Volume 1, Issue 2, Spring 2011
ISSN 2161-8100
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
ITU’s New Home in San Jose We are pleased to bring you the second issue of the ITU Journal from our new home in San Jose. We hope that the ideas and opinions reflected in our articles and pieces will inspire and invite you to share your curiosity with the community we are committed to nurture. On March 28, 2011, ITU officially transitioned from the old campus in Sunnyvale to its new home in San Jose. The move came about to accommodate ITU’s growing student body. Our new campus, across from the Adobe campus, is located in the vicinity of worldrenown museums, the MLK library, the Plaza of Caesar Chavez, and the San Pedro Square and First Street area, dotted with first-class restaurants. Home is where the heart is… Once inside the building, you immediately find yourself in the inviting, well-lit lobby, with large monitors that display schedules and events. To either side of the lobby, pleasant hallways take you to large classrooms, each equipped with a 27” iMac connected to a state-of-the-art projector.
tem, gently touching your senses. Left of the front desk is the spacious auditorium, just before the relaxing student lounge. In the opposite hallway, is ITU’s huge basketball court.
At the end of the corridor, there are 6 racquetball courts lying in the back, waiting to transform sheer energies into Through the hallways, you will hear physical action. The vibrancy you feel music from an integrated sound sys- in the building, complemented with Knowledge ManagemenT
Congratulations Class of 2011
Three areas of interest have emerged from the research on Knowledge Management (KM): the different types of knowledge that may benefit organizations; tools that can be used to create, gather, and disseminate knowledge; and a framework for KM. However, more work is needed regarding a systematic approach to implementing Continued on Page 2
comfortable furniture and beautiful paintings is inspiring. We look forward to having further creativity and success elevate the spirit we feel to be associated with the educational entity we cherish. Hubert Chang, the ITU Journal Manager, B.A. in Business Administrations/Entrepreneurship, CSU Fullerton. Computer/tech junkie, and free-spirit - his motivations are family, and a better future.
Guided Imagery The practice of Guided Imagery or Visualization is a process of guiding your thoughts to help relieve pain and stress. Researchers say that everyday 10,000 thoughts hit the human brain, half of them negative. Guided Imagery is a way of placing positive thoughts or images into your mind, to combat physical distress.
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Volume 1, Issue 2, Spring 2011
Gerald A. Cory Jr.: The Father of Dual Motive Theory team
By mikel duffy, PhD candidate
Consilience Science – as pioneered by ITU’s Executive & Academic VicePresident/CFO, Dr. Gerald A. Cory Jr. – is a new and exciting multi-disciplinary field providing a unifying bridge between the physical and social sciences.
Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Amal Mougharbel Manager: Hubert Chang Editorial Board: Dr. Ahmad Reza Chekeni Barbara Arnoldussen Patricia Wiggin Coordinator: Charitha Valluri Design & Layout: Barbara Gini Roxanne Lee Contributors: Dr. Frank J. Aguilera Dr. Ramesh Konda Dr. Seema Vaid Mikel Duffy Nidhindra Molathati Lanka Ksheera Sagar Rao Larry Reece Ahmad Shaar Rushika Sodha Clair Zhu Special Thanks: Srikar Boddu Lisa Jiang Sai Rudra Bapu Rao Srigadde Contact: newsletter@itu.edu
International Technological University http://itu.edu 355 W San Fernando St San Jose, CA 95113 The views expressed in articles are those of the writers only and not of ITU or the ITU Journal. ITU Journal is not responsible for accuracy of information cited in the news and events. The Editorial Board reserves the right to edit submissions, with contributions capped at 400 words. Plagarized submissions will be discarded.
At the 2010 Performance Theater Foundation conference in Venice, Dr. Cory’s most recent publication – Consilience, Brains, and Markets: A New Theoretical Approach to Business and Economic Free Enterprise – was a central conceptual theme during this gathering of highly elite political, religious, and industrial leaders as the principal conference volume.
