Suggested Curriculum: MBA in Business Architecture

re: Suggested Curriculum: MBA in Business Architecture

Jiri Ludvik — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:32:05 GMT

Nick,

A good starting point. I would personally give a bit more focus to disciplines covering 'soft' subjects, which may drive or be a constraint to any more structured approaches. In that respect, I would add the following Business Transformation / Change and organisational behaviour.

These would be IMHO highly desirable.

Regards

re: Suggested Curriculum: MBA in Business Architecture

Kevin Brennan — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:20:12 GMT

Hi Nick,

A lot of the things you're talking about lately are close to the work that IIBA is trying to do. I'd be happy to have a chat with you about this: drop me a note at kevin.brennan@theiiba.org if you'd like to discuss.

re: Suggested Curriculum: MBA in Business Architecture

Alex Creuz — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:23:22 GMT

Are you kidding? How you can make "Information Modeling and aspects of Data Design" an elective? :) Without information architecture and domain modeling...

re: Suggested Curriculum: MBA in Business Architecture

NickMalik — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:34:42 GMT

Hi Alex,

In the first course, there are elements of information architecture included: Conceptual modeling, and the concept of metamodels.

The elective course goes deep on data design. It's an IT course.

The necessary elements of information modeling that we both consider as "required" are interspersed throughout about five or six of the courses.

--- N

re: Suggested Curriculum: MBA in Business Architecture

NickMalik — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:37:22 GMT

Hi Jiri,

The course: "Business Structural Evaluation, Modeling, and Transition planning" addresses many of the issues you'd expect. That said, there is plenty of room for improvement to this suggested degree design.

--- Nick

re: Suggested Curriculum: MBA in Business Architecture

Clement — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:07:27 GMT

What would be different if you'll take an MBA with an IT technical background ?

MBA is made for experience people and executives so I think MBA in business Architecture is creating another Silo in the company ...

re: Suggested Curriculum: MBA in Business Architecture

Rob — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:24:57 GMT

Because information is the "currency of the realm," any MBA for Business Architecture would be remiss without a mandatory course in Enterprise Information Management (with topics on Business Intelligence, Semantics, Governance, Information Security, Compliance and Auditing, and Information Quality).

I agree that information modeling itself should a elective, and I see your point about these topics being touched on in the various other courses. Managing information, however, is probably the most neglected business process in companies today, precisely because of the fragmented distribution of information-related responsibilities. To coin a phrase-- "If everyone is in charge of information management and data quality, then no one is."

A holistic treatment of the subject needs to part of any business architecture curriculum, so that it can be understood that information must ultimately be owned and driven by the business, and not by IT.

re: Suggested Curriculum: MBA in Business Architecture

NickMalik — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:36:12 GMT

Hi Clement,

You asked "What would be different if you'll take an MBA with an IT technical background ?"

You'd have a technologist with a business degree. You would NOT have a person that is prepared to understand or use the particular approach that successful business architects use to model, analyze, and improve a business.

All graduates of an MBA program are expected to fill any business role, including general manager, corporate vice president, CIO and even CEO. We are talking about human beings here. A degree prepares you. It doesn't pigeon-hole you.

--- N

re: Suggested Curriculum: MBA in Business Architecture

NickMalik — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:41:17 GMT

Hi Rob,

I'm not going to disagree. In general, the degree program that I outlined has a long list of required courses. Most MBA programs have fewer requirements and more room for electives.

I'm slow to add a requirement in the recommendation for that reason.

That said, I agree that information issues should be well understood by anyone who embarks on a career in business architecture, if for no other reason than the MBA in BA degree would be an entre' to Enterprise Architecture, where a well rounded understanding of information management is essential.

--- N

Business Architecture being taught in DePaul University MBA program since 2002

Paul Arthur Bodine — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 04:57:00 GMT

We agree!

DePaul University's MBA program has business-side course in Business Architecture, begun in 2002. It is accredited by the Business Architects Association and counts toward the BAA's Certified Business Architect (CBA) professional certificate. http://commerce.depaul.edu/About/index.asp

http://www.businessarchitects.org

The coursework is also taught on a nondegree basis: http://www.learning.depaul.edu/standard/content_areas/continuity_pages/coursegroup.asp?group_number=231&group_version=1

re: Suggested Curriculum: MBA in Business Architecture

NickMalik — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:53:29 GMT

Hello Paul,

It is great that DePaul has a course in business architecture. I'm glad to hear it. I was calling for an MBA in Business Architecture, on par with an MBA in Finance or an MBA in Marketing. Big difference.

That said, it is good to see a reputable university develop a single elective course in Business Architecture. It is a start.

For my readers, the course that Paul is referring to appears to be: INFO TECH STRATEGY/ARCHITECTURE (MIS 683)

--- Nick