Teaching Enterprise Integration and Architecture - Tools, Patterns, and Model Problems

This paper describes the design and delivery of a new course introducing the joint topics of enterprise integration and enterprise architecture. Planned for an Information Technology curriculum, the course sits at the crossroads of Computer Science and Information Systems and is intended for upper level undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in any of these three disciplines. The course builds from an introduction to business operating models into a study of enterprise architecture and finishes with a design project in enterprise integration. The ArchiMate enterprise architecture modeling standard is applied using an open source tool. Model problems are developed in the tool to motivate class lectures and student design assignments. Design patterns form the basis of learning recurring solutions of integration problems. A final project challenges students to respond to a Request for Proposal to provide integration consulting services to a recently merged enterprise business.