Tuesday, February 16, 1999
WRITER:
David Dodson, 706/542-3527, [email protected]
CONTACT:
Archie Carroll, 706/542-3700, [email protected]
Patrick McKeown, 706/542-3587, [email protected]
Richard Watson, 706/542-3706, [email protected]
NO MIS-TAKING IT: TERRY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS TAKES TOP SPOT IN INTERNATIONAL RANKING OF M.I.S. RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY
ATHENS, Ga. -- The Terry College of Business has the most productive researchers in one of the hottest careers in business ñ management information systems.
The MIS faculty at the University of Georgia ranked first in research productivity, according to an analysis of the two leading MIS research journals. Two Purdue University professors reviewed all of the articles published in MIS Quarterly and Information Systems Research from 1993 through 1997, and Terry College faculty were credited with authoring or co-authoring 12 of the 210 published papers.
Thirty universities were ranked in all. Trailing UGA was the University of California at Irvine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgia State University and the University of British Columbia. In 1995, the last time a comparable analysis of research productivity was conducted, UGA ranked fifth.
"This ranking of research productivity validates that we have some of the best minds in the field of management information systems on our faculty," said P. George Benson, dean of the Terry College of Business. "Having both the University of Georgia and Georgia State University in the top five underscores the kind of MIS expertise that is available to high-tech managers in metro Atlanta. There is no doubt that research productivity in an emerging field like management information systems is a competitive advantage for the state of Georgia."
The Terry College has eight faculty members specializing in MIS within the department of management. Additional MIS professors will join the department this fall. "Our numbers make the research ranking all the more impressive because there are MIS programs on the list that have two or three times as many professors," said Archie Carroll, head of the management department and the Robert W. Scherer Chair of Management and Corporate Public Affairs.
Professors Richard Watson and Alan Dennis were singled out in a companion ranking of the 30 most productive researchers to publish in the two journals. Watson was the sixth most prolific writer during the time period measured, and Dennis was rated 23rd. MORE
"We are fortunate that the Terry College provides the support, encouragement and resources to enable us to flourish," Watson said. "Research is not the only area in which MIS faculty excel. My colleagues also do a first-class job in teaching and service."
The curriculum for UGA students majoring in MIS emphasizes the management of computer information systems used in business, as opposed to computer programming or technical support. About 400 undergraduates currently major in MIS, one of the largest majors in the Terry College. MIS is also one of the most popular concentrations for MBA students, and eight students are pursuing doctoral degrees.
"The demand for graduates with an MIS major is growing," said MIS professor Patrick McKeown. "A recent Newsweek article showed the three fastest growing jobs of the future to be in the MIS field. It also showed the Atlanta area as being the hottest region in the country for new jobs."
McKeown said the facultyÃs research productivity promotes better teaching in the fast-changing MIS courses. "Research keeps us current and able to bring the latest in information technology to the classroom, and in our field that is critical," he said. "Being able to synthesize concepts and carry out research is not that different from being able to take those same concepts and explain them to students."
The study was conducted by Nancy Lighther and Fui Hoon Nah at Purdue University.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: You may retrieve a photo of Richard Watson or Alan Dennis electronically by contacting Rick O'Quinn in the University Communications photo lab at (706) 542-8085 or via the photo ftp server (ftp://ftp.alumni.uga.edu/pub/Photo/news%20releases/)
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