phd on enterprise architecture

Smart. Open. Grounded. Inventive. Read our Ideas Made to Matter.

Which program is right for you?

Through intellectual rigor and experiential learning, this full-time, two-year MBA program develops leaders who make a difference in the world.

Earn your MBA and SM in engineering with this transformative two-year program.

A rigorous, hands-on program that prepares adaptive problem solvers for premier finance careers.

A 12-month program focused on applying the tools of modern data science, optimization and machine learning to solve real-world business problems.

Combine an international MBA with a deep dive into management science. A special opportunity for partner and affiliate schools only.

A doctoral program that produces outstanding scholars who are leading in their fields of research.

Bring a business perspective to your technical and quantitative expertise with a bachelor’s degree in management, business analytics, or finance.

Apply now and work for two to five years. We'll save you a seat in our MBA class when you're ready to come back to campus for your degree.

Executive Programs

The 20-month program teaches the science of management to mid-career leaders who want to move from success to significance.

A full-time MBA program for mid-career leaders eager to dedicate one year of discovery for a lifetime of impact.

A joint program for mid-career professionals that integrates engineering and systems thinking. Earn your master’s degree in engineering and management.

Non-degree programs for senior executives and high-potential managers.

A non-degree, customizable program for mid-career professionals.

GDPR reduced firms’ data and computation use

23 MIT startups to watch in 2024

New research examines ways the generative AI marketplace might evolve

Credit: Mimi Phan

Ideas Made to Matter

MIT expert recaps 30-plus years of enterprise architecture

Tracy Mayor

Aug 10, 2020

Over the course of three decades, Jeanne Ross built a reputation as a leading organizational theorist who connects viscerally with senior technology executives and the challenges they face.

At the MIT Center for Information Systems Research, Ross developed a career-defining passion for enterprise architecture , a strategy she defines as “designing your people, processes, and technology so that you can meet customers’ expectations and offer new digital offerings that solve their problems.”

Known also for her research on IT governance and digital design, Ross focused most recently on how companies formulate and execute business strategies around digital technologies — social, mobile, analytics, cloud, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence.

In a video conversation with CISR chairman Peter Weill, her longtime collaborator and co-author, Ross reflected on her career as she retires from MIT and shared some of her hard-won wisdom. A sampling:

Visibility into IT doesn’t come easily

Ross fell into information systems by chance. She was teaching undergraduate accounting at St. Norbert College in Wisconsin when the dean called her into his office asked her to teach management information systems. “I said, ‘I don't know anything about management information systems,’ and he said, ‘Oh, don't worry. It's just like accounting,’” Ross recalled. “I have to tell you, MIS is nothing like accounting.”

Ross got her PhD in MIS “only to be less incompetent,” but said even then she still didn’t feel like she understood IT. “I really only understood one thing, and that was that many people felt they were spending way too much money on IT in their company and getting very little value for it. That was a problem that I wanted to help solve.”

Enterprise architecture is the key to IT success . . .

At CISR, Ross began studying companies “that seemed to be making progress on this problem that so fascinated me” – eventually completing more than 50 case studies during her tenure. “I loved every one of them, the stories of ups and downs and the trauma and excitement as they overcame the obstacles to getting value from IT,” Ross recalled.

By the mid-90s, Ross started to see a pattern among companies that were having success in their efforts at enterprise architecture — that is, the organizing logic for business processes and IT infrastructure. “A few companies were actually designing the interrelationships between people, processes, and technology to derive more value from IT. In other words, they were doing enterprise architecture,” Ross said.

“What I learned with my colleagues is that the trick to getting value from enterprise architecture is to commit to the long haul,” Ross said. “This is not an initiative or a project. This is an approach to managing your company.”

. . . but many companies falter along the way

Ross and CISR researchers established that companies go through five stages of enterprise architecture maturity — moving from business silos to standardized technology to optimized core to business modularity and then a digital ecosystem .

Stage three — using technology to guide people through optimal enterprise processes like supply chain, accounts payable, billing, and sales — is where companies really begin to derive value from IT, Ross said. “We watched Lego , PepsiAmericas , USAA , and CEMEX put in enterprise systems that really worked and created huge value for their companies,” Ross said, citing several of CISR’s corporate research partners.

Unfortunately, stage three was where a lot of firms got stuck, sometimes seriously so. “We observed massive failures in business transformations that frankly were lasting six, eight, 10 years. It’s so hard because it's an exercise in reductionism, in tight focus,” Ross said.

Instead of trying to fix and optimize all its processes, a company should identify its most important data — as examples, Ross cited package data at UPS, customer data at USAA, and supply chain data at Lego.

“We find this most important data, and we find a few processes that capture it accurately and use it well, and in doing that, we build the essence of the digitized platform that we need to exist as a company,” she said.

In coaching firms, storytelling is a skill and a gift

Ross worked with Weill more than 20 years, writing three books together and conducting dozens of research projects and hundreds of executive briefings around the world. He cited her “unique capability to get to the crux of an issue” and during their conversation told her, “One of the things I've admired about you over all the years is your storytelling ability. You take an incredibly complicated world and draw a story through it and then tell it.”

Ross said her narrative bent comes from being fascinated by people's stories and wanting to bring them to life. “I learned that by listening really, really carefully that I could feel the pain and the excitement that people were experiencing,” she said. “I do think if we want to understand the world, we do it best through stories.”

The work continues. Here’s what’s next

As one of the most familiar and public faces of CISR, Ross will be missed by the community, but the bench is deep.

“I believe CISR is not going to miss a beat as I leave,” Ross said, citing various colleagues and their areas of ongoing research: Nick van der Meulen on digital operating models and enterprise architecture; Barbara Wixom on data monetization; Nils Fonstad on digital innovation; Ina Sebastian on digital partnering; Kristine Dery on employee experience; and Weill and Stephanie Woerner on what senior level managers and boards need to know about digital strategy.

In retirement, Ross said, she wants to spend “lots and lots of time” with her husband, children, and grandchildren, including newborn twins with whom she has been quarantining.

“In addition, I would like to find ways to make the world better,” Ross said. “My plan is to start by seeing what I can do to promote voting rights in this country, and then we'll see where that takes me.”

Further reading

Jeanne Ross: Career highlights

5 building blocks of digital transformation

“Designed for Digital: How to Architect Your Business for Sustained Success”

Related Articles

Ten Leading Colleges and Universities Preparing Tomorrow’s Enterprise Architects

May 15, 2017 Christopher Calnan Strategy & Planning 1

Enterprise architecture is slowly establishing itself in colleges and universities as information technology matures and becomes a more integral part of business, industry experts say.

The number of US colleges offering enterprise architecture programs continues to grow with schools such as Penn State University and Carnegie Mellon University. The popularity of EA programs is being driven by a need for greater alignment between the goals of the technology side and those of the larger business or organization, said Rosalie Ocker, director of Penn State’s Center for Enterprise Architecture.

Course enrollees are typically technologists “looking to understand the business better and to work with the business side of their organization,” she said. “Tech people and business people have to work together, and EA should span their areas. That’s what we try to do.”

