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PRESIDENT'S LETTER

BETTY J. WHITTEN, President, Decision Sciences Institute,
Terry College of Business, University of Georgia


Today is a very beautiful day that lets us know that spring is almost here. In Georgia, we are already enjoying spring flowers and some temperatures in the mid- 50s and 60s. In a few short weeks, April will be here and the Institute will begin another officer year. It will be time for the Institute to welcome new Board members and to thank retiring members for their contributions to the Institute. It will be time for Jim Evans to assume the responsibilities as president. I wish Jim and the new Board a most pleasurable and productive year.

It has been my pleasure to work with the 1996-97 Board of Directors, and I personally thank them for enriching my life and for their dedication and contributions to the Institute. Those retiring from the Board are Past President John C. Anderson, University of Minnesota, Secretary Robert A. Parsons, Northeastern University, and Vice Presidents Robert L. Andrews (Virginia Commonwealth University), Joanna R. Baker (James Madison University), Venkatakrishna (Kris) Bellur (California State University-Bakersfield), Mark M. Davis (Bentley College), Thomas W. Jones (University of Arkansas-Fayetteville), and Terry R. Rakes (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University).

The 1997 election results are now known, and I wish to extend my personal congratulations to President-Elect Terry R. Rakes (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University), Secretary Gary L. Ragatz (Michigan State University), and newly elected Vice Presidents G. Keong Leong (The Ohio State University), Michael J. Maggard (Northeastern University), Nada R. Sanders (Wright State University), Ronald M. Zigli (The Citadel), Gary A. Williams (Western Carolina University), and Kathy L. Pettit-O'Malley (University of Idaho).

It seems like yesterday, rather than a year ago, that I recruited chairs and new members for the four constitutionally mandated committees, eight standing committees, and several ad-hoc committees. I studied the budget and the priorities adopted by the 1995-1996 Board. I also read the year-end reports of the committees to understand better the opportunities and threats, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the organization. It was then that I became very aware that the president's charges to the various committees set the agenda and defined the direction for the Institute. Therefore, recommending the 1996-97 committee charges was perhaps my most important responsibility as president because, as Chuck Taylor said in 1990, ``It is through the Institute's committee system that most new initiatives and policies are developed and implemented.'' The committees play an essential and significant role in shaping the Institute for the simple reason that a large percent of major issues addressed by the Board are the result of work done by one or more committees.

Only one year later, as I read the committee reports, reflect on the success of the 1996 Annual Meeting with its innovative format and new undergraduate and Ph.D. curricular consortia, recall the inaugural meeting of the Asia Pacific Region, and look forward to the international meeting in Sydney, Australia, this summer, I am very pleased with both the quantity and quality of our activities this year. The Institute is indebted to a large number of members for the hundreds of volunteer hours given to further the goals of the Institute.

Based on my understanding of DSI's needs, opportunities, threats, strengths and weaknesses, I recommended that the 1996-1997 Board of Directors adopt the same five priorities as those adopted by the 1995-1996 Board. At the April meeting the Board voted unanimously to do so.

Five Priorities for 1996-97

  • Increased internationalization of the Institute.
  • Increased attention to the Institute's role in improving instructional competencies within the decision sciences.
  • Increased visibility of the Institute in promoting inte rdisciplinary research, instruction and service initiatives within the decision sciences and related fields.
  • Increased use of advanced technology within the programs and workings of the Institute.
  • Continuous improvement of the functioning of all activities of the Institute.

Please note that these priorities are not listed in any particular order of importance. The 1996-1997 Board believed that these priorities were necessary for the growth of the Institute, compatible with its mission, and met the needs and expectations of the membership. Our unanimous vote to adopt them confirmed our belief that more work was necessary for the Institute to attain its goals.

This year all committees as well as the Board were charged as follows: "Consider the five priorities of the Institute that have been affirmed by the Board of Directors and explore ways that your committee can contribute to the Institute accomplishing its goals." Almost every committee addressed this charge specifically. Many of their recommendations have been or will be implemented in the near future, and others will be given to a committee for further study. Due to space constraints, only a few examples of the recommendations made by board members, committees, or individual members in response to our appeal for all to make suggestions are included here.

Increased internationalization of the Institute

The Strategic Planning for International Affairs Committee recommended that we continue to expand our efforts aimed at welcoming and recognizing international participants at our annual meetings. Among their suggestions for the Institute were to provide special ribbons identifying each non-U.S. participant, recognize non-U.S. participants at the Welcoming Breakfast and the President's Luncheon, and continue to hold a special social event for international participants. These suggestions were either implemented at the 1996 Annual Meeting or will be at our next meeting. The Board approved a line item in the budget to institutionalize the international reception.

