1. Simulating Real-Life IT Project Environments Nicholas Harkiolakis, PhD Hellenic American University Athens - Greece

2. The 21 st Century Globalization Globalization Management & control Management & control Competition in world markets Competition in world markets Global work groups Global work groups Global delivery systems Global delivery systems Industrial Economies Knowledge-based economies Productivity New products & services Knowledge as an asset Time-based competition Shorter product life Turbulent environment Limited employee knowledge base Enterprise Transformations Flattening Decentralization Flexibility Location Independence Low Transaction and Coordination Costs Empowerment Collaborative Work and Teamwork

3. IT Profession Unix Microsoft Integrated Platform OS390 Web Services Integration AS400 Data Access XML Web Services Tools XML Web Services Tools Error Handling Multiple Languages Multiple Languages Windows Forms Tools Windows Forms Tools Web Forms Tools

4. The Learning Process

5. Learning in Life

6. Learning in Business

7. Learning in Academia

8. Hypothetical Scenario YearCourseCourse skillsCommon Project Area Lifelong learning skills 1 st Java ProgrammingProblem analysis, Statement formulation in an OO language, testing debugging Algorithmic thinking Object Oriented application Team/group interactions and learning processes Feedback giving and receiving Change management Risk management Leadership People management Communication Negotiation Planning Contract management Problem solving Creative thinking 2 nd Artificial Intelligence Exposure to an empirical science, that involves hypothesis and experimentation confirmation, automation of intelligence behavior, build intelligent entities Language parser construction 3 rd Project Management Project definition, resource management, team building, stakeholder management, risk assessment Software project management

9. Possibilities 1 st --------------------------------------------------------- 1 st --------------------------------------------------------- Discrete Mathematics Discrete Mathematics Programming Programming Data Structures Data Structures 2 nd -------------------------------------------------------- 2 nd -------------------------------------------------------- Databases Databases Networks Networks Operating Systems Operating Systems 3 rd -------------------------------------- 3 rd -------------------------------------- Systems Analysis and Design Systems Analysis and Design Management Information Systems Management Information Systems Project Management Project Management Capstone Project Capstone Project

10. Issues Program Program 3 year/4 year programs 3 year/4 year programs General Education/Major Courses General Education/Major Courses Teaching Teaching Scheduling Scheduling Grading Grading Percent of final grade Percent of final grade Evaluation Evaluation

11. by Integrating Course Modules of Different Student Levels Simulating Real-Life IT Project Environments