IBIT News

Training in analytics, IT value, and cyber-security are a hit with NBCUniversal

It’s not often that a day-long class about data analytics is called “action packed,” but that’s exactly what one NBCUniversal employee called their experience.

For the past year, Temple University, Fox School of Business’ Institute for Business and Information Technology (IBIT) and NBCUniversal have been partners in corporate training. Three different training sessions, taught by Temple University’s Management Information Systems faculty, were offered to NBCUniversal employees and the data collected suggests that the results are great.

Based on a survey of attendees, more than 84 percent said they were “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the class, “Managing in the Age of Data Analytics.”

Nearly 87 percent agreed or strongly agreed that the course was relevant to their work.

This from a group of people who’s technical and management backgrounds were varied, and whose jobs diverse.

Dr. David Schuff, Associate Professor, Management Information Systems, taught a specifically focused version of “Managing in the Age of Data Analytics.” The concept behind the class was that data is a core building block of modern organizations and that transforming data into information and knowledge enables firms to compete effectively. The workshop taught students the principles of data strategy– including best practices for acquiring, assessing, and analyzing data to solve problems encountered in the real world of businesses.

“Business Value from IT” was a one-day interactive workshop for information technology professionals who wanted to learn about the business side of companies. Topics covered, included accounting, business models, marketing, sales, and supply chain practices. It was taught by Dr. Richard Flanagan, Assistant Professor(practice), Management Information Systems– who’s run this workshop many times.

“Our Technology (a.k.a. IT) group has been undergoing quite a change over the last two years to focus less on corporate/internal initiatives and more on our customer relationships to be truly aligned with the various NBCUniversal businesses that we as an organization support.” Amouri Burger, Sr. Director, Film Technical Solutions & Business Development, NBCUniversal, said.

Burger attended a full day of “Business Value from IT” session entitled “IT Value- MBA for Techies,” in March.

“It’s easy to underestimate the potential value from a one day session but the required reading in preparation for the day along with the hands-on way of how the session was presented made this a very fruitful day.”

Burger was particularly pleased with the emphasis on business modeling and real world use cases from NBCUniversal’s own businesses which helped the group, “develop the functional skills to better understand and support our business partners.”

Brittany Wallace, Sr. Director, Digital Sales Technology, NBCUniversal, also liked the way the courses were customized for her industry. “I attended the “Managing in the Age of Data Analytics” seminar in which Temple applied key concepts from the course to real media industry business cases which made the course relevant for NBCU.” She said.

The most technical seminar, the three day long, hands on workshop, “Secure Digital Infrastructure,” taught by Dr. Li Bai, Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering (primary), Management Information Systems (secondary) addressed the technical challenges and solutions for infrastructure security. Issues surrounding data protection, encryption and decryption, public and private key and digital certificates were covered.

“The partnership between NBCU and Temple to offer corporate training presents a tremendous opportunity for NBCU’s IT professionals to continue to expand their expertise through onsite graduate level instruction.” Wallace said.

Whether it was one day of “action packed” data analytics or three full days spent scrutinizing security concerns, based on the feedback the attendees all went away educated, engaged and with new skills to use at their “day job.”

Learn more at: http://ibit.temple.edu/programs/professional-training/

IT Transformation at The Campbell Soup Company

The Institute for Business and Information Technology (IBIT) is pleased to announce the release of The IBIT Report – CASE STUDY: IT Transformation at The Campbell Soup Company by Luke Nixon and David Schuff, Temple University.

Lockheed Martin, Merck, NBCUniversal, and QVC in Computerworld’s 2015 Premier 100

Institute for Business and Information Technology (IBIT) partners Lockheed Martin, Merck, NBCUniversal, and QVC will receive Computerworld’s 2015 Premier 100 Award. The award recognizes exceptional technology executives that are leading digital transformation and will be presented at a special ceremony in March, 2015. Recipients include:

Stephanie C. Hill, Vice President and General Manager, Information Systems & Global Solutions-Civil, Lockheed Martin
Clark Golestani, Executive Vice President and CIO, Merck & Co.
Atish Banerjea, Executive Vice President and CIO, NBCUniversal Inc.
Linda Dillman, CIO, QVC

Munir Mandviwalla, Executive Director, said “It is our privilege to be associated with such exceptional firms who engage with us at multiple levels including curriculum, student mentoring, and research.”

Fox IT Career Fair sees 70% increase in 2014

IBIT IT Career Fair 2014 Representatives from businesses ranging from Campbell Soup Company to Merck & Co. to Genji, LLC participated in the third annual Fox School of Business’ Institute for Business and Information Technology (IBIT) career fair for different reasons, and with specific goals in mind. But, no matter why they came, they left pleased.

