Hakan Butuner

It has been a tremendous honor to receive the INFORMS President’s Award and the Kimball Medal to humbly join many distinguished recipients who have contributed immensely to our community and society. Heartfelt thanks to the members of the selection committees, nominators, friends, family, teachers, advisors, collaborators, mentors, students, supporters, and more, I am truly grateful! An African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, to together.” In 2020, I felt the true power of these words, more than ever. I was serving as INFORMS president, we realized quickly that nothing would continue as planned. Many of us were also collaborating with partners in public health, using #operationsresearch and #analytics to help inform decisions when there were lots of unknowns, incredibly tight timelines, and many lives at stakes. And there were losses in many families, including mine. It was a time of relentless effort. At INFORMS, we worked together with our amazing staff, board members, and many of you from our community to pivot and adapt at an unprecedented pace. Despite the challenges, I feel that we grew stronger as our INFORMS community, thanks to our collaborations and support for each other.      I would like to extend three invitations to you. 1. #Gratitude. Please take a moment to think about all the people who have positively touched your life. Maybe some had a direct impact like encouraging or supporting you; others you never met, but they inspired you or helped create a systemic change. Our progress is thanks to all of them. 2. #Service. If you are considering volunteering for the first time, I encourage you to take that step. And to those of you who tirelessly served for many years, thank you! I hope you consider continuing in new ways or inspiring others to join you. When we serve our community, many others “pay it forward” and the impact cascades. 3. #Impact on society. We are in an era of abundant data and computing power, and sadly, there is no shortage of challenging problems facing humanity. There is an enormous need for making “smart” decisions, considering complex dynamic “#systems”, with uncertainty, multiple perspectives, and short- and long-term consequences of decisions. This may be a golden age for our field, to take action and apply operations research & analytics to address societal problems, and to amplify the positive impact of our field like never before. I believe this is our opportunity, and our responsibility. These invitations are lifelong, which I hope you share with others as well. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Thank you! https://lnkd.in/e3E8iTdY INFORMS

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Now more than ever we need to seriously evaluate how we can harness business and emerging technologies to positively impact society. I cannot wait to spend this time with experts and business leaders to discuss the role of AI in their organizations, and how this new technology might change industries more broadly.

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I believe that all current creativity and innovation in higher education can be summarized as enigmatology. This involves continuous improvement through the flexible application of systems, strategies, and tactics by well-developed and experienced faculty to promote student success in various circumstances and situations.

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Thanks for the shout out, Abbigail! I mentioned the below linked information in class but wanted to post it here regarding introversion and extroversion rate in the US. West Virginia has a high number of introverts, see this link… https://lnkd.in/epattgx7

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The Department of Labor Studies (DLS) at Indiana University introduces the Indiana University Labor Academy (IULA), a series of virtual training classes aimed at equipping workers with skills necessary to take on leadership roles. Offered through IU Expand, the competition of these classes enhances workers’ skills, leadership, and knowledge, particularly for union-affiliated individuals or those interested in collective action, and results in the Leadership and Administration Certificate, a credential useful for: ·        Career advancement to enhance your qualification for roles in union organizing, public policy, social action research, labor law, and human resources. ·        Skill development in organizing, collective bargaining, and power dynamics. ·        Leadership preparation through deeper insights into labor issues and strategies. The Leadership and Administration Certificate is designed to: Educate and train union members with research-based information. Provide cost-effective, high-quality continuing education. Develop better-informed citizens capable of making informed political and economic decisions. Positively impact social aspects like dignity, mental and physical health, and community involvement. Indirectly benefit the community through increased economic stability and social justice awareness. Check us out at https://expand.iu.edu/ and type “Labor Studies” into the search box!