ITU’s support for work in this interdisciplinary research and dissemination initiative is seen by participants in Europe, Asia, and the US as an Consilience, Brains and important contribution that encourages naMarkets Cover Based in evolution- tions and groups to work together to address ary neuroscience, Dual Motive Theory ex- the many ongoing political and economic isplains that humans have two fundamental sues facing the shrinking global village. genetically based physiological motives ITU’s Associate Executive VP, Mikel wired into the human brain: self-interest Duffy is also a student at ITU, maand other interest. The interplay of these joring in Consilience Science. He heads many ITU’s operations such two motives produces an inherent conflict as processing administrative docthat drives all human behavior. uments and managing staff.
Knowledge Management By Ramesh konda, phd
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would need to be met. In knowledge-sharing, for instance, utilizing the available resources is a challenge. To facilitate the sharing of knowledge in a company, it would be helpful if the experts are listed in a searchable format, so that employees can search their colleagues by subjectmatter expertise.
KM. In addition, there is yet to emerge a set of agreed-upon definitions for the terms used in KM. Depending on its availability to the public, knowledge could be classified as either explicit or tacit. Explicit knowledge is gained through either experimentation, experience, or research, and can be saved in docu- KM is being integrated in ments. many corporations, due to its positive return on investTacit knowledge is based on ment. However, organizaintuition or personal experi- tions need a systematic, ence, has a personal quality, timely, and cost-effective and is hard to articulate or approach. A successful and convey. KM involves apply- sustainable KM requires the ing the knowledge (action- application of a triad, comable tasks) gained from data, posed of people, process, information, and domain ex- and technology. pertise. KM has five stages: capturing, codifying, creat- KM experts differ in their ing, sharing, and applying opinions about the optimal the knowledge. Each stage proportions of each; neverhas its own challenges that theless, most seem to be in
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agreement that the three factors are the main components of KM. Failure to address each of these factors in relation to the organization’s structure and needs might result in failure of the KM initiative itself. The following can be considered as key areas for future research in KM: Developing a body of knowledge; developing common definitions; developing a model for capturing, storing, and dissemination of knowledge; and implementing KM in an organization. ITU faculty, Dr. Konda’s experience includes IT systems, database management, data analysis and mining, QA, and manufacturing processes. He’s a Fellow of the American Society for Quality (ASQ).
Volume 1, Issue 2, Spring 2011
ITU Journal’s 2011 Graduation Dedication Graduation Day
After Clair concluded her speech, it was time for the conferring of the degrees. Faculty members, Dr. Liz Li, Dean of Faculty, and ITU’s department chairs, Dr. Amal Mougharbel (Business Administration), Dr. Cornel Pokorny (Computer Science), and Dr. May Huang (Electrical Engineering), stood proudly upon the stage, and called for graduates to walk up and receive their degrees.
ITU’s spacious auditorium was full of bright faces and joyful blessings. Even Dr. Shu-Park Chan, ITU’s founder and President, flew in from Hong Kong to attend this remarkable ceremony.
The commencement lasted for 2 hours in a harmonious and cheerful atmosphere. Afterwards there was a big party held in the brand-new student lounge. The combination of Chinese food, Indian food and a special graduation cake added a special flavor to this memorable moment.
April 16th 2011. The sun shined brightly and the breeze blew gently as the sound of laughter and conversation filled the air. The festive sounds came from the crowd of graduating students gathering to accept their degrees. The ceremonies started at 2:00 PM. There were approximately 150 proud and delightful Graduates participating in this landmark event.
ITU Cares for Tsunami Victims
2011 Graduation Committee
Mikel Duffy, Associate Executive Vice-President, opened the event, and started by introducing Yau Gene Chan, the CEO of ITU, who in turn introduced Dr. Shu-Park Chan. Dr. Chan passed on an inspirational message encouraging graduates to use their degrees to aim for success.
Following Dr. Chan, Dr. Greg O’Brien, Dean of Advanced Graduate Studies & Research, gave a moving keynote speech encouraging graduates to take pride in their accomplishments, to continue to grow, and to care for their loved ones. He recounted the hardships that ITU’s international students faced in coming to the US, and their “rigorous academic pursuits”. He finished by encouraging the continual pursuit of success and family. Next, Mr. Ahmad Shaar, Director of the Office of Institutional Research, gave the “Dealing for Healing” competition results. Sara Javid, Director of Admissions, who coordinated the event, introduced student speaker Clair Zhu, MBA. Clair gave a passionate speech summarizing her story leading up to ITU, and how those experiences have led to “an open door of opportunity”.