Based on a survey of the Sept. 24 event, over 80 percent were “very satisfied” with the overall career fair experience.

In today’s world it’s necessary to find candidates that are part of a great program. Almost half of the representatives surveyed said that the reputation, ranking and quality of Fox’s Management Information Systems (MIS) program was the reason they attended. Plus, many of the employers, know the program from their own time at Temple.

“It is great to see so many of the alumni come back and to hear how well they are doing.” Said Laurel Miller, IBIT Director. “The excellent alumni further increase demand for our graduates even though we regularly achieve 100% placement. This year, we had a 70% increase in the number of firms participating.”

Alumni affiliation is important but it’s the ability to meet excellent candidates face-to-face that prompts the alums to come back, and IBIT to continue putting on the event.

Chad Butler, I.T. Business Engagement Analyst, Campbell Soup Company, and a 2005 graduate said it’s increasingly important to “see them (students) with open eyes—their personality and professionalism.”

Specifically, businesses seek a match between the culture and needs of the company, and the experience and personality of the candidate in front of them. Campbell’s recently made a commitment to bring interns in, Butler said. If the internship goes well he wants to make job offers in advance of graduation.

David Glover also wants early access to great candidates. As Associate Director of MES Environments, Merck Manufacturing Division, Information Technology, Merck & Co. Inc., he works with a team of six employees- all recent Temple graduates- to make sure Merck can “find those young minds that will make our IT systems better.”

Glover describes Merck as “ever present” on campus, due to Merck’s partnership with IBIT, but the fair is a chance for Glover and his team to be “one-on-one” with students. Which, in Glover’s case, is mandatory because students don’t often think of Merck first when contemplating exciting IT internships and careers. Glover has successfully brought current students into Merck for nine to 12 week internships and started them on career paths at the company. The best potential employees are, Glover said, “excited about the prospect about saving lives with new and novel medicines.”

Genji, LLC makes sushi, not pharmaceuticals, and they are experiencing rapid growth. The company supplies Whole Foods, among others. So, a flyer about the IBIT career fair caught Alex Shi’s attention. Shi, a 2010 graduate of Temple, with a degree in MIS, is the Manager of IT and Project Manager, EPMO, for Genji. He is looking to build a team of project managers. What better place to look than his alma mater? At the career fair he met well many qualified students who, he said, had “an impressive level of enthusiasm.”

Shi’s experience reflects the survey response. The top answer to the question “what did you like the most” was “it’s focus and the quality of students.”

Shi left with about 40 resumes and planned to interview 10 people.

“I felt they were ready, they had the fundamentals down (and) understood business etiquette.” He also said that the event saved time in the recruiting process because he could “meet the people behind the resume and get a much better sense of the person.”

So, the results are in. Whether representatives were fully partnered with IBIT or alums back for a recruitment event, the career fair puts companies and candidates in a place where they can meet, and find the right match.

Learn more at: http://ibit.temple.edu/careerfair/

Ben Hasan appointed 2014 Executive-in-Residence

Temple University’s Institute for Business and Information Technology (IBIT) has appointed Walmart executive and Temple alumnus Ben Hasan as its newest Executive-in-Residence. Hasan is Walmart’s Senior Vice President, Information Services Division. In his position, Hasan is responsible for ISD strategy, communication, innovation, architecture and vendor management.

“As a Temple alum, and somebody who grew up in the neighborhood around Temple, it is incredibly exciting for me to see the tremendous success of the Fox School and, particularly, the Management Information Systems department,” Hasan said.

Prior to joining Walmart, Hasan worked for 11 years at Dell, Inc., progressing through several leadership positions before serving as Vice President of Corporate and Product Group IT, directing teams in Texas, Shanghai, Taipei and Singapore. Hasan received the Fox School of Business IT Award for Distinguished Alumni in 2006. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Computer Science, from Temple University in 1983. He later earned his Master’s of Business Administration degree from Dallas-based Amber University in 1994.

The IBIT Executive-in-Residence program is intended to facilitate interaction among Fox faculty, students and industry leaders. In his role as IBIT’s Executive-in-Residence, Hasan will engage with faculty and students on topics and projects of mutual interest, promote the activities of IBIT, the Management Information Systems department and the Fox School of Business.

“Ben is a superb role model for students,” said IBIT Director Laurel Miller. “He has been very successful in his career as a senior IT executive, but he has never forgotten his roots and is always ready to give back to the community.”

Hasan will begin his residency Oct. 2.