Dream A Little Dream

 In the future years, I 'd like to publish several research papers on the following publication outlets:

 The Journal of Strategic Information Systems is a leading journal on management, business and organizational fields. It mainly focus on the the introduction and utilization of information systems as a strategic tool in a global context, the organizations' strategic thinking, strategy alignment and management of change issues. I am interested in the following topics: i) the nature of business in the context of emerging IT; ii) the organizational implications of IT; iii) how organizations have been transformed as a result of the astute management and application of IT.

Information Systems Research is an important international journal focusing on information systems in organizations, institutions, the economy, and society. I hope I can do research on the following topics: the productive application of information technologies to human organizations; ii) how these technologies improve economic and social welfare.

Louis-Marie Ngamassi, a third year PhD student of IST, is looking for a NGO job after graduation and is hard working with academic project and publication. I am happy to share his thoughts and experience in his office.

1. His project and dissertation

    Guided by his advisor Carleen Maitland and other professors of IST, Louis is diligently working on the COHORT project. This is a perfect project for him, a combination and extention of his previous work in UN and research interest in NGO. Stemed from this project, Louis is thinking of narrowing down his final dissertation topic, which is assumed to be fulfilled in the end of this semester. Louis has passed through the tough first PhD year which we are all experiencing now. However, he said he's still under certain stress from time to time, thinking of how to turn project and report into high valued papers. "You have to find specific things from these reports and make them deeper and researchable", he said, "and it is very important to get feedback from faculties in the project. Work hard and their guidance will keep pushing you forward." 

2. His conferences and papers

    Based on the COHORT project, Louis came up with several publications which can been seen on his personal website www.personal.psu.edu/lxn141. Apart from the project, he also published papers on his own interest about ICT and HIV issues. As to the conferences, he has joined ISCRAM, TPRC, IFIP, ICT AFRICA and so on. To him, attending conferences with his advisor is a very interesting experience. Dr. Maitland will show him around, meet different people, happy and sweet.

3. His view of academic life
    Located on the third floor of IST building, Louis from time to time has talks with first year graduate students. He also experienced the tough beginning of PhD life, especially the first semester. Going through all this, Louis now thinks the first year is a good accumulation for future research and all students can survive with unnoticed progress finally. Finishing all the courses and assignments, Louis now is in a new stage of PhD life, in which research and publications become the most important thing. Although he is looking for a non academic career, he still work hard in research for two reasons: one is publication is vital for every PhD students, the second is by publication and joining conferences, he will get acquaintance with people in the particular area he will work with.     

4. His view of himself

    Louis describes himself as an "Outlier". Why? He has a long work experience, much longer than other students in IST. He thinks he has limitations, like slow reading and should work harder. He has a family, lovely children and has more responsibilities. These reasons make him think himself as "outlier". I am happy that Louis and I have the same advisor, which gives me more chances of talking with him. Louis has set up a very good example to me, no matter in study or in life. Compared with Louis, my experience are simpler and my life are simpler. And our research interests are different. However, there are two things I think we all should possess, a diligent attitude and calm mood. Louis has possessed both and I'm still searching in the way.  

I see my advisor Carleen Maitland as a cool woman who possesses both beauty and intelligence. I think her personality is also in accordance with her horoscope Archer very much, energetic! My advisor grew up in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and has received higher education both in United States and Europe.

My advisor has a very happy family. Her husband also works in Penn State at College of Engineering and they have a lovely daughter.

Dr. Maitland joined IST as assistant professor in 2002. She also served on the advisory board of Women in Science & Engineering Institute (WISE) from the fall 2002 until August 2005. During 2001 and 2002, Dr. Maitland worked as an assistant professor in section of information and communication technologies, Delft University of Technology. 

Carleen has also served for several enterprises, such as outside plant engineer and a network cost analyst for Nynex, network cost analyst for Pacific Bell, government affairs intern at TCI, and research consultant for Daimler Benz.

As to me, the most amazing thing in my advisor's previous experience is that she had joined U.S Peace Corps Volunteer in 1991 in Malawi in southern Africa. How fantastic the stories would be! I really want to hear more when I meet her next time....

    On the "I"(Information)-"T"(Technology)-"P"(People) triangle IST presents, I may lie at the highest point of "P" side. This is not because I am good at researching on people or society, but because compared with "P", my knowledge on both "I" and "T" are limited. But this will not last long. As a student in I-school, I have already started my interdisciplinary journey. For the past three weeks of study, I have absorbed a broad knowledge related to information that I never imagined. This is a challenge because I have to conquer one and another hill of technological issues which I'm not familiar with. But this also opens a door for me, telling me how fantastic the technical world. As a I-school student, like everyone else, I will be equipped with a broad knowledge span fromComputer Science, Library Science, Business, Psychology, and Sociology.

    Studying in I-school is also a trend. Before entering IST, I also thought about applying other schools or departments. My interests are broad, media, internet, social psychology, policy, management. I think no single department can combine all these except IST. This is true. In IST, everyone of us, no matter from which background, can see a chance of conducting great research according to our own characteristics. But how about students in other schools? Well, I have met a student from education department. Her research focues on professional training and she is planning to take HCI course in IST because good user design is essential to training software. I have also met students from computer science or other departments who are trying to transfer to IST. Why is that? I think the answer is that we can not just ignore the power of information. As information technology is playing a more and more important role in our lives, pure traditional study of either people or technology became insufficient. The problems we met cannot be addressed from a single disciplinary perspective anymore. Understanding and resolving the new emerging problems require a new lens. This is why I-school emerges.

    So as to me, study in an I-school is a really an adventure. I have to draw new knowledge, strengthen diversity, discard individual disciplinary biases and finally develop a new Information vision. Maybe I-schools are new, and maybe we need a breathing space to better our education designing, I firmly believe the direction is right. Our persuit in I-school can be proved its worth over time.