Yoshiaki Nagaya and Ahmad Shaar
Winners of the first ITU Cares: “Dealing for Healing” event were announced during the graduation ceremonies. Yoshiaki Nagaya, Vice Consul of Japan, and Lea Crisp of the American Red Cross were invited to participate in recognizing the teams’ efforts.
1. Dr. Liz Qiaoyun Li: Golden Sponsor Award 2. V R 4 U: Competition Winners • Haritha Tata - Team Leader • Madhavi Kavuri • Saritha Eady • Dheeraj Kumar Kandada • Lakshmikranthi Javvadi 3. The Helping Hands: Outstanding Contribution • Masthan Rao Chimata - Team Leader • Kishore Reddy Battu • Sai Krishna Kanth Yenibilli • Lalith Vadapalli • Nikhatunissa Begum
Memoirs of an ITU Graduate: My experience as a Master’s student at ITU was nothing short of a dream come true. A chance to expand my knowledge horizon, explore the modern culture, gain experience in & out of the classroom, and to top it all off -- a modern perspective. The full or part-time internships will forever be a big boost in my resume. It is here that I learned the art of delicately integrating my thirst for intellectual capabilities with aspects of professional excellence.
Also, ITU gave me a unique chance to specifically explore my passion for software engineering, and expand on the computer science foundation I built during my under-grad and past work experiences. Sometimes the challenges exceeded my imagination regarding studies and work, but they are all part of my memory and I will continue to cherish them all, forever. ~ Lanka Ksheera Sagar Rao
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Volume 1, Issue 2, Spring 2011
Did You Know?
ITU Faculty Guest Lectures at SFSU
In March 2011, Dr. Frank Aguilera lectured at San Francisco State University’s Department of Public Administration. His topic was National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as an organization. He talked about its organizational structure, culture of hierarchy and authority patterns, and Leadership Model consisting of 5 roles: • Executive • Manager • 1st Line Supervisor • Team Leader • Influence Leader He concluded by discussing a cultural survey and how issues are addressed by management.
New Programs:
Project Management ITU will offer a Master’s in Project Management (MPM) degree which combines project management and general business courses, featuring advanced project management techniques. The MPM program is tailored toward students who want to become professional project managers using Microsoft Project. Entrepreneurship Program The Entrepreneurship Program will start Fall 2011 with a focus on building skills for leadership and operation management. Program content includes special emphasis on how entrepreneurs function compared to managers or team members, career development, and how to lead projects or establish a new business.
New Centers:
ITU faculty, Dr. Aguilera is a Senior Engineer - Aero Space Technologist at NASA. Special Assistant in the Flight Vehicle Research & Technology Division, he is also an FAA licensed private pilot.
SAP Congress
Dr. Amal Mougharbel, SAP University Alliance Program Faculty Coordinator, attended the SAP Congress on March 10-12, 2011. Keynotes from top companies such as IBM and Sustainability Solutions presented topics on how to build a smarter planet, how to help the world run better and how to link business to education. The Congress offered workshops sessions on Global Bike, ERP Simulation, Business Intelligence and SAP Business By Design. The workshops offered practical training with some of the most recent curriculum. ITU & SAP Student Recognition Award ITU, a member of the SAP University Alliance, is offering a joint award with SAP, to students who have completed a minimum of 3 approved SAP courses. Q: What is the Student Recognition Award? A: The award acknowledges that the student has successfully completed the program of study supported by the SAP Business Suite offered by ITU. Q: How does this affect you as a student? A: When applying for internships in the SAP field, this award could make you stand out from your peers. Q: Why is it a minimum of 3 courses? A: Completion of only one or two SAP courses is not sufficient to give students the well-rounded experience that is required by SAP standards.
