你的 15.578 学期专题，让你有机会对课堂上讨论的构想，作更深入的研究。学期专题可以独立完成，或由最多三人的小组来完成。本专题可以许多形式完成，例如：

1. 个案分析：个案可描述组织如何面对连结议题(例：娇生、FXX)。个案应具备 15.578 中之架构的普遍性概念(例：连结价值链、事业转型层级等)。
   
   
2. 比较性分析：许多策略性、实体的、逻辑的、 和组织性的连结概念都己经被发展出来了。在以上两个或更多的概念间加以比较将是很吸引人的(例：同质性与异质性分散式数据库、分散式光纤资料介面(FDDI)与十亿位元乙太网络、可扩展标记语言(XML)与网页服务等)。
   
   
3. 计算机专题：如果你愿意，你可以参加 15.565 同学的计算机专题。如果你要参加的话，请先知会助教，因为这个作业分成多个份， 其中有些部份很快就会开始了。

学期专题提案：

你的学期专题题案必须简短(大约一页)，但需足以清楚的说明学期专题的目标和相关的议题(例如其中的风险)。请做到：(1) 订一个专题名称，(2) 列出组员。我们建议你早点交出提案，这样可以早点得到回应和认可。

学期专题：

一般说来，认何与 15.578 有关的主题，都可能成为学期专题。专题并没有页数限制，因为那要看你选的主题而定。依照上学期的经验，一般大约是10-20页两倍行高。每一份学期专题，都必须写出策略性、技术性、和组织性议题 ── 但不需要占相同的比例，这也是看你选的主题而定。

学期专题简报：

简报是作业的一部份，你必须准备10-15分钟的简报(大约4-5张投影片)作为报告的附件。其中少数同学的简报会被选出(第24堂课时)，并且在第25堂课时上台报告。

学期专题范例(选自上学期专题)

• “CAES用之区域网络先进研究计划”
• “McDonnell 的工程研究改变流程”
• “为麻州通讯发展资料通讯”
• “干洗业的连结议题”
• “以色列高科技公司的资讯科技策略”
• “电子资料交换(EDI)的策略性影响”
• “穿越边界的资料流”
• “波士顿证券交易所的通讯科技”
• “高盛(Goldman Sachs & Co.)的连结性”
• “光纤在区域网络中的使用”
• “日本汽车企业内的组织间系统”
• “知识管理”
• “虚拟私有网络”
• “福特(Ford)的通讯和连结”
• “微软的数位神经系统”
• “将宽带网络带到你的邻近地区”
• “企业资源规划(ERP)和连结性”
• “自动网络交易”
• “网际网络将如何改变音乐产业”
• “以资料仓储作为零售银行的整合工具”

功能概要：

作为一个麻省理工学院的学生，如果能有以个就业辅助系统(PAS)，来帮忙可能的公司并准备面试，将会很有帮助。有许多分散的重要资讯来源，例如：公司悬缺的职位、面试的日期、在公司里的校友、相关校友的联络资讯、公司在产业中的位置、股价表现、和最近的新闻(见下列来源范围)。学生受资讯分散本质的限制。本专题的目标是整合其中一些来源，并使用网页浏览器作为前端介面，让学生更容易作出更好、更充分的决策。PAS应用程式必须模组化，这样才能依需求不同来调整，并更容易加入新的资讯来源。虽然我们会订出基本的功能概要，而且专题大致上会依此进行，但我们希望你能提出意见，像应该什么资讯，以及有什么别的科技可以进一步加强这个专题。

15.565 专题背景 (PDF)

Your 15.578 term project is intended to give you the opportunity to pursue the ideas discussed in class in more depth. The term project may be done individually or in groups of up to 3 people. There are many forms that it can take. Some examples are:

1. Case Study: A case study can be written regarding an organization faced with Connectivity issues (e.g., like J&J, FXX). The case should provide some generalizable concepts, drawing from frameworks used in 15.578 (e.g., interlinked value chains, levels of business transformation, etc.).
   
   
2. Comparative Analysis: There are many strategic, physical, logical, and organizational connectivity concepts being developed. A comparative analysis of 2 or more approaches could be interesting (e.g., homogenous vs heterogeneous distributed database systems; FDDI vs Gigabit Ethernet, XML and Web Services, etc.)
   
   
3. Computer Project: If you wish, you can participate in the Computer Project being done by 15.565 students. If so, please let the TA know since there are multiple parts to this assignment - some starting very soon.

Term Project Proposal:

Your term project proposal should be brief (about one page in length) but be sufficiently specific so that the term project goals and any related issues (such as project risks) are clearly stated. Be sure to: (1) give a name to your project and (2) list the group members. We recommend that you turn in your proposal early to get feedback and approval.

Term Project:

In general, anything that relates to the topics of 15.578 is likely to be a viable term project. There is no set length to the term project since it will depend upon the topic you pick. In previous terms, typical lengths were 10-20 pages double-spaced. Every term project should address strategic, technical, and organizational issues - though not necessarily equal emphasis since this would depend upon topic.

Term Project Presentation:

As part of your term project assignment, you are to prepare a brief 10-15 minute presentation (probably 4-5 slides) to be turned in as an Appendix to your report. A few representative projects will be selected (by Lecture #24) to give their presentation on the day of Lecture #25.

Sample Term Projects (from previous terms):

• "LAN for CAES Advanced Study Program"
• "Engineering Change Process at McDonnell"
• "Data Communications for Comm. Of Massachusetts"
• "Connectivity Issues in the Dry Cleaning Industry"
• "IT Strategy for an Israel-based High-Tech Firm"
• "Strategic Implications of EDI"
• "Transborder Data Flow"
• "Comm Technology at Boston Stock Exchange"
• "Connectivity at Goldman Sachs & Co."
• "Use of Fiber Optics in Local Area Networks"
• "Inter-Org Systems in a Japanese Auto Company"
• "Knowledge Management"
• "Virtual Private Networks"
• "Communications & Connectivity at Ford"
• "Microsoft's Digital Nervous System"
• "Bringing Broadband to your Neighborhood"
• "ERP and Connectivity"
• "The Automotive Network Exchange"
• "How the Internet May Change the Music Industry"
• "Data Warehouse as Integration Tool for Retail Banks"

Functional Overview:

As an MIT student, it would be nice to have a Placement Assistant System (PAS) to help decide on potential companies and prepare for interviews. There are many distributed sources for vital information. e.g., open company positions, interview dates, Alumni working in the company, contact information for relevant alumni, company industry and location information, stock performance, and current news (see range of sources below). The student is limited by the distributed nature of this information. The goal of this project is to integrate several of these sources using a web browser front-end interface to make it easier for the student make better and more informed decisions. The PAS application is to be modular so it can be scaled according to individual needs and to make it easier to incorporate new information sources. Although we will define the basic functional overview and most of the project will be along the same lines, we would like you to come up with ideas on what information should be incorporated and other technologies that might further enhance such a project.

15.565 Project Background (PDF)