Titulo Estágio
Towards a Sectoral Enterprise Architecture Framework (SEAF)
Áreas de especialidade
Sistemas de Informação
Local do Estágio
Coimbra
Enquadramento
Enterprise architecture (EA) aims to design and transform organizations increasingly supported by information technologies (IT) (The Open Group, 2011). EA is also “a way of formalizing stakeholder concerns and presenting them in the context of the enterprise.” (NATO, 2021). Therefore, digital transformation, data integration, and the alignment between business and IT are on the top of the agenda of contemporary enterprise architects.
EA Methodologies include the Zachman Framework, Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework (FEAF), Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF), Open Group Architectural Framework (TOGAF) (Urbaczewski & Mrdalj, 2006), or the most recently updated NATO Architecture Framework (NATO, 2021). Interestingly, the traditional focus in governments (e.g., FEAF), military contexts (e.g., NATO), or consulting (e.g., Gartner) is expanding to new areas like smart cities (Anthony Jnr, 2021) and more complex modeling of business ecosystems (Wieringa, Engelsman, Gordijn, & Ionita, 2019). However, frameworks to represent the role of digital technologies in sector-specific supply chains are still lacking.
The idea for proposing a sectoral enterprise architecture framework (SEAF) emerged after some contacts with a business association (APIRAC). Their CEO and technical committees are interested in evaluating the possibilities for digital transformation in the supply chain of refrigeration and air-conditioned (they have hundreds of associates from the early stages of manufacturing to the technical management of smart buildings). Moreover, the association wants to create an EA model for their sector, improving information sharing between companies operating in the supply chain. Therefore, the master’s thesis will develop a sector-specific study of digital transformation using EA techniques.
References
Anthony Jnr, B. (2021). Managing digital transformation of smart cities through enterprise architecture–a review and research agenda. Enterprise Information Systems, 15(3), 299–331.
NATO. (2021). NATO Architecture Framework, Version 4. Retrieved from https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_157575.htm?
The Open Group. (2011). TOGAF Version 9.1. The Open Group [Online].
Urbaczewski, L., & Mrdalj, S. (2006). A comparison of enterprise architecture frameworks. Information Systems Journal, VII(2), 18–23.
Wieringa, R., Engelsman, W., Gordijn, J., & Ionita, D. (2019). A business ecosystem architecture modeling framework. Proceedings - 21st IEEE Conference on Business Informatics, CBI 2019, 1, 147–156.
Objetivo
The main objectives of this thesis are:
1)Create a preliminary version of a framework to model sector-specific digital architectures.
The first version will be created based on a literature review of related EA frameworks and improved during the project implementation with APIRAC.
2) EA modeling of the supply chain represented by APIRAC. Mapping opportunities for digital transformation in their sector.
This goal will include contacts with APIRAC technical committees to identify the technologies used in each segment. ArchiMate is a possible modeling language to use.
3) Create an online tool to collect data from APIRAC associates and evaluate their digital maturity according to SEAF architecture (example: PwC self-assessment available at https://i40-self-assessment.pwc.de/i40/interview/).
For theory, this master thesis will propose a preliminary EA framework to guide the digital transformation of an industry sector. The framework will be adopted in the refrigeration and air-conditioned industry. For practice, the project will help an industry association identify and model digital technologies available for their supply chain. The online self-assessment tool will be available for APIRAC associates.
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 1
The main phases for the first semester are presented as follows (may overlap):
1) Research the state-of-the-art: EA frameworks; Technology evaluation in the refrigeration and air-conditioning supply chain
Start: September 2021
Duration: 2 months
2) Contacts with the association and selected associates to understand the opportunities for digital transformation in refrigeration and air-conditioning (e.g., artificial intelligence for improved energy consumption, mobile systems for end-user interaction with equipment)
Start: October 2021
Duration: 2 months
3) Evaluation of the suitability of ArchiMate language to model the architecture of a business sector of the economy.
Start: November 2021
Duration: 1 month
Results of the 1st semester:
• Literature review
• SEAF draft (identification of the most relevant layers of the architecture for the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector; online tool specification)
• Intermediate report.
Plano de Trabalhos - Semestre 2
The main phases for the second semester are presented as follows:
4) Development of SEAF framework.
Start: January 2022
Duration: 4 months
5) Modeling the architecture of the selected supply chain using the preliminary SEAF proposal. Creation of the online tool for self-assessment of digital transformation in the target sector.
Start: January 2022
Duration: 4 months
6) Writing of the thesis
Start: May 2022
Duration: 2 months
Results of the 2nd semester:
• Final report
• APIRAC report for the associates with recommendations for digital transformation in their processes and products
• Scientific paper presenting the SEAF proposal and its application in the selected sector
Condições
The student will be integrated into the Information Systems Group (ISG) of CISUC, Department of Informatics Engineering, University of Coimbra. A workplace and the required resources will be provided in Coimbra and at APIRAC office in Lisbon (if necessary).
Observações
The student will be engaged with the activities of ISG in a topic with relevance for digital transformation in companies operating in industrial supply chains (e.g., manufacturing, distribution, installation, technical management of smart buildings). Therefore, this work offers an opportunity to strengthen the skills of IT consultancy. The student will have the opportunity to present the accepted papers at conferences, with expenses paid.
Orientador
João Barata
barata@dei.uc.pt 📩