Alumni gift to establish new multidisciplinary
center
Marla Edwards
Institute Communications and Public Affairs
Michael Tennenbaum has always been a stalwart supporter of
Georgia Tech. Recently, he pledged $5 million for a new multidisciplinary
initiative believed to be the only one of its kind in the
world.
| |
 |
| |
Michael
Tennenbaum’s $5 million gift will establish an
interdisciplinary center believed to be the first of
its kind in the world. |
The Tennenbaum Institute for Enterprise Transformation will
focus a broad range of intellectual resources on designing
business practices and shaping organizational cultures to
leverage technological inventions and market innovations for
sustained economic growth.
Existing enterprises will be its focus. At its core, the
Tennenbaum Institute is expected to help both the public and
private sector adapt to constant change in technology and
the marketplace.
For example, in recent years the banking and retail industries
have been transformed by Web-based processes supporting both
integrated supply chains and customer relationship management.
In the public sector, enterprise transformation is a priority
initiative of the U.S. Defense Department.
|
The
Tennenbaum Institute for Enterprise Transformation is
expected to serve a wide range of public and private
sector entities:
•
High-tech firms, in domains including aerospace, computing,
pharmaceuticals, telecommunications and transportation;
•
Large-scale consumer-oriented industries such as automotive,
banking, retail and services;
•
Public sector enterprises in defense, education, healthcare
and homeland security; and
•
Nonprofit enterprises such as those focused on health
issues, the arts, disaster relief and other forms of
community service.
|
An emerging research area, enterprise transformation focuses
on both strategic and operational aspects of formulating and
executing change within private and public sector enterprises.
In many cases, information technology is a key enabler. However,
issues associated with people and organizations are central
to success. In addition, issues of public policy and economics
often must also be addressed to understand and assure success.
The School of Industrial and Systems Engineering will serve
as the lead unit for the Tennenbaum Institute. However, the
Institute also will benefit from the intellectual resources
and expertise of all the colleges, as well as the Georgia
Tech Research Institute, the Economic Development Institute,
the Advanced Technology Development Center, and VentureLab.
The expertise needed will range from the arts and architecture
to computing and communications to economics and engineering.
“The Tennenbaum Institute has the potential to grow
rapidly in coming years and greatly enhance the impact and
reputation of Georgia Tech,” said William Rouse, chair
of the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, who will
serve as founding executive director. “When we discussed
this initiative with Mr. Tennenbaum, he quickly reached the
conclusion that this is a compelling idea and Tech has a great
base from which to launch it.”
Tennenbaum, who graduated with a degree in industrial engineering
in 1958, is the founder of Los Angeles-based Tennenbaum Capital
Partners, which is a special situation investor often engaged
in turning around businesses. Some of his other educational
endowments include fellowship funds at Harvard Business School
and at Georgia Tech, and a research fund to advance interdisciplinary
brain research at the Neuropsychiatric Institute at UCLA Medical
School.
|
