All --
A note I received from an English Major may be of interest as it relates to this discussion... see below:
Dear Dr. Gorman,
Good afternoon. I write to offer my congratulations to you as the new Editor-in-Chief of Interfaces, a journal I've come to respect for its readability and openness. It's a journal even a nonspecialist like myself - I'm a composition graduate student in an English Department - can appreciate and generally understand.
It may seem odd that I wish you congratulations, but I've been doing a study of the journal in my cross-disciplinary work with Dr. Joseph Warfel, OR/MS graduate from Northwestern University, about the rhetoric of his field. I read your recent, positive editor's statement and had to wish you well. Joe and I will be citing your statement next week at the Association of Teachers of Technical Writing conference about the values of the OR field as exemplified in Holland et al's article "UPS Optimizes Delivery Routes." Since you mention in your statement that you hope the journal reaches a wider audience, I wanted to let you know it's found it's way into an English Department and national writing conference schedule.
With well wishes,
Jennifer Juszkiewicz
Ph.D. Candidate || Indiana University - Bloomington
English Department || Composition, Literacy, & Culture Program
Coordinator for W231 Professional Writing Program
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Michael Gorman
Professor
University of Dayton
Dayton OH
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-24-2018 10:13
From: Michael Gorman
Subject: Interfaces Name Change: INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics
All -
In my most recent Interfaces editorial statement, I proposed the idea of an Interfaces name change.
I am sure there will be a lot of opinions on this, and we want to hear them!
I hope that this discussion board will allow all to weigh in on the subject.
If at all possible (and I am not sure it will be) I would like to focus the discussion on whether Interfaces should change its name, more than 'what should its name be'.
I know they are related, as the eventual name feeds the desirability of a name change, but the actual name is secondary to if the name should be changed. Yes or no. Two options. (Like I tell my wife - we have to decide to buy a dog before we have to decide what to name it!)
What are the pros and cons of changing the name, and keeping the name Interfaces?
I have proposed a name: The INFORMS Journal of Applied Analytics. I like it because it puts INFORMS and Analytics in the same title, emphasizes Application to researchers and business professionals a like, and emphasizes the rigor of an analytic Journal. There are many, many potential others (I have heard many of them!). It is a fun and sometimes contentious discussion.
However, first things first -
Would Interfaces, and INFORMS, be better served with a name that includes the word "Analytics"?
I think yes, for reasons of outreach, branding, and growth. I have outlined my reasons in my editorial statement, linked and attached below.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
INFORMS PubsOnline
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Michael Gorman
Professor
University of Dayton
Dayton OH
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