A Maturity Model and Architecture Definition to Support Graduate Distance Learning

The Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force has defined Air Force transformational initiatives for all organizational aspects, including support functions such as training. It is clear that in order to improve our Airmen's education and strategic perspectives, we must diversify our traditional programs to include implementing distance learning across all levels of education. This involves not just adapting the courses material to the DL modality, but making the necessary AFIT support processes available to the DL students and the faculty associated with the DL offerings. Often times enterprise re-organization occurs without a defined transformational process or target state, or without a means to measure implementation success. In an effort to address key processes for implementing an online program, capability maturity models have been developed. However, many of the models and maturity measures associated with online programs are focused on course development versus program implementation. This research applied key system engineering concepts associated with concept formulation and architecture definition to support a distance learning process definition and a subsequent evaluation mechanism. A distance learning maturity model was developed to support development of an implementation plan and subsequent evaluation of progress toward the desired target state.