When searching for a real-world scenario to use in a class project, sometimes the best option is just across campus. That was the case during the Spring 2015 semester for students in Professor Gerry Benoit’s Systems Analysis in Information Services course.

Throughout the semester, students worked with members of the Technology department to conduct an analysis of our current identity management platform and make suggestions for a more efficient solution.

Dave Bruce, Senior Director of Technology Services, asked the students to focus on identity management because it is an integral component of our infrastructure that integrates with many of the services we support. Identity management presented the students with a complex system that required both a detailed investigation of processes and a macro-level understanding of functionality.

Professor Benoit guided students throughout the semester as they conducted a professional-level analysis. Students were divided into groups, each handling a different aspect of the project. This approach mirrored what they will encounter in professional settings, where the ability to work with other teams to achieve results is as important as individual contributions.

The students researched and studied the system, worked with the Technology to gather requirements, and created prototypes, leading to the development of a portfolio of their research, findings, and recommendations.

As computing and information science change rapidly, Professor Benoit noted that it is vital that students across a range of technical and business disciplines have a deep understanding of systems and user needs so that they are “able to participate in the larger discourse about how to use computing to fulfill real-world information needs.”

That objective was evident in the project itself. A student in the class added that computing courses often “focus on teaching you how technology is supposed to work in a perfect world where no one makes mistakes. This class really helped me understand how to anticipate and navigate pitfalls in a live project.”

In this one project, it is easy to see the value of collaboration in fostering innovation at Simmons. Our students, faculty, and staff bring a wealth of knowledge to campus. Creating opportunities to share that knowledge directly contributes to the long-term success of the College.

As Professor Benoit pointed out, “the idea that collaboration is possible on campus is brilliant and wonderful!” We couldn’t agree more.