Office of Institutional Research Launches In Spring 2011, the Office of Institutional Research (OIR) was launched. It will gather data for program assessment, strategic planning and decision-making. The OIR will also report statistical data about ITU to the public and external directories, including reports for the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). It also reports statistical data about ITU to public and external directories. The OIR will analyze student learning outcomes to help determine academic direction and improve ITU’s Educational Management System (EMS) and operations. Business Research and Development Center The Department of Business Administration established a Business Research & Development Center (BRDC). The BRDC provides opportunities for diplomas, certificates and awards by offering lectures, seminars, conferences, and workshops. There will be two divisions within the BRDC: the Division of Economics & Business Analysis (DEBA) and the Division of Professional Development (DPD). The DEBA will collect data on the business and financial markets, and perform innovative research and analysis. The DPD will enrich academic and professional development research and practices. ANNOUNCING THE NEW JOURNAL CLUB The Journal Club has been established to nurture intellectual curiosity and innovation through: Talks, lectures, and panel presentations by scholars, innovators, and entrepreneurs; discussions on articles or media, and nonpartisan discussions involving socio-political issues; and interpretive events involving works of art; talent shows; and readings of literary forms. The inaugural presentation, to be held on Monday, May 23 will be on The Education of the Whole-Human.
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Volume 1, Issue 2, Spring 2011
Art of Dr. Shu-Park Chan
The ink-and-wash technique of painting has been around for centuries originating in China. This ancient form of creativity has been said to improve the artist’s focus, and increase overall tranquility. Dr. Shu-Park Chan’s paintings often depict grand landscapes filled with earthen colors as exemplified in this painting of a mountain range in, presumably, China. At the mountain’s base, there is also a solitary cabin or shack hidden within the forest surrounded by a picket fence. This painting is inanimate, yet alive at the same time; one can almost smell the sharp scent of slow-flowing rivers and pine-trees accentuating the atmosphere, and feel the rocky texture of the mountainside. Asians often regard self-mastery to be one of the greatest accomplishments in life. The ink and wash technique is a challenge and requires deep focus, because no mark can be erased. Practitioners exercise their hand-to-brush coordination by using the brushes, generally horsehair tipped brushes, to write pages of Chinese calligraphy.
A painting of a mountain range with a cabin and lake at the base.
Ethics in the Workplace By seema vaid, phd
Dr. Chan’s paintings and collaborative pieces are a great example of demonstrated focus and creativity, but this ability is a result of patience and dedication. Hopefully, you have already found your outlet. If not, do a little research, and explore painting today!
importance of ethical behavior. Since I am a Professor in Business, I emphasize the importance of ethical behavior as a part of the curriculum I teach. The first lecture in one of my Finance Courses asks students whether the goal of a corporation should be “profit maximization” or “wealth maximization”?
The last decade has seen many corporate scandals in the United States, primarily due to the lack of ethical behavior by executives. Enron, WorldCom, AOL Time Warner and Adelphia, to name a few, are all examples of professionally-managed companies that systematically engaged Most students lean towards the profit in fraudulent activities. maximization answer, since they believe The fallout from these scandals was di- that this should be the underlying objecsastrous for many people who lost their tive of a profit driven entity. However, I jobs and life savings. Then came the fi- explain that a profit-maximization goal is nancial crisis, one of the worst the US has short sighted. Wealth maximization, on ever experienced. The real estate market the other hand, is a broader, long-term crashed, resulting in unprecedented objective for maximizing of the worth of foreclosures. Many US banks did not the company through ethical practices. survive, due to “sub-prime” loans given This type of corporate objective considto unqualified individuals. This financial ers the long-term impact of every decicrisis was also brought on by reckless sion in building a strong and stable comlending practices by banks and the cre- pany and is reflected in its share price. ation of new very high-risk financial inEthical behavior goes beyond just adherstruments. ing to laws and regulations, but includes Considering the recent instances of un- the moral and social responsibility of ethical practices in corporate America, business practices and decision-making. it is extremely important for business While deliberately falsifying information students, and students from other disci- would be illegal, withholding some critiplines, to understand and appreciate the cal information would be unethical. Ethi-
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cal behavior incorporates using one’s moral judgment in making any decision, whether it relates to customers, employees, competitors, investors or vendors. Students need to be aware that revealing even minor clues to an outside party about company-confidential information is considered “insider trading”. Any decision that affects the quality of the product or service adversely would be regarded as unethical. My vision for the future is to see an ethical corporate America, where past financial scandals we have seen are just that-a thing of the past. I encourage students to understand and subscribe to ethical decision-making, be true global citizens and maintain ethical standards in business, wherever they live.
