MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University’s Department of Information Systems and Analytics recently hosted an international information technology conference for the first time with plans to continue such collaborations regionally to boost IT research, networking and workforce development.

The 2024 ACM SIGMIS Computers and People Research Conference carried the theme, “Trust and Legitimacy in Emerging Technologies: Organizational and Societal Implications for People, Places and Power,” and featured a variety of sessions, panels, lectures and meetings on campus, primarily at the Business and Aerospace Building.

ACM SIGMIS is the acronym for the Association for Computing Machinery, or ACM, and its Special Interest Group on Management Information Systems, or SIGMIS. According to the website, ACM SIGMIS traces its beginning back to 1961, and for decades has been instrumental in defining and developing the field of management and information systems.

Sam Zaza, professor in the MTSU Department of Information Systems and Analytics and conference chair, said she was excited to bring the annual conference to MTSU and Middle Tennessee that drew SIGMIS members from around the country and world that include computer professionals, educators, MIS managers, and human resource specialists from a broad range of organizations.

“We are on the map as a research institution and signaling the value of MTSU as a research player,” noted Zaza. “We had international scholars representing around 10 countries participating in the conference.”

SIGMIS is a sponsor of several conferences on information systems and technology. The Computers and People Research or CPR Conference is an annual event that aims to bridge the gap between IT professionals and the ongoing demand for their skills and talent by addressing the challenges of preparing, recruiting and retaining IT professionals.

“When this group (SIGMIS) first started, they were looking at how they managed to keep professionals. We are still grappling with the same issues that manifest differently in every new generation every year,” said Damien Joseph, ACM SIGMIS chair who traveled from Nanyang Business School at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore where he is an associate dean and associate professor.

Shaping ‘equitable technological future’

Jones College of Business Dean Joyce Heames welcomed the national and international attendees to MTSU as part of a May 30 inauguration ceremony in the Business and Aerospace Building’s State Farm Lecture Hall.

“What you’re doing is so important. Similar partnerships have already proven successful for everyone involved in our industry-supported learning experience program,” said Heames. “Your participation will contribute to the ongoing efforts to ensure fair and inclusive integration of emerging technology, ultimately empowering the IT workers and society.

“So, I thank you for joining us at SIGMIS CPR 2024. Let’s work together to shape a just and equitable technological future.”

Running May 29-June 1, the four-day conference began with two networking events, including a Doctoral Consortium, a forum for students performing research related to the conference. The event concluded with an ACM SIGMIS members’ business meeting and dinner in Nashville on May 31 followed by a last session early the next day.

MTSU was represented by key faculty and staff participation throughout the bulk of the main conference sessions scheduled May 30-31.

Yvette Clark, vice president for information technology and chief information officer for MTSU, gave keynote remarks for one session on Thursday.

Kristie Abston, associate management professor, chaired one session and moderated a panel discussion with fellow faculty members Murat Arik, director of the Business and Economic Research Center and holder of the Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning, and Keith Jacks Gamble, director of MTSU’s Data Science Institute and an economics and finance professor. The panel was titled “The Role of Technology in Human Resource Management in a Post-Pandemic World: Reflecting on Artificial Intelligence, Analytics, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”

Ben Gold, an AI consultant gave the keynote on May 31, with activities for both days including industry-related sessions and panel discussions ranging from bridging the digital talent gap to IT in health care to artificial intelligence in human resources and higher education to algorithm bias.

MTSU’s Zaza earns a first

During a May 30 award ceremony, Joseph, the ACM SIGMIS chair, recognized the following individuals and teams for their industry-led research, work, and contributions to the information systems field:

• Appreciation Award: Dr. Kristie Abston (MTSU).

• Leadership Excellence Award: Dr. Cindy Riemenschneider (Baylor University); Indira Guzman (California Polytech University – Pomona).
• Outstanding Poster Award: Kristina Kusanke (University of Hagen, Germany); Jennifer Kendziorra (University of Hagen, Germany); Sam Zaza (MTSU); and Till J. Winkler (Copenhagen Business School, Denmark).
• Work-in-Progress Outstanding Award: Gideon Mekonnen Jonathan (Stockholm University, Sweden) and Iris Reychav (Ariel University, Israel).
• Magid Igbaria Outstanding Conference Paper Award: Fred Niederman (St. Louis University).
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Mary Sumner (University of Oklahoma).

Notably, the Early Career Award was given to Zaza, the first time the award was presented to a female and the first time it went to a U.S. scholar in the information systems field for their outstanding achievements as a researcher and educator in the management information systems, or MIS, discipline.

“I am humbled to receive the Early Career Award,” said Zaza. “The standards are high and competitive, and I am thankful that the nominating committee recognized my research and service to the international and regional professional community.”

Moving forward with ‘Tech Vision’

Zaza said she looks forward to building on the ACM conference to launch Tech Vision, an initiative about technology for MTSU and the region.

“This conference inspired the idea for the Tech Vision initiative, which will be held at the MTSU in the spring of 2025,” Heames added, “where students and faculty from around the campus and Middle Tennessee area will come together to discuss research.

“The MTSU Jones College of Business was proud to host the SIGMIS CPR conference,” Heames continued. “It was exciting to have guests from around the world attending to discuss the future of such an important research area. My thanks to Drs. Zaza, Abston, Gamble, and Arik, for guiding the conference to such high outcomes.”

Tim Greer, chair of MTSU’s Department of Information Systems and Analytics, served as a communication chair for the conference.

The Department of Information Systems and Analytics is housed in the Jones College of Business. The department provides instruction in Business Intelligence, Analytics and Information Systems. It is recognized throughout Middle Tennessee and the southeastern region of the United States as a progressive and competent program.

For more information about the department, visit https://mtsu.edu/isa/index.phpor call 615.898.2362.

 — Johari Hamilton (Johari.HamiltonGA@mtsu.edu)