A.R. (Venky) Venkatachalam, Ph.D.

A.R. (Venky) Venkatachalam, Ph.D. Chairperson, Decision Sciences Department, Professor of Information Systems and Director, Enterprise Integration Research Center (603) 862-0015 venky@cisunix.unh.edu

Fields of Specialization:

Information technology, electronic commerce, global information management, enterprise integration, emerging technologies, technology management, artificial intelligence, innovation.

Education:

Ph.D., Manderson Graduate School of Business, The University of Alabama.
M.B.A., Indian Institute of Management Calcutta.
B.S. (Honors) in Mechanical Engineering, The University of Madras, India.

Dr. A.R. Venkatachalam is Professor of Information Systems, Chairperson of the Decision Sciences department, and Director of Enterprise Integration Research Center in the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. He received his bachelors degree with honors in mechanical engineering from the University of Madras, India, MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama. He has also worked in the industry for five years as a Corporate Planning Manager.

Dr. Venkatachalam has received several awards and honors including the 2006 University of New Hampshire Excellence in Research Award (selected from a pool of 640 faculty).

Dr. Venkatachalam pioneered the design and development of a procurement, marketing, and communications network (PRO-Net, pro-net.sba.gov) for the U.S. Small Business Administration. Under his leadership, an Internet-based system was implemented in a four-month period for a budget of less than $150,000 and replaced multiple systems that had been under development in the federal government for a number of years, costing $10 million and yet unsuccessful. PRO-Net is now live with over 195,000 companies listed to permit federal, state, local, and private procurement officers to find and solicit proposals from small businesses interested in government, prime- and sub-contractor procurements.

For his leadership role in the creation of PRO-Net, Dr. Venkatachalam was honored by the United States Vice President at the White House on June 3, 1997, during the inauguration of Small Business Week.

From 1995 to 2002, Dr. Venkatachalam was the project leader for ACE-Net (Angel Capital Electronic Network), an Internet-based angel capital network that brings together entrepreneurs seeking equity capital and self-accredited investors, on a national basis. ACE-Net is currently the only national Internet-based system permitted by SEC and state regulators. The system is currently used by venture capital agencies in 45 states. In 2000, ACE-Net reached the $1 billion milestone in raising equity financing for entrepreneurs in the nation.

Dr. Venkatachalam was one of the leaders of a team that participated in a pilot study funded by Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) involving use of the Internet for transfer of defense technologies to the private industry. This pilot program (completed in 1998) successfully demonstrated a technology transfer process involving two defense laboratories and several private industries in two northeastern states.

In July 2003 the University of New Hampshire and National Infrastructure Institute's Center for Infrastructure Expertise launched a web-based library portal (www.ni2ciel.org), a project headed by Dr. Venkatachalam. The portal is a one-stop shop for all pertinent information related to the protection of built infrastructure and key assets (see video clip).

Since August 2005, Dr. Venkatachalam is leading a research team that is involved in the development of a pilot system for perfecting security interests in intellectual property rights. This project is funded by the United States Patent and Trademarks Office.

Dr. Venkatachalam has 45 publications in research journals and refereed conference proceedings. He has published in International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Journal of Information Science and Technology, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, Technology in Society, Journal of Law and Technology, Journal of Business & Entrepreneurship, Strategic Information Systems, Journal of Forecasting, Information & Management, Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Computers & Operations Research, International Journal of Expert Systems with Applications, Industrial Management, Simulation, and Journal of Global Information Management.

Dr. Venkatachalam is a frequent reviewer for a number of research journals and international conferences. He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Information Technology Cases and Applications Research and serves on the editorial review boards of prestigious research journals in the information systems area including Journal of Electronic Commerce in Organizations and Journal of Organizational & End-User Computing. He is also a consultant to the industry in the areas of Electronic Commerce and intelligent information systems.

Patents:

"System and Method of Reviewing Ownership of and Encumbrances on Intellectual Property Assets," U.S. Patent pending (submitted July 2007).

Professional Experience:

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Share knowledge … to develop new 
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A.R. Venkatachalam
Professor of Information Systems

A master networker, both with people and with information technology, A.R. Venkatachalam has a knack for putting together useful information that streamlines business.

In the mid-90s, the professor of information systems, working with the U.S. Small Business Administration, put together a national network, working with the UNH Research Computing Center (RCC), to help small businesses gain access to venture capital. The result was ACE-Net (Angel Capital Network); it’s used in 45 states.

Soon after, he and RCC developed Pro-Net, again for the U.S. Small Business Administration. This national network allows federal, state, local, and private procurement officers to find and solicit proposals from small businesses interested in government, prime- and sub-contractor procurements. More than 195,000 companies are listed.

To give some structure to his far-flung interests Venkatachalam created the Enterprise Integration Research Center, where his newest venture is percolating.

The project, currently a pilot involving several New England states, would help high-tech companies get funding for intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights. He has also received $990,000 for the project from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. If a patent is granted, he will be given the go-ahead to build a nationwide network.

While all of these Internet projects may sound impersonal, the key to Venkatachalam’s succes is his breadth of knowledge— from computer and Internet systems to business and law—and his inclusiveness. Venkatachalam likes to bring everyone to the table, and he listens. For example, recently he created an advisory board made up of a cross-section of New Hampshire companies. He asked them what they look for in hiring new employees.

“They rated technical skills high, but interpersonal skills just as highly,” recalls Venkatachalam. “When I asked them how we might develop both sets of skills, they said, ‘Have your students work on real projects.’” Indeed, they do.

Recent Research:

“A Holistic Perspective on Enterprise Integration,” Journal of Information Technology Cases and Applications, Vol. 8, No. 1, 2006.

“Towards a Learning Organization Perspective to Supplier Selection for Global Supply Chain Management: an Integrated Framework,” (with B. Shore, L. Iandoli, and G. Zollo) in Journal of Information Science and Technology, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2004, pp. 26-43.

Leveraging Intellectual Property in the Financing of Entrepreneurial Ventures: A Technology-based Solution,” (with J. Freear and J. Sohl) in International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Vol. 4, Nos. 2/3, 2004, pp. 178-193.

"Evaluating the Information Sharing Capabilities of Supply Chain Partners: A Fuzzy Logic Model” (with B. Shore) in International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, Vol. 33, No. 9, 2003, pp. 804-824.

Honors & Awards:

• University of New Hampshire Excellence in Research Award, 2006.

Outstanding Researcher Award, 2004, Whittemore School of Business & Economics, University of New Hampshire.

Hamel Professorship, 2001-2004.

Forbes Chair, 1998-2001.

Recognition by the Vice President of the United States at the White House on June 2, 1997 on the occasion of PRO-Net inauguration.

Teaching Excellence Award, 1995, Whittemore School of Business and Economics, The University of New Hampshire.

Associate Editor, Journal of Information Technology Cases and Applications Research.

Editorial Review Board Member, Journal of Electronic Commerce in Organizations.

Editorial Review Board Member, Journal of Organizational and End-User Computing.