Course Syllabus

ISMT E-599 CAPSTONE SEMINAR IN DIGITAL ENTERPRISE

Instructor: Zoya Kinstler

Teaching Assistant: Takayuki Iida

Class schedule. Every Monday evening, we will meet in real time via web conference. The assignment schedule and reading list will be posted on our canvas website a week before the first class.  Please note, there will be no on-campus session this semester.

Course overview. This interactive fast-paced seminar focuses on digital technologies as tools for achieving business goals. A "digital enterprise" is defined as an organization whose business model and operating platform are driven by Information Technology (IT).

Through readings and case studies, we learn how companies transform their products, processes, and systems by implementing digital technologies such as cloud services, mobile communications, social platforms, data analytics, and internet-of-things. Then we roll up our sleeves and build a capstone project, architecting a digital solution for a realistic business scenario.

As a capstone for the Information Management Systems (IMS) concentration, our seminar brings together topics learned throughout the students’ graduate coursework. The course creates a collaborative learning experience via lectures, readings, case studies, independent research, and intensive teamwork.

The course will address topics that cross the domains of Software Engineering and Management Information Systems. It will focus on information technology practices in business enterprises, blending management and technology perspectives in each topic. A special emphasis will be placed on current digital technologies and their transformative impact on the enterprise-scale, complex software systems.

Concepts covered: enterprise architecture, software application, business process, digital platform, system integration and migration, and technology implementation framework.

In our studies of digital enterprise, we will keep three perspectives:

• Business perspective: how to achieve business goals with digital technology, define business requirements, and gauge results in business terms
• Technical perspective: how to architect an enterprise business application, integrate it with other systems, and migrate from an old setup to a new one
• Operational perspective: how to deploy a digital technology solution, manage user experience, and operate a technology service.
  

Learning outcomes

• Industry lessons in modernizing enterprises with digital technology
• Skills to elicit and discern business requirements
• Skills to build a roadmap for a digital technology project
• Insights into system integration and migration impacts
• Confidence to cut through complexity and make sound design decisions
• Experience in scoping and planning large projects
• Framework for putting a digital solution into use.

Who should attend?

The course is geared toward professionals with strong technical background in software development and/or IT operations. An overall understanding of software application architecture and development process is expected even though no software coding is required in this class. Prerequisites: at least nine Master of Liberal Arts courses in the IMS concentration, or instructor’s permission. 

Class participation

Even on Zoom, we can have engaging and stimulating discussions.  Please be prepared to speak in every class, turn your video camera on, keep a professional appearance, arrange good lighting and clear sound, and remove any distractions from your camera view.

MODULE 1. THE BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

• Digital technologies for business: an overview and business impact
• Enterprise IT systems: overview, history, and role in business transformation
• Business requirements for digital technology projects
• Enterprise architecture

MODULE 2. TECHNICAL PERSPECTIVE

• Software applications for business: evolution of functions and platforms
• System integration and service-oriented architectures
• Digital technology platforms

MODULE 3. OPERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

• IT service infrastructure and cloud computing
• Implementing IT solutions
• Solution delivery roadmap: operationalization, user enablement, and project metrics.

Assignments

The assignment schedule and reading list will be posted on the class website a couple of weeks before the first class.

Assignment weights:

50% - team grades for the capstone paper, four grades total

30% - two individual grades for research papers

20% - an individual grade for participating and contributing to class learning

Reading materials

Reading materials are listed on the course website: cases, white papers, and blogs from software companies and enterprise technology experts; industry research from Gartner Inc.; and academic articles accessible via Harvard online library.

Sections

• Sections are run as team workshops and focused on producing capstone papers
• Sections will be led by both the instructor and the teaching assistant
• Section attendance is mandatory. Sections will be held after class every Monday, starting with the second week of classes.

Case studies

In business case studies, students will explore real-life industry scenarios involving enterprise-scale IT systems. Each case will be analyzed and discussed in class.

Most of the cases come via a course pack to be purchased from Harvard Business School Publishing, the rest are downloadable from the public web. The full case list will be published on Canvas.

Capstone paper

This is a culmination of our graduate program – a comprehensive proposal of a new digital capability (application, product, or service) that helps a business enterprise to reach a strategic goal.

Students have the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained from other courses across the IMS program. They are expected to demonstrate technical expertise and understanding of the relevant business context.

During the semester, student teams go through several paper iterations, class discussions, oral presentations, and active coaching by the faculty.

As a business setting, we introduce a fictitious company “Gloco, Inc.” seeking to upgrade its enterprise information systems and modernize its technology infrastructure. The Gloco case will serve as a common framework for student projects.

Given the fact that digital technologies are evergreen with newly emerging trends and tools, we keep the topic list open. Students may choose topics from the class readings, bring real-life industry scenarios, or use themes offered by the instructor.

To meet the capstone requirement, students present their papers to the IMS concentration committee at the final class meeting. The capstone paper includes three parts: business requirements, technical specification and prototype, and implementation plan. The work is submitted in five steps:

ABSTRACT

• Summary statement defining the high-level approach to a chosen topic

PART 1. BUSINESS CASE

• Business context
• Required functionality
• Business benefit justification

PART 2. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION AND PROTOTYPE

• Architectural approach
• Software solution
• Integration with existing applications
• Solution demonstration. Students may use website mock-ups, vendor demo materials, or build software prototypes.

PART 3. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

• Solution development and deployment: timeline and deliverables
• Inserting the system into company's operational platform: tasks, stakeholders, and dependencies
• User enablement: how will people use the system
• Success metrics: how will the promised results be achieved

FINAL PRESENTATION

• Written paper submitted for grading
• Oral presentation to the IMS faculty panel.

Grading

A letter grade will be given in accordance with the school’s grading policy. Grading criteria include correctness, completeness, depth of analysis, insightfulness, level of effort, and clarity of writing. 

Zoom classroom etiquette

• Keep your camera always on. Keep a professional appearance
• Minimize distractions in your background view whether it is real or virtual.
• Speaking in class is required. Raise your hand to speak. Mute when not speaking
• Ensure strong WIFI connection, clear sound, and proper lighting
• Respect the schedule. If leaving early, wave a good-bye via chat.

Attendance policy

This seminar is designed to maximize your learning through discussion and collaboration. Therefore, we expect you to attend every class and do the assigned reading and other homework. Missing more than two classes will lower your participation grade.  There are many ways to earn participation points: contribute to discussion forums on the class site, offer opinions during case discussions, ask insightful questions, and so on.  To make up for a missed business case discussion, you will be asked to submit the case analysis in writing. 

Academic Integrity

Please review Harvard Extension School policy on academic integrity: https://www.extension.harvard.edu/resources-policies/student-conduct/academic-integrity

Accommodations for Disabilities

Students who would like to request accommodations for disabilities should get in touch as soon as possible with the Accessibility Services office at 617-998-9640 or email accessibility@dcemail.harvard.edu  More information is available at this website: https://www.extension.harvard.edu/accessibility-student-services

Please note: this syllabus is subject to change depending on the class progress.