Project management uses a series of processes to execute projects efficiently and effectively. Its benefits have recently become widely understood and its use has spread to all industries, with construction and IT being two of the primary drivers.

IT professionals bring specialized knowledge to companies, but it's a mistake if they think of themselves as separate from the business, warns Avnet senior vice president and chief information officer Steve Phillips. Good IT leaders are grounded in the business, and approach technology as a tool.

When Christopher Olsen crossed the stage at Wells Fargo Arena to receive his Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) in May, 2011, he had no way of knowing that within a few months he’d be back in class – but this time at the front of the room.

Raghu Santanam will be on sabbatical next year at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. The topic he is exploring could not be timelier.

The signature of the MSIM program is the group project -- a year-long, highly detailed project that asks students to both identify and solve a real-world problem at a real-world company.

Information systems professor Paul Steinbart will spend fall semester on sabbatical, working with defense contractor, General Dynamics, in the company’s Phoenix location. A sabbatical gives a professor a chunk of time to study a topic in-depth.

As the various academic committees get into full action mode for 2012-13, there’s a presence we’re missing, but his impact remains intact and ongoing. Harvey Shrednick recently retired from his second career as a faculty member in the department of information systems.

Information managers work in a dynamic environment. They must know how to deploy the latest technologies to maximize the competitive edge for their firms, but they must also watch the horizon for the next game changer.

Considerable business research discusses how organizations should design and conduct formal onboarding or orientation programs for their new hires. For the W. P.

Alumnus Adam Boatsman is co-founder of Boatsman Gillmore PLLC, the second largest privately-owned accounting firm in the Charlotte, North Carolina area.