When
Thursday, February 6, 2025 - 2:00 p.m. (MST)
Ricardo Valerdi
Distinguished Outreach Professor and Department Head, Systems & Industrial Engineering
Faculty Athletics Representative, University of Arizona
"Put Your Socks on Properly: What Sports Can Teach Us About Decision Making"
ENGR 301 | Zoom
Abstract: Sports can teach us valuable decision-making lessons. This is illustrated through examples from legendary coach John Wooden as well as MLB, NBA, and NFL teams, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the decision-making process rather than outcomes, which are often influenced by chance. This talk introduces practical tools, like the "FLASH" method, to help improve decision-making abilities. By analyzing data from different perspectives, asking the right questions, and adopting a balance between logic and intuition, we demonstrate that the principles of sports can be applied to everyday life to make better decisions.
Bio: Ricardo Valerdi is a professor and head of the Department of Systems & Industrial Engineering at the University of Arizona. He is also the U of A Faculty Athletics Representative to the Big 12 Conference. His research focuses on cost estimation, sports analytics, and decision making. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, Army, Navy, Air Force, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. He is the founder of Science of Sport, a non-profit dedicated to STEM education through sports. He has developed STEM education programs for NFL, MLB, NBA, and MLS teams. He received a PhD in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Southern California.