Decision-Making & Planning

If you ask John Tester about Northern Arizona University’s technological strides during the past few years, be prepared for a long answer. In addition to teaching classes, the associate professor of mechanical engineering heads up the university’s RAPIDLab, home to 3D printers and other machines used to turn research ideas into prototypes.

You are the manager of a big company and you know your business. Each day, you make important decisions regarding money, policy and strategy. You’re in total control. Without warning, you are confronted with a major crisis: an earthquake, a fire or a reputational risk. Now you find yourself uncertain and unsure. You don’t know what to do and you realize that everybody is looking to you for guidance—and the decision you are about to make will directly affect the survival of your company.

The University of California at Berkeley's planned Richmond campus aims at ushering in a transformation of the American research university.

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has partnered with four other research universities and a consortium of photonics industry leaders in an effort to win a $110 million federal contract for an integrated photonics institute that would be housed in the $70 million Florida Advanced Manufacturing Research Center (FAMRC) being built near Kissimmee, Fla.

No matter what the reason, whether because of an economic downturn or poor work performance, firing someone is never enjoyable. As a manager, even if the firing is deserved, it’s never fun to be responsible for terminating someone’s source of income. It can get emotional, and sometimes there are legal consequences if the employee is not given enough of a chance to improve before he or she is let go.

The University of California today (Sept. 15) announced the creation of UC Ventures, an independent fund to pursue investments in UC research-fueled enterprises, subject to the approval of the UC Regents. The Office of the Chief Investment Officer would make an initial commitment of up to $250 million to the fund.