Technology has sped up the formation of businesses and generating business itself. But that acceleration can come with a cost and make it more difficult get the various parts of a company or organization to work together with a single purpose. That’s the impetus for enterprise architecture.

Enterprise architecture is a modeling approach and business development strategy introduced 30 years ago by John A. Zachman to represent a company’s management structure.

“Architecture is not one thing,” he wrote. “It is a set of things, in fact, a set of 30 descriptive representations relevant for describing a complex object such that it can be created (that is, engineered, optimized so it meets its design objectives) and relevant for changing (that is, improving the object over time).”

Although the approach is slowly catching on, most of the nation’s EA programs are offered as part of a larger MBA program, Ocker said.

Penn State’s EA program, which launched in 2012, provides participants with a master’s of professional studies. It now claims about 378 participants, and 74 have completed the online program, Ocker said.

The Center for Enterprise Architecture hasn’t been dominated by any specific industry. Instead, program participants cover a wide variety of businesses and government agencies.

“Alignment throughout an organization is hard to achieve but necessary for success,” Ocker said. “No matter what you call EA, everyone needs it in order to be aligned; it doesn’t just happen.”

At Carnegie Mellon, the Institute for Software Research provides an executive and professional education program in EA, and Ohio-based Kent State offers an EA graduate certificate as part of its School of Digital Sciences.

Leonard Fehskens, editor of the Journal of Enterprise Architecture , said he was unaware of any organization tracking the nation’s EA programs or related trends.

The San Francisco-based Association of Enterprise Architects, which produces the journal, was founded in 2005. It represents about 35,000 members in about 45 regional chapters, he said.

Enterprise architecture operates at the intersection of design sciences and social sciences, fueling a greater demand for such training. The number of university EA programs has steadily grown, and Fehskens expects a university to someday formalize such training for a “full-blown” graduate degree.

However, the approach is so specialized that it still largely operates under the radar, Fehskens said.

“I don’t think the profession is at the point where high school students can pick a college based on enterprise architecture,” he said. “Most don’t even know what it is.”

Here’s a sample list of colleges with enterprise architecture courses or programs:

1. CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY

The Pennsylvania-based Institute for Software Research, Executive and Professional Education offers training courses in the concepts of EA, including major frameworks, program establishment, implementation methods, documentation products, and maturity measurement. Courses review the history and major approaches to EA. The series includes hands-on assignments designed to produce a Web-based EA repository and to populate it with common documentation products and artifacts. The objective is to integrate strategic, business, and technology planning to achieve the organization’s goals.

2. KENT STATE UNIVERSITY

Ohio-based Kent State offers an EA graduate certificate as part of its School of Digital Sciences. The EA program focuses on the business processes and technology infrastructure needed by an organization and the design of software systems that are aligned with the processes and infrastructure to support the goals of the business. It’s designed to prepare students for careers such as solution architect and application or technology architect.

3. PENN STATE UNIVERSITY

The university offers an online Master of Professional Studies in Enterprise Architecture program. The EA degree is not focused solely on the techno-centric side of enterprise architecture; it is an interdisciplinary degree that covers business and engineering, information sciences, and project or portfolio management. It offers participants a broader, more comprehensive perspective.

4. STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

The New Jersey-based university provides a graduate certificate in enterprise architecture and governance that applies traditional systems and engineering approaches to a broader class of human-centric systems of which a technical system is only one part.

5. UNIVERSITY OF ANTWERP

The Belgian university offers a master’s degree called executive master in enterprise IT architecture. It’s taught in English and designed for experienced IT professionals and experienced business managers. The program focuses on deepening knowledge of enterprise and IT architecture. It also includes modules on business strategy, leadership, change, and risk management.

6. UNIVERSITY OF DENVER

The Colorado-based university offers an EA course for students to learn how to integrate information and communications technologies with business goals. The course provides an overview of the enterprise-wide architectural framework that drives business decisions when selecting information and communications technology. The course encompasses all aspects of information and communications technology, including data networks, applications, operating systems, database systems, telecommunications systems, and hardware components in the context of a total enterprise-wide framework.

7. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, FLINT

UM-Flint’s course is focused on the design, selection, implementation, and management of enterprise IT solutions. It includes how applications and infrastructure fit within an organization. The course also addresses infrastructure management, system administration, data architecture, content management, distributed computing, middleware, legacy system integration, system consolidation, software selection, cost calculation, investment analysis, and emerging technologies.

8. UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

The Canadian university’s School of Continuing Studies provides an EA certificate with three required courses. They’re designed to provide participants with ways to align business strategy with IT, sustain business growth, and ensure that good governance and best practices are being applied. Students also study various accepted methodologies.

9. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, TACOMA

UW offers a foundations of EA course to students in the master’s in computer science and systems program. It covers the basics of both enterprise and architectural thinking, including the software to technology to solution architecture continuum. The course addresses the role EA plays in business and IT alignment, architectural styles, and techniques for capturing and documenting architectures. A follow-on course focuses on strategy development, use of standard frameworks for EA, and experiential learning through case study and projects.

10. ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE

While it is not a college or a university, EACOE is an educational resource nonetheless. It has developed a robust body of knowledge for executing architecture- and model-driven business and technology planning, business process engineering, and application development. Many of these techniques, methodologies, and processes are recognized as best practices, and are used globally.

1 Trackback / Pingback

• How an agile focus for Enterprise Architects builds competitive advantage for digital transformation | BriefingsDirect

Comments are closed.

• Utility Menu

Enterprise Architecture

Developing a Unified Technology Vision for Harvard

Our Vision:

To lead the alignment of technology strategy across the university and make it easier to teach, research, learn, and work.

What is Enterprise Architecture at Harvard?

Enterprise architecture (EA) at Harvard is a University-wide effort to develop a shared technology vision in support of academic, research, and administrative computing — one that begins with enterprise-wide strategies and an Agile approach that fosters ongoing technology innovation. Our vision for enterprise architecture is to provide a technology framework and a set of standards to enable acquisition, development, and deployment of IT services that maximize interoperation, minimize duplication, and simplify the IT environment across all of Harvard.  Learn More >

I Want To ...

Get involved with ea.

Want to be a part of Harvard's enterprise architecture effort? Discover details of our approach and timelines on our  Resources page, or email [email protected] to start the conversation.

To learn more about job opportunities in EA or elsewhere within Harvard University Information Technology, visit the Harvard employment portal .

Recent Documents

• EA Recommendations to Projects
• EA Advisories
• Architecture Collaborations
• Architecture Reviews
• Accessibility

• Utility Menu

Enterprise Architecture at Harvard

Find published architecture standards and guidance to align technology strategy across the university.

Browse the Documents

What ea does.

• 1 Articulates a set of principles and standards aligned to each architecture layer
• 2 Engages with IT teams across Harvard through Architecture Communities of Practice
• 3 Publishes guidance that promotes inter-operability and standards-based solutions
• 4 Reviews key technology impacts across the University
• 5 Evolves architecture with advances in technology

Architecture Layers

User Experience

Applications

Interoperation

Infrastructure

How EA Operates

Architecture review group.