Dr. Seema Vaid, ITU faculty since 2009, has teaching experience spanning three countries. Her emphases: Finance, Accounting, Organizational Behavior, and E-business.
Volume 1, Issue 2, Spring 2011
LEAN/Six Sigma Guest Speaker: Larry Reece
Guided Imagery
By Rushika sodha
On April 6th, Dr. Frank Aguilera hosted Mr. Larry Reece, a LEAN/Six Sigma - Green Belt and CIT-Lead Office of Operational Excellence in United Airlines, in the Quality Management course. Mr. Reece presented commonalities and differences between the Lean and Six Sigma processes, and how both were successfully implemented at United Airlines.
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Start the Visualization process by sitting in a comfortable setting. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Imagine something soothing such as a blue sky, or a deep-blue ocean.
Larry W. Reece has over 25 years with United Airlines in the Maintenance division. He spent the last 6 years working in LEAN/Six Sigma methodologies. He is LEAN bronze certified by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and a United Airlines - LEAN/Six Sigma - Green belt.
Direct your mind toward what concerns you, for example, a headache. Imagine oxygen flowing through the blood vessels of your brain, accompanied by a fresh or soothing scent. Continue for at least 15 minutes. For chronic conditions, practice for 30 minutes, twice a day, until you see results. You should feel relief after every session-- which motivates you to practice again.
Fresher’s Party Spring 2011 By Nidhindra Molathati
Once finished, open your eyes and become aware of your surroundings. Smile and go on with your beautiful day. Guided Imagery helps release neurotransmitters that lower blood pressure, relieve pain, and boost immunity. Rushika Sodha recently received an Intern Pharmacist License from the state of California and in the Spring of 2011 completed her MS in Healthcare Management at ITU.
ITU’s First Business Plan Competition
The first day I saw ITU, I knew that this place, where I would study for the next few years, would become an important part of my life. I received an e-mail invitation to the Fresher’s Party, March 10th, 2011. This is where freshers get to know the seniors. I couldn’t wait: new friends, better life, and relationships that would hold memories forever of life at ITU.
Participants in Business Plan Competition
The party started with dinner that included vegetarian and non-vegetarian Indian Cuisine. When you saw the food, you wanted to lay your hands on it. I ignored the veggies and went straight to the Tandoori Chicken, Chili Chicken and Chicken Biryani. For non-vegetarians it was a blast!
On April 3, 2011, ITU hosted its First Annual Business Plan Competition. Judges were: entrepreneur Karen Tosoni (3DExchange), serial entrepreneur Donald Vincent Sprankle, intellectual property specialist Karen Metz, and attorney Ben Martin. Winners were: 1st: Rustam Nurmedov (Global Impex Consulting) 2nd: Chandra Shekar Kedarisetty (Campusfeed) 3rd: Sindhu Mansapally (The Little Crest) Honorable Mention: - Barbara Arnoldussen and Sunil Srivastava (American Education Transition 360) - Vithal Kulkarni (C-nerj) - Harika Nimmakuri (Mirror Advertising)
Hosts Ravali and Amer announced the “Mr. and Miss Rose” game where guys and girls gave each other roses. The guy and girl that received the most roses were declared winners. “Mr. Rose” was Suketh and “Miss Rose” was Hayat. There were some awesome dance performances, a fashion show, and the announcement of “Mr. and Miss Fresher”. I competed in a soda-drinking competition, but Rupesh won. Afterwards, we danced to a DJ spinning some of the best songs - ever!
To find out more about ITU, visit www.itu.edu.
Nidhindra Molathati is an Alumnus of the Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet. He is an MBA [Finance] Student at ITU and likes photography. He is a freelance writer. Some of his articles have been published in the “Deccan Chronicle”, a regional newspaper in India.
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