Center for Advanced Analytics and Business Intelligence

GOALS, CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS, and OBJECTIVES

Goal 1. Access and Diversity.

CAABI will assist TTU in general and the ISQS area in particular to recruit, retain, and graduate a larger, more academically prepared, and diverse graduate and undergraduate student body for training in advanced analytics and business intelligence tools and concepts.

Critical Success Factors (measures of the degree of success over the next five years)

· Attract new students to Texas Tech generally, and ISQS specifically, directly as a result of CAABI activities

· Enhance education of Texas Tech students generally, and especially in the ISQS area, as a result of CAABI activities.

Objectives:

Objective 1.1 Identify and recruit, from Texas and nationally, an outstanding and culturally diverse student body.

Strategies:

· Promote Texas Tech generally, and ISQS specifically, in promotional materials concerning CAABI. Intentionally ensure that promotional material is seen by outstanding and culturally diverse individuals.

Assessments:

· New inquiries and new students resulting from CAABI promotional material.

· Satisfaction of employers who hire students with CAABI experience.

Goal 2. Academic Excellence. CAABI will assist Texas Tech University in general, and ISQS in particular, to obtain national recognition.

Critical Success Factors:

· Enhanced educational effectiveness for all TTU programs related that utilize CAABI resources.

· Enhanced satisfaction with academic programs and placement of TTU students.

· Enhanced satisfaction of employers with programs and students that utilize CAABI resources.

· Increased publications of the faculty in areas related to CAABI among faculty who utilize CAABI resources.

· Increased collaboration between faculty within the Rawls College and campus-wide as a result of CAABI activities.

Objectives:

Objective 2.1 Enhance academic experience of students who utilize CAABI resources

Strategies:

· Bring CAABI cases and external business contacts into classrooms.

· Have students work on cases supplied by CAABI contacts.

· Develop CAABI-related certification programs (e.g., Six Sigma, Data Mining)

Assessments:

· Number of CAABI cases used in TTU teaching environments

· Direct contacts between CAABI liaisons and TTU students

· Number of certifications (e.g., Six Sigma, Data Mining) resulting directly from CAABI initiatives.

· Satisfaction of employers who hire students with CAABI experience.

Objective 2.2 Enhance career opportunities for students who utilize CAABI resources

Strategies:

· Build alliances and partnerships involving CAABI.

Assessments:

· Number of business partnerships

· Job placements facilitated by CAABI activities

Objective 2.3 Foster an internationally recognized basic and applied research program.

Strategies:

· Apply for grants though CAABI

· Support students who do research through CAABI

· Support and facilitate collaborative research with CAABI industry contacts.

Assessments:

· Number of CAABI grants and contracts.

· Publications resulting from CAABI activities.

· Joint publications involving industrial contacts and CAABI.

· Number of students supported from CAABI funds.

Goal 3. Engagement. CAABI will build community connections that enhance the quality of life for students and the community.

Critical Success Factors (measures of the degree of success over the next 5 years):

· Develop local community contacts who are interested in applying advanced analytics and business intelligence to their organizations.

Objectives:

Objective 3.1 Provide opportunities for continuous student learning and development.

Strategies:

· Encourage student participation in CAABI activities related to local community organizations (including TTU at large)

Assessments:

· Amount and levels of student involvement related to local community organizations (including TTU at large)

Goal 4. Technology. CAABI will make effective use of technology in the delivery of services.

Critical Success Factors (measures of the degree of success over the next 5 years):

· Acquire hardware and software needed for advanced analytics and business intelligence

· Utilize TTU high performance computing facilities for CAABI projects

Objectives:

Objective 4.1 Introduce technologically advanced hardware and software

Strategies:

· Establish a Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence lab.

· Acquire state-of the art workstations for storage and processing large data sets

· Provide training for TTU faculty and students in general, and ISQS students in particular, in the use of such hardware and software.

Assessments:

· Number of labs in existence related to CAABI projects.

· Number of state-of the art workstations for storage and processing large data sets available.

· Number of training sessions provided.

Objective 4.2 Utilize TTU high performance computing resources for CAABI projects

Strategies:

· Acquire data warehouses from businesses and domain knowledge for attacking problems requiring advanced analytic and business intelligence solutions, that can only be handled using high performance (e.g., not single desktop) computing,

Assessments:

· Number of CAABI projects requiring TTU high performance computing facilities.

