Throughout the coming months we will be profiling faculty from the MBA program as a way for prospective students, alumni and even current students, not enrolled in particular courses, to get to know our outstanding faculty. Recently we sat down with Professor Doug Tougaw to discuss his background as well as the classes he instructs in the MBA program.
Q: Tell us a little about your business background- please involve any professional organizations, boards you’re involved with.
I’m very actively involved in two professional societies, the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). I serve on the national board of directors of ASEE, representing faculty from Midwest and Southeast as the Zone II Chair. I’m also the past chair of the Engineering Ethics Division and have been leading the effort to develop a Code of Ethics for ASEE. I am also on the section board of directors for IEEE, organizing programs for electrical and computer engineers across the northern half of Indiana.
Q: What makes your MBA course different than others students might take at an undergraduate level?
I think that MBA 652, Developing People, focuses on how managers can develop their co-workers to help them achieve their maximum potential. We focus on the skills necessary for effective management, such as dealing with difficult people, performing useful employee evaluations, and developing exemplary training sessions. This is done with an eye toward practical expertise, but it is all grounded in the theory that students develop in MGT 304.
Q: What are you hoping future managers/CEO’s will gain from taking your course?
The most important thing that I hope students take from MBA 652 is that the best way to optimize the performance of a co-worker is to treat them with the respect and consideration deserved by another human being, one with hopes and aspirations just like their own. To do otherwise is not only unethical, but it also leads to poor performance by the employee!
Q: How do your specific courses meet the needs of a working professional?
In any organization, the most important element of success is the people. Strategy is developed and implemented by people, people do all the accounting, finance, and legal work required by the company, and people who are given the resources and opportunity can and will improve the quality and efficiency of the organization’s products and services. By improving the performance of your people, you improve all aspects of your business.
Q: Do you have any published works? If so do you have links that can be included? Have you presented anywhere/won awards for works?
I split my research efforts between scientific articles in the area of novel nanoscale computer devices and educational articles focusing on multidisciplinary aspects of engineering and business education. I have published 25 nanotechnology articles and 34 education-related articles, all in refereed journals or conference proceedings.
Four of my personal favorites are listed below:
1. J.D. Wood and D. Tougaw, “Matrix Multiplication Using Quantum-Dot Cellular Automata to Implement Conventional Microelectronics,” IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology, vol.10, no.5, pp.1036-1042, Sept. 2011.
2. C.R. Graunke, D.I. Wheeler, D. Tougaw, and J.D. Will, “Implementation of a crossbar network using quantum-dot cellular automata,” IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology, vol.4, no.4, pp. 435- 440, July 2005.
3. D. Tougaw and M. McCuddy, “Implementing a New Approach to Teaching the Ethics of Emerging Technology,” Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Illinois/Indiana Conference, March 2006.
4. D. Tougaw and D. Schroeder, “Teaching a Multidisciplinary Course on Technology, Society, and the Natural Environment,” Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education National Conference, June 2005.
The first two of these papers describe important developments in quantum computing, and my co-authors and I received a patent for the work described in the second paper. The third and fourth articles are in the educational domain, and both were co-authored by faculty from the CBA. Paper #3 received a national award for being the best paper presented at an ASEE sectional conference that year.
We thank Professor Tougaw for taking the time to connect with us! For more information about the Valpo MBA program please contact Cindy.Scanlan@valpo.edu or call 219-465-7952.