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New success in 2025 begins with investing in yourself in 2024. Gain tangible tools to lead innovation with "Igniting Insights: Innovation Leadership," a 7-week virtual short course from Marquette University. Apply by October 7: https://lnkd.in/deFEw_6Q

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Jamin Rowan and I are thrilled to share our latest publication, titled “Designing Identity Transformations through Transformative Learning Objectives and Experiential Learning Competencies.” This article was recently published in the Journal of Transformative Education. Since 2018, Jamin and I have collaborated on research and teaching projects, and our partnership has been incredibly enriching. Our shared passion lies in designing intentional learning experiences that not only convey content but also foster transformation. In this piece, we delve into the concept of articulating Transformative Learning Outcomes (TLOs) – learning objectives that express who we aspire students to become as a result of their learning experiences. Additionally, we introduce the notion of experiential learning competencies (ELCs). The overarching goal of combining TLOs and ELCs is to create curricula that facilitate learning within specific courses and promote lifelong competencies beyond the course duration. ELCs play a crucial role in enabling individuals to learn from their experiences. We propose that specific competencies during the anticipation (introspection, planning, empathy), participation (engagement, openness, flexibility), and reflection (integration, pattern recognition, storytelling) phases of an experience help learners derive meaning from their encounters. ELCs are what allow individuals to learn from their experiences. We suggest that specific competencies during the anticipation (introspection, planning, empathy), participation (engagement, openness, flexibility) and reflection (integration, pattern recognition, storytelling) phases of an experience help learners extract meaning from their experiences. Using TLOs and ELCs guide instructors in the decisions they make when design a course. Rather than start with content and assignments, we encourage them to first think about articulating TLOs, or the type of identity changes they want to promote in their students (e.g., as a result of this course you will become a more intentionally curious individual) and the ELCs that will help them most effectively learn within and outside of the course. We hope you enjoy the paper and would love to talk more about these concepts with other learning experience designers. Feel free to reach out! https://lnkd.in/gFZEYfJ4

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This is a great note about the students’ perspective participating in the first RPA Champion Challenge at Central Michigan University. Robotic Process Automation (RPA), combined with AI, is transforming the way companies operate, making it an essential skill for the future. The challenge provided students with a unique opportunity to develop hands-on experience in these game-changing technologies, preparing them for the evolving workforce where automation and AI are key drivers of efficiency and innovation. Developing these skills is crucial to staying competitive in today’s digital landscape. #Uipath #RPAskills

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The Fall 2024 edition of Economics-Based Personal Finance is now available. It is built for households, planners, and educators. Laurence Kotlikoff is supporting the book for educators with no-cost software licenses for their students. We are ready for the CFP Board to prescribe economics-based financial planning for CFP aspirants. #financialeducation https://lnkd.in/gtxphEN7

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Honored to have this paper published today and to work with such wonderful colleagues and minds. The paper is featured in Journal of Family and Economic Issues, a Q2 journal. https://lnkd.in/eapp4BxY

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Most four-year institutions are built on 450+ years of precedence and steeped in governance orthodoxy. By design, they really CAN'T pivot quickly. Even the most innocuous of changes can take months - if not years. It doesn't help that accreditation oversight - regionally and nationally (and in some cases, programmatically) - frowns on experimentation beyond the boundaries of regulatory and compliance norms. (Read: Competency Based Education which has struggled to gain meaningful mainstream traction for years. Three-year degrees are another example. Ditching the Carnegie Unit - which even the Carnegie Foundation says is outdated - is another. Microcredentials are another, although ironically, some regional accreditors are exploring this option themselves.) The institutions that will survive the next 400 years will be those that can rapidly adapt to an increasingly unpredictable market and consumer.

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In the article "How to Lead Disruptive Innovation in an Uncertain World" by Scott D. Anthony (The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth; Innosight) and Mark L. Frigo (DePaul Driehaus College of Business) we discuss how to integrate disruptive innovation with strategic valuation as described in "Strategic Valuation in the New Economy" (Strategic Finance, October 2021) by Mark L. Frigo with Jeffrey Madden which discusses the importance of investments in intangible assets in driving valuation of companies. It is a qualitative and analytical process to develop and validate assumptions in traditional quantitative valuation cash flow models. It’s driven by a three-step process: (1) Strategy analysis using the lens of the Return Driven Strategy (RDS) framework; (2) Intangible assets analysis using RDS; and   (3) Strategic life-cycle analysis (as described in "Strategic Life-Cycle Analysis" The Role of the CFO" (October 2020) by Mark L. Frigo and Bartley J Madden) The Strategic Valuation process poses key questions from the Return Driven Strategy framework (as described in the book DRIVEN: Business Strategy, Human Actions and the Creation of Wealth by Mark L. Frigo and Joel Litman), including how disruptive innovation can help to target value-creating customer needs. (1) What are the otherwise unmet customer needs our offerings fulfill? (2) For how long will the customer needs exist? (3) How are those needs changing? (4) How valuable and valued are these needs to our customers? These questions will help the company determine its profit margins and pricing power, which are key assumptions in traditional quantitative valuation models. https://lnkd.in/eYBjUDiH?

