| Technology oriented careers have been making a | | | | systems administration. The master's in leadership and |
| comeback. Accordingly, talented technology | | | | information technology course of study will build on |
| managers are necessary in every area of the field - | | | | students' foundations in information science and |
| from Web design and development, to | | | | systems, enabling students to approach these |
| database-driven e-commerce, to software | | | | disciplines from a leadership and management |
| engineering, to technical service and support. | | | | perspective. |
| Technology positions, from programmer to CIO, are | | | | Students will learn to lead employees as well as |
| also critically important in organizations from all | | | | communicate with all levels of the organization and |
| industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, | | | | customers. |
| education, government and service firms. Technology | | | | In CIO Magazine's 2007 State of the CIO survey of |
| professionals often seek career advancement but | | | | more than 500 IT professionals, the three skills "most |
| need the leadership skills necessary to advance their | | | | pivotal for success in your role" were: the ability to |
| careers. In response to these industry demands, | | | | communicate effectively, strategic thinking and |
| adult-learning and distance learning schools now offer | | | | planning, and ability to lead/motivate staff. In other |
| technology degrees at the bachelor's and master's | | | | words, leadership skills. The primary characteristics |
| degree levels, often in accelerated formats. | | | | that all technology managers must have are |
| However, other necessary characteristics of | | | | leadership skills. These attributes enable technology |
| successful technology managers cannot be found on | | | | leaders to motivate staff; to direct projects or |
| a silicon microchip or in a line of CSS markup code. | | | | business activities in a way that maximizes profits, |
| Some of these characteristics include a talent for | | | | and to ensure that staff on hand are competent and |
| leadership; the ability to communicate ideas and | | | | contribute to strong worker retention. According to |
| directions, and the ability to motivate and mentor | | | | career advice site Monster.com, the best managers |
| staff. These skills are not taught in all technology | | | | and leaders in technology are those men and women |
| curricula of the 21st century. However, some | | | | who are directly involved in project management and |
| information technology and computer science | | | | task delegation, rather than those who give orders |
| academic curriculum designers are beginning to | | | | from afar. |
| recognize the importance of teaching soft skills in the | | | | In the tech industry, there exists a decades-old |
| classroom. Accordingly, some programs of study now | | | | stereotype about the social inclinations of technology |
| emphasize specialized leadership training for would-be | | | | workers. Unfairly or not, they have been historically |
| technology managers. | | | | pegged as lacking in leadership skills and strong |
| The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) | | | | communication abilities. Industry efforts to |
| states that computer and information systems | | | | disassemble this stereotype is one primary reason |
| professionals typically require advanced-level training | | | | why students interested in technology management |
| (namely, a master's degree) in order to be | | | | are able to enroll in master's-level programs of study |
| considered for leadership positions in technology. The | | | | that combine technology skills with interpersonal and |
| BLS also points to the need for technology job | | | | leadership skills. |
| applicants to have diverse experience in technology | | | | The other reason more and more master's-level |
| systems and applications. This experience will allow | | | | technology programs of study focus on business and |
| them to lead staff who work in different | | | | leadership skills is because technology manager |
| departments and who have different types of | | | | careers have become more specialized and |
| technology skills. An additional benefit to pursuing | | | | decisions-driven. Managers in tech fields must be able |
| training for technology management careers is the | | | | to assess the technology systems in place at their |
| bright future outlook of this field. These careers are | | | | companies, and make system implementation and |
| expected to grow 16 percent through the year 2016. | | | | upgrade decisions that will be positive for their |
| Technology leadership training programs at the | | | | employees and clients. Technology must support and |
| master's degree level will typically have two or three | | | | align with organizational goals. Making the right |
| core academic components. The first core | | | | technology decisions requires developed leadership |
| component, obviously, is technology. Students who | | | | skills, strong soft skills, and polished business acumen. |
| pursue this type of master's degree typically begin | | | | As technology continues to change and develop |
| the program with knowledge of at least one | | | | rapidly, technology leadership master's degree |
| higher-level programming language; and are | | | | programs will continue to develop targeted curricula, |
| comfortable with database management or | | | | integrating technology with the business world to |
| development, as well as computer networking | | | | produce strong leaders. |