Thomas Grossman

Associate Professor of Information and Decision Science

Tel: 415-422- 6156
Fax:415-422-2502
TDD:415-422-6439
tagrossman@usfca.edu

University of San Francisco
2130 Fulton Street, Malloy Hall
San Francisco, CA 94117-1045, U.S.A.

• Ph.D., Management Science & Engineering, Stanford University, 1994
• M.S., Engineering-Economic Systems, Stanford University, 1985
• BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana, 1984

• Spreadsheet Modeling for Managerial Insight (MBA 6107)
• Competitive Analytics (MBA 6108)
• Supply Chain Management (MBA 6512) 
• Operations (MBAE 715)

• At the University of San Francisco since 2003
• Visiting Professor, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, 2000-2001
  
• Assistant and Associate Professor, Haskayne School of Business at University of Calgary, 1994-2003
• Management Consultant, Decision Focus Incorporated (1985-1992)

Current Research & Research Interests

• Professor Grossman's research focuses on how people use spreadsheets, models, and analytics to identify key value drivers, prioritize opportunities, develop intuition, and influence decision making. Topics of interest include spreadsheet engineering, business analyst productivity, and management of analytical work; end user modeling and model creation; and business analytics.

Selected Papers & Publications

• "OR Process Skills Transform an Out of Control Call Center into a Strategic Asset”, Interfaces, 2008 forthcoming (with V. Mehrotra).
• “The Use of Spreadsheet Software in the Application of Management Science and Operations Research”, Interfaces 38(4), July-August 2008 (with L. J. LeBlanc).
• “Managerial Communication of Analytical Work”, INFORMS Transactions on Education, 8(3): 125-138, May 2008 (with J. S. Norback, J. R. Hardin, G. A. Forehand).
• “Lessons from Mission-Critical Spreadsheets”, Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 20(60): 1009-1042, December 2007 (with V. Mehrotra, Ö Özlük).
• "Integrating Spreadsheet Engineering in a Management Science Course--A Hierarchical Approach." INFORMS Transactions on Education 7(1), September 2006.
• "The Spreadsheet Analytic Value Chain." OR/MS Today, August 2006.
• "OR in Biz School: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.?OR/MS Today 32(4):28-31, August 2005.
• "Eight Suggestions for Teaching Modeling to MBAs.?OR/MS Today 31(6):12-13, December 2004.
• "Spreadsheet Engineering of Crystal Ball Simulation Models." Crystal Ball User Conference, Denver, June 2004. Published in the Proceedings.
• "A Paradigm for Spreadsheet Engineering Methodologies." Proceeings of the European Spreadsheet Risks Interest Group 5th Annual Symposium, Klagenfurt, Austria, July 2004 (with Ö Özlük).
• Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 20(60)
  Lessons from Mission-Critical Spreadsheets Dec 2007
• Source Code Protection for Applications Written in Microsoft Excel and Google Spreadsheet Spring 2007
• INFORMS Transactions on Education 7(1)
  Integrating Spreadsheet Engineering in a Management Science Course—A Hierarchical Approach Sept 2006
• Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 20(60)
  Lessons from Mission-Critical Spreadsheets Dec 2007
• INFORMS Transactions on Education 7(1)
  Integrating Spreadsheet Engineering in a Management Science Course—A Hierarchical Approach Sept 2006
• Source Code Protection for Applications Written in Microsoft Excel and Google Spreadsheet Spring 2007
  
  

• President, Spreadsheet Productivity Research Interest Group
• Guest Editor, Interfaces, Special Issue on Spreadsheet Applications of Management Science and Operations Research, Interfaces 38(4), July-August 2008 (with L. J. LeBlanc).
• Professor Grossman has extensive consulting experience related to the creation, development and deployment of mathematical models for business. Consulting clients include Scandinavian Airline Systems, United Airlines, Apple Computer, Blue Pumpkin and Manugistics.
• President, INFORMS Education Forum  1997-2001
• President and Operations Leader, Bay Area Mountain Rescue Unit , San Mateo County Sheriff

• Outstanding Service Award, School of Business and Management, University of San Francisco, 2008.
• Keynote Speaker, European Spreadsheet Risks Interest Group 7th Annual Symposium, Cambridge, England, 2006
• Outstanding Research Award, School of Business and Management, University of San Francisco, 2006.
• Outstanding Service Award, School of Business and Management, University of San Francisco, 2005.
• Dean's Award for Outstanding Leadership in Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Management, University of Calgary, 2000.
• Overall Teaching Excellence Award, Faculty of Management, University of Calgary, 1999.