New class geared toward company executives
James Merideth, BSCE'67, MSCE'69, one owner of Fox Engineering
in Ames, Iowa, read A.Y. Goldratt's books on the Theory of Constraints (TOC)
and decided that they offered common sense solutions for management-related
problems. But he needed more instruction before applying the theories to
his engineering consulting firm. So, he enrolled in a unique and new ISU
course geared toward company executives.
"This was an excellent opportunity to better understand the Goldratt
principles, as well as marketing solutions. It's also nice to be surrounded
by other business people who are solving real-world business problems in
a classroom setting," said Merideth. "And I was really excited
to take the course at ISU and from Dr. Bergland who has quite an expertise
in this area."
David Bergland, named Stanley Chair of Interdisciplinary Engineering
in 1996, is certified by the A.Y. Goldratt Institute to teach and provide
strategic and tactical problem solving to students to solve real-world engineering
and business problems. He joined AT&T Bell Laboratories in 1966 and
served as department head in the executive consulting department where he
provided strategic consulting and problem-solving services to AT&T executives
and external companies. He received his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral
degrees in EE from ISU.
"This is a most unusual class," said Bergland. "I have
company presidents, owners, CEOs, and CFOs interacting with engineering
and business students."
"Taking the class two days a week for two hours at a time isn't
that bad," said Merideth. "I mean, the alternative is going to
the institute in Connecticut for two weeks and paying $10,000. It's great
that ISU is offering this course, and I think it's very important to the
business community."
Engineering Dean James Melsa wants to make ISU engineering courses
more useful to business people and practicing engineers. He said, "I
think this new course is a perfect example of our new outreach program philosophy
- to provide updated technology and information to industry in order for
them to stay current in their field." | 