As the focus of information technology has shifted to data intelligence from simply data collection and mining, data and it’s utilization has become critical for strategic decision-making. MIS/IT (management information systems and information technology) has thus emerged as a segment of the MBA world.
Most important management decisions involve some aspect of technology and automation. Customer relations, market research, corporate finance and profitability, operations management, outsourcing, and many other areas of executive specialization require an intimate knowledge of technology.
MBA Concentrations
A large number of MBA students today undertake dual concentrations or additional elective courses in e-commerce or IT in order to supplement their core education requirements. Persons who obtain operations MBAs frequently study MIS/IT to enhance their abilities in things as diverse as manufacturing automation or strategic sourcing. Information systems and technology knowledge can be useful for finance MBAs in equities research or for a CFO position in a technology related company. HR MBAs will find an MIS/IT background exceptionally helpful in utilizing HRIS (human resources information systems) and change management. Marketing MBAs, especially, rely a large amount on technology and IT education for enhancing their market research, technical product management, and customer retention responsibilities. As the world becomes more and more high-tech, an MIS/IT background can be valuable.
Many students with an engineering or technical background are drawn to IT relates MBAs. The predominant career pattern in information systems starts with a position as a systems analyst or consultant. The next step is that of project manager, where the individual will be responsible for everything from implementation to system design and research. The ultimate aspiration in the IT field could then be the position of CIO or chief information officer of a corporation.
The career path of an MBA in the MIS/IT industry may fall in corporations or in consulting firms. However, the greatest numbers of people go through a combination of the two. A strong focus in IT functionality tends to lead MBA holders to large scale project implementation and management positions that sometimes span over many years. Many IT focused MBAs hop from one company to another as projects are started and finished.
Computer/Information Systems Managers
