S. (Raghu) Raghavan
Professor of Management Science & Operations Management, The Robert H. Smith School of Business & Institute for Systems Research, University of Maryland
Vision Statement
I have been a member of INFORMS (and its predecessors ORSA and TIMS) since 1987 and
have a substantial background of service to INFORMS across different sections and societies over the course of my 33 years as an INFORMS member. These include serving as a Section or Society Officer, organizing several INFORMS Subdivision Conferences, serving or chairing numerous INFORMS Prize Committees, serving on the editorial board of several INFORMS Journals, and since 2019 Vice President (VP) for Technology Strategy on the INFORMS Board.
INFORMS is the premier association for professionals in Operations Research and Analytics. Technology is a key component for the ever-increasing reach and relevance of OR and Analytics in every component of modern-day society. INFORMS promotes the best practices and advances in operations research, management science, and analytics, and brings together a wide array of academics and industry professionals across research domains and industry segments.
INFORMS strategic goals state: i) INFORMS will identify, recognize, and promote the work of its members to show the value their science and practice brings to society, ii) Decision- makers will have access to, and use, innovative technologies and methodologies to transform visions, tasks, or responsibilities into better choices, services and products to achieve better outcomes, iii) Organizations will identify Operations Research and Analytics as core components of success and institutionalize Operations Research and Analytics input as part of their decision-making processes, and iv) Operations Research and Analytics will advance society and make the world a better place.
I strongly believe that technology can play a key and significant role in helping INFORMS meet these strategic goals and make an impact! Earlier this year INFORMS completed a switch to a much needed and new Association Management and Customer Relationship Management System. This new system introduces a larger set of technology capabilities (e.g., mobile engagement, cloud-based system, etc.) allowing INFORMS to better serve its members. Looking forward, INFORMS may want to think about several technology related questions to accomplish its strategic goals. How can its Information Technology (IT) capabilities be enhanced to facilitate INFORMS sponsored online conferences and workshops? In the same vein, how can technology be strategically used by members to better network and interact? How can INFORMS leverage its IT capabilities so that it can better publicize member accomplishments (both to the broad INFORMS membership, but more importantly to the external community)? How can IT capabilities be used to make the latest technologies, methodologies, and tools accessible (in the broadest sense) to a wide array of decision makers (perhaps via free online tutorials hosted at an INFORMS technology and tools repository)? I strongly believe that technology can play a significant role in enhancing INFORMS member engagement and interaction beyond the conference meetings.
As VP for Technology Strategy my aim would be to help make INFORMS an adept user of technology to fulfill its mission, strategic goals, and serve its members. I see my role as a strategic thinker to help generate ideas, directions, and plans (related to Technology) from the INFORMS community that the INFORMS board, membership, and staff can consider and adopt in a joint quest to expand our reach and impact!
I am honored to be nominated for the position of Vice President Technology Strategy on the INFORMS Board of Directors, and I would be thrilled to continue to serve, if elected.
Biographical Profile
Education
- Ph.D., Operations Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1995
- M.S., Operations Research and Statistics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1988
- B.Tech., Aeronautical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, 1987
Professional Experience
- University of Maryland: Professor 2010-Present, Associate Professor 2005-2010, Assistant Professor 1998-2005
- USWEST Advanced Technologies: Acting Director Optimization and Logistics Group 1998, Member of Technical Staff 1995-1997
Publications
Author of over 50 journal articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings that have appeared in Operations Research, Management Science, INFORMS Journal on Computing, Interfaces, Networks, and others.
Professional Activities
- Area Editor, INFORMS Journal on Computing, 2007-2018
- Associate Editor, Networks, 1999-Present
- Associate Editor, Operations Research, 2008-2011
Professional Honors and Awards
- INFORMS Prize for Teaching OR/MS Practice, 2016
- INFORMS Telecommunications Section Best Paper Award, 2016
- INFORMS Computing Society Prize, 2008, 2005
- George B. Dantzig Dissertation Award, 1996
INFORMS Service
- Vice President for Technology Strategy, INFORMS, 2019-Present
- Member, INFORMS Finance Committee, 2018
- Past Chair 2008-2010, Chair 2006-2008, Vice-Chair 2004-2006, Treasurer 2002-2004, Secretary 2000-2002, Member-of-Council 1998-2000, INFORMS Telecommunications Section