project management assignment 1

Boston University

MET AD642 A1 Project Management

Spring 2019

Assignment 1

Rationale for Boston University’s Data Science Center

Chevy Chance

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Executive Summary

Boston University plans to construct a 17 story Data Science Center that will encompass

mathematics, statistics and computer sciences under one roof. This project aligns with the

university’s mission of “generating new knowledge”, “educating students to be reflective,

resourceful individuals”, and by promoting “research conducted in the service of the wider

community”. The overall goal is to increase awareness and align the university as a leading

interdisciplinary research institution for the country. This organization has a positive operating

budget suggesting it is a healthy university that can construct a new building while also

maintaining its day to day operational activities.

Contents

Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………………..….. 2

Description of the BU Data Science Center Project…………………………………………...… 3

Boston University’s Mission and its Connection to the Data Science Center…………………… 4

Financial and Other Justification………………………………………………………………… 5

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………….. 6

References………………………………………………………………………………………... 7

Appendix…………………………………………………………………………………………. 8

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Description of the BU Data Science Center Project

As seen in the BU Today article, “BU Proposes to Build Data Sciences Center, Aiming to

Become Leader in Booming Field”, Boston University has decided to build a 17 floor story Data

Science building to unite the mathematics, statistics and computer science departments under one

roof. The goal of combining these departments is to become the one of the “country’s leading

urban interdisciplinary research institutions.” (Most, D) As data scientist is the most attractive

occupation in the United States, Boston University wants to remain competitive in the data

research space. Almost all fields are reliant on data today and it is important to link BU’s

successful math, stats and computer science areas of study together in one building to produce

more reliant data and research.

This project will take between 24 to 28 months says the KPMB Architects who are

working on the development. One of the founding partners, Marian McKenna said the university

was looking for something “iconic” (Most, D) Boston President Robert Brown told BU Today,

“We wanted architecture that would signal to everyone that this was a special place, that this was

a special place, the center of campus…We wanted a building that in 2100 would stand up and

mark the dynamic change in the University and talk about the century we’re in.” Of the 17

floors, 1-2 will be for administrative offices, 3-5 will be home to the mathematics and statistics

department, 6-10 will be filled with the computer sciences department and the interdisciplinary

Hariri Institute will be in the top six floors.

The design focus will be on collaboration between the different disciplines of study

intended for small-group interactions in the entire building. For example, the fifth floor will

house small study rooms for students, faculty and staff as well as whiteboard walls on the entire

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ASSIGNMENT 1 Chance wall to encourage scribbling. These whiteboard walls will turn hallway conversations into fully formed ideas.

Boston University’s Mission and its Connection to the Data Science Center

Boston University’s Mission

Boston University is an international, comprehensive, private research university,

committed to educating students to be reflective, resourceful individuals ready to live, adapt, and

lead in an interconnected world. This institution is committed to generating new knowledge to

benefit society. (Boston University’s Website)

The university remains dedicated to their founding principles:

1. Higher education should be accessible to all

2. Research, Scholarship, Artistic Creation, and Professional Practice should be

conducted in the service of the wider community – local & international.

Connection to the Data Science Center

In the case of creating a 17 floor data science building fits well into Boston University’s

mission by “generating new knowledge”, “educating students to be reflective, resourceful

individuals”, and by promoting “research conducted in the service of the wider community”.

By providing a space that incorporates 3 disciplines; mathematics, statistics and computer

science under one roof Boston University will be able to create new knowledge. This allows for

the disciplines to interact with one another and develop courses that incorporate all the

disciplines under one roof. For example, a College of Engineering professor of electrical and

computer engineering has won a 3-year $900,000 grant from the National Science Foundation

that connect the university and Boston Medical Center. The grant was awarded to the professor

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to develop a machine that will learn algorithms and identify high risk patients of heart disease

or diabetes. (Most, D.)

Provost and chief academic officer, Jean Morrison has reported that computer science has

saw a 266% increase within at the university. (Most, D.) Also, this can be seen from non-majors

that want to include computer science on their resume as they can see the importance of

understanding the basics of computer science due to employability. The mission of Boston

University is to educate students to be “reflective, resourceful individuals to ready to live, adapt

and lead in an interconnected world” By providing courses that are interconnected under one

building in a discipline such as data analytics creates employable students. This project is

believed to be an essential driver of a changing workforce. Educating students to be a part of this

ever changing workforce is a key example of their mission.

Lastly, this project will provide research that helps the wider community. In the past two

years’ students have seen an increase in larger companies visiting the university like Facebook

and Google. (Most, D.) By creating this new building if will have larger exposer in the data

science space ensuring the university strives to uphold its mission by cultivating a data science

center creating new research that will help a larger community.

Financial and Other Justification

Boston University has seen a very large increase in Fiscal Year 2018. For example, as

seen from their 2018 financial statements they had over a $140 million net operating gain, $487

million in research awards, and the endowment came in over $2 billion which was the first time

in the university’s history. (Howard, M. J.) From Appendix A you can see their total operating

revenues came in at $2 billion whereas total operating expenses were $1.9 billion. This

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ASSIGNMENT 1 Chance organization has a positive $100,000 in their total operating budget suggesting they are a healthy

organization that will have the ability to construct a 17 story building while maintaining their

daily operations. This project will not have a negative impact on the organization’s ability to

continue to providing a successful education to students. This project will have several positives

to the university such as leading research in the data science space, increased awareness in the

country as a leader of data science and the ability to cultivate a collaborative space for students,

faculty and staff.

Conclusion

Creating the data sciences center is a positive strategic move for Boston University.

Allowing students to gain experience in 3 distinct fields under one roof aligns with the

organizations mission of educating resourceful individuals. The students are going to be highly

employable students at many high level companies such as Wayfair, General Electric, Amazon,

Fidelity and others. (Most. D) Lastly, a strong plus for Boston University is the exposure they

will gain from adding a large 17 story building that will soon become the center of the university.

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References

1. Most, D. (2018, October 1). BU to Build Data Sciences Center. Retrieved February 9,

2019, from http://www.bu.edu/today/2018/data-sciences-center/

2. Mission Statement » News and Information. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2019, from

http://www.bu.edu/info/about/mission-statement/

3. Howard, M. J. (n.d.). Boston University Consolidated Financial Statements. Retrieved

February 9, 2019, from http://www.bu.edu/ar/2018/img/financial-statement.pdf

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Appendix

Appendix A