IBM’s first regional Solution Center has been established at Singapore Management University. The Solution Center is part of a strategic partnership between SMU and IBM Singapore that will substantially enhance the education and research capabilities of the School of Information Systems (SIS) at SMU.

This partnership will give students access to “living cases” that they can incorporate
into their courses, projects and internships. They can also experiment with information systems design and solution concepts in the context of real-world industry sector scenarios, building their knowledge of both the technology and business processes.

“IBM Business Consulting Services is an ideal strategic partner for SIS based on shared and synergistic values,” said Practice Professor Steven Miller, Dean, School of Information Systems, SMU. “Both organisations strive to excel at integrating a deep understanding of business needs with enabling information systems solutions. Both organisations also incorporate global best practices and cutting-edge new knowledge into our respective efforts.”

The SIS curriculum consists of courses, projects and internships. As such, the curriculum can leverage the Solution Center as an innovative and relevant “laboratory for learning”.

The Center is also a place where IBM Business Consulting Services business solution concepts can be refined and demonstrated. It will serve as the back-end solution design and developing centre for housing the various software, hardware and third party commercial applications. IBM Business Consulting Services business thought leaders and IT teams will also be able to informally exchange ideas with renowned faculty at SIS and the other schools of Business, Accountancy and Economics & Social Sciences at SMU.

Through this relationship, SIS faculty, staff and students will have full access to a number of leading commercial software solutions for:

• Supply chain management and procurement
• Customer relationship management
• Data management and business intelligence
• Business integration and process management
• Banking and financial service solutions

Krishna Giri, Public Sector and Supply Chain Leader, ASEAN/South Asia, IBM Business Consulting Services, said, “This partnership is significant as it showcases the marriage of global best practices and real world solutions and leverages IBM’s innovative heritage, deep research capabilities and thought leadership. SMU students and faculty can benefit and draw from such resources.”