Open Systems: The Promises and the Pitfalls

Open Systems: The Promises and the Pitfalls provides participants with basic knowledge about how to successfully transition to using an open systems approach for systems acquisition. DoD PMOs (program management office personnel) are experiencing increasing pressure to abandon the old approaches to system acquisition and take an open systems approach instead. This represents a paradigm shift in the way systems are developed and maintained, with organizations becoming consumers rather than producers of systems interfaces and components.

The course consists of lectures, interactive discussions, and exercises, including a final exercise during which participants will be able to apply what they have learned to a realistic acquisition situation.

Who should attend?

  • Government program management office (PMO) personnel and contractors responsible for acquisition and transition to open systems
  • Government field and laboratory personnel
  • Systems integrators and mid-level managers who acquire open systems.

What will you learn?

Do you feel pressure to convert to open systems but know nothing about them?
Are you wary of open systems because you do not understand them?

After taking this course, participants will be better prepared to successfully incorporate open systems into their approach to systems acquisition. They will be equipped to ask intelligent questions about various aspects of open systems and to assess the answers they receive.

Course Details at a Glance

Next Learning Opportunity

This is a customer site only course.

 

This course may be offered by special arrangement at customer sites.



 

 

For More Information

 

E-mail: course-info@sei.cmu.edu
Phone: 412-268-7622

 

 


This is a customer site only course.

This course may be offered by special arrangement at customer sites.

Schedule

Open Systems: The Promises and the Pitfalls is a two and one-half-day course.
The daily schedule is:
Day 1, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Day 2, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Day 3, 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

  • Overview
  • Open Systems Landscape
  • Defining Open Systems
  • Basics of an open systems approach
  • Reference models and architectures
  • Standards
  • NDI and COTS
  • Open system roadmaps & integration
  • Impacts of changes
  • Evidence
  • Special concerns for PMOs
  • Managing the transition
  • Final exercise
  • Summary
While there are no prerequisites, it is helpful for participants to be familiar with government acquisition, computer-based systems - particularly mission-critical systems, and have experience working with government program management offices.
Participants will receive course visuals and notes, reference materials, exercises, and handouts.

The various resource materials provided throughout the course will assist participants once they return to their home organization. These reference materials include a glossary, an annotated bibliography, a list of related Web sites, sample questions, policy and procurement statements.