Summer 2007: Embracing the Past, Reaching for the Future

Organizations like WDSI face many of the same challenges of private sector organizations – increasing customer expectations, greater product choice, the enhanced market visibility that technology brings, and, tightening budgets. The onus is therefore on us to be proactive in responding to the challenges the present and future bring without losing touch with our past.

As I reflect on my involvement with WDSI, certain characteristics of the organization come to mind. Some of the tracks at our meetings with the greatest participation correspond to ‘non traditional’ DSI disciplines. The Management and Organizational Behavior and Marketing tracks in particular, come to mind. This is not to say that traditional tracks such as Operations Management and Information Systems are not well supported. Rather it is an indication of our inclusiveness, and that participants from a broad spectrum of business and related disciplines find the meeting to be both welcoming to them and to meet their scholarly needs. WDSI has a tradition of members returning to the annual meeting year after year, and past leadership remaining active. It is not uncommon to find half a dozen or more Past Presidents at each meeting. This is a measure of the commitment these individuals have to the organization, and the wealth of knowledge, experience, and wisdom that is passed to future generations of leadership. The six year commitment board members make distinguishes WDSI from many other organizations I am familiar with. We have track chairs that, year after year, step up to offer their services, and do so in a professional manner. At the meetings, not only do we benefit from the support and intellectual contributions of all those that have contributed to our success, we have a tradition of taking care of members in a manner unparalleled by other regional organizations. From our ‘early bird’ reception on Tuesday evenings, through the business luncheon on Friday, we host networking functions that exude warmth, community, and a sense of belonging. I am not aware of another regional organization that can boast of offering the level of hospitality that we do. Last but not least, our meeting venues offer not only top quality facilities and good value, but locations that have something to offer for those wishing to bring families or combine the meeting with a little local culture. Having been an active participant in two other regional DSI organizations as well as the National organization, I speak from experience when I say that WDSI has a unique character and spirit, one that I personally am proud to be associated with.

As we move forward, we must build on what has made us strong, yet respond to changing realities. At the Denver meeting, I challenged the membership to let the board know what we can do to better serve your needs and enhance the quality and reputation of the organization. One member did just this, and, as a result, the 2008 meeting will, under his leadership, see a new track in Human Resource Management and Development. As with other newly added tracks such as in Engineering Management, we hope this track will infuse new energy into the meeting and provide additional perspectives, expertise, and opportunities for professional development. A second change for the 2008 meeting is that we will award several meeting wide Best Paper awards, sponsored by Alpha Iota Delta. It is anticipated that this will help to further enhance the quality of submissions as well as perceptions of meeting quality. The Board has also reaffirmed its commitment to holding future meetings in locations you, the membership, have indicated a preference for. With this in mind, the 2009 meeting will return to Hawaii, this time on the garden island of Kauai.

The Board shares my commitment to critically evaluating all aspects of the organization so that we may chart a path to future success and continued strength. However, WDSI is your organization and the leadership relies on your input and support as we move forward. I encourage you to make sure your voice is heard so that our future may be as strong as our past.

Vijay R. Kannan

President