We are drowning in numbers, and we no longer understand what they mean. Every day, headlines bombard us with figures meant to inform: billions in spending, trillions in debt, percentages signaling growth or decline. But for most of us, these numbers blur together. They register as “large” or “small,” but almost never as real. And that is more than a math problem. It is a civic one.
INFORMS has awarded Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) its 2026 Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Advanced Analytics, Operations Research and Management Science, for reengineering how global cloud infrastructure is planned and delivered, applying advanced analytics and AI to orchestrate complex fulfillment decisions across its rapidly expanding data center network.
In the rush to adopt artificial intelligence, many employers are now requiring that employees use AI tools. As you’re using AI, be intentional and selective. It’s critical that you know yourself. Research published in Management Science found that AI is most valuable for people who understand their own abilities and limitations. Assess yourself, so you can factor this into your process for incorporating AI into your work.
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In the mad dash to meet Gov. Larry Hogan’s call for 6,000 new hospital beds for a potential surge of coronavirus cases in Maryland, patients with COVID-19 could end up in a new wing, an alcove or even a tent.
The U.S. may follow in Italy’s footsteps and be overwhelmed by the coronavirus unless we take preventive action now. The capacity of the American health-care system is already under strain — even without the COVID-19 pandemic — with emergency room overcrowding, long wait times to schedule an appointment, and a chronic shortage of nurses.
It’s official: The World Health Organization has declared that the coronavirus is a global pandemic. Currently, the CDC recommends against gatherings of 50 or more people, and President Trump is urging against gatherings of no more than 10. As universities switch to online classes and travel bans go into effect, it makes sense if you’re feeling sort of powerless right now. So far, everyone has been told to take basic precautions against getting sick: wash your hands, avoid touching your face, clean your phone. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO General Director, shared in a tweet that another step in prevention is to avoid crowded places.
During the Democratic debate on Sunday, Americans witnessed a rare sighting: Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden disputing potential solutions to the new coronavirus before an audience-free studio. This eerily quiet debate was fitting considering the current global pandemic that the world is facing. Even presidential candidates had to adhere to the new practices of social distancing, standing six feet apart, and limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people.
As we in western Massachusetts begin to prepare for the inevitable coronavirus I would like to thank The Springfield Republican/MassLive for its excellent coverage, including how best to prepare. I teach regularly a course on Humanitarian Logistics and Healthcare at the Isenberg School at UMass and, as part of the course, I bring in practitioners to share their expertise and experiences on all phases of disaster management, from preparedness and mitigation, to response and recovery. I have hosted experts from MEMA, the National Guard, the Red Cross, BayState, among others, and even a field trip to the Amherst Fire Station. Their professional expertise gained from the trenches enriches the education of our students and provides very valuable lessons.
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