A Brief History of the Technology Management Major
Technology management is the process of managing an organization from a technological perspective in order to encourage productivity and help employees remain competitive in the marketplace. Technology managers plan the use of technological products, processes and services in order to make them as advantageous as possible to the workflow of an organization.
Technology management is a broad field, and anyone with an interest in technology may be attracted to and benefit from the study of this discipline. Graduates of technology management programs are capable of working in any number of fields that depend largely on technology in the workplace, such as graphic design management, computer systems engineering, IT management, engineering, and web design.
One of the first technology management majors was developed in 1981 at MIT through a joint effort of the schools of management and engineering. The program was designed to provide technologists with management education so they could learn to use technology strategically in a competitive marketplace. Now, technology management is a core component in the overall management of day-to-day functions in many businesses and organizations and is a popular degree choice in universities across the globe.
Technology management is highly important today because most organizations depend on technology to manage information, communication and work processes. It is vital for every business to match itself with the appropriate technology and have a plan for how that technology will be used. The field of technology management is still relatively new, as are most technology fields, but it will only continue to grow in depth and value.
Delving Into the Technology Management Major
Students in technology management programs will typically take courses in areas such as project management, computer applications, general management, operations management, production management, decision making, business ethics, management of technological change, marketing, macro- and microeconomics, financial accounting, and business communications.
Sometimes technology management programs at the bachelor’s level begin with two years in a technical field and then concentrate on applying management principles to those technological processes for the remaining two years. Other programs allow students to mix and match their core courses with electives in either technology or management in order to tailor their coursework to specific interests and career goals. Either way, any technology management program will emphasize both technology and management equally. A core curriculum of liberal arts and sciences is also often the base for a technology management program.
Technology management majors may participate in various kinds of independent work assignments, seminars, and special projects as part of their degree programs. Requirements will depend on the degree level and vary from school to school. Many technology management majors do independent or group projects that involve using what they have learned so far about technological devices and programs in order to create a plan for implementation of that technology in a hypothetical office environment.
Projects may also include starting with a posed management issue and working to find a technological solution to the problem. Reading materials will include textbooks on management theory and technological topics. In online programs, reading materials covering technology may often be provided in an online format, including both text and photos relating to the devices and methods of implementation.
Degree Levels:
Bachelor’s
Technology management degrees aim to prepare students to enter upper-level and leadership positions, so technology management education typically begins with a bachelor’s degree. Bachelor’s students will complete courses covering the use of technological programs and devices. They will also take an equal amount of management theory courses and learn how technology can be managed within an organization in order to help employees do their jobs.
Students will learn basic information about how to navigate and develop a wide variety of technology in a business environment. Courses such as computer applications, computer programming, and managing technological change will be a typical base, and then students will delve more deeply into more specific technological education depending on where they go to school and whether they choose to specialize. Students will complement these studies with a sound background in management principles and will learn how to plan and strategize the use of technology in the workplace.
Master’s
Master’s programs in technology management are meant to provide students with a more specialized and in-depth education after completion of a technology-based bachelor’s program. Because master’s programs will start out at an advanced level when it comes to technological applications, programs and devices, it is advisable for students to have completed a substantial amount of technology courses at the undergraduate level before applying to a master’s program in management technology.
Master’s programs in management technology will begin with a brief review of basic management principles with core courses in areas such as computer applications and programming. Then most programs will take an in-depth look at how to strategize the use of technology in operations management, and students will take courses such as product realization and strategic planning and marketing.
Graduate students typically study with industry professionals and are able to benefit from making connections with peers in the discipline. Master’s students will also complete advanced projects in technology management and learn how to integrate management theory with practice through case studies.
Doctorate
Doctorate students in technology management will continue in-depth study of management issues in technological processes and devices. One of the central aspects of a doctoral degree in technology management is the fact that programs are designed to prepare students to become scholars capable of entering research positions at corporate research centers, universities, government agencies and other organizations in need of professional researchers in the area of technology management. This means that doctoral programs in management technology will be largely research-based.
