Ivey welcomes six new faculty members to campus! To help you get to know our new colleagues, we asked each of them some questions about their academic – and personal – interests.
Get to know: Tiffany Bayley
With a background in the automotive industry, Tiffany Bayley is using her research interests to help businesses develop better decision-making strategies to optimize their supply chain performance.
Bayley earned both her PhD and Master of Management Sciences from the University of Waterloo, and a BASc in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering from the University of Windsor.
Her extensive reading list includes non-fiction and biographies, and she is also a big fan of musicals.
Q&A with Tiffany Bayley
What is the most important thing business executives can learn from your research or area of expertise?
I model supply chain problems using mixed-integer programming and apply decomposition heuristics to solve them more quickly. With this form of prescriptive analytics, businesses can develop key decision strategies to optimize their supply chain performance. Complicated decisions can be made simultaneously to achieve better system-wide results. In my work, I analyze the timing of production and deliveries so that, across a supply chain, companies realize lower costs of manufacturing products, holding inventory, and distribution, while meeting customers’ demands on time.
I also research pedagogical approaches for undergraduate courses in analytics and operations management, studying how blending technologies into traditional course content and using games will impact students’ perceptions of learning.
Where did you grow up and what was it like there?
I grew up in LaSalle, Ont., just outside of Windsor. When I was 13, I moved to Hong Kong for two years where the pace was much faster than what I was used to! I learned to be more independent and developed a deep appreciation for public transit systems. I enjoyed returning to a quieter life in LaSalle, and spent a lot of time running on country roads and finding new running paths throughout the city.
Who have been your strongest influences in life?
My husband, sisters, and parents. They all have an amazing work ethic, and are kind and generous.
What led you to your career?
I’ve always enjoyed math, especially the operations research courses that were part of my industrial engineering degree. After my undergrad, I worked for a couple years in the automotive industry and gravitated back towards academia. I wanted to learn more strategic approaches to tackle the complicated supply chain problems these companies were facing, and I found that management science and operations research were very powerful tools.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I spend time with my husband and kids, run, and cook new recipes.
What might someone be surprised to know about you?
I really like tap dancing, and attempt it to the best of my abilities. I took lessons when I was younger, and always felt hypnotized watching Gregory Hines and Gene Kelly. I recently re-enrolled in tap lessons and have picked up a few new steps (but am nowhere near re-creating any Singin’ in the Rain numbers).
What is the most played song on your playlist as of now?
It’s a tie between Armor by Sara Bareilles (actually, anything by Sara Bareilles) and Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording). I was drawn to Sara Bareilles because of her piano-playing abilities and was excited when she penned the music and lyrics to the musical Waitress. I found the process of creating the Hamilton musical really interesting and admired the deliberate choices made when it came to composing and casting. It’s a unique medium to convey historical lessons, and a ton of information is packed into those lyrics!
What podcast do you enjoy?
Someone Knows Something. Each season follows a cold case, with the host interviewing family members, friends, and persons of interest in the hopes of uncovering more evidence that could ultimately lead to closure for the family. The writing, narration, and production are captivating.
What book would you recommend to others? On the personal side? On the business side?
I enjoy non-fiction and biographies, with my favourites being Steve Jobs and The Innovators, both by Walter Isaacson, and more recently, Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet by Claire L. Evans. Educated by Tara Westover was also inspiring. On my to-read list are: Algorithms to Live By, by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths, Weapons of Math Destruction, by Cathy O’Neil, and Traffic, by Tom Vanderbilt.
Any tips for staying connected or succeeding in an online learning environment?
Try to stick to a schedule and limit distractions as much as possible (uncluttered workspace, turn off Wi-Fi, etc.). If you can, stand while you work to stay more active and alert. Be sure to schedule breaks and get fresh air. A short walk outside can be rejuvenating!
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