Technology is probably the key word of the 21st century. Most of us could hardly imagine our lives without our beloved gadgets, and more often than not we feel absolutely helpless when there’s no internet connection available. Is that a blessing or a curse? Well, the opinions are split, but one thing’s for certain: the world has changed and we have to cope with its new requirements to survive.
In such a context, the labour market has also undergone certain changes, and it comes as no surprise that IT specialists have become ever more demanded. If you have ever toyed with the idea of becoming a successful businessman or businesswoman, and you are also interested in Information Technology, let me tell you that nowadays these two fields have become not only intertwined, but have also turned into the ultimate recipe for a successful business career. Just to give you a concrete example, IT jobs account for 13% of the new MBA programmes around the world in 2015 and this percentage is expected to grow even more in the next years, according to the QS TopMBA.com Jobs&Salary Trends 2014/2015.
Ok, but what is actually an MBA in IT?
First of all, it is a special graduate programme aimed at students who already have some working experience behind them and are seeking to hone both their management and financial skills while being up to date with the latest technology. In a nutshell – business and informatics, or a true ultimate combination to propel you into a top career in a highly competitive field. It is the ideal programme to enrol in if your mind is set on a director-level position in the IT field, which implies excellent business expertise, financial knowledge and people management skills along with the IT background. Nevertheless, being an interdisciplinary programme, an MBA in IT is focused more on the organisational and financial aspect of the IT industry rather than on programming and technical troubleshooting. What MBA students learn is how to manage projects and software teams.
Programme Overview
On average, a full-time MBA in IT lasts from one to two years. Part-time or online MBAs in IT are also available, if your other responsibilities do not allow you to opt for a traditional course, and they are usually less expensive than regular MBAs. As it has already been mentioned, an MBA in IT is not a pure technical course by definition, but rather an IT management programme. An MBA in IT has the classical outline of a typical MBA programme, but the difference consists in the presence of industry specific subjects, namely technology entrepreneurship, data modelling, technology concepts, information security, telecommunications, controlling technological changes and sometimes even programming, depending on university. On the business side of the course, you can find subjects such as economics, analytical decision making, corporate financial strategy, leadership development or international business.
Career outlooks
Climbing up the career ladder in IT management as an MBA graduate is a fast process that will take you to positions such as CTOs (Chief Technology Officers), CIOs (Chief Information Officers), information technology directors or IT managers. The list is of course not complete. Further career opportunities include positions like Software Delivery Specialist, IT Configuration Manager, Information System Manager, Vice president of Information Technology and many more. One thing is for sure: the majority of big reputed companies are always looking to hire qualified IT business professionals to help them cope with the dynamic and competitive technological environment. Not to mention that pursuing such a program is a great benefit for those looking to start their own tech companies and manage their own business. An MBA in IT will place you one step ahead your competitors in the business field and all the advantages that it brings about are definitely worth the struggle of enrolling in such a programme.
How does it sound? Do you think you have what it takes for such a course? If so, have a look in the QS Course Finder directory and browse through the available programmes to get a clearer picture of how a real MBA in IT course looks like.
