Enterprise Systems
Enterprises represent a special case of systems of systems, one with enormous economic importance. Enterprises comprise elements (people, polices, governance, technology, etc.) working together to achieve a common purpose. We look at extended enterprises whose elements may be independent firms widely dispersed across the globe, each with their own motivations, expertise, cultures and organizations, yet collectively working together to produce a product or service valued by customers, the challenge of designing, managing, evaluating and optimizing these systems is the equal of any we can find. Today's global enterprises are far more complex than this simple definition implies. Enabled by a revolution in communications and information technologies, they may be among the most complex systems ever conceived of by humans.
The Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Enterprise Systems, were conceived with a two-fold goal. First, the SSE felt that an educational program was needed for people employed in the governance of enterprises from non-engineering and science backgrounds, and secondly, that a certain class of problems should not be characterized as Systems Engineering in nature but should be viewed from an enterprise perspective. Thus, understanding the complex systems characteristics of these elements to include systems thinking, analysis, and governance requires different tools and processes than those taught in Engineering Management and Systems Engineering. In a sense, treating them in the same class as technical systems represents a natural evolution, from enterprise systems as enabling technology, to enterprises as systems of cross functional processes, to enterprises as systems in their own right.
This Master of Science in Enterprise Systems program consists of ten courses (six core and four advisor directed electives) and include
Note students wishing to pursue the thesis option will take 6 credit hours of ES 900 and not take ES 800 and EM 680.
Students are encouraged to take an integrated four-course sequence leading to a graduate certificate for the remaining four electives or four additional courses in Systems Engineering, Engineering Management, or Enterprise Systems. Most of these certificates are offered on-line via web-based instruction. Approved four-course sequences include:
- Engineering Management,
- Enterprise Architecture and Governance,
- Infrastructure Management
- Logistics and Supply Chain Analysis
- Project Management, or
- Systems Engineering Management
Doctoral Program:
The PhD in Enterprise Systems requires 90 graduate credits to complete the doctoral program. Of these credits, 15 to 30 must be earned through course work, and 30 to 45 via dissertation work. Students must apply up to 30 credits from a master's program toward their doctoral degree.
Within two years of admission, students must take a written qualifying examination to test the students communication skills and their ability to conduct independent research associated with their general dissertation topic area. After passing the qualifying examination and completing the required course work, students must take an oral preliminary examination to evaluate their aptitude for advanced research and their understanding of the subjects associated with their dissertation topics. Upon satisfactory completion of the oral examination, students become doctoral candidates and start their dissertation research.
Doctoral research must be based on an original investigation, and the results must make a significant, state-of-the-art contribution to the field, worthy of publication in current professional literature. At the completion of the research, doctoral candidates must defend their thesis in a public presentation.