Increased attention to the Institute's role in improving instructional competencies within the decision sciences

At the suggestion of the Innovative Education Committee, the editor of Decision Line will be charged to begin a special series of articles on instructional innovation. Each of the four finalists as well as authors of other Instructional Innovative Award submissions will be invited to submit articles.

Based on the Innovative Education Committee's recommendation, President-Elect Jim Evans (University of Cincinnati) will charge the 1997 Instructional Innovation Award Coordinator to provide feedback from the reviewers to the four finalists prior to their presentations.

The Board of Directors has agreed to lend the Institute's name to a Workshop on Teaching Management Sciences to be conducted by Stephen Powell (Dartmouth College). The Institute will support this endeavor by advertisements placed in Decision Line and on our Web site.

Increased visibility of the Institute in promoting interdisciplinary research, instruction, and service initiatives within the decision sciences and related fields

The Programs and Meetings Committee recommended that program chairs continue to use themes as well as tracks at the annual meeting. This format encourages submission of interdisciplinary papers. For the 1996 program, the interdisciplinary theme was called Engineering and Business. 1997 Program Chair David Olson (Texas A&M University) has decided to include an Interdisciplinary Business theme in this year's program.

Discussion in the Undergraduate, MBA, and Ph.D. Curricular Symposia provided opportunities for sharing interdisciplinary instructional issues.

Continuous improvement of the functioning of all activities of the Institute

The Development Committee for Excellence in the Decision Sciences recommended that the Executive Committee develop the Institute's strategic plan for review and approval by the Board. The Board unanimously adopted this recommendation and a planning meeting is scheduled for the March Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will present its proposed plan for the Board's consideration at the April Board meeting. Once the plan is developed and has Board approval, the Development Committee will be responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Board based on identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Also, the Development Committee will develop and prioritize a list of goals and initiatives for the Board's consideration. The Board approved the Committee's recommendation to increase the committee terms from two to three years to provide more continuity from year to year.

The Board of Directors, at the request of a longtime member, reviewed the Institute's calendar and voted unanimously to reaffirm it. Moreover, they approved the recommendation to formalize the process of the Executive Director inviting the newly elected Executive Committee members in an ex-officio capacity to the March budget and strategic planning meetings. The policies and procedures manual will be updated to reflect this change. This policy allows a smooth transition for newly elected presidents.

Increased use of advanced technology within the programs and workings of the Institute

The Board of Directors recommended to the Program Committee that a process be developed for the 1997 Annual Meeting to encourage authors to put their papers on their Web sites and provide links to the program on the DSI Web site. This action will give the Institute broader coverage of the program while giving the Board and the Publications Committee additional time to study issues relating to the publication of a CD-ROM proceedings. Two such issues are: (1) the cost, which is approximated to be $22,000 with current technology; and (2) whether or not universities will continue to require a hard copy edition of proceedings articles for salaries, promotions, and funding.

Based on the recommendations of the Information Committee, the Board voted for Carol Latta (Home Office), Executive Director, and Bob Jacobs (Indiana University), Technology Coordinator, to consider an aggressive approach to information technology purchases. The Board also approved a permanent line item, with no specified amount, in the budget proposal for such purchases.

A Successful Year

By almost any measure, this year was a very successful one for the Institute. Through the efforts of many people the Institute came closer to attaining its goals. Credit for the many successes enjoyed by the Institute belongs to all who participated in any way. Among those to whom we are indebted are the Board of Directors, the Home Office staff, Executive Director Carol Latta, coordinators, committee chairs, committee members, program planners, program participants, and our members. To all these I thank you for allowing me to serve as president and to have the opportunity to get to know a most outstanding group of colleagues. Friendships made during my tenure as a member and officer of the Institute are among my greatest treasures. I look forward to spending next year as past president and to supporting Jim Evans as the Institute's twenty-seventh president.

I cannot conclude this letter without paying tribute to the Institute's Executive Director, Carol Latta. She is a woman of keen intellect, class and grace. She is every president's "best friend" because she can make everyone look better than he or she is. Through the years, I have watched her work diligently to ensure the success of a program or project, and then immediately give the credit to others. The Institute is fortunate to have such a talented and generous woman as its executive director. I thank her for her devotion and dedication to the Institute and for her many acts of kindness.



from Decision Line, March 1997, 28(2)