Provides oversight and prioritization for the Architecture Communities of Practice

ARCHITECTURE COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE

University-wide domain experts who propose and produce architecture advisories, standards, and roadmaps

HEART (HUIT Engineering and Architecture Review Team)

Workgroup focused on reviews, approvals,  and direction for HUIT-centric goals  

• All bulletins
• Undergraduate
• Penn State Law
• Dickinson Law
• College of Medicine
• Departments

Enterprise Architecture and Business Transformation

The Master of Enterprise Architecture (M.E.A.) in Enterprise Architecture and Business Transformation is a unique program designed for professionals aspiring to advance to roles with enterprise wide scope and authority, such as that embodied by an enterprise architect. The M.E.A. in EABT provides a comprehensive educational experience in the principles and practice of enterprise architecture (EA) and integrates both business and enterprise technical knowledge. The program includes courses in:

• enterprise architecture foundations,
• business architecture,
• information technology architecture,
• enterprise security and risk architecture,
• organizational leadership,
• strategic management, and
• financial management.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission . Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies .

Since the program is multidisciplinary in nature, students from many disciplines may be acceptable for entry into the program. The most qualified applicants will be accepted in the program until all available spaces for new students are filled.

Consideration for admission into the program will be granted to individuals who meet one of the following sets of criteria:

• An approved baccalaureate degree with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 or above, (on a 4.0 scale) a minimum of five years of relevant work experience, three letters of reference, and a personal statement of relevant experience and goals.
• An approved baccalaureate degree with a minimum of a 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) grade point average, a minimum of two years of relevant work experience, three letters of reference, and a 1-3 page personal statement of relevant experience and goals.
• A graduate degree, a minimum of one year of relevant work experience, three letters of reference, and a 1-3 page personal statement of relevant experience and goals.
• An approved baccalaureate degree, successful completion of three courses in the program with a minimum of a 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) grade point average as a non-degree graduate student, at least two years of relevant work experience, and a 1-3 page personal statement of relevant experience and goals.

The language of instruction at Penn State is English. English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS) may be required for international applicants. See GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information.

Degree Requirements

Master of enterprise architecture (m.e.a.).

Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies .

The Master of Enterprise Architecture in Enterprise Architecture and Business Transformation program requires a minimum of 33 credits at the 400, 500, or 800 level. At least 18 credits must be at the 500 or 800 level, with at least 6 credits at the 500-level. Up to 10 graduate credits may be transferred in from a regionally accredited institution (subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit ). A student will take 27 credits of required courses. The remaining 6 credits are selected from a list of approved elective courses. The courses are delivered online through Penn State World Campus. The program is highly flexible and is designed to meet the different needs of students and organizations. With online delivery, the professional master program can easily fit into the work schedule of professionals from around the globe.

A graduate minor is available in any approved graduate major or dual-title program. The default requirements for a graduate minor are stated in Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-600 Research Degree Policies and GCAC-700 Professional Degree Policies , depending on the type of degree the student is pursuing:

• GCAC-611 Minor - Research Doctorate
• GCAC-641 Minor - Research Master's
• GCAC-709 Minor - Professional Doctorate
• GCAC-741 Minor - Professional Master's

Student Aid

World Campus students in graduate degree programs may be eligible for financial aid. Refer to the Tuition and Financial Aid section of the World Campus website for more information.

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

Enterprise Architecture (EA) Course List

Learning outcomes

• KNOW : Demonstrate knowledge of effective Enterprise Architecture concepts that align with business strategy.
• APPLY/CREATE: Design, develop and apply an effective risk strategy across the enterprise.
• COMMUNICATE: Communicate the value of Enterprise Architecture with business and technology stakeholders.
• THINK: Graduates will be able to think analytically and critically about the application of concepts and methods in enterprise architecture frameworks.
• PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: Understand the importance of effective modeling and project portfolio management and conduct themselves in the highest ethical values and standards in the management of the Enterprise Architecture process.

Print Options

Print this page.

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

The PDF will include content on the Overview tab only.

The PDF will include content on the Admission Requirements tab only.

The PDF will include content on the Degree Requirements tab only.

The PDF will include content on the Minor tab only.

The PDF will include content on the Student Aid tab only.

The PDF will include content on the Courses tab only.

The PDF will include content on the Learning Outcomes tab only.

The PDF will include content on the Contact tab only.

Download Complete Bulletin PDFs

• Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
• Advanced Informatics School (AIS)
• Nur Azaliah Abu Bakar

Nur Azaliah Abu Bakar Universiti Teknologi Malaysia | UTM  ·  Advanced Informatics School (AIS)

Connect with experts in your field

Join ResearchGate to contact this researcher and connect with your scientific community.

Publications

• University of Pretoria

• Delft University of Technology

• École de Technologie Supérieure

• Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

• University of Bradford
• Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

• Universitetet i Agder

• Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba

• City University of Hong Kong
• National Defence University of Malaysia
• Recruit researchers
• Join for free
• Login Email Tip: Most researchers use their institutional email address as their ResearchGate login Password Forgot password? Keep me logged in Log in or Continue with Google Welcome back! Please log in. Email · Hint Tip: Most researchers use their institutional email address as their ResearchGate login Password Forgot password? Keep me logged in Log in or Continue with Google No account? Sign up

11 enterprise-architecture PhD scholarships

Filtered by.

• Scholarship
• enterprise-architecture

Refine Your Search

• Netherlands 5
• Australia 1
• United Kingdom 1
• Delft University of Technology 3
• Chalmers University of Technology 1
• Cranfield University 1
• Curtin University 1
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht 1
• Saarland University • 1
• Technical University of Denmark 1
• Wageningen University and Research Center 1
• Computer Science 5
• Electrical Engineering 2
• Economics 1

PhD Position in Machine Learning (LLMs) & Computer Simulation

machine learning architectures , specifically adapting Large Language Models, to work with or replace established methods from computational engineering and computer simulation (such as the finite element

PhD Position Reducing Transaction Costs in a Circular Infrastructure Transition

are an advantage. Excellent English proficiency in reading and writing. Strong skills in mixed method approach. Energetic and decisive in the collaboration with partners in the field. Communicative and enterprising

PhD position on superconducting quantum computer technology

verbal and written communication skills in English are good. You are motivated for a career in quantum technology, in academia or at an institute or a company . You have a collaborative attitude and an

PhD position- Innovative spatial planning mechanisms to control nutrient emissions in the Netherlands

are aligned with the landscape in which they are situated? Then you could be the ideal candidate to join the Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning team! We are hiring a PhD candidate for a 4-year project

NExTWORKx PhD position Safe Use of AI in Telecommunication Networks

multiple vendors into a secure and reliable overall network architecture . This challenge is also referred to as “Operating Disintegrated Networks (ODIN)”. Both individual NFs and the overall network