On top of the most advanced levels of coursework in management techniques and technological uses, students will work on independent dissertations that must be finished and approved in order to receive their Ph.D. The dissertation will be an investigation of original research questions having to do with technology management. Many students combine information from scholarly journals with case studies and independent research to create their own original thesis. Students will also work closely with advisors and current industry professionals to gain the most up-to-date knowledge base in the field of management technology.
Supplementing Your Technology Management Major
There are many different way to specialize a management technology degree in order to customize it to your particular interests. Most management technology programs require core courses and then allow students to complete the rest of their degree requirements through electives within the management technology field.
For example, students could choose to take electives in sales and marketing in order to make their degrees more applicable to a position in an advertising firm. Or, if a student took electives in the area of supply chain and matrix management, they would gain skills necessary to manage the technological processes in a manufacturing facility.
Students can also add distinction and value to their management technology major by choosing a minor in a related, or even a seemingly unrelated field. For instance, if a student majored in management technology with a minor in graphic design, he or she would have greater chances of securing a management position within a design firm, or any other organization involved in the arts. Or, a major in technology management with a minor in computer applications design, for example, would give a student greater insight into the role of an applications designer and better understanding of how computer applications are created and can be applied usefully within an organization. He or she may even be able to design original applications specifically tailored to the needs of a future employer.
Even a minor in a seemingly unrelated field, such as English or psychology, could greatly help a graduate communicate more clearly and work with employees more effectively in the workplace. There are plenty on minors that pair well with a management technology degree. Minors such as information technology, computer programming and software engineering will enhance a student’s proficiency in technology-related areas. Minors in areas like sales, advertising and retail management will prepare students to work in a sales or retail-oriented office.
Learn More About the Technology Management Major
- Practical Information Technology Management, MIT Open Courseware
- Technology Strategy for System Design and Management, MIT Open Courseware
- Technology Information Technology as an Integrating Force in Manufacturing, MIT Open Courseware
- Journal of Technology Management and Innovation
- Journal of Engineering and Technology Management
The Technology Management Major in the Job Market
After graduating with a technology management degree, students will be equipped with many skills that are highly valuable in the job market. In fact, the combination of a knowledge base in both technology and management makes these graduates especially useful to modern employers. Graduates will understand key management principles and know how to plan, organize and lead. They will have honed their communication skills, both orally and in writing and have an in-depth understanding of group dynamics and leadership principles. Technology management majors also study management from a financial perspective. They will be able to do financial analysis within a business and understand basic accounting methods.
Graduates will also have received an extensive education in all aspects of technology applicable in a business setting. They will have close to the same level of expertise as a candidate with a completely technology-based major, such as computer programming or software development, but they will also have the ability to manage multiple technological strategies at the same time in a way that will benefit an entire business or organization.
Technology management majors will be prepared to implement plans to use technology in order to benefit the productivity of an organization, and this in a hugely valuable skill as business in almost any industry relies heavily on the use of technology. Understanding how to use the newest technology to the greatest advantage is an extremely valuable commodity in the job market.
Graduates of technology management programs have many different options for career paths, according to Herzing University. Basically, a technology management major’s skills will be valuable in virtually any organization that utilizes technology in order to do business. In today’s marketplace, that leaves the door open to an endless range of employment opportunities.
Graduates can work for large firms, government agencies, or non-profits. They can work freelance as technology consultants or specialize their career path and go into areas such as graphic design, financial management, manufacturing, and engineering, to name a few. Some common job titles for technology management majors include Chief Technology Officer, technical services manager, technology operations manager, and Web technology manager.
The job outlook for graduates will depend on their technological niche. For example, graduates with specializations in certain areas may find difficulty locating jobs in that area if that niche is currently seeing little growth. However, because technology management expertise can fit so flexibly within many different kinds of organizations, graduates should find job opportunity in plenty of areas, regardless of their specialization during college.
Careers I Can Get with This Degree:
