Analysis of Enterprise Architecture Applications for AusEd Inc Report

This report presents an analysis of the Enterprise Architecture (EA) applications for AusEd Inc, an e-learning provider. It begins with an introduction to e-learning in Australia and the need for a robust EA. The report details the architectural model, stakeholder concerns (students and staff), and enterprise goals, focusing on delivering quality service and reducing costs. It then outlines the business architecture, including organizational structure, baseline business functions, and processes. The information system architecture (application and data) is explored, along with the technology architecture. Change scenarios, cost-benefit analysis, and the challenges faced by AusEd Inc (time management, lack of licenses) are also discussed. The report concludes that an advanced EA is essential for mitigating challenges and achieving structural revenue.

Running head: ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE APPLICATIONS
Enterprise Architecture Applications: AusEd Inc
Name of the student:
Name of the university: AusEd Inc

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
1. Installing acclimate and creation of new model for AusEd Inc'..................................................2
2. Phase A: Architecture vision......................................................................................................2
2.1 Stakeholder’s Concern...........................................................................................................3
2.2 Enterprise goals.....................................................................................................................3
3. Phase B: Business architecture....................................................................................................4
3.1 Baseline organizational structure...........................................................................................4
3.2 Baseline business functions...................................................................................................4
4. Phase B: Business Architecture...................................................................................................5
4.1 Baseline Business Processes..................................................................................................5
5. i) Phase C: Information System Architecture (Application)......................................................5
ii) Phase C: Baseline Information System Architecture (data)........................................................6
a. Application co-operation view.............................................................................................6
b. Application alignment view.................................................................................................6
6. Phase D: Baseline Technology Architecture...............................................................................6
6.1 Baseline technology architecture...........................................................................................6
7. Change Scenarios.........................................................................................................................7
a. Activity 1: Goal refinement view............................................................................................7
b. Activity 2: Target business architecture and gap analysis.......................................................7

2ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE APPLICATIONS
5. Cost benefit analysis....................................................................................................................7
6. Challenges faced by AusEd Inc'................................................................................................10
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................12

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Introduction
E-learning is referred to as one of the most efficient, effective and beneficial learning
approaches that is widely used in Australia. Though, development of E-learning approach is
quite expensive but due to the presence of high technical support most of the teaching
institutions are transferring themselves as an E-learning study provider. For developing this
report, the nominated institution is AusEd Inc, which is committed to learning and in addition to
this it offers online learning opportunities to the students. It offers high level opportunities to
both the students and business owners as well.
AusEd Inc provides flexibility to the students and willing to establish engagement along
with the communities, industries and business work also. Though this approach is profitable
from the learner’s aspects but still certain level of serious issues are associated to it. In order to
mitigate those issues it is necessary to develop an advanced Enterprise Architecture (EA) for
AusEd Inc. After analyzing the background details of the company the external system
management approach and advanced strategic planning are also elaborated in this report.

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1. Installing acclimate and creation of new model for AusEd Inc'
Figure 1: Architectural model for AusEd Inc
(Source: Created by author)

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2. Phase A: Architecture vision
In order to make the business and information technology application much efficient
AusEd Inc as decided to develop their existing Enterprise Architecture. The main two
components of the architecture are the students and the staffs of online learning service providers
and for this particular architecture stakeholder concern and the goal of the enterprise AusEd Inc
are elaborated below:
2.1 Stakeholder’s Concern
From the given case scenario of AusEd Inc online learning application it has been defined
that, with the help of the stakeholder’s viewpoint the stakeholder’s concern would be easily
identified. The two stakeholders of this case are students and the staffs who are working for
AusEd Inc. With advanced service the students are needed to be highly satisfied. The satisfaction
of the students would help the company to gain measurable revenue. The components those have
been considered for this particular system architecture are offered courses, target consumers and
the profitability from the architecture is directly connected to both the stakeholders.
2.2 Enterprise goals
 The goal of the enterprise is to deliver quality and on-time service to the students.
It would help the company to gain effective profit in terms of reduced cost and
enhanced revenue.
 The Long term maintenance cost and the software development costs must be
reduced accordingly.
 The company wills to get license for the Online accounting software (MYOB), for
the locally installed on personal computers.

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 Another goal of the company is to develop Customer Relationship Management
(CRM) system so that they could build effective relationship between the service
providers and the students. It will help AusEd Inc to gain 360 degree of view from
the student’s end including automated data management approach for the service
providers.
 To deliver externally manageable system to the students
3. Phase B: Business architecture
3.1 Baseline organizational structure
After considering the case scenario or background of the company it is determined that,
the source service provider of AusEd Inc is Microsoft Corporation which is bidirectional
connected to the Exchange Server (2007). The other departments associated to the organizational
structure of AusEd Inc are front office and back office and a shared service centre. However, in
order to satisfy the students they are required to change most of their capabilities for
implementing the operational and functional applications. The other managerial applications
those are associated to the baseline organizational structure of AusEd Inc include strategic
management, fiscal and accounting management, risk and compliance management, performance
management etc.
3.2 Baseline business functions
The business functions served by AusEd Inc will help the company to gain measurable
success in terms of customer satisfaction and revenue respectively. The baseline business
functions are as follows:

