Upcoming Meetings

Topic:   Leadership in the 21st Century - Techniques Lag Behind Technology

Speaker:   Dr. James Wetherbe – Stevenson Chair of Information Technology – Texas Tech University

When:   Thursday, March 18, 2010 5:30pm - 8:30pm

Where:   Rosewood Restaurant and Banquet Hall, 9421 Higgins Road, Rosemont, IL 60018

SIM Chicago is pleased to present a very special evening with Dr. James Wetherbe.

Dr. Wetherbe is Stevenson Chair of Information Technology and Executive Director of the Institute for Internet Buyer Behavior at Texas Tech University. Dr. Wetherbe was formerly the FedEx Professor of Excellence in MIS at the University of Memphis, Professor of MIS and Director of the MIS Research Center at the University of Minnesota, and a Professor of MIS at the University of Houston. Dr. James Wetherbe is internationally known as a dynamic and entertaining speaker, author, and leading authority on the use of computers and information systems to improve organizational performance and competitiveness. Dr. Wetherbe is particularly appreciated for his ability to explain complex technology in straightforward, practical terms that can be strategically applied by both executives and general management.

Dr. James Wetherbe is the author of 18 highly regarded books including Information Technology for Management, So, What's Your Point?, The World On Time: 11 Management Principles That Made FedEx an Overnight Sensation and Systems Analysis and Design: Best Practices. His book on FedEx was ranked as one of the Top 30 Business Books of 1997 out of 1400 published. Systems Analysis and Design was ranked by Computing Newsletter as the top textbook on the topic.

Quoted often in leading business and information system journals, Dr. Wetherbe has also written over 200 articles, was ranked by Information Week as one of the top dozen Information Technology Consultants, and is the first recipient of the MIS Quarterly Distinguished Scholar Award.

Mark your calendars for March 18th and join your Chicago–area technology and business colleagues for this memorable event. Enjoy a fabulous meal, camaraderie, networking with your peers and be prepared to take away practical solutions from Dr. Wetherbe to use for your businesses.

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Topic:   Is there life after an ERP installation?

Speaker:   Timothy Ferrarell, Senior Vice President and CIO for Grainger

When:   Tuesday, April 6, 2010 5:30pm - 8:30pm

Where:   The Arboretum Club - 401 W. Half Day Rd. Buffalo Grove, IL - Phone: (847) 913-9112

In 2005, facilities maintenance distributor Grainger went live on a new ERP with a “big bang” approach. In a single go-live weekend, the $6.2 billion company successfully transitioned 10,000 users from more than 50 legacy business systems to a single SAP platform. It was a huge IT accomplishment, but flipping the go-live switch was only the beginning of a journey.

Grainger CIO Tim Ferrarell, who led the SAP implementation, will talk about the lessons the company learned before, during and after go-live. Join us to learn how one Fortune 500 CIO is leading his team through life after an ERP installation.

About Tim
Tim Ferrarell has led Grainger’s Enterprise Systems function for more than 8 years and has played a key role in building the company's industry-leading technology platform. In 2005, he spearheaded Grainger’s successful SAP implementation. Tim’s unique background includes a variety of senior leadership roles within marketing, product management, supply chain, continuous improvement and business planning.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday April 6th