In Demand: Marketing Researchers
Marketing research is getting a seat at the head table as never before. Alumni explore the new cachet— and challenges —facing their field.
From Data to Decisions
In today’s business world, the question often isn’t “Where’s the data?” but rather “Where’s the answer that’s buried in the data?” It’s the reason for a new Executive Education program, “Data to Decisions: Data Analysis and Business Intelligence.”
“Executives were telling us they needed help in converting raw data into business decisions— to find that needle in the haystack of numbers,” according to Program Director Scott Converse. “It’s a class for people who hated their statistics class, or maybe never took one, but know that there must be
a better way to make decisions than just going with their gut.”
Converse directs a new Information Technology program area in Executive Education, which is aimed at two groups of professionals:
- Managers who need to learn how to use IT more effectively, and
- IT professionals looking for career development
“Data to Decisions” is intended for the first group— managers who don’t have an IT background but need to make business decisions involving the mountain of data available to managers today. “The typical person interested in this program understands how to run their business and to ask the right business questions,” said Converse. “What they don’t have are tools to handle the massive amount of data available to make the best decisions.”
It’s a skill set Converse sees as increasingly essential: “Managers can delegate the heavy number crunching to specialists,” Converse said, “but to compete today, they must understand data enough to be able to question assumptions, spot problems and make decisions quickly to help their organizations succeed.”
“Data to Decisions” will be offered for the first time June 11-13, 2007. For information on enrolling or for related Executive Education offerings, go to http://exed.wisc.edu/it or call 1-800/292-8964.
Update Magazine December 2006
Feature Stories
Real Estate Reality Check
Now that the super-hot residential housing market of recent years is cooling, real estate professors and practitioners explore the new reality.
Innovate or Else
Status quo is not an option. Management Professor Sanjay Jain explores why companies must innovate
and how successful companies have done it.
What Every New Board Member Should Know
Corporate boards are increasingly in the headlines—and often not in a good way. Ten things you should know before you agree to serve on that corporate board.
Women at Work
Companies must find ways to benefit from the talents of women leaders if they wish to remain competitive.
Departments
DECEMBER 2006 VOLUME 25 NUMBER 2
EDITOR: Lari Fanlund
DESIGN: Lori Strelow
INTERNS: Jessica Williams,
Annie Van Cleve and Megan Wood
PRINTING: Schumann Printers, Inc.
EDITORIAL BOARD:
Alisa Robertson, Chair
Melissa Amos-Landgraf, Jim Kubek, Richard Lee, Mark Matosian, Maureen O’Connor, Kaylene Reilly, Patricia Seaman, Steve Schroeder and Charlie Trevor
UPDATE is published in print and online each June and December by Wisconsin Business Alumni to inform alumni and friends about programs and activities of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business and its alumni. Printing is paid for with private contributions. This issue, and previous ones, are available online. Correspondence should be sent to lfanlund@bus.wisc.edu or mailed to:
UPDATE
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