FROM THE EDITORTERRY R. RAKES, Decision Line Editor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Introducing a New Year and a New DECISION LINE Editorby Terry R. Rakes, DECISION LINE Editor This issue marks the beginning of my term as editor of DECISION LINE. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve as the editor of your newsletter. I am very excited about my new duties because I believe DECISION LINE is an outstanding forum for the dissemination of information and the exchange of ideas, opinions, and developments in our field. The stature of this newsletter is due to the efforts of many people, including Roscoe Davis, who has served as editor for the last six years, Hal Jacobs, managing editor, all the past editors and the many feature editors and contributors who have devoted their time and expertise. Under Roscoe's able leadership, the newsletter has continued to grow and improve. I will try to follow his example during my term as editor. With this issue, we bring on board two new feature editors. Shawnee Vickery, Michigan State University, assumes the editorship of the ``Research Issues'' column. Lori Franz has done an outstanding job in developing this column from its inception three years ago into a clearinghouse of valuable information about timely research topics. Shawnee will continue this task, and welcomes your ideas and comments. In addition, Jack Yurkiewicz, Pace University, assumes the editorship of the ``Software Review'' column. Barry Render started this column in 1988, and has served as its only editor for six years. Barry also has done an outstanding job, never missing a column in his six years of service. We will look to Jack for a continuing stream of insightful analyses of new software products. I am happy to say that the other feature editors have agreed to continue in their roles. Rick Hesse, ``In the Classroom,'' Lance B. Eliot, ``Information Technology,'' Michael J. Showalter, ``Production/Operations Management,'' Efraim Turban, ``Information Resources Management,'' and Andrew Vazsonyi, ``The Specialist with a Universal Mind,'' have all agreed to continue. I look forward to working with the new and the continuing editors, and I am sure they would welcome your ideas and support for their columns. As the new editor, I will be looking for ways to improve DECISION LINE. One possibility is the creation of new feature columns to address important areas. For example, the current thrust of the Institute toward internationalization is certainly worthy of coverage within the newsletter. Should there be a regular feature dealing with global issues, or can we adequately cover the topic within existing columns? The feature columns in information systems and P/OM serve two very large segments within our organization. How can we best serve all of the other areas, such as marketing, accounting, finance, policy, etc? Are we doing enough in the area of promoting quality teaching and providing an exchange of ideas for teaching pedagogy with our ``In The Classroom'' feature, or should we do more? Should DECISION LINE contain more ads for computer software and products? While these are questions I will certainly be looking into, they are not questions I can answer without your input. I invite you to send me your thoughts of how to enhance the content of our newsletter. Another issue which is being thrust upon us by changes in technology is that of optimal delivery of the newsletter. While we must and will continue to provide printed copies of DECISION LINE, I would like to experiment with also putting the newsletter on Internet. This would be a convenience for those members who prefer electronic media, and would serve to get our name before a larger group. I hope to move forward with this experiment in the near future. Again, I would welcome your comments. I would like to reiterate my thanks to Roscoe Davis, Hal Jacobs, and all of the other individuals who have made DECISION LINE a quality product, and to invite you to give me your comments about issues and specifics for continuous improvement of the newsletter. I look forward to working with each of you during my term as editor.
To share ideas or comments, contact: |