Anaheim University MBA professor Dr. John Wang has edited a monumental six-volume set of IT books containing more than 300 chapters and almost 4,000 pages. The books will be launched in April. Titled Data Warehousing and Mining: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools and Applications, the set comprises the works of over 575 experts and took two years to complete.

Published by Information Science Reference, the collection offers tools, designs, and outcomes of the utilization of data warehousing and mining technologies, such as algorithms, concept lattices, multidimensional data, and online analytical processing. It is targeted for use as a reference collection for academic and research libraries, educators, students, large organizations using advanced IT and data management processes, and profes¬sionals in a variety of IT fields.

Dr. Wang said he compiled the books because “there are more than one billion documents on the web, and the number continues to grow at a pace of more than one million new documents every day. How can a company leverage the information that they currently have in house, and effectively use this to their advantage?

“As businesses seek to address and respond to current trends in globalization, the motivation and interest in DMW research and practice is expected to remain high for some time to come. The challenges which face firms in such a competitive environment can in many ways be dealt with and managed using DMW and its related tools, techniques, and methods.”

Dr. Wang has taught at Anaheim University since 2006 specializing in Data Analysis and IT Management courses. He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Temple University, and an MS in Systems Engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology. Dr. Wang has published over 100 refereed papers and five books. He is the Editor-in-Chief of International Journal of Data Analysis Techniques and Strategies, International Journal of Applied Management Science, International Journal of Information Systems and Supply Chain Management, International Journal of Project Organization and Management, and International Journal of Information Systems in the Service Sector. Also, Dr. Wang is the Editor of the Encyclopedia of Data Warehousing and Mining.

Anaheim University's Chief Communications Officer David Bracey praised Dr. Wang's latest work. He said: "Anaheim University is extremely proud of Dr. Wang's latest accomplishment as well as his ongoing scholarly contributions to the fields of IT and data warehousing and mining. Dr. Wang is highly-respected by the Anaheim University faculty, administration and staff and is very popular among our MBA students. He is a tremendous asset to our institution."

Book details are Data Warehousing and Mining: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools and Applications, ISBN 1599049511 / 9781599049519, US $1,950.00.

On January 31st, 2008 26 MBA graduates from such countries as the US, Japan, India, Botswana, Australia, South Africa and France attended a formal graduation ceremony at the City Club of Tokyo. The graduates who successfully completed the requirements for their Master of Business Administration degree program through the Anaheim University Akio Morita School of Business were conferred their degree by Anaheim University President Dr. David Nunan and congratulated by the Chair of the Board of Advisors Dr. Clive Grafton and Vice-President for Student and Alumni Affairs Dr. William Hartley. According to President Dr. Nunan, "It was very heart-warming to see that these global graduates from embassies and such companies as IBM, Deutsche Securities, Novartis Pharma, Hitachi, Siemens, British Airways, Marubeni and Ericsson have formed such strong bonds."

At the ceremony, a tribute was paid to founding Executive Advisory Board Member Dr. Kisho Kurokawa, the globally-acclaimed architect who passed away in October 2007. Dr. Kurokawa's widow, renowned Japanese actress Ayako Wakao who has made over 250 movies throughout her career, was in attendance as Honorary Chairman on behalf of her late husband, to help launch the Anaheim University Kisho Kurokawa Green Institute. The institute, which was conceptualized by the eco-minded Dr. Kurokawa, will offer seminars, certificate and MBA programs in Sustainable Management (named the "Green MBA") as well as confer awards to honor companies for their outstanding environmental and social contributions. Green Award nominations are currently being accepted by the Institute.

Anaheim University President David Nunan commences banquet with a toast	Anaheim University Vice-President for Student and Alumni Affairs Dr. William Hartley speaks to graduates and guests
AU President Dr. David Nunan and Accenture Japan Chairman Dr. Masakatsu Mori share a laugh	AU alumni enjoy dinner banquet at the City Club of Tokyo
Anaheim University Executive Advisory Board Members and AU administration with actress Ayako Wakao-Kurokawa (front left)	AU Chair of the Board of Advisors gives opening tribute to Dr. Kisho Kurokawa to launch the Kisho Kurokawa Green Institute
Ferrotec Corporation Director Masaru Yoshida receives Kisho Kurokawa Green Award	Ambassador of Kenya to Japan Dennis Awori receives Honorary Professor Award from AU President Dr. David Nunan
Nextech Corporation Founder Taro Yamada receives Honorary Professor Award from AU President Dr. David Nunan	AU President Dr. Nunan presents Award of Academic and Professional Achievement to Futoshi Mori (Nippon Ericsson)
AU President Dr. Nunan presents Award of Academic and Professional Achievement to Michael Odediran (Interlang Service)	AU President Dr. Nunan presents Award of Academic and Professional Achievement to Eri Poetsch (Deutsch Securities)
AU President Dr. Nunan presents Award of Academic Excellence to Christiane Aigner (Embassy of Australia)	AU President Dr. Nunan presents Award of Academic Excellence to Rodolfo Delgado (Kanagawa Board of Education)
Eri Poetsch gives thank you speech	Christiane Aigner gives closing speech
Christiane Aigner presents flowers to renowned actress Ayako Wakao (Ayako Kurokawa)	AU MBA graduates with actress Ayako Wakao (Ayako Kurokawa)
Anaheim University MBA Professional Track Graduates	AU MBA Online Global Track Graduates celebrate
AU MBA graduates capture the moment	AU Chair of the Board of Advisors Dr. Clive Grafton with Kisho Kurokawa Green Institute Honorary Chairman Ayako Kurokawa