NExTWORKx PhD position Co-Evolution of Telecommunication Networks and Urban systems

new ICT technologies (overons.kpn) We are looking for brilliant PhD candidates with a strong interest to the join a university- company collaboration on future Networking. The ideal candidate is

PhD on contextualizing generative AI systems in structured data (m/f/x)

), and security constraints of proprietary data contexts as in healthcare, enterprises , and governments. Potential directions to explore are agentic systems, retrieval augmented generation, (instruction

PhD scholarship in metabolic engineering of Pseudomonas putida - DTU Biosustain

of bacteria has been shaped under constant environmental selection pressure to assure survival under the encountered conditions. This evolution lead to a complex genetic architecture , rich in genetic elements

Developing Ontologies for Digital Engineering and Manufacturing PhD

, driving the seamless interaction and collaboration between diverse data sources, software/hardware systems, applications, devices, and enterprises . Managing interoperability sits at the heart of this

2023 HDR Scholarship - Develop multi-omic pipelines to analyse disease dynamics in crop plants

and the Grains Research and Development Corporation , to reduce the impact of crop disease in the Australian grains industry. https://www.ccdm.com.au/about/ The student will design glasshouse/control

Searches related to enterprise architecture

• computer science
• enterprise modeling
• ontology matching
• ontology postdoctoral
• postdoctoral
• semantic web

• Expansion Project
• Companies and Recruiters
• M.S. in Accounting
• M.S. in Business Analytics
• M.S. in Commerce
• M.S. in Global Commerce
• M.S. in Management of IT
• B.S. in Commerce
• Entrepreneurship Minor
• General Business Minor
• Leadership Minor
• Real Estate Minor
• Commerce Essentials

Programs at McIntire

McIntire’s innovative specialized business graduate degrees and its hallmark undergraduate program are designed to create a wealth of opportunities for students. Immersive, hands-on courses offer transformative educational experiences that provide immediate value. Our faculty-led programs provide key business skills and fluency in many business areas.

• Meet Our Faculty
• Center for Business Analytics
• Center for Global Commerce
• Center for Investors and Financial Markets
• Center for Real Estate
• Center for the Management of IT
• Galant Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• PwC Center for Innovation in Professional Services

Faculty & Research

McIntire faculty inspire students to lead with integrity and purpose when confronting today’s grand challenges in business. Our bold and brilliant professors are also committed scholars who conduct cutting-edge research through seven active centers that serve as the School's nexus of collaboration and interdisciplinary exploration.

• Meet the Dean
• Visit McIntire
• Career Support
• Global Opportunities
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Student Services

It's more than an education.

In addition to the lifelong benefits that come from an innovative McIntire business education, Commerce School students enjoy an enhanced UVA experience on Grounds and around the globe. From insightful student services that help connect you with your passion to specialized career support that provides real-world employment opportunities, there are countless ways to make the most of your present while investing in your future.

• Eligibility
• Application Process
• Application Requirements
• Funding Your Degree
• Class Profile
• Connect with Current Students

Enterprise Architecture

• IT Project & Product Management
• Digital Transformation
• Business Strategy
• Career and Network
• Request Information
• Schedule a Consultation
• Attend an Event
• Request Info

During Module 1, you'll learn about our core philosophy of designing IT systems that meet the needs of the business enterprise and add economic value.

You'll gain wide-ranging knowledge about the foundations of modern information systems: IT architecture, databases, business processes, cybersecurity, and networks. Through an in-depth study of contemporary IT trends and emerging technologies, you’ll also develop a big-picture understanding of how these pieces fit together.

Topics Covered:

• Digital platforms
• Enterprise frameworks
• Database Management Systems (DBMS)
• Data modeling
• Data warehouses
• Process management
• Process modeling
• Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)
• LANs and WANs
• Cybersecurity
• Communication

GCOM 7790: Enterprise Architecture (4 credits)

This course provides broad foundations for understanding how IT delivers business value. The class covers knowledge of enterprise architectures, databases, business processes, and networks at a level of detail that is appropriate for IT managers. Students in GCOM 7790 learn how to envision IT infrastructures and applications that meet the needs of the business enterprise and add economic value.

GCOM 7800: Advanced Enterprise Architecture (4 credits)

Building on the foundations in GCOM 7790, this class fosters insights into contemporary IT architecture trends. Topics include cybersecurity, cloud architectures, and emerging technologies. Students envision a business-value-adding digital innovation for a real-world business, describe their innovation by creating several architectural artifacts (e.g., process and information models), and present it to an audience of tech-savvy leaders.

The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. 

Connect With Us

We look forward to connecting with you about your interest in our Graduate Programs and encourage you to be in touch with any questions you may have.

Contact Information [email protected] +1 434-982-6800

We have 1 Architecture (enterprise) PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Architecture, Building & Planning

All locations

Institution

All Institutions

All PhD Types

All Funding

Architecture (enterprise) PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Phd in design, architecture, technology and engineering, self-funded phd students only.

The PhD opportunities on this programme do not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

PhD Research Programme

PhD Research Programmes present a range of research opportunities shaped by a university’s particular expertise, facilities and resources. You will usually identify a suitable topic for your PhD and propose your own project. Additional training and development opportunities may also be offered as part of your programme.

FindAPhD. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved.

Unknown    ( change )

Have you got time to answer some quick questions about PhD study?

Select your nearest city

You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits:

• Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
• The latest PhD projects delivered straight to your inbox
• Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
• Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, research proposal tips and much more
• Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs

Or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.

Create your account

Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here .

Filtering Results

ResearchTweet

PhD student in Computer and Systems Sciences, with focus on Enterprise Architecture and Digital Transformation

Follow us for daily updates.

The Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV) is one of the oldest IT departments in Sweden and one of the largest departments at Stockholm University with around 4,500 students and around 200 employees. The discipline of computer and systems sciences bridges the gap between technology and the humanities, social sciences, and behavioral sciences. The use and design of IT is put in context in relation to people, organizations, and society. DSV offers a stimulating research environment in an international setting.

Project description As a PhD student, you will collaborate with researchers at the Information Systems unit at DSV to tackle the challenges of aligning IT infrastructure with evolving business strategies through the lens of Enterprise Architecture (EA) in the context of digital transformation. The research centers on the application of simulation models to analyze the impact of legacy decisions on current IT and business processes. By adapting existing tools to simulate various scenarios within an EA framework, the project aims to identify and quantify obstacles to organizational agility and efficiency. The ultimate goal is to provide actionable insights and support decision-making for better alignment of IT with business objectives, enhancing the strategic planning and operational performance of organizations. The research focus will be discussed regularly and decided jointly by the supervisors, the PhD student, and the research group to explore relevant areas within enterprise architecture.

Qualification requirements In order to be admitted to postgraduate education, the applicant must have the general and specific entry requirements. The qualification requirements must be met by the deadline for applications.

You meet  general entry requirements  if you have completed a second-cycle degree, or completed courses equivalent to at least 240 higher education credits, of which 60 credits must be in the second cycle, or have otherwise acquired equivalent knowledge in Sweden or elsewhere.

