Sponsors:
Center for the Management of Information Technology - Rice University
Institute for Studies of Organizational Automation - Texas Tech University
Information Systems Research Center - University of Houston
Information Systems Research Center- University of North Texas
The Center for the Application of Information Technology - Washington University

1. The meeting started at 7:00 am. with breakfast.
   
   
2. At approximately 7:30 a.m. Becker welcomed the IS/IT Directors and thanked them for their participation. Becker extended his thanks to the centers who helped to sponsor this breakfast meeting: CMIT, ISOA, ISRC (U of H), ISRC (UNT) and CAIT (see above). Becker also thanked the other center directors who offered to sponsor the meeting this year and whose financial assistance was beyond that required for the meeting. The attendees briefly introduced themselves and the centers they represented.
   
   
3. Becker proposed the concept of a IS Center Award based on quality criteria. The subsequent general discussion suggested a change the concept from a competition type award (e.g., Baldrige and Deming awards) to a "Best Practices" recognition which would encourage successful centers to share their experience with other centers. Other areas of interest expressed included examining methods to turn this "Best Practices" information into increased membership and the use of Delphi techniques to guide further discussion. A "Best Practices" ad-hoc committee of volunteers was formed including James Wetherbe, Tom Clark, Rudy Hirschheim, Trevor Wood-Harpe, and Jack Becker (organizer). Please note ACTION ITEM #1.
   
   
4. Becker suggested an IS/IT Directors' Meeting in August at the AIS conference. This meeting would be in addtion to the normal IS/IT Directors' Meeting at ICIS in the Netherlands. About one-half of the Vancouver meetings attendees indicated a possibility that they would attend this first AIS conference. Please note ACTION ITEM #2.
   
   
5. Kathleen Henessey, director of the ISOA at Texas Tech University, presented a discussion of the intellectual property rights associated with IS/IT Research Center operations. Ownership of intellectual property associated with IS research, various methods of protecting IP, and the risks associated with the use of each of these methods were examined.
   
   
6. Glenn Maples, University of North Texas, demonstrated the use of the world wide web. Attendees at the meting received copies of the web authoring and browsing software discussed in his demonstration. He also stated that the IS/IT Research Center would be available as part of the IS-World network. Please note ACTION ITEM #3.
   
   
7. The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30 a.m. Please examine the action items attached to this sheet for a discussion of the next meeting place and time.

Other items for consideration not part of the official meeting

1. Dick Welke suggested the consideration of a IS/IT Research Center Director's Scholarship. A $3,000 scholarship would allow the IS/IT RC Directors' Meeting name recognition on the ICIS program, an invitation to the sponsors' meeting, and two paid corporate attendees to the ICIS meeting. Please note ACTION ITEM #4.
   
   
2. Bill King has suggested that IS/IT Research Centers consider underwriting a discount for students wishing to join AIS. Please note ACTION ITEM #5.

1. The "Best Practices" Center recognition was seen as a vehicle to share information about operating practices between IS/IT research centers.

   Would you like to participate in the Delphi Group shaping this idea?

   Yes
   No

   Would you be interested in finding out more about the operations of other centers?

   Yes
   No

   Would you share information about your centers' operations to other center directors?

   Yes
   No

2. The next ICIS is scheduled for Amsterdam in December of 1995. The inaugural meeting of AIS is scheduled for August 22, 1995 in Pittsburgh.

   Do you plan to attend?

   Neither
   AIS-1995
   ICIS-1995
   Both

   In addition to the annual meeting in December at ICIS, would you like to attend a Directors' meeting at AIS this year?

   Yes
   No

3. Would you like to participate in the IS/IT Research Center Directory Page on the World Wide Web? Circle one below and provide your addresses, as available.

   Yes
   No

   My URL and E-Mail Adresses are: URL: HTTP://
   E-mail:

4. Dick Welke's suggestion of a scholarship sponsored by this group has generated a lot of excitement.

   Would you be interested in working with Dick on implementation of this idea?

   Yes
   No

   Would you/your center be willing to help sponsor this scholarship?

   Yes
   No

   A figure of $200 per center (for those wishing to participate) was "floated" as a starting point. Do you feel this number is

   Too High
   About the right amount
   Too Low

5. Bill King has suggested another avenue to provide support to our students and future fellow professionals.

   Would you be interested in working with __________ on implementation of this idea?

   Yes
   No

   Would you/your center be willing to financially sponsor this effort?

   Yes
   No

   A figure of $500 - $1000 per center (for those wishing to participate) was "floated" as a starting point. Do you feel this number is

   Too High
   About the right amount
   Too Low

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