Goal 5. Partnerships. CAABI will build strategic partnerships and alliances to benefit students in the Texas Tech educational system generally, and in the Rawls College of Business in particular.

Critical Success Factors (measures of the degree of success over the next 5 years):

· Increase internships and employment opportunities from CAABI partners.

· Increase grant and research opportunities from CAABI partners.

· Increase input into teaching curriculum from CAABI partners.

Objective:

Objective 5.1 Expand business partnerships and alliances with CAABI affiliates.

Strategies:

· Provide information to existing ISQS board members about CAABI programs.

· Utilize professional associations (APICS, ASQC, AITP, ASA, etc.) to spread the word about TTU’s CAABI programs.

Assessments:

· CAABI presence at ISQS board meetings (yes/no)

· Contacts made through professional association meetings.

· Number of CAABI advisory board members.

· Financial contributions of CAABI advisory board members.

· ISQS faculty evaluation of CAABI alliances.

· Presentation by CAABI affiliates to TTU in general and ISQS in particular.

Goal 6. Human Resources. CAABI will assist the Texas Tech system in general and the ISQS area in particular to maintain a quality faculty and staff within a collegial work environment.

Critical Success Factors (measures of the degree of success over the next 5 years):

· Improve the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the faculty and staff using CAABI resources.

· Acquire sufficient faculty and staff to serve the CAABI center.

Objectives:

Objective 6.1 Provide time, resources, and incentives for continuous professional development efforts of the faculty and staff.

Strategies:

· Establish seminar series to benefit faculty at TTU in general and ISQS in particular regarding CAABI interests

· Provide release time as appropriate to faculty who serve the CAABI center.

Assessments:

· Number of seminars promoted or instigated through CAABI.

· Total release time allotted to faculty who serve CAABI interests.

Objective 6.2: Promote a participative environment of Texas Tech University in general, and of the Area of Information Systems and Quantitative Sciences in particular.

Strategies:

· Encourage cross-campus and within area team-teaching and team-research on CAABI projects.

Assessments:

· Courses team taught by program.

· Number of joint publications.

Goal 7. Tradition and Pride. CAABI will foster pride in the Texas Tech system, the Rawls College of Business, and the ISQS area through its forward-looking innovation that will benefit students and faculty systemwide.

Critical Success Factors:

· Make the Center a focal point for business research involving business intelligence and advanced analytics.

· Provide researchers with quality facilities and technical expertise to expand their research horizons.

Objectives:
Objective 7.1 Make Texas Tech University the “first and best” place to be for research in business intelligence and advanced analytics, and let people know about it.

Strategies:

· Maintain open communications with CAABI affiliates to share accomplishments.

· Build recognition through project development, seminars and symposia.

· Promote Texas Tech University to our scientific and business colleagues.

Assessments:

· New research programs.

· Increased research expenditures.

· Student recruitment.

Goal 8. Financial Stability. CAABI will be financially stable and will strive for financial growth.

Critical Success Factors:

· Successful new grant proposals.

· Departmental fund transfers for intra-campus consulting work.

· Continued availability of dedicated funding.

Objectives:

Objective 8.1 To Apply for grants, show successes to internal constituents to validate funding as well as to external constituents to secure funding.

Strategies:

· Take every reasonable opportunity to submit proposals for funding.

· Develop research teams to compete for funding for collaborative research programs.

· Develop research teams to successfully apply business intelligence to business problems of external affiliates.

Assessments:

· Number of proposal submitted.

· Number of projects funded.

· Number of successful internal, intra-campus projects

· Number of successful, intra-campus consultations.

· Number of successful business projects with external CAABI affiliates.

Goal 9. Accountability. CAABI will maintain open records and ensure accountability.

Critical Success Factors:

· Assess stakeholder satisfaction with CAABI activities.

Objectives:

Objective 9.1 Survey students, faculty, and external affiliates of CAABI to measure stakeholder satisfaction.

Strategies:

· Develop survey instrument and administer survey.

· Assess survey results and make necessary program changes.

Assessments:

· Results of survey.

· Improvements in service and stakeholder satisfaction made as a result.