Enterprise Architecture Justification Paper – Individual Assignment
Purpose of this Assignment
This assignment gives you the opportunity to apply your critical thinking skills and understanding of the course concepts to explain how the enterprise architecture (EA) and/or the EA program benefits an organization. This assignment specifically addresses the following course outcomes:
describe enterprise architecture (EA), the appropriate application of EA frameworks, and an overall ongoing EA program
analyze and examine how enterprise architecture and enterprise systems influence, support, and enable an organization’s ability to contribute to strategic decision making and to respond and adapt to the business environment
apply EA concepts to support business requirements and identify opportunities for enterprise solutions
Assignment
Using the DMV case study provided, determine how an EA could be used to help the DMV accomplish the objectives stated explicitly and implicitly in the case study. The organization discussed in the case study has many issues with its current environment and many changes that it wants to make. It has not established an EA program yet.
The purpose of your paper is to briefly explain what an EA program is, and then justify a recommendation to establish an EA program for the organization. The DMV has taken on the CSI Redesign initiative so this presents an opportunity to explore how EA can be a benefit. You need to orient this assignment to justify recommendations on how the DMV can benefit from implementing a more holistic (EA) solution. You can use the CSI redesign effort as a basis on which to build, but your recommendations for EA should scale sufficiently.
You should provide at least four specific examples from the case study to show how an EA program could be of benefit, and you should provide at least two examples of how EA specifically benefitted another organization in solving problems similar to ones in the case study. (NOTE: More than four examples are required to receive all possible points; see Grading Rubric below.) Your paper will be graded on both the accuracy and the strength of your justifications; it needs to make a strong and compelling case for establishing an EA program for the DMV.
Your paper should be 2-3 pages in length (not counting any cover sheet or reference pages). The use of at least two external scholarly resources (other than class materials) is required. (NOTE: More than two external resources are required to receive all possible points; see Grading Rubric below.) You should use scholarly journals (rather than Wikipedia and authorless website postings). If you need assistance with determining what a scholarly journal is, the UMUC library is a very good source of information, accessed via the following link: http://www.umuc.edu/library/libhow/articles.cfm. Remember to correctly cite and reference all sources using APA format.
Submit your paper in Word format via your Assignments Folder as an attached document with your last name included in the filename.
Grading Rubric
Use the rubric below to be sure you have covered all aspects of this assignment.
Criteria
90-100%
Far Above Standards
80-89%
Above Standards
70-79%
Meets Standards
60-69%
Below Standards
< 60%
Well Below Standards
Possible Points
Introduction 5 Points
A sophisticated introduction sets the stage for the paper. 4 Points
A well-written introduction sets the stage for the paper. 3.5 Points
The introduction adequately sets the stage for the paper. 3 Points
The introduction does not adequately set the stage for the paper. 0-2 Points
No introduction included. 5
Explanation of Enterprise Architecture Program 13-15 Points
Explanation is brief but clear; is complete enough to set the stage for the paper; and demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of course concepts. 12 Points
Explanation is brief but clear; is complete enough to set the stage for the paper; and demonstrates a good understanding of course concepts. 10-11 Points
Explanation is adequately clear and sufficiently complete to set the stage for the paper, and demonstrates an adequate understanding of course concepts. 9 Points
Explanation may be only somewhat clear or complete; may or may not demonstrate an adequate understanding of course concepts. 0-8 Points
Explanation is not included or little effort is demonstrated. 15
Justification for EA Program 23-25 Points
The justification is clear, compelling and directly related to the case study. It demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of course concepts, analysis, critical thinking, and synthesis. 20-22 Points
The justification is clear, and directly related to the case study. It demonstrates a good understanding of course concepts, analysis, critical thinking, and synthesis. 18-19 Points
Justification is clear and related to the case study; it demonstrates adequate understanding of course concepts, analysis, critical thinking, and/or synthesis. 15-17 Points
Justification may be somewhat clear, or may be somewhat related to the case study; it may not demonstrate adequate understanding of course concepts, analysis, critical thinking, and/or synthesis. 0-14 Points
Justification is missing or demonstrates little effort. 25
Benefits 18-20 Points
More than four benefits of an EA program are identified and clearly related directly to the case study, demonstrating sophisticated critical thinking and writing. 16-17 Points
More than four benefits of an EA program are identified and related to the case study, demonstrating critical thinking and writing. 14-15 Points
At least four benefits of an EA program are identified; and are at least somewhat related to the case study; and demonstrate adequate critical thinking. 12-13 Points
Four or fewer benefits of an EA program may be identified; and/or may be only somewhat related to the case study; and/or may not demonstrate adequate critical thinking. 0-11 Points
No benefits identified or little effort demonstrated. 20
Examples from Other Organizations 9-10 Points
More than two examples of benefits of EA from other organizations are identified and are clearly related to the case study; demonstrates sophisticated analysis and critical thinking. 8 Points
More than two examples of benefits of EA from other organizations are identified and are related to the case study; demonstrates analysis and critical thinking. 7 Points
At least two examples of benefits of EA from other organizations are presented and are related to the case study; demonstrates adequate analysis and critical thinking. 6 Points
Two or fewer examples of benefits of EA from other organizations may be presented and/or may be only somewhat related to the case study; and/or may not demonstrate adequate analysis and critical thinking. 0-5 Points
No examples from other organizations are presented, or little effort demonstrated. 10
Conclusion 5 Points
Conclusion is convincing, effective and relevant. Demonstrates sophisticated analysis and critical thinking. 4 Points
Conclusion is effective and relevant. Demonstrates analysis and critical thinking. 3.5 Points
Conclusion is provided and is relevant. 3 Points
Conclusion is somewhat effective and/or relevant. 0-2 Points
No conclusion provided, or minimal effort demonstrated. 5
External Research 9-10 Points
More than two scholarly sources other than the class resources are incorporated and used effectively, contextualized, appropriately researched and supported, and synthesized with original arguments. Sources used are credible, relevant, and timely. Correct APA style is used for citations and references. 8 Points
More than two scholarly sources other than the class resources are incorporated and used effectively, appropriately researched and supported, and support original arguments. Sources used are credible, relevant, and timely. Correct APA style is used for citations and references. 7 Points
Two scholarly sources other than the class resources are properly incorporated and used. Uses APA format for references and citations. 6 Points
Two or fewer sources other than the class resources may be used; may not be scholarly sources; may not be properly incorporated or used to support arguments; may rely too heavily on the reporting of external sources, and/or are not effective or appropriate; and/or are not credible, relevant, or timely. May not use APA format. 0-5 Points
No external research is incorporated or reference listed is not cited within text. 10
Format 9-10 Points
Paper reflects effective organization and sophisticated writing; follows instructions provided; is written in third person; uses correct structure, grammar, and spelling; double- spaced and presented in a professional format using Word. 8 Points
Paper reflects effective organization; follows instructions provided; is written in third person; has few errors in sentence structure, grammar, and spelling; double-spaced, and presented in a professional format. 7 Points
Paper has some organization; may have some errors in sentence structure, grammar and spelling. Is double spaced and written in third person. 6 Points
Paper is not well organized, and/or contains several grammar and/or spelling errors; and/or is not double-spaced and written in third person. 0-5 Points
Paper is extremely poorly written, has many grammar and/or spelling errors, or does not convey the information. 10
TOTAL Points Possible 100
