Prepare to lead across technology fields. A Master of Technology Management is a flexible degree for managers, offering specialisations in enterprise technology, AI, and cyber security.
As Australia undergoes digital transformation, skilled tech managers are needed more than ever. A tech management degree offers the perfect training platform to develop both technical knowledge and business acumen to lead the charge.
Technology management masters are for professionals with technical skills and an interest in digital technologies. Students build knowledge across key technology fields, gaining high-level perspectives on tech implementation. Graduates are positioned to be project and change leaders.
Overview of the Course
Technology is everywhere and driving changes in the nature of work. Cybersecurity, big data, artificial intelligence, information systems, data science, and data analytics are key knowledge areas for the future.
You can get across these pivotal topics, developing both technical and strategic skills, with a technology management degree. The master's program will prepare you to lead in the modern workplace.
The aim is to gain skills necessary for organisational leadership and to understand the potential of different technologies. The focus is on preparing you for high-level management roles, rather than daily practice. An IT background is beneficial for this course but not strictly essential.
What "Technology Management" Means
Technology management is a field that deals with managing the business side of information technology (IT). It involves managing technology resources, including employees and processes, in an organisational context.
A job in this field could require you to maintain and upgrade computer hardware and networks, oversee IT security and safety, anticipate future hardware and software needs, supervise IT staff, advocate for new technology, budget, or manage projects. Professionals can start as lower-level managers and advance to high-level positions, such as IT Director or IT Security Manager.
A degree program aims to equip students with knowledge and skills to help direct businesses in meeting new challenges. Students build capabilities to advise on a company's future technology use, oversee the integration of staff with IT, and ensure work processes are cutting-edge and efficient.
Study for Your Degree Online
You can study for an IT management masters online as a full-time working professional. An accelerated online program allows you to earn a master's degree over 2 years of steady, part-time study. Online courses also give you the flexibility to choose electives that meet your learning goals.
Graduate Certificate Pathway Course
A good way to jump into tech management studies is with a graduate certificate course. Consisting of four foundation subjects from a master's program, you can earn your certificate in 8 months of part-time study. All subjects count as credit towards a master's degree should you wish to continue studying.
Executive Version of the Degree
An Executive Masters in Technology Management is a shortened IT management degree. In Australia, an online executive program consists of just 8 subjects and can be completed part-time over 16 months. Study on your terms with project-based subjects and a wide choice of electives.
Learning Outcomes
An IT management degree gives you strong exposure to key knowledge areas for tech managers. You'll learn to handle to manage, for example, digital systems, data and analytics, adaptation and digital innovation, machine learning and AI, and cyber security.
Specific learning outcomes may include the ability to:
- Identify how info systems may be used to provide business intelligence
- Effectively communicate on database design and applications
- Use data visualisation techniques to represent and navigate large datasets
- Design strategies to facilitate and support organisational change
- Bring an adaptability focus and capability to an enterprise
- Use technical know-how to propose solutions to digital disruption
- Use data analytics to identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities
- Apply machine learning methods
- Explain the technologies available to achieve AI solutions.
In addition to exploring big-picture management issues, you'll learn how work activities are done at a hands-on level. Learning outcomes depend on the program and choice of electives.
Career Opportunities
Understanding technology and how to use it effectively in the workplace creates all sorts of career opportunities, probably including some that haven't been invented yet. Job titles for graduates may include:
- General Manager (IT, Operations or Info Systems)
- IT Manager
- Engineering Manager
- Chief Information Officer (CIO) or Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
- Data Processing Manager
- IT Project Manager
- Technology Consultancy Director
With technology always evolving and shortages of people with both tech and management skills, job and salary prospects in this field are excellent. Pay rates will generally exceed those for pure IT professionals.
FAQs
An information technology (IT) masters degree is worth it when you can see a salary benefit that you couldn't otherwise achieve through self-training. Many circumstances arise when the benefits of postgraduate education outweigh the costs, including for career changers, to develop a skillset in an emerging or different field, and to develop management and communication skills.
IT is not one of those fields where master's graduates have a clear edge in the job market. Employers generally care more for your ability to get results than they do for academic credentials. But that doesn't mean master's degrees are a waste of time. If you can achieve a higher salary for the rest of your career, the case for a master's degree becomes compelling.
A Master of