assessment Task 1: Fortnightly report
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs - 1,2&3
Assessment Task 2: Assignment
Assessment Task 2.1: Group Assignment
Weighting 25%
This assessment task supports CLOs – 1,2,3,4&5
Assessment Task 2.2: Peer Review
Weighting 5%
This assessment task supports CLO - 5
Assessment Task 2.3: Individual Assignment
Weighting 15%
This assessment supports CLOs - 1,2,4&5
Assessment Task 2.4: Class Presentation
Weighting 10%
This assessment supports CLOs - 5
Assessment Task 3: Exam
Weighting 25%
This assessment supports CLOs - 1,2,3&4
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation. If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more. Your course assessment conforms to the RMIT university assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which are described and referenced in a single document Assessment Policies and Procedures manual. An 1.2.4 Assessment Charter section of this document summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.