In order to meet  the specific entry requirements , the general syllabus for doctoral studies in the field of Computer and systems sciences stipulates that applicants must have completed courses at second-cycle level in Computer and systems sciences with a minimum of 90 higher education credits, or equivalent, including a thesis with a minimum of 15 higher education credits. In addition, the applicant is required to have English language skills equivalent of Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Level B2.

Selection The selection among the eligible candidates will be based on their capacity to benefit from the training. The following criteria will be used to assess this capacity:

• Independence in the analysis and organization of the earlier work
• Problem formulation and rigor in previous work and in the research plan
• Previously shown ability to keep the specified time limits
• Methodological and scientific maturity
• Communication and cooperation skills
• Subject specific knowledge relevant to education.

Admission Regulations for Doctoral Studies at Stockholm University .

About the post We offer a fixed-term employment as a doctoral student according to Chapter 5 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student, you should primarily devote yourself to your own doctoral education, but the employment may include work with education, research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %).

A new employment as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, the employment is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact For more information, please contact Professor Janis Stirna,  [email protected] , or Director of PhD studies, Åsa Smedberg,  [email protected] .

Union representatives Saco-S,  [email protected] , Fackförbundet ST/OFR,  [email protected] , and SEKO,  [email protected] . PhD student representative,  [email protected] .

Application Apply for the PhD student position at Stockholm University’s recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline. We recommend that the application, with associated documents, be written in English.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of degree projects/theses
• Project proposal/Research proposal describing: – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement – why and how you wish to complete the project – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Degree certificates and grades confirming that you meet the general and specific entry requirements (no more than 6 files)
• Letters of recommendation (no more than 6 files)
• Degree projects/theses (no more than 6 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at:  How to apply for a position .

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.

Closing date:  15/10/2024

URL to this page https://www.su.se/english/about-the-university/work-at-su/available-jobs/phd-student-positions-1.507588?rmpage=job&rmjob=24217&rmlang=UK

Please mention you saw this ad on ResearchTweet.com

Share this job, similar opportunities.

PhD student position in Biobased materials for agriculture

Phd position – scaling of transmon qubits, phd student position in energy systems analysis, phd student position in safety engineering for trustworthy autonomy, phd in cryptography, phd position in hybrid quantum systems, recent opportunities, postdoctoral position in scientific writing education, recent advances in science.

The Benefits of Dietary Protease: The Secret to Healthier Body

Is Your Child’s Bone Health at Risk? The Dangers of Smoking While Pregnant

How Pharmaceuticals Are Polluting Our Waters?

• Book a Coaching Appointment
• Create a Resume, Cover Letter, or CV
• Choose a Career Field
• Search for a Job/Internship
• Build a Professional Brand
• Pursue Funding Opportunities
• Negotiate an Offer
• Network with Professionals/Find a Mentor
• Prepare for an Interview
• Prepare for Graduate School
• Collaborate with CPD
• Earn Academic Credit for an Internship
• Undergraduate Students
• Graduate Students
• Faculty and Staff
• Parents and Families
• Transfer Students
• Prospective Students
• Affinity and Identity Resources
• Accounting, Business Management, Consulting, and Finance
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Entertainment, TV and Film
• Engineering
• Fine Arts and Performing Arts
• Marketing, Communications, PR and Media
• Education, Counseling, and Human Services
• Health Professions and Research
• Energy, Environment, and Sustainability
• Computer Science, Data, Gaming, and Technology
• Non-Profit and Social Impact
• Legal Professions, Government, and Public Policy
• Career Fairs and CPD Career Weeks
• Career Treks
• Casual Career Conversations
• Meet the Team

Cloud Security Architecture for the Enterprise

• Share This: Share Cloud Security Architecture for the Enterprise on Facebook Share Cloud Security Architecture for the Enterprise on LinkedIn Share Cloud Security Architecture for the Enterprise on X

Instructor: Karl Ots

In this course, cybersecurity expert Karl Ots covers the core design pillars of a strong cloud security architecture, taking a vendor-agnostic look at what should be built into a cloud security architecture and why. Karl covers topics that include exploring cloud compliance monitoring solutions, translating existing security architecture into cloud security architecture, constructing custom shared responsibility models, and much more. Develop the skills needed to build a securely architected cloud environment that fits the risk appetite and governance requirements of your organization’s cloud environment. This course will not focus on how to configure cloud security controls with a specific cloud vendor. Instead, this course covers what a cloud security architecture should include and why.

• Book a demo
• Take a tour
• Optimize Strategy to Execution
• Accelerate Business Improvement
• Build Business Resilience
• Application Portfolio Management Plus APM+
• Capability Based Planning
• Enterprise Architecture Management
• Solution Architecture
• Business Process Management
• Solution Architect
• Enterprise Architect
• Process Architect
• CIO / Chief Architect
• Manufacturing
• Financial Services
• Healthcare and Pharma
• Business Architecture
• Risk Security Management
• Platform Overview
• Bizzdesign Horizzon Demos
• Integrations Overview
• Athora Insurance
• More customer stories
• Ingredients for success
• Customer onboarding
• Professional services
• Success management
• Support & community
• Why Bizzdesign
• Capability Lens
• Case Studies
• Whitepapers & Guides
• EA Maturity Assessment
• Bizzdesign Academy

Home Blogs Enterprise Architecture What drives the success of top Enterprise Architecture teams?

What drives the success of top Enterprise Architecture teams?

• Enterprise Architecture

Earlier this year, Bizzdesign released the State of Enterprise Architecture 2024 report, quickly becoming a definitive source for industry insights. This comprehensive research, based on a survey of over 500 Enterprise and Solution Architects worldwide, provides an in-depth look into our field’s current trends and practices.

Our enterprise architecture research report aimed to assess the maturity and impact of practices across organizations. By analyzing the findings, we could identify critical factors contributing to the success of enterprise architecture practices, which we’ll explore in this blog.

The methodology used in our survey

First, I’d like to share the methodology used to compile the findings. To gather the data, we surveyed 500 enterprise architecture professionals from different industries and company sizes globally to get a well-rounded perspective. The report utilized self-assessment scores from respondents to evaluate various aspects of their enterprise architecture practices. In our survey, we asked architects to do a self-assessment of their team’s maturity, agreeing or disagreeing with seven statements describing a mature practice:

• Our deliverables are current and relevant to support and drive change.
• Our development process is well-defined, understood, and executed.
• Our Enterprise Architecture helps align IT investments with long-term strategies to reduce risk and deliver business value outcomes.
• Stakeholders across the business can easily find the Enterprise Architecture information and insights they need and work with colleagues using collaboration tooling.
• The mission and value of our function are understood and valued across the organization.
• We have sufficiently trained and business-knowledgeable practitioners.
• We use an Enterprise Architecture Management tool that supports governed, collaborative design, adherence to industry standards, and powerful analysis.

