Information Industry Initiative (1995-2003)

The cooperative affiliation between the Management Information Systems Research Center (MISRC) and the Information Industry Initiative (III) drew to a close in mid-2003, with the retirement of Professor Les Wanninger, who headed up the III and was also MISRC Co-Director for Corporate Outreach. The III was an outreach program of the Carlson School's Department of Information and Decision Sciences, and reflected the interest that developed as a natural outgrowth of the relationship involving the faculty, the MISRC and the burgeoning information industry. As a part of this cooperative arrangement, MISRC Partners were previously able to participate in any of the III activities, including the annual e-commerce conference.

The Information Industry Initiative met its four primary objectives:

• Deliver education about and for the information industry
• Conduct research about and for the information industry
• Provide outreach and service to the information industry
• Furnish leading edge knowledge about and to the information industry

The focus of the Information Industry Initiative included within its domain:

• The business context of each industry (e.g., computer, telecom, media, software)
• Environmental, social, public policy, ethical, and regulatory issues
• Technologies from managerial, decision maker, and product developer perspectives
• Processes for developing, marketing, and supporting information technology products and business strategy
• Managerial tools as applied to the information industry The legal and social environment of the industry

The MISRC extends its hearty thanks to Professor Les Wanninger for his innovative leadership of this effort, and to Mr. Bill Rohde of Unisys Corporation, who played a critical role in establishing its direction and helping it to achieve succsess.