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Computer Information Systems wins Micosoft award

March 17, 2008

KALAMAZOO--The Western Michigan University Computer Information Systems program in the Haworth College of Business has won an award from Microsoft.

The program won a 2008 Microsoft Dynamics Customer Excellence Award and was honored by Microsoft executives at an awards luncheon March 12 during Convergence 2008, Microsoft Dynamics' user conference in Orlando, Fla.

The selection process was highly competitive. WMU was selected based on the outstanding achievement of the computer information systems faculty in incorporating Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains into classroom teaching and learning of business process management.

"Since the late '90s, Enterprise System Software has been increasingly adopted by industries in support of business process integration," says Dr. Bernard Han, chair of the Department of Business Information Systems, "and using real world technology in teaching becomes the most effective way to engage students in learning business operations and processes."

Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains was selected by CIS faculty in 2005 to enhance the delivery and learning of BUS2700 Business-Driven Information Technology, an undergraduate core course for all majors at Haworth College of Business. Since then, not only the course has been significantly improved, but also two regional training workshops were provided by CIS faculty to more than 40 professors from nine universities in the Midwest.

Recently, an innovative teaching system using Microsoft Dynamics Great Plains was presented to Microsoft and currently is under development by Han and two other professors, Drs. Muhammad Razi and Thomas Rienzo, associate professor and master faculty specialist, respectively, of business information systems. The threesome attended Convergence 2008 to receive the award.

More information about the 2008 Microsoft Customer Excellence Awards can be found through microsoft.com.

Media contact: Mark Schwerin, (269) 387-8400, mark.schwerin@wmich.edu

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