Tech Management

Technical Management Career Overview

As industries that previously relied on human capital turn to technological infrastructure and automation, opportunities for managing business technologies are expanding. Today, literally every industry has opportunities for information technology management, so opportunities abound for those holding degrees in IT-related fields. IT managers oversee the technical operations of a company, which extends to personnel and equipment. As such, managers in this field generally possess technical qualifications as well as managerial experience or an MBA.

Technical Management Training & Education

Technology management degrees are offered by a large number of educational institutions. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the degree, curricula vary quite a bit from program to program, so finding a good program is essential.

It is not absolutely essential to have a degree in technology management in order to enter the field—technical competence and managerial ability are the only requirements. Thus, those who may have started out in technical professions like network administrators can easily become managers if they pursue an MBA or get promoted by their employer.

Technical Manager Career & Salary Outlook

An entrant to the job market with an information technology management degree, or equivalent qualifications, can expect an average salary of around $40,000. Depending on the field they choose to work in, the salary of an experienced IT manager can range between $90,000 and $120,000.

The career outlook for IT managers is quite good. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that available positions for those with technology management degrees will increase by up to 60% over the next few years until 2014.

Career Fields/Specializations

Technical Project Management Career

A project is a short-term plan that is implemented to achieve a specific goal, such as the creation of a new product or service. The project manager is typically responsible for organizing, allocating and managing resources that are available for use within a given time frame, and for ensuring that the cost of the project does not exceed the allocated budget.

Project managers who manage product development (also called product managers) oversee both the design element as well as the underlying technology of the product. This field is especially demanding, as the process of product development is exceedingly complex. As such, competition for product management positions at top firms can be fierce and heavily based on candidates’ industry track records.

A technology management degree that specializes in project management is an ideal qualification for anyone who wishes to become a project manager. While a project manager must have strong management and organizational skills, they must also be familiar with current technology and software to remain competitive in this field, so a more technical qualification may be required in some cases.

Tech Management Consultant

A consultant is an independent contractor who is hired by companies to provide specific professional advice. This allows companies to employ people with a high degree of precise knowledge on an as-needed basis rather than retaining the permanent services of a consultant, which is often not financially feasible.

Consultants are usually hired to solve specific problems in a company or work place. This requires a broad array of skills, including analysis and problem solving techniques, as well as good communication and interpersonal skills.

Tech Entrepreneur Career

An entrepreneur is a person who starts up and operates a new business enterprise, assuming some or all of the financial risk of the operation. This is often a risky and difficult career, simply because up to 60%+ of new business ventures fail within the first five years of operation. Of those that do fail, the most common cause is simply poor planning and other management errors.

Information technology entrepreneurship is a growth industry relative to other more historically stable industries, so those with the requisite experience shouldn’t be discouraged. Nevertheless, as with any high-reward scenario, there is a high level of risk associated with tech entrepreneurship, and well-qualified entrepreneurs often fail.