About 20 years ago, MIT professor Stuart Madnick sold his
interest in a company and found himself with some extra cash. So he did
something so completely out of character that he surprised even himself. He bought a
14th-century English castle.
Madnick, who holds four degrees from MIT in electrical
engineering and computer science and a fifth MIT degree in management, is a
professor of information technology and engineering systems, as well as
codirector of the Productivity from Information Technology (PROFIT) program at
the Sloan School. He has founded or cofounded five
high-tech firms and written more than 250 books, articles, and reports. His
research centers on using data strategically–a theme he applies to everything
he does, with the exception of buying Langley Castle. “I stopped by to see it,
fell in love with it, and just bought it without knowing what I’d do with it,”
he says. “Normally I’m a very careful, planned person. A colleague once
described me as someone who would wear a belt and suspenders.”
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Before long, however, Madnick returned to his usual habits
and set out to learn everything he could about the castle. His research
revealed that the title of Baron of Langley had been separated from the land
300 years ago when the last baron was beheaded in an unsuccessful rebellion
against the government. Madnick was recently able to acquire the title from the
British government, becoming the new Baron of Langley.
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“Part of my thought was to bring all of the aspects of
Langley Castle together, and the barony was an important historical aspect,” he
says. “My research is primarily about integrating information. This is kind of
an exercise in integrating Langley Castle.”
Madnick’s integrating technologies have been applied in
financial services, counterterrorism, transportation, and manufacturing. One
application–a global shopper–collects pricing information about any product
sold around the world and converts these prices into consistent monetary units
so anyone can compare costs. Another assembles a composite picture of an
individual’s financial status by gathering data from databases and the
Internet. Madnick’s group is studying the legal and organizational aspects of
collecting and reusing information. “Organizations can be myopic, looking very
narrowly at information,” he says. “A key theme of my work is helping
organizations pull it all together. I often say I work in technology, strategy,
and policy.”
As for Langley Castle, Madnick and his wife, Yvonne, operate
it as an award-winning hotel and restaurant. He has successfully integrated
other spheres of his life into the endeavor. Yvonne is involved with
redecorating. Of his three adult children–Howard ‘87, Michael, and Lynne–two
plus a daughter-in-law have worked there. For guests affiliated with MIT, which
Madnick calls his “center of gravity,” Langley Castle offers a special
discount.