Using these self-assessment answers, we divided the respondents into quartiles based on their self-assessed enterprise architecture maturity scores. The ‘Leaders’ were defined as the top 25% (top quartile) of respondents, while the ‘Laggards; were defined as the bottom 25% (bottom quartile) of respondents.

The analysis revealed a staggering 5.8 times maturity gap between the top quartile Leaders and the bottom quartile Laggards. This allowed us to compare the achievements and performance of the Leaders and Laggards across various metrics, including organizational agility, stakeholder engagement, and confidence in delivering IT and strategic business benefits.

5 Success factors of top enterprise architecture teams

Comparing these Leaders and Laggards leads to some interesting conclusions about the success factors of top teams. Here they are…

Success Factor 1: Strive towards maturity

Our survey’s results on business outcomes reveal that organizations with mature enterprise architecture practices are more effective in achieving their business objectives. This demonstrates how mature practices are more likely to contribute to organizational success.

The graph below shows that top-performing practices support their organization’s business outcomes. On average,  59% of the Leaders agree that their enterprise architecture program supports these business outcomes, but only 11% of the Laggards.

Which of these business outcomes does your EA program currently support

Additionally, findings in our report reveal that organizations with mature practices enjoy significant advantages compared to the Laggards, such as:

• Enhanced identification of cost-saving opportunities: Mature practices help organizations pinpoint areas where they can reduce costs, freeing up resources for innovation.
• Improved adaptability: Organizations with mature practices are better equipped to handle planned and unexpected changes.
• Increased visibility into IT assets: They have a clearer view of redundant, obsolete, and duplicated applications, leading to more efficient IT management.
• Better data flow and application linkage: Enhanced visibility into data flows and application connections allows for improved risk management when decommissioning applications.

Success factor 2: Stakeholder engagement is critical

In our survey, we asked respondents to rate various stakeholder groups on their levels of engagement, ranging from not engaged to decreasing, steady, or increasing. The graph below illustrates the average engagement levels for both Leaders and Laggards across all stakeholder groups.

Engagement averaged over Stakeholder Groups

The results reveal a significant contrast: Leaders report increasing engagement with 38% of their stakeholders, while laggards only see this level of engagement with 20% of their stakeholders. This means leaders are nearly twice as successful in enhancing stakeholder engagement.

More strikingly, 41% of Laggards stakeholders show no or declining engagement, compared to just 15% for leaders—indicating that laggards experience 2.7 times more disengagement. Losing stakeholder engagement can severely impact support and even jeopardize your position.

To improve and maintain stakeholder engagement, your practice must focus on delivering value outcomes to their stakeholders. Our report and my previous blog explore various business outcomes that Enterprise Architecture can support, providing insights into how you can effectively engage and retain stakeholder support.

Success factor 3: Use of Enterprise Architecture Management Tools

The report emphasizes that organizations using advanced Enterprise Architecture Management Tools tools are more capable of managing change. This suggests that these tools provide better visibility and control over the enterprise architecture landscape, allowing for more strategic and informed decision-making during transformation initiatives. These tools also support governed, collaborative design, enable architects to adhere to industry standards, and they’re utilized for their powerful analysis capabilities.

Success factor 4: Focus on Business Agility

There is a strong correlation between maturity and business agility. Organizations with more mature practices demonstrate significantly higher business agility levels than those with less mature practices. This correlation is evident in several aspects:

• 51% of maturity Leaders cope well with unplanned change, compared to only 5% of Laggards.
• 61% of Leaders execute planned changes well, far exceeding the 7% of Laggards who do so.

Leaders are better positioned to anticipate change and more likely to outpace competitors in implementing changes. Since the speed of change in many sectors keeps increasing, this is the key driver for improving the architecture maturity in many organizations. Architects can reduce complexity and pave the way for rolling out changes more quickly, effectively and efficiently.

Success factor 5: Align IT investments with organization strategy to deliver business value

Successful teams help their organizations prioritize and align IT investments in accordance with their business strategy. In the graph below, we took one of the seven statements from the maturity self-assessment: “Our Enterprise Architecture helps align IT investments with a long-term strategy to reduce risk and deliver business value outcomes”. We correlated that with the increase or decrease in enterprise architecture budgets.

Our EA helps align IT investments with long-term strategy to reduce risk and deliver business value outcomes

The graph clearly shows that enterprise architecture teams with increasing budgets deliver greater business value by effectively aligning IT investments with organizational strategy. On the other hand, teams that fail to demonstrate business value experience budget reductions. As an architect, you risk jeopardizing your role and job security if you don’t contribute enough value to the organization.

Where to from here…? Next steps

Now that you have the success factors of the top practice we’ve discussed in this blog, your next steps will be to benchmark your practice. Doing this lets you set improvement goals and develop strategies to enhance your enterprise architecture maturity and effectiveness.

How to benchmark your enterprise architecture practice

• Assess the maturity of your practice: To start, we’d like to invite you to assess your practice’s maturity with our maturity assessment tool. Our tool allows you to assess your maturity across multiple dimensions and use the insights to drive improvements, ultimately aiming to enhance business performance and strategic decision-making.More specifically, in relation to the research report, our assessment tool will allow you to identify your practice as a ‘Leader’ or a ‘Laggard’. Download our maturity assessment model here.
• Benchmark yourself against peers: Then, download your free copy of the State of the Enterprise Architecture 2024 report. Benchmark your practice against the statistics in the report in several ways: • Determine which organizational business outcomes your practice is currently supporting • Evaluate your success in increasing stakeholder engagement • Evaluate the impact of your Enterprise Architecture Management tool on the value of deliverables. • Determine how your team can cope with unplanned change • Investigate whether your organization is prioritizing IT investments

By comparing your organization’s performance in these areas to the statistics provided in the report, you can identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement in your practice. Knowledge is power. Don’t delay, get started today!

About the author:

Marc Lankhorst    Managing Consultant & Chief Technology Evangelist at Bizzdesign

Marc contributes to Bizzdesign’s vision, market development, consulting, and coaching on digital business design and enterprise architecture. He also spreads the word on the Open Group’s ArchiMate® standard for enterprise architecture modeling, of which he has been managing the development. His expertise and interests range from enterprise and IT architecture to business process management.

Related resources

In the last few years, we’ve seen extraordinary changes in technology with the rise of generative AI. As a result…

• Current Students

Graduate Certificate in Business Architecture

Program summary.

Gain the expertise to align your organization's higher-level strategic objectives with tactical enterprise-level projects and technology initiatives to improve overall effectiveness and efficiency. This program is recognized by the Business Architecture Guild.

100% Online

Complete your Penn State course work at your own pace and 100% online.

Application deadline

Credits and costs, gain skills to drive strategic execution and transformational change in your business.

Help your organization successfully execute its business strategy .

Apply business architecture approaches in the execution of business strategy and facilitation of enterprise change and transformation.

Align tactical resources and projects with strategic objectives to drive change in business performance .

Develop a blueprint of an enterprise that provides a common understanding of the organization.

