MBA or Master of Information Technology:
Which Is Right for Today’s IT Professional?

Are you an IT professional who is ready to take the next step in your career? Do those plans include moving into management or one day running your own business? An advanced degree can help you reach your goals. But how do you decide which program is best for you—an MBA or a Master’s degree with a concentration in Information Technology?

Finding the right answer may require you to invest a little time and effort in research. But remember, education is also a big investment of time and money, and ultimately you want to see the best possible return on that investment.

What Makes a Good IT Manager? When it comes to determining what combination of skills and education makes a good IT manager, the business world has yet to reach a consensus. However, certain skills are a given. For example, everyone would agree that IT managers must understand technology and how it works on both a micro and macro level. They must be knowledgeable and certified in the software programs that are widely in use, and understand how the artful use of technology can give their business or organization an edge in today’s world. But business knowledge and communication skills should not be overlooked. In a recent Computerworld article describing what makes a successful IT project manager, John Kocon, Project Manager Officer at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, notes, “Even a person with great technical abilities will not be successful as a project manager without having business knowledge and communications skills. They may have strengths in one area, but they can’t have significant weaknesses.” (Julia King, “In the Trenches,” Computerworld, February 16, 2004.)

Where do you start? Take a good look around you

The one constant in today’s business world is change. The demands of a global economy require that businesses have the agility to adapt quickly to changing conditions. Increasingly, the sophisticated and creative use of technology is a key to success in today’s challenging business environment. In the past, an IT professional was viewed primarily as a technical guru; but in today’s world, one must possess both technical and business skills, as well as the “soft” skills that are sometimes overlooked by tech professionals.

Avoid the Cookie-Cutter Approach
Begin your research by assessing the skill sets you have developed over the course of your career and evaluating them critically and objectively against the backdrop of your industry and your company. What technical skills and training do you need to do your job? What other skills do you need to be a good manager? Some examples include analytical, leadership, and project management skills as well as skills like communication and consensus building.

Which business skills are valued most in your company and industry? Think about the trajectory you wish your career path to take and look at those individuals in your company or industry who have been successful. What is their particular combination of experience, training and education?

You might want to seek out a mentor you admire in your company and ask them for their professional advice.

MBA or Master’s of IT: What’s the Difference?
Once you have evaluated your current skills and identified those you need to reach your goals, it’s time to determine which type of degree program can help you fill that skills gap.

An MBA has long been touted as the degree of choice for anyone who aspires to management or the executive suite. MBA programs focus on sharpening decision-making and analytical skills and provide an opportunity to share ideas and real-world experiences with other students. Individuals who enroll in MBA programs typically view it as a way to round out their business portfolio by acquiring cutting-edge managerial tools and techniques, as well as the soft skills that are typically required in management positions.

A Master’s degree with an IT concentration allows students to explore the increasingly critical interrelationship between technology and business. These programs offer coursework in communication systems and networks, as well as curriculum in business and management strategies, to provide graduates with the tools they need to evaluate emerging technologies and make critical IT decisions for their companies.

Have You Considered an Online Program?
For today’s busy professionals, online degree programs can be a great alternative to a traditional program. And many online schools offer MBA and Master’s of IT programs that are designed to provide students with the critical knowledge and expertise they need to stay ahead of the game in today’s increasingly competitive business environment.