How Important Are MBAs With A Technological Bent Of Mind?

How important are MBAs in the tech world right now in the year 2018? This question was asked on Quora. The answer is that it would indeed be a very valuable qualification as with technology making rapid inroads into every aspect of life, graduates with tech specialization could hope to land plum posts across the business spectrum.

An MBA program in technology management lays stress on product analysis from a financial perspective, in evaluating emerging trends and communication skills that benefit team building, among others.

It calls for a certain level of technical expertise with a desire to create and implement efficient business strategies to support and promote the technology. In other words, a technology professional who demonstrates insights into cost structure, customer behaviour and industry trends, besides having the ability to liaison between departments, would prove to be an invaluable asset to a company.

Andrea Masini, Associate Dean, HEC Paris MBA, in reply to the question, says successful MBA programs need to look ahead and prepare students for the business challenges of tomorrow. “Therefore, with the pervasive digitalization of our economy and the increasing importance of technology in our society, I would say that an MBA degree is more valuable than ever.

“MBA graduates are among the few professionals able to speak both the language of business and the language of technology, bridging the gap between these two worlds. This is a badly needed skill nowadays,” he says.

“The importance of an MBA degree for the tech sector is confirmed by the interest that recruiters from tech companies have in MBA graduates. For instance, about 20% of the HEC Paris MBA class secured employment in the sector last year,”

To meet the increasing market demand, HEC Paris has taken several steps to strengthen the technology component of the MBA curriculum.

“A new specialization on digital transformation will be offered to start in September 2018. Our entrepreneurship specialization has a distinctive technology element too. Students choosing this specialization work hand in hand with top scientists and have access to our on-campus eLab, an exclusive laboratory equipped with state-of-the-art interactive technologies designed to stimulate creativity and communication,” he adds.

“The importance of an MBA degree for the tech sector is confirmed by the interest that recruiters from tech companies have in MBA graduates. For instance, about 20% of the HEC Paris MBA class secured employment in the sector last year,” the Dean points out.

“The range of technology recruiters in the sector included Amazon, Microsoft and Google amongst the top recruiters, and also some exciting new disruptors including Deliveroo (food delivery, UK), Finleap (Fintech, Germany), Happn (online dating, France) and Zoobashop (e-commerce, Africa).

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“All these companies are looking for outstanding graduates that are able to combine a solid technology background with the ability to understand and analyze the business implications of technological innovations,” he adds.

Roles for Tech MBAs include Computer and Information Systems Manager, Chief Technology Officer and Information Technology (IT) Director. Responsibilities may encompass maintaining the health of a company’s technical infrastructure as well as outlining and implementing its vision.

MBA in Technology Management is offered by several business schools both in the full-time format as well as part-time or online format.

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The Schiller International University with campuses in Florida, Heidelberg, Madrid and Paris, offers an MBA in Management of Information Technology. Students are required to complete a total of 15 courses, including seven MBA core courses, two elective courses and six IT courses. The program is completed in 15 months, comprising two semesters and one summer session.

The program lays stress on the management of information systems, database management, communications networks, project management, electronic commerce, systems analysis and design. The school says graduates are able to get positions in international corporations and other enterprises that relate to electronic commerce, information security and system integration besides the strategic use of digital and electronic technology in business.

The Stuttgart Institute of Management and Technology in Germany offers an MBA with a concentration in Technology and Innovation Management (TIM) to be completed in four semesters. The school says this particular concentration prepares students, as future managers in the service and manufacturing sectors to face the challenge of being able to judge the impact of innovation and new technology on the markets.

TIM integrates ideas from economics, creativity and product design, R&D management, operations management, global purchasing, and strategic marketing. The resulting program places equal emphasis on how to analyze business situations and how to implement suitable action plans.(Image Source:flickr.com)