FROM THE EDITOR

As I take over as editor of Decision Line, I look forward to carrying on the tradition of providing interesting and useful articles to supplement and enhance our reading in other media. I view Decision Line as a publication devoted to the well-rounded academic in the Decision Sciences, focusing on our needs as teachers, researchers and decision makers, as well as on our lives as faculty members. During the next year, in addition to the feature columns, I plan to focus on MBA education and the Innovative Education Award finalists. As always, I welcome submission of brief articles on other issues of general interest.

I am pleased to report that most of the feature editors will be continuing in their roles. I am, however, looking for a replacement for Jack Yurkiewicz, Pace University, who is stepping down after doing an excellent job with the "Software Review" column. Please let me know if you or someone you know might be interested in this position. The "Software Review" feature editor is responsible for writing or finding guest authors for five brief columns per year, on topics of his or her choice.

This issue begins with President Betty Whitten's summary of the 1996 Annual Meeting in Orlando. She points out the many ways in which the meeting contributed to achieving the 1996-97 goals set by the DSI board of directors.

Several articles deal with teaching. In The Specialist with a Universal Mind, Cliff Ragsdale, Virginia Tech, continues the debate on the relevance of algebra in the business school curriculum. He presents the perspective that, while spreadsheet models are capable of performing modeling functions, understanding the algebra behind them helps our students stretch their thinking. In the Production/Operations Management column, Karen Brown (Seattle University), Nancy Lea Hyer (Vanderbilt University), Dwight Smith-Daniels (Arizona State University) and Linda Sprague (University of New Hampshire and Cranfield University) describe their use of "cinematic ticklers" in the classroom. Snippets of videos are used to both break the ice with a visual anchor for classroom discussion and as "point makers" that illustrate principles underlying course concepts.

In The Classroom, by Rick Hesse, Mercer University, looks at innovative uses of spreadsheet models by students conducting in-depth design projects. Finally, in the International Issues column, Jaydeep Balakrishnan, University of Calgary, describes operations management curricula in Hong Kong. Faced by some unique challenges, universities in Hong Kong have adapted in different ways.

On the research side, Cornelia Droge, Michigan State University, continues her discussion of measurement validity in the Research Issues column. She provides an in-depth look at some of the key issues involved in assessing construct, criterion-related and content validity, as a concise reference for some difficult material. In From the Bookshelf, Andrew Ruppel, University of Virginia, reviews several new books that focus on technological and market trends.

In the Information Technology column, Lance Eliot of Eliot and Associates describes some of the topics currently using simulation as a methodology. He also discusses some of the features of the new simulation packages that make them simpler to use and better able to convey information.

One article deals with faculty lifestyle, or more correctly, seeking the faculty lifestyle. In the Doctoral Issues column, four recent and not-so-recent Ph.D. graduates, Key Boyer (DePaul University), Susan Amundson (Arizona State University), Rob Handfield (Michigan State University) and Manus (Johnny) Rungtusanatham (University of Wisconsin), describe strategies for succeeding in today's job market. Along with having a completed dissertation and a publishing record, the authors discuss the growing importance of strong teaching skills and the role of the faculty advisor.

I think you'll agree that this issue provides interesting reading. If you have ideas for future articles or suggestions for improvement, please get in touch with me at Barb_Flynn@mail.mba .wfu .edu or Hal Jacobs at hjacobs@gsu.edu.