Exchange

I n today's digital world, the management of data and information is a crucial, enterprisewide priority for businesses. It's also a premier academic program for CMU, which recently established an Information Management Institute (IMI) to ensure students have concrete experience meeting the needs of their future employers. "Technology has changed everything," said Karl Smart, founding director of the IMI. "From accounting to HR to logistics and supply chain functions, organizations need people who can synthesize and manage an array of complex information systems. Through the IMI, we're facilitating ongoing dialogue between industry, faculty and students." EXPLORING NEW FRONTIERS: INFORMATION MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE PREPARES STUDENTS FOR 21ST-CENTURY BUSINESS NEEDS To date, the IMI has paired students with top companies such as Dow Chemical, General Motors, Consumers Energy and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, to name a few. CBA faculty members also have served as consultants to major companies such as General Motors. These partnerships result in the cross-pollination of ideas and state-of-the-art solutions to industry problems. "With the rapid changes happening in technology and business today, we knew more was needed," Smart said. "The IMI is able to bring students, faculty and applied research to bear on real-world challenges. Our institute grows, our students learn and businesses receive the training and consultation they need to remain competitive." Smart says CMU business students bring a great deal of expertise to the table, including robust familiarity with SAP, social media, cybersecurity and digital entrepreneurship. Enough students have earned SAP TERP10 certifi cation to make CMU a national leader in this emerging area of practice. Smart said the IMI further strengthens opportunities for CMU business graduates. He noted that major companies such as General Motors, Dow Chemical and Eli Lilly hire CMU graduates with specialized information management skills — often before they graduate. Moreover, these new hires are compensated at higher levels than their peers because of their expertise. "The employability of students is truly our ultimate aim," Smart said. "We're meeting and exceeding that goal by transforming learners into problem-solvers who are able to help address real-world business issues long before they graduate." w (From left) Frank Andera, Karl Smart, Jeremy Preston (Dow Chemical), Michael Somers (Dow Chemical), Stephen Tracy and Robert Miller 4 // Exchange

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