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I’m very excited that my work with Elizabeth Williams and her amazing students is showcased in a special issue of the International Journal of Business and Communication. Thank you Julien Mirivel and Ryan Fuller, PhD, MBA for the opportunity to contribute to the scholarship on positive communication. Our article titled “The Structuration of Positive Communication Experiences: The Case of the Great Resignation” can be accessed online here: https://lnkd.in/gZiJbQbh. This study examined the positive organizational communication experiences that influenced employee retention during The Great Resignation. This study found that, during times of organizational crises, organizations and their leaders should focus on fostering connection, belonging, and open communication among all employees to mitigate negative experiences and strengthen employee retention.

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Experiential Learning? How about negotiating opposite an expert, Joseph Heynoski of Nationwide, and being watched by another one, The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business #MBA alum John Gresham of Intel Corporation, and the rest of the class (not visible). Students Jeff Laubert, RDN and Kyle Schembechler trying to navigate their way out of the messy IT engagement between #Tegan and #Hrad, in the case written by Brad Staats. #StrategicSourcing #GlobalSourcing. (We did the same case, with the same experts, online in our #MSCM program, but I forgot to take a picture!). Great week for both classes in our Graduate Programs at Ohio State's Fisher College of Business.

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$$ Connect - Educate - Guide $$ Helping students navigate the financial challenges of higher education is crucial, and it starts with three key actions: Connect, Educate, and Guide. First, connect students to available resources such as scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities that can ease their financial burden. Beyond traditional financial aid, introduce them to internships, crowdfunding platforms, and employer tuition assistance programs. Second, educate them on how to effectively apply for these resources, understand financial literacy, and make informed decisions about their education investments. Finally, guide them through the process by offering ongoing support and ensuring they feel empowered to pursue their academic goals without being held back by financial concerns. Jared Tippets #ascend #highered #higheredleadership #finances

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Proud of Culverhouse College of Business management PhD student Athina Skiadopoulou co-organizing this very important caucus on replication with Prof. Daniel Bennett of University of Louisville at the Academy of Management annual conference in Boston. If you are planning to go to the AoM Conference in August 2025, consider attending their caucus. If you want feedback on an ongoing replication paper or discuss how to do rigorous replication work, you can join one of the roundtables at the caucus. #replicationresearch #science #managementresearch

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📚 New Business Models in Higher Ed 📚 Colleges and universities are evolving with innovative business models to meet changing demands and ensure sustainability: • 🤝 Collaborative Consortia: Partnering with other institutions to expand offerings and share resources. • 👔 Employer Partnerships: Aligning curricula with industry needs to provide direct career pathways. • 📅 Subscription-Based Access: Offering courses via monthly/annual fees for flexible, continuous learning. Subscription-Based Course Access: • In a move similar to streaming services, some institutions are experimenting with subscription-based models, allowing students to pay a monthly or annual fee for access to a range of courses. This model aims to cater to lifelong learners or those interested in specific skill development rather than traditional degree completion. • The subscription model aligns with trends in lifelong learning and the gig economy, where individuals may need to continuously upskill but prefer flexibility over long-term degree commitments. • 💼 Alternative Revenue Streams: Generating income through corporate training, rentals, and micro-credentials. • 💸 Innovative Financing: Income-sharing and deferred tuition models, easing upfront costs for students. Higher Ed is adapting to be more accessible, career-focused, and resilient! #HigherEducation #EdTech #LifelongLearning

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