Name: Joan, May 1982College major/minor: Computer Information Systems Occupational field: Information SystemsJob Title: Enterprise ArchitectEmployer: Kronos IncorporatedAdvanced degrees/Certification: Master of Science, Information TechnologyYears in Field: 27

What do you do?

As Enterprise Architect, I am responsible for the software platforms that support the business applications that Kronos employees use in their business processing. For example, we have the Oracle ERP system and other Sales and Service software. My group is responsible for the software that integrates it all, the data warehouse that brings together all the data, and the business intelligence software that everyone uses to report and analyze the corporate data.

My group consists of three technology architects and three consultants. Each pair (one employee, one consultant) is responsible for one of our three major initiatives (integration, data warehouse, business intelligence). Every day, every week is different. Some of the many things that I need to do:

Direct the group’s day-to-day responsibilities. Review project plans. Run interference for them, resolve problems, help them understand business problems.

Participate and mediate technology decisions in my group or for IS as a whole. Meet with functional area people to understand any issues on our current projects or possible new

requests. Meet with management to discuss project progress Brainstorm with my group as to new technologies that we want to investigate, or problems that we

need to solve.

What steps have you taken to get to where you are today?

In my first 10 years in the business, I went up the ranks from programmer, to programmer/analyst, to supervisor, to IS Director. As IS Director, I managed three groups – programming development, hardware/networking, and data entry. I changed jobs three or four times during these 10 years. All jobs were with manufacturing companies, so I learned a lot about ERP-type applications.

The second 10 years were in my own consulting firm. I went this path with my ex-husband so that I had the flexibility to be home as much as possible with my children. Our customers were primarily companies we had worked with previously as employees. As consultants, we provided programming, analysis, hardware, and network management.

The next five years were in a small software company, leading the Software Engineering group. I hadn’t worked for a company that produced software, and wanted the experience to do so, to experience that environment.

When laid off from there, I purposely wanted to return to a manufacturing firm, but in the IS group. I believe that software engineering methodologies can be applied to IS. Architecture, patterns, reuse, development methodologies, etc., can all be scaled appropriately to be effective in IS organizations. For the last two years, I have had the opportunity I wanted; namely, to work in the IS group of a manufacturing firm as an Architect.

What qualities do you and your company/organization find most attractive when hiring interns and/or recent college graduates?

In IS, I look for someone who has the following: solid business background (understanding accounting, business operations, marketing, sales; as

well as the systems that support them – ERP, CRM, etc.)

LOVE for technology. Can talk about it, enjoys it, enjoys learning, enjoys staying current Can communicate. Needs to be able to listen and understand. Full of energy. I want someone who understands they have to work hard in order to learn and

prove themselves.

What sort of coursework and/or internship experiences would be helpful in landing a job in your field?

It was long ago that I was at Bentley. There is one book that I still have. It was an Effective Business Communications class. I don’t remember the exact name of the class or the professor; but, it has served me well, and something for which I am often complimented. In the class, we learned how to produce a variety of business communications – letters, resumes, presentations, etc. Because of this class, I write well and enjoy writing. Whether writing e-mails or white papers, I am confident that the quality of my writing is solid.

Where would you recommend that students interested in this occupation begin to look for positions beyond their career services office?

The computer field is one of networking. Become involved in organizations of interest. If possible, do an internship (compensated or not), get some experience.

What are your future professional plans?

For me, it was important to go back and obtain my MS. It gave me a broader exposure to applying technology to business. Practically, it also gives me the option to facilitate online classes.

I’m not sure what the future holds. One option is to continue doing just what I’m doing now. Another is to teach full time, and a third would be to go back to consulting.

Any additional advice/words of wisdom?

I believe that this is a field that you shouldn’t be in unless you LOVE technology and enjoy working with people to understand what makes their job easier.