MBA or Master’s of Information in Technology?—that is the Question
Perhaps you’re an IT professional who is ready to take the next step in your career with an eye towards moving into management or one day running your own business. How do you decide which program is best for you—MBA or MIT (Master’s of Information Technology? When it comes to education and degrees, the trends seem to come and go as quickly as the fashions on Paris runways. What you do know is that education is a big investment of time and money and you ultimately want to see a return on your investment.
As we are well aware, the business world is in a constant process of change. The demands of a global business environment require that businesses have the agility to quickly adapt to changing conditions. Increasingly, the sophisticated and creative use of technology is key to success in today’s challenging business environment. In the past, an IT professional was viewed primarily as a technical guru, but in today’s world one must possess both technical and business skills, as well as the soft skills that are sometimes overlooked by tech professionals.
What Makes a Good IT Manager?
When it comes to determining what combination of skills and education makes a good IT Manager, there is not necessarily consensus in the business world as to which degree or program is best. Consider it a given that first and foremost, IT managers must understand technology and how it works on a micro and macro level. They must be knowledgeable and certified in the software programs that are widely in use, and understand how the artful use of technology can give their business or organization the edge in today’s world. But business knowledge and communication skills cannot be overlooked. In a recent Computerworld article describing what makes a successful IT project manager, John Kocon, project manager officer at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland notes, “Even a person with great technical abilities will not be successful as a project manager without having business knowledge and communications skills. They may have strengths in one area, but they can’t have significant weaknesses.”
MBA or MIT—Which to Choose?
An MBA degree has long been touted as the degree of choice for anyone who has aspirations for management or the executive suite. MBA programs focus on sharpening decision-making and analytical skills and provide an opportunity to share ideas and real-world experiences with other students. Those individuals that enroll in MBA programs typically view it as a stepping stone to round out their business portfolio by acquiring cutting edge managerial tools and techniques, as well as the soft skills that are typically required in management positions.
MIT degree programs offer a curriculum that explores the increasingly critical interrelationship between technology and business by providing coursework in communication systems and networks, as well as curriculum in business and management strategies, to provide graduates with the tools they need to evaluate emerging technologies and make critical IT decisions for their companies.
Avoid the Cookie Cutter Approach
Now is a good time to assess the skill sets you have developed over the course of your career and evaluate them critically and objectively against the backdrop of your industry and your company environment. In addition to the technical skills and training you need to do your job, there are the equally important skills involved with being a good manager including analytical, leadership, and project management skills, as well as the soft skills like communication and consensus building. Which business skills are valued most in your particular company and industry? Think about the trajectory you wish your career path to take and look at those individuals in your company or industry that you admire who have been successful. What is their particular combination of experience, training and education? You might want to seek out a mentor you admire in you company and ask them for their professional advice. You may decide to pursue an MIT to attain your immediate goals with a long range plan of eventually pursuing an MBA to round out your business portfolio.
Have You Considered Online Degree Programs?
AIU Online and CTU Online offer MBA and MIT programs that are designed to provide students with the critical knowledge and expertise they need to stay ahead of the game in today’s increasingly competitive business environment. Jeff Cassil, a database analyst and software engineer with the State of Oklahoma’s State Group Insurance board is presently enrolled in CTU’s Master’s in Information Systems Security (MSM) with an anticipated graduation date of June 2005.
Jeff, whose long-term goal is to eventually move into senior management, or start his own business in the information technology field, says he is looking into enrolling in CTU’s Master’s in IT Management program once he completes his current degree program. He says CTU’s inclusion of online professional certificates and PMI authorized content is an added bonus.
“I think the professional certificates are great. The fact that you receive them when you complete the course material is a plus. I’ve already updated my resume with the first certificate and will add another line after my present class is completed. Some programs make you wait until the end of the course or list the same dates, which make your learning experience seem compressed or unrealistic.”