• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
IBIT

IBIT

Engages with industry to develop digital knowledge and talent

  • Home
  • Knowledge
    • AI Analytics Automation Case Competition
    • AI Opportunity Index
    • National Information Systems Job Index
    • Digital Innovation Foundry
      • Digital Innovation Foundry Workshops
    • Quantifying Impact
    • Case studies
    • Projects and Research
    • The IBIT Report
  • Talent
    • Mentoring Program
    • Scholarships
    • Professional Training
    • Prior Talent Development Activities
      • Temple Analytics Challenge
      • National Cyber Analyst Challenge
  • Engagement
    • Advisory Board
    • Executive-in-Residence
    • Symposiums and Conferences
    • Information Technology Awards
    • Prior Engagement Activities
      • Small Business and Non-Profit Digital Transformation
      • Digital Leader Fireside Chats
  • Partners
  • About
    • Mission
    • Annual Report
    • Impact Analysis
    • News
    • Staff
    • Advisory Board
    • Contact Us and Directions
  • Show Search
Hide Search

IBIT News

IBIT Partner Merck Wields Award-Winning Technology to Improve Vaccines

George Llado Merck IBIT
George Llado (L) and Jerry Megaro (R) of Merck & Co., Inc.

When it comes to Big Data, few companies are as committed to utilizing its innovative potential as Merck & Co., Inc. and its subsidiaries.

Jerry Megaro, Director Innovation & Manufacturing Analytics, spoke to Temple’s Institute for Business and Information Technology (IBIT)  about his latest large-scale project: overhauling Merck’s data analytics technology to improve the manufacturing process for one of their most important vaccines.

But there were roadblocks. Previous technology required time-consuming spreadsheet analysis that was inflexible and limited by storage and memory capabilities. In order to track the complex, multi-dimensional process of creating and testing a vaccine, Megaro needed a better technological toolkit.

So he turned to Big Data.

“With my knowledge of analytics, I persuaded VP of Merck Manufacturing Department Information Technology George Llado to apply the technology to manufacturing,” Megaro said, recalling their first fruitful discussion—which led to Llado’s sponsoring of the project.

With the support of a highly skilled team, Megaro achieved in three months what would have previously taken at least one year: 15 billion calculations, and over 5.5 million data comparisons.

“Rather than buy software and hardware, we decided to use open source,” Megaro explained. “The data generated from the manufacturing computers had to be cleaned and uncompressed, and aligned. We figured out how to align it so that we could perform more specific analytics and correlations.”

These analyses led to vaccine production improvements, as well as two prestigious awards: the Frost and Sullivan MFG Council Leadership Award and ranking as number 48 of the InformationWeek Elite 100.

“We employed quick, disciplined decisioning and empowered Jerry to drive experimentation, while collaborating and driving business results,” said Llado. “[The technology] provides more product, lowers costs, and most importantly improves access to our vaccine.”

The company’s drive to innovate within the industry is one of the myriad reasons IBIT has partnered with Merck as a member: mentoring students, encouraging innovation, and fostering an environment defined by “the two C’s—Competition and Collaboration,” in the words of Llado, who also serves on the Fox IT Advisory Board.

“The payback for us has been enormous,” he said, reflecting on Merck’s involvement with Temple. “Top of the list would have to be watching the students thrive and grow…Second would have to be the quality of students that Merck has recruited. Lastly, the opportunity to network with many of the Advisory Board members has proven to be worth its weight in gold.”

In Llado’s opinion, striving for innovation means investing in people. When evaluating Merck’s recent innovation, he underscored how their game- changing improvements to vaccine production would not have been possible without a steadfast commitment to human capital development.

“I firmly believe that [this commitment] distinguishes us from the competition, as we look to build leadership behaviors that are universal, and fundamental to creating an innovative culture.”

For the pharmaceutical industry—as well as for Fox students who aspire to career paths paved with similar values—Merck is a beacon of inspiration.

Building the Next Generation, Creative Urban Workforce for the Information Economy

The IBIT ReportThe 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.

Sports Analytics: Advancing Decision Making Through Technology and Data

IBIT Sports AnalyticsThe 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

 

IT Advisory Board funds new annual $50,000 scholarship program

Fox IT advisory board

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/

14th Annual IT Awards Honor Citi, Relay and Vanguard Execs

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.”

Linda DescanoDescano 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).

Matt GillinGillin 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.

John T. MarcanteMarcante 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.

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Go to page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 27
  • Go to page 28
  • Go to page 29
  • Go to page 30
  • Go to page 31
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 39
  • Go to Next Page »
FOX_Formal_Red_White-300x125

Institute for Business and Information Technology

207 Speakman Hall
1810 N. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

About
Staff
Advisory Board
Partners
News
Contact us and directions
LinkedinFlickr

Copyright © 2025 IBIT · Fox School of Business · Temple University · contact us at ibit@temple.edu