Decision, Operations & Information Technologies

The Decision, Operations and Information Technologies (DOIT) Department at the Robert H. Smith School of Business:

• Educates students and develops tomorrow's leaders for a data- and AI-driven economy
• Conducts high-impact research that shapes policy and practice
• Partners with industry, government and nonprofit organizations to advance thought leadership and societal impact

Artificial intelligence, abundant data and digital platforms are transforming how organizations compete, operate and serve the public, and DOIT sits at the center of that change. Our faculty study how AI and machine learning can be designed, governed and deployed responsibly, from algorithmic bias in facial recognition and the workforce effects of AI adoption to large language models and synthetic health data. They examine how digital platforms and online marketplaces work, including market design, social influence, online communities and the spread of harmful content. They also develop optimization, simulation, forecasting and pricing methods that improve operations and supply chains in settings ranging from business-to-business auctions and sustainable apparel to urban air mobility. A distinctive strength of the department is analytics for social good. Faculty work with hospitals, government agencies and nonprofits on healthcare delivery, equity in organ transplantation, public safety and public-sector decision-making.

This research comes directly into the classroom. Courses in the department cover AI and machine learning, business analytics and data science, information systems and digital strategy, digital platforms and markets, blockchain, operations and supply chain management, pricing and revenue management, decision modeling and project management. Students apply these tools to real problems, such as senior capstone projects that build AI-powered tools for local businesses and nonprofits.

The department offers three undergraduate majors (Information Systems, Operations Management & Business Analytics, and Supply Chain Management), a wide selection of courses across Smith's MBA programs; five master's programs (the MS in Information Systems & AI and the MS in Business Analytics & AI, MS in Supply Chain Management, as well as online MSIS&AI and online MSBA&AI); and a PhD program and a DBA in Information Systems. DOIT faculty lead the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Business and the Smith Analytics Consortium, and the department is home to the Blockchain Business Accelerator. Our Information Systems program is ranked No. 8 nationally and No. 3 among public universities by U.S. News & World Report (2027), and our MS in Information Systems is ranked No. 3 in the U.S. by QS (2025). Faculty serve on the editorial boards of the field's leading journals, hold leadership roles in professional societies such as INFORMS, and include a mix of well-published research faculty who bring new ideas to the classroom and experienced professional faculty who contribute their expertise from industry and government.

Employers in every sector seek graduates who understand AI, analytics, information systems and operations, and we encourage students to take DOIT courses to prepare for rewarding careers in business, government and the nonprofit world. Please feel free to contact individual faculty members with questions about programs, courses, research or anything else.