Volume 7

20 pages 1105 K bytes

An Approach to Teaching IT Life Cycle Processes Annette Lerine Steenkamp Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MI 48075, USA David J. Van Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MI 48075, USA

Abstract: This contribution reports on an approach to teaching a course in information technology (IT) life cycle processes in a doctoral program of management in information technology. This program is designed for the practitioner scholar with high levels of managerial, technical and analytical expertise in the sub-fields of IT. The three credit hour course is one of five courses in the major track of the DMIT dealing with key information technology areas. The aspects of course design, pedagogy, assignments and team project are described with reference to an educational process model. The approach to course assessment and process modeling are summarized in terms of the course design criteria. The course offered a learning experience with learning outcomes in four categories, namely: 1. theoretical – the principles and methodologies of IT process modeling within the context of business processes; 2. informational outcomes in terms of leading edge trends in IT enabled business practice; 3. skill sets, such as the ability to improve the integration of IT life cycle processes into the business process model; and 4. informing of best practices as represented in national and international standards. The field of IT life cycle processes within an organization is addressed with focus on modeling the processes by which IT resources are acquired, maintained, supported, managed and aligned with the business processes of the enterprise. IT processes involve people, methods, techniques, procedures and computer-based tools, and the IT resources themselves. The ISO12207 set of standards were used as the baseline framework, and other frameworks, reference models and standards were referenced to inform individual and team assignments.

Keywords: information technology life cycle processes, course design, pedagogy, business process redesign methodology, alignment

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Recommended Citation: Steenkamp and Van (2009). An Approach to Teaching IT Life Cycle Processes. Information Systems Education Journal, 7 (57). http://isedj.org/7/57/. ISSN: 1545-679X. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of ISECON 2004: §2443. ISSN: 1542-7382.)