Online Business Architecture Courses

The discipline of business architecture allows companies to see where they are, where they want to be, and how to achieve the end goal. This 9-credit online certificate will help you understand how business, information, and technology work together to achieve strategic and tactical goals.

As a student in the program, you will: 

• develop and link components of business architecture to create a holistic understanding of the enterprise 
• explore the concepts and practical applications of effective enterprise modeling and business information 
• develop meaningful representations of real-world aspects of a business, along with how they interact 
• delve into barriers that affect disruptive innovation 
• investigate emerging trends and disruptors in technology and industry that create new markets and influence product development, business models, and business practices associated with innovation 
• understand how business architecture as a discipline is developed and structured, as well as current and future trends

All courses are asynchronous , meaning you are not required to log in at a particular time each week. Optional synchronous discussions will be available throughout the semester for those students who prefer a higher level of engagement.

Courses are structured to allow you to complete weekly assignments when and where it's most convenient for you. While courses are autonomous, you will have the opportunity to interact and engage with your classmates through integrated experiences. This peer-to-peer interaction enhances your learning experience while strengthening your professional network on a global scale. 

Required Courses (select 9 credits)

Focuses on the development and application of business architecture as a holistic discipline that produces a common understanding of the organization that is used to align strategic objectives and tactical initiatives.

Surveys emerging trends and disruptors in technology and industry that create new markets and influence decision-making, product development, business models, and business practices associated with innovation.

Explores the use and effectiveness of architectural modeling to describe an organization and examines model-based products as tools to support, influence, and enable organization planning and decision-making.

Integrating multiple functional business areas to resolve global business problems and improve organizational performance.

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.

Start or Advance Your Career

You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.

Career Services to Set You Up for Success

From the day you're accepted as a student, you can access resources and tools provided by Penn State World Campus Career Services to further your career. These resources are beneficial whether you're searching for a job or advancing in an established career.

• Opportunities to connect with employers
• Career counselor/coach support
• Occupation and salary information
• Internships
• Graduate school resources  

Ready to Learn More?

Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.

I agree to be contacted via phone, email, and text by Penn State World Campus and affiliates. I understand my information may also be shared with select providers to offer ads that may be of interest to me. Privacy Policy . reCAPTCHA protected. Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service .

Learn more about this program

Ready to take the next step toward your penn state graduate certificate, costs and financial aid.

Learn about this program's tuition, fees, scholarship opportunities, grants, payment options, and military benefits.

Graduate Tuition

Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.

2024–25 Academic Year Rates

Paying for Your Certificate

Students pursuing a certificate are considered "nondegree," a status that is not eligible for federal student aid, including the Federal Direct Stafford Loan program. A private alternative loan may be an option to consider.

Additionally, Penn State offers many ways to pay for your education, including an installment plan and third-party payments. Penn State World Campus also offers an Employer Reimbursement and Tuition Deferment Plan. Learn more about the options for paying for your education .

Students pursuing a degree and meeting all other  eligibility requirements  may qualify for financial aid.

Financial Aid and Military Benefits

Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities , as well.

To view the detailed list of cost of attendance elements, select “World Campus” as the location on the  tuition site .

Penn State Smeal Advantage

Smeal College of Business is committed to being your partner in lifelong learning. Smeal offers programs, support, and resources for every career stage and life circumstance that will prepare you not only for your next great opportunity but also for the one after that.

More options, greater flexibility, and a commitment to lifelong learning

The desire for knowledge and professional growth spans a lifetime. That is why the Penn State Smeal College of Business offers a portfolio of professional graduate programs for all stages of your career. In partnership with Penn State World Campus, Smeal makes it easy to customize a learning plan to your unique career aspirations and busy schedule.  Penn State Smeal offers you  a lifetime of learning with more concentrations and one of the most integrated, flexible offerings of online and residential programs in the United States.

An entire team dedicated to your success

Personal advising  — Our experts will explain the many options that Penn State Smeal offers and will help you refine your career strategy and craft the educational experience best suited to your interests. It all starts with a simple, but critical question: “What are your goals?” 

Career coaching *   — Our Alumni Career Services team will support you across all career stages with professional advancement opportunities and coaching to help you stay focused on achieving your goals.

Delivering the best of online and in-person learning for a rich educational experience

We understand that today’s professional learners want meaningful discussion and interaction with faculty and classmates along with the technologies and flexible approaches of contemporary online learning. By aligning the best of both worlds, we bring richness, depth, and diversity to the overall educational experience.

Courses designed to engage and motivate the professional student

Creative Teams consisting of a lead faculty member, a Teaching Support Specialist (TSS), and an Instructional Designer use advanced analytics to develop and deliver contemporary graduate courses that promote application and engagement. We strive to innovate in ways that others don’t. 

A real-world perspective

• Industry professionals inside the virtual classroom  — Many of Penn State Smeal’s courses feature industry professionals who have been in the trenches and work hard to make an impact every day. These individuals, most of whom hold a Smeal graduate degree, partner with our renowned faculty to provide a rich academic context with real-world application.
• Global immersion*  — This unique, optional experience will enhance your ability to communicate cross-culturally, adapt to evolving business environments, and manage the risks and benefits of operating on a global scale. Any student pursing a full degree from Smeal may participate in this optional, faculty-led experience for elective credit. Previous destinations have included Shanghai, China; Johannesburg, South Africa; Prague, Czech Republic; Santiago, Chile; and Zagreb, Croatia.

One of the largest and most influential networks in the country

At Penn State, you are part of a worldwide community of instructors, learners, and more than 775,000 alumni who support one another and make a meaningful impact. Whether studying on campus or online through Penn State World Campus, all Penn State students can experience a sense of community and belonging. You’ll have opportunities to engage with your peers, faculty, and alumni through virtual and in-person, on-campus events such as Impact Smeal Day, WE ARE Weekend, THON™, and the Blue-White game.

More than 94,000 Smeal alumni benefit from connections around the globe as well as networking events, podcasts, webinars, a powerful LinkedIn community, and opportunities for volunteerism.

* Services are available only to students and alumni of Penn State Smeal’s degree programs and online degrees led by Smeal and delivered through the World Campus. Students and alumni of online graduate certificates are not eligible to receive these benefits unless they are also enrolled in a degree program.

A Head Start toward a Master’s Degree

Not only can this program help create opportunities in your career, it can also give you a solid head start toward a full master’s degree.

Degree Programs Related to This Certificate

Some or all credits earned for this certificate can be applied to the following Penn State World Campus degree programs:

Learn to strategically manage high-performance teams and solve complex, real-world business challenges. With more than 25 concentrations available, you can customize this top-ranked online MBA to suit your unique career goals.

Learn to strategically manage corporate innovation; develop new products, services, and business models for companies; and launch startups. With multiple concentrations to choose from, you can customize this online degree program to support your goals.

This online master's program in enterprise architecture and business transformation (EABT) integrates both business strategy and enterprise technical execution. EABT improves organizational efficiency, effectiveness, and agility by delivering holistic business-aligned and digitally focused systems.

