VOLUME 14  NUMBER 1  CONTENTS  SUBSCRIPTION FORM  CONTACT THE EDITOR  BACK ISSUES  ABOUT AISS    [Restart animations.]     RW

Our Client Case Studies issue traditionally recognizes ways in which our clients have pursued original approaches in implementing information systems technologies to help them do their jobs better. In short, we proudly feature the extensive knowledge, experience, and innovation permeating our University community. We hope this issue encourages sustained collective sharing of these resources, so that we may all continue to grow and profit from them.       Each article in this issue examines various successful technological improvements achieved by University faculty and staff within their departments and colleges. The articles also provide insight as to how these change initiators secured the knowledge, materials, and support they needed to turn their ideas into realities.       Improvements to business processes emerge out of the unwavering commitment of time and the disciplined application of critical self-analysis. Without these baseline ingredients, attempts to improve processes fall short of expectations because they are limited by the artificial constraints of existing systems.       Innovators must seek to challenge the validity of the status quo, exploring obvious paths of inquiry from fresh perspectives, asking basic questions such as, What do we wish to accomplish? Why do we do things this way? Is there a better way we can do this? Only in this way can complex, problem-specific solutions be realized. Openness to change is imperative if we hope to reap the benefits offered by technological advances. Old constraints give way and the astute innovator prepares for the new ones that will crop up.       The selected case studies in this issue detail success stories that distinguish your colleagues as innovators -- those who invested time, answered questions, and deployed the available expertise, services, and data creatively to achieve their objectives. I hope these success stories inspire you to expand and further the possibilities in your business environment. For those of you who have already made the commitment to pursue innovation, I applaud your efforts and encourage you to remain open to change. For those of you who are about to begin, I hope the following articles provide the inspiration to examine and improve your own business processes. Anthony J. Aniello is Associate Vice President of AISS. Proceed to CONTENTS Volume 14, Number 1.