IBIT News

The Institute for Business and Information Technology (IBIT) is pleased to announce the release of  The IBIT Report – Building the Next Generation, Creative Urban Workforce for the Information Economy authored by Youngjin Yoo, Michele Masucci, and Alan Wiig, Temple University.

The Institute for Business and Information Technology (IBIT) is pleased to announce the release of  The IBIT Report – Sports Analytics: Advancing Decision Making Through Technology and Data authored by Joel Maxcy and Joris Drayer, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Temple University.

As advanced analytical techniques become more and more integrated into the world of sports, a mounting number of teams are using analytics to inform their management, player development, training methods, practice schedules, and more. The report deconstructs the history of these techniques, and assists its readers in applying data techniques to their own fields.

“This report was designed to be a fun read because it has appeal to a broader audience,” noted co-author Joris Drayer. “I think this is why [the film] Moneyball was such a popular story.”

Artfully expounding on an exciting “analytics revolution,” the report demonstrates how the application of analytics in sports applies to other domains, as well. “Organizations in any industry can use data to make decisions about Human Resources (i.e. players or employees) and Marketing (i.e. pricing or market segmentation),” Drayer added.

This in-depth look into the world of data demonstrates the importance of technological innovations, the growing influence of Big Data, and the competitive advantage analytics can provide to sports organizations worldwide.

“We enjoyed putting this report together,” said co-author Maxcy. “Analytics is rapidly advancing decision-making capabilities in sports. The effective use of data can be a real game changer.”

The ongoing IBIT Report series is based on rigorous, vendor-neutral academic research that provides actionable knowledge on topics relevant to industry partners.

—Felicia Roy

The IT Advisory Board, comprising top business leaders from multiple industries, has announced a new scholarship program to begin in Fall of 2014. Funded on a voluntary basis and managed by the board’s members, the scholarship grants select students awards of $5,000 toward tuition each year, totaling approximately $50,000 awarded annually.

Just how are the students chosen? We spoke with Advisory Board Chairman Bruce Fadem, former CIO and VP of Wyeth, who cited as primary criteria exceptional academic achievement, previous accomplishments, and future potential. “A minimum GPA will be used to screen candidates,” said Fadem. “The board will also consider need in their decision-making process.”

The Fox IT Advisory Board

• Bruce Fadem (Chair), Former VP & CIO, Wyeth
• Andrea Anania, Former VP & CIO, CIGNA
• Michael Bradshaw, VP & CIO, Lockheed Martin
• Jonathan A. Brassington, Founding Partner, CEO, LiquidHub Inc.
• Rich Cohen, Managing Director, Deloitte
• Craig Conway, CTO, Livingston International
• Larry Dignan, Editor-in-Chief, ZDnet
• Jeff Hamilton, SVP, Business Technology, Pfizer
• Ben-Saba Hasan, SVP – IT, Walmart
• David Kaufman, Executive Consultant & Partner, FIN Strategy Advisers
• George Llado, VP – IT, Merck & Co., Inc.
• Tim O’Rourke, VP & CIO, Temple University
• Matt Pammer, VP – IS, AstraZeneca
• Niraj Patel, Chief Strategy Officer, Elsag North America
• Kent Seinfeld, Retired SVP & CIO, Commerce Bank
• Joseph Spagnoletti, SVP & CIO, Campbell Soup Company
• Joe Weiss, Chairman, Electronic Ink

Further details about all the IBIT managed scholarships are available at: http://ibit.temple.edu/programs/scholarships/

Temple University’s Fox School of Business is honoring three top technology leaders at its 14th annual Information Technology Awards on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, on Temple University’s Main Campus. The nationally ranked Department of Management Information Systems (MIS) and the Institute for Business and Information Technology (IBIT) organize this premier event for Greater Philadelphia’s technology community.

Awardees include Linda Descano, Managing Director and Head of Content and Social at Citi; Matthew Gillin, CEO and co-founder of Relay; and John T. Marcante, Chief Information Officer of Vanguard and Managing Director of Vanguard’s Information Technology Division.

“Linda, Matt and John represent a remarkable level of excellence and commitment to leveraging IT in innovative ways to improve business and lives,” Fox School of Business Dean M. Moshe Porat said. “They also join a distinguished and deserving list of Fox IT Award honorees, who all serve as models for our students.”

Descano will receive the Fox Information Technology Award for Distinguished Alumni for her work in the IT field and her contributions to the community, to industry and to Temple University. In addition to her responsibilities for content and social at Citi, she also is President and CEO of Women & Co., a Citi-incubated and owned financial lifestyle resource for women. Descano is a LinkedIn Influencer whose commentary on topics such as personal finance, career and leadership, and content marketing has appeared in countless publications including The Huffington Post, Reuters, Fox Business, U.S. News, MORE Magazine, American Banker and MSN Money, among others. Descano also serves on the board of directors of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., is president-elect of New York Women in Communications and is an executive member of Advertising Women of New York (AWNY).

Gillin will receive the Fox Information Technology Innovator Award. Gillin, who previously co-founded and served as the CEO for Ecount Inc., which was acquired by Citi in 2007, has won a number of awards, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Walter M. Aikman Entrepreneur of the Year Award. As CEO of Relay, Gillin oversees the strategy and day-to-day operations of a company that connects trusted brands with people through direct mobile communication so they can effortlessly get stuff done.

Marcante will receive the Fox Information Technology Leader Award for his leadership in the use and development of IT in business. Marcante is CIO and managing director of Vanguard’s Information Technology Division. With more than 26 years of experience in the business and technology fields, he has been with Vanguard since 1993. Prior to becoming CIO in 2012, Marcante held a number of leadership roles within the company, including rotations leading Global Technology Operations, overseeing Vanguard’s internal Six Sigma organization, and managing Vanguard’s High Net Worth business.

“In a world increasingly dominated by digital business models, the 2014 Fox School IT Award recipients are true role models for MIS students, who are learning digital business innovation and how to lead revenue growth in a digital economy,” said Munir Mandviwalla, founding chair of the MIS Department.