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 The students would be able to access the study materials regardless of their
location and time as well
 With the help of the online review test held at the end of the online course, the
students would be able to know about their understanding on the topic
 In order to support the learning experiences the system will provide tips such as
FAQ
 It serves both cost free and costly online courses for the students
4. Phase B: Business Architecture
4.1 Baseline Business Processes
The processes associated to this business include the following:
 Defining the current state of the application
 Setting baseline including productivity, service quality, overtime, throughput
cycle time
 Setting business goal
 Identifying the importance of process maps
 Incorporation of non value added activities
 Development of activity matrix
5. i) Phase C: Information System Architecture (Application)
The newly developed business architecture has customer relationship management
system and with the help of this system, the students would be able to access the course details,

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payment structure details as well. In addition to this, for continuous business development, the
CRM is also very much helpful.
ii) Phase C: Baseline Information System Architecture (data)
a. Application co-operation view
The Application Co-operation view will be able to integrate the back office and front
office application of the E-learning service provider AusEd Inc. The incorporated suites are as
follows:
AUTO U: It helps to generate organizational policies and proposals
ADMIN: It helps to underwrite the system with the challenges for required modification
and developing other renews policies.
P-CONFIG: This product helps to configure the management system as er the
requirement of the students and service providers.
b. Application alignment view
With the help of the developed application alignment view the relationship between the
application components could be defined easily.
6. Phase D: Baseline Technology Architecture
6.1 Baseline technology architecture
According to the given scenario of AusEd Inc it is determined that the company is
currently using Microsoft based Email system where the main source is the Microsoft

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Corporation. The exchange server used by the company is the exchange server 2007 which is bi-
directionally connected to outlook (MAPI), POP3 or IMAP clients, Outlook Web Access and
pocket outlook exchange server active sync.
7. Change Scenarios
a. Activity 1: Goal refinement view
Due to the presence of in-house maintenance application of AusEd Inc the students could
access the system regardless of location and time as well. The goal of AusEd Inc is to deliver
quality and standard learning approach to the students including security. The SugarCRM would
help to establish secured relationship between the service providers and students as well. In order
to improve the existing organizational structure certain additional software and online payment
opportunities should be incorporated to it.
b. Activity 2: Target business architecture and gap analysis
From the student management system developed by AusEd Inc, it is defined that the four
leading components of the system are students, human resources, accounts and E-Learning.
However, the human resource and accounts are required to be connected to each other and on the
other hand the student portal and library should be connected to the E-learning system. There
should be an application of online discussion forum where the students and lecturer would be
able to discuss on a particular learning topic.
5. Cost benefit analysis
Tangible Benefits
Defined categories In $US

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Reduction in cost $
270,000.00
Error reduction $
90,000.00
Enhanced flexibility $
52,000.00
Enhanced activity speed $
42,000.00
Developed control and planning $
25,900.00
Other cost $ -
Net Tangible Benefits $
479,900.00
Tangible One-Time Costs
Defined Category In $US
Net architecture development cost $
200,000.00
Hardware cost $
51,000.00
software cost $
80,000.00
Training cost $
2,900.00
Cost for developing enterprise architecture $

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3,000.00
other allotted cost $
2,400.00
Total Tangible One-Time Costs $
339,300.00
Tangible Recurring Costs
Category In $US
Cost allotted for long term architecture maintenance $
21,000.00
Enhanced cost for data storage $
1,200.00
Incremental cost for communications $
2,200.00
Baseline cost for new hardware and software $ -
Suppliers cost $
1,000.00
Other Costs $ -
Net Tangible Recurring Costs $
25,400.00

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6. Challenges faced by AusEd Inc'
AusEd Inc is facing many challenges throughout due to lack of managerial aspects and
technical solutions the company is currently facing major challenges. The critical challenges
faced by the AusEd Inc are as follows:
Time consuming: The main issue associated to online learning is it needs more time than
the on campus classes. The online environment is completely different from physical classrooms
thus for the completion of online class courses extra times are required.
Requirement for good time management skills: In order to execute the information
technology based online courses, it is necessary for the developers to possess good time
management skills. However, due to lack of managerial skills the AusEd Inc is failing to manage
the time for the courses.
Intense requirement for the self direction: In such courses, the students are needed to be
much self-directed in nature because they do not get enough guidance from the online lecturers.
On the other hand even if the students fail to attend one of the lecture classes then it would be
difficult for them to catch the next class for the course.
No face to face interaction: In online class courses the students do not get any direct or
face to face interaction with their lecturer but in the discussion forums the students share their
opinion with other students and even with the teachers also.
Lack of software license: In order to run the online learning approach it is necessary for
the program and system developers to adopt proper software but due to lack of license AusEd Inc
fails to adopt proper software applications.

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Conclusion
From the overall discussion it can be concluded that the online education is nothing
different but a type of distance education that could be studied by any students regardless of their
location and time. For this kind of courses the students need not to present physically in any
study centers and even in the discussion forum they could take part efficiently. AusEd Inc' is
facing major challenges due to their architectural inefficiency. In order to mitigate these
challenges, advanced enterprise architecture has been adopted by the management authority of
AusEd Inc. It will help the company to gain efficient measurable structural revenue. The details
of the business architecture of the company and the architectural vision of the enterprise
architecture in terms information system are also illustrated in this report. Not only this but also
additional programs in both masters and degree level Information Technology courses are also
available in this online service providers. On the other hand AusEd Inc is currently organized in
three different major divisions such as sales, courses delivery and operations as well.
Additionally, network diagrams for the development of an Enterprise Architecture (EA) are also
illustrated in this report.

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