An Anaheim University graduate and public service employee was so convinced of the benefits of an MBA for government workers, he decided to publish a book to persuade them.

Mr. Hiroshi Koyama, who gained his MBA from Anaheim University in 2006, has worked for the city government of Arakawa ward in Tokyo, Japan, for 25 years, and currently serves as supervisor in the nursing care insurance section.

With this extensive public service background, he said he wanted to introduce the idea of an MBA to Japanese civil workers and promote the efficiency and effectiveness of Japanese local government.

To accomplish this, Mr. Koyama began writing a serial in Toseisimpou, a Japanese newspaper for public employees. After the serial ended, a Toseisimpou editor suggested he turn it into a book. About six months later, the 317-page “Koumuin mo MBA” (MBA for Public Officers) was finished and last year was published by Toseisimpou-sha in Japan.

“The main target of this book is public service officials, especially in local government in Japan. While the content of the book is arranged for readers who have little knowledge of an MBA, I think it is also useful for scholars in public policies because it introduces the reality of local government based on facts,” he said.

To make the book's content more interesting and persuasive, Mr. Koyama arranged it as a dialogue between MBA holders and non-holders. In the dialogue, the non-MBA holders, who are skeptical about an MBA, ask questions and present negative opinions. In response, MBA holders answer the questions and explain how useful an MBA is.

The dialogues are set in the context of two stories. In the first story, a retired public officer starts his own Ramen noodle restaurant which then teeters on the verge of bankruptcy. His friend, an MBA holder and business consultant, helps him.

In the other story, a taskforce in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) is working on a new administrative reform campaign. The taskforce consists of four members: an MBA holder, a conservative, a reformist, and a freshman. They discuss how to manage the TMG from different points of view.

Mr. Koyama had the opportunity to work at TMG for two years and contributed to compiling a general plan of the TMG.

He said he was inspired to write his book because he felt public officials and local government could learn from the lessons of an MBA.

“While the world is changing rapidly and the private sector is making tremendous efforts to survive, the public sector is reluctant to make such efforts and is getting obsolete year by year. People complain that the government system is insufficient/ineffective and insist that the public sector needs to learn from the way the private sector is doing like an MBA.

“I think there are two main reasons that public workers are reluctant to learn from the idea of an MBA. Firstly, they insist that there are crucial differences between the public sector and the private one. Secondly, they think they can keep their jobs forever without change because government is actually a kind of 100% monopolizing company and has no competitors.

“However from the viewpoint of an MBA, such ideas are not always correct,” he said.

In particular, Mr. Koyama noted that there are many common features between government and private companies because they both are organizations, and they both must run organizations effectively and efficiently.

He added: “Secondly, the trend in the world is privatization of the public sector functions. If government remains obsolete and does not meet the needs of citizens, the pressure of privatization will be much stronger.”

Mr. Koyama believes that ideas gained in an MBA can be used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the public sectors. “If they make much of the fruits of the MBA idea, government employees can keep their job while improving customers' satisfaction,” he added.

Did Mr. Koyama's experiences at Anaheim University help in writing the book?

“Absolutely YES,” he said. “For example, I have learned the importance and difficulties about making changes through many case studies through Anaheim MBA courses. As I mentioned, in the public sector, employees from the top to the rank and file altogether are reluctant to changes. So I think I was able to provide several persuasive cases in my book to convince readers of the necessity of changes in the private sector.”

Mr. Koyama is continuing his interest in the publishing field by currently working on a translation of a book about local government management, written by UK scholars under the supervision of a professor of Waseda University in Japan.

Mr. Koyama's book, Koumuin mo MBA, which is written in Japanese and under the pen name of Isamu Sera, is available at large bookstores in Japan or through Amazon.com Japan. The price is 1,890 yen (tax included) and the ISBN number is 978-4-88614-157-6.

The Anaheim University Akio Morita School of Business in conjunction with the Anaheim University Kisho Kurokawa Green Institute has recently announced plans to launch an MBA program in Sustainable Management to be taught entirely online. The program focuses on people, planet and profit, providing Anaheim University MBA students the opportunity to strengthen their business skills, while learning to profit in a socially and environmentally responsible way. The program is comprised of 10 intensive 6-week courses followed by a two-term 12-week capstone project, whereby students put what they have learned into practice. The entire Online Green MBA program can be completed in 18 months from anywhere in the world.