Learn to leverage data to generate meaningful insights in the areas of digital marketing communications, customer experience and lifecycle, and brand management. This online master's degree program can help you articulate marketing's return-on-investment to stakeholders across your organization.

Prepare to lead organizations at the highest level. This program focuses on strategic thinking and leadership and is designed to help you master organizational strategies that drive effectiveness and performance.

Learn to gain a competitive business advantage using forecasting, inventory analysis, demand planning, and transformation strategy as a student in Penn State’s online supply chain management program. Courses from this flexible master’s degree also satisfy the requirements for a graduate certificate in supply chain management.

Who Should Apply?

This program is ideal for a wide range of students, including business analysts or those working in business analysis who aim to move into business planning and execution, or professionals in the IT industry who wish to move into a more business strategy–based role within their organization.

Students will more than likely be working as: 

• business analysts 
• business strategy analysts 
• consultants 
• business managers 
• innovation analysts/managers 
• project/program managers 
• enterprise architects 
• solution architects 
• business capability and process analysts/architects 
• information/data architects 
• IT architects 
• business architects

Nationally Recognized Program

The Graduate Certificate in Business Architecture is recognized by the Business Architecture Guild , an international, professional association that promotes best practices and expands the knowledge base of the business architecture discipline.

AACSB Accredited

The Penn State Smeal College of Business is AACSB accredited, an honor reserved for the top 5% of business schools worldwide. This program is competitively priced compared to other AACSB–accredited programs.

Set Your Own Pace

Whether you are looking to finish your program as quickly as possible or balance your studies with your busy life, Penn State World Campus can help you achieve your education goals. Many students take one or two courses per semester.

Our online courses typically follow a 12- to 15-week semester cycle, and there are three semesters per year (spring, summer, and fall). Depending on the course offering schedule for the program, certificates may be completed in 8–16 months.

Convenient Online Format

This program's convenient online format gives you the flexibility you need to study around your busy schedule. You can skip the lengthy commute without sacrificing the quality of your education and prepare yourself for more rewarding career opportunities without leaving your home.

A Trusted Leader in Online Education

Penn State has a history of more than 100 years of distance education, and World Campus has been a leader in online learning for more than two decades. Our online learning environment offers the same quality education that our students experience on campus.

Information for Military and Veterans

Are you a member of the military, a veteran, or a military spouse? Please visit our military website for additional information regarding financial aid, transfer credits, and application instructions.

How to Apply to Penn State

Apply by November 15 to start January 13

Application Instructions

Deadlines and important dates.

Complete your application and submit all required materials by the appropriate deadline. Your deadline will depend on the semester you plan to start your courses.

Spring Deadline

Summer deadline, fall deadline, steps to apply, 1. review the admission requirements..

For admission to the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School, an applicant must hold either (1) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or (2) a tertiary (postsecondary) degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. International applicants must also satisfy the English proficiency requirement.

2. Gather your required materials.

You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:

Official transcripts from each institution attended , regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. If you are a Penn State alumni, you do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State but must list Penn State as part of your academic history.

Test Scores — GRE or GMAT test scores are NOT required.

English Proficiency (International Applicants Only) — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with some exceptions. Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Fox Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page .

Program-Specific Questions/Materials

Vita or Résumé  — A one- to two-page listing of your professional experience and education. 

Statement of Purpose — Describe how your professional experience and goals align with the Graduate Certificate in Business Architecture. Please do not exceed 500 words.

3. Create a Penn State login account.

To begin the online application, you will need a Penn State account.

Create a New Penn State Account

If you have any problems during this process, contact an admissions counselor at [email protected] .

Please note: Former Penn State students may not need to complete the admissions application or create a new Penn State account. Please visit our Returning Students page for instructions.

4. Read the application instructions.

You can begin your online application at any time. Your progress within the online application system will be saved as you go, allowing you to return at any point as you gather additional information and required materials.

• Choose Enrollment Type: "Certificate Admission"
• Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus

Checking Your Status  You can  check the status of your application  by using the same login information established for the online application form. 

Technical Requirements   Review the technical requirements  for this program.

5. Complete the application.

Admissions help.

If you have questions about the admissions process, contact an admissions counselor at [email protected] .

Have questions or want more information? We're happy to talk.

For questions about the curriculum or the status of your submitted application, contact:

Penn State Smeal College of Business Office of Professional Graduate Programs 220C Business Building Phone: 814-865-5290 Email:  [email protected]

For general questions, contact:

World Campus Admissions Counselors Phone: 814-863-5386 Email:  [email protected]

Learn from the Best

Offered in partnership with the internationally ranked Penn State Smeal College of Business, this program gives you the opportunity to learn from the same faculty who teach in our residential programs.

Explore Other Academic Programs

Working together, we can reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives.

Enterprise Architecture and Integrations Director - Americas

About the role.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Alignment:

• Develop and maintain the enterprise architecture strategy, ensuring alignment with the company's business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with senior management to understand business goals, identify technology needs, and propose IT solutions that support these goals.

Architecture Development:

• Design and implement comprehensive IT architectures, including application, data, security, and infrastructure architectures, to support the entire pharmaceutical lifecycle from research and development to manufacturing and distribution.
• Develop and maintain architecture roadmaps and ensure they are updated to reflect changing business needs and technological advancements.

Technology Integration and Management:

• Evaluate, select, and integrate new technologies and systems to enhance the organization's capabilities in areas such as drug discovery, clinical trials, supply chain management, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure seamless integration of new systems with existing infrastructure, minimizing disruption and ensuring data integrity.

Compliance and Security:

• Ensure that IT systems comply with pharmaceutical industry regulations and standards (e.g., GxP, HIPAA).
• Implement robust security measures to protect sensitive data, including patient information, intellectual property, and proprietary research data.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Work closely with various stakeholders, including business teams, domain architects, regulatory affairs, both at global and local level, to understand their IT needs and challenges.
• Facilitate effective communication between IT and other departments to ensure that technology solutions meet business requirements.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement:

• Stay abreast of the latest trends and advancements in IT and the pharmaceutical industry.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement in IT systems and processes.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in IT architecture or related area.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing enterprise IT architectures in a regulated environment.
• Excellent understanding of current and emerging technologies, including integrations, cloud computing, data & analytics, artificial intelligence, and security.
• Has worked with some of the key vendors / technologies in the marketplace like ModelN, SAP, Vistex, Anaplan, Conga, Veeva (Vault, CRM), Anju (IRMS), Envision (Datavision), IQVIA (Engage Events management)
• Fluent English both written and spoken
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Experience with specific pharmaceutical IT systems (e.g., LIMS, ERP, MES).
• Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical industry regulations and standards (e.g., GxP, FDA, GDPR, HIPAA).
• Knowledge of data governance and data management practices in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Overall understanding of commercial pharma architecture, content management and its associated data flows
• Understands the pharma landscape in one or more key markets (e.g. US, Canada, Brazil etc.)
• Understands the life sciences data landscape (data models concepts, key data suppliers, how the data from key suppliers are used) in one of more key markets

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

Benefits and Rewards: Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards