Reflecting the critical impact that data and analytics can provide to business, Fisher College of Business has changed the name of one of its five academic departments to better focus its education, research and practice efforts.

The Department of Operations and Business Analytics will build on Fisher’s pedigree of leadership in operations education while also embracing the study of data as an emerging and valuable tool for the next generation of business professionals. The new name replaces its predecessor, the Department of Management Sciences.

“This change represents more than just a change in name,” said James Hill, chair of the department. “It’s a better reflection of the knowledge that our talented faculty, students and staff are creating, sharing and putting into practice. By highlighting our commitment to operations and business analytics, we’re aligning with the specialized skills that prospective students and the corporate community are seeking.”

The new name more accurately depicts the thought leadership available within the department, as all of its tenure-track faculty are operations management experts. It also illustrates the department’s role as a home for business analytics at Fisher; it also manages Fisher’s Specialized Master in Business-Analytics degree, and the undergraduate minor in business analytics, the fastest-growing minor at the college.

“The college has a burgeoning analytics curriculum,” Hill said. “Our department has and will continue to support this curriculum. But what’s most important is that we know analytics, especially business analytics, is cross-functional. We’ll continue working with other departments at the college and around the university to provide our students with the analytics knowledge that will differentiate them as data leaders.”

The department will continue to leverage the success of its operations management offerings, which include the Center for Operational Excellence, the Master of Business Operational Excellence degree, and numerous executive education offerings.

“We have a strong identity within the academic and corporate community relative to operations,” Hill said. “Operations is a natural fit with analytics in that we’re solving problems using data empirically and analytically. This new name simply reflects and communicates our dedication to these critical and interconnected areas of business.”