ISRC… Celebrating 25 years as Houston’s premier research center
25 years ago, the faculty of the Decision and Information Sciences
department decided that a research center was needed to bridge UH
to the IT world. During the past two decades, 5 directors have led
the center toward its’ place as a premier source of research, recognized
both locally and internationally as a center where MIS academicians
and our practitioner counterparts can explore topics within the
IT field. Beyond the directors, the ISRC has served as an opportunity
for undergraduate and graduate students to meet with our member
firms and apply their classroom teachings in the real world of business.
As a result, thousands of undergraduates and graduates, along with
25 doctoral students have left UH and
are now affecting the lives of students’ worldwide.
The ISRC Yesterday: A Brief History
Dr. Al Napier, a faculty member in the department, helped to establish
the center in the early 1980’s. In October of 1981, the first year
of full ISRC activities began, and included seminars on topics of
interest to practitioners managing their IT function. After founding
the research center and developing seminars and speakers for 2 year,
Dr. Napier left the position, leaving behind the beginnings of a
legacy of the ISRC as a premier research center.
In 1983, Dr. Napier turned the directorship over to Dr. Ira Weiss.
Under Dr. Weiss, the ISRC grew tremendously and established the
white paper series of research. After 6 years at the helm, Dr. Weiss
was promoted to the University of Houston’s Vice President and Associate
Vice Chancellor for Information Technology and Dr. Rudolf Hirschheim
stepped in to fill the void.
As director, Dr. Hirschheim implemented the now infamous annual
calendar, a popular marketing tool that was sent to MIS departments
worldwide. He grew the membership list, expanded the content of
seminars, and built a tradition of research as the cornerstone of
the center. After 8 years, Rudy assumed the Tenneco/Chase International
Professor position, allowing Dr. Peter Todd to assume the directorship.
Dr. Todd ran the ISRC from 1997 to 2001. During that time, the
ISRC notes series was begun and career services for member firms
were enhanced. Mini topic briefs were added to the white paper as
a source of research for member firms, and the gap between academia
and practitioners continued to be bridged. The research center began
holdings its’ seminars at the on-campus Hilton and the membership
continued to grow annually.
The ISRC Past Directors: Where are they now?
After stepping down, the past directors continue to affect the
IS discipline in the farthest reaches of the world:
- Dr. Al Napier is now at Rice University, where he is the Director
of the Center on the Management of Information Technology.
- Dr. Ira Weiss is currently the dean of the College of Business
at Northeastern University in Boston.
- Dr. Rudolf Hirschheim is currently at Louisiana State University as an MIS Professor.
- Dr. Peter Todd is the Chesapeake and Potomac Professor of Commerce
at the University of Virginia.
The ISRC Today: Where is it headed?
In August 2001, Dr. Blake Ives was recruited to fill the directorship
position. Dr. Ives joins the University of Houston as the C. T.
Bauer Chair in Business Leadership and is prepared to take the next
steps for the ISRC. Since beginning his position as director, Dr.
Ives has implemented the future technology briefing series and is
taking the steps to move the ISRC into its 3rd decade.
We would like to thank our member firms for allowing us into their
corporations and their lives. It is our members who have allowed
us the opportunity to become a premier research center and bridge
the gap between academia and industry. Without our members, the
center would not continue to flourish and afford us the international
recognition that we have received. So as our membership list and
services expand, we look back to our humble beginnings, celebrate
our past accomplishments, and look forward to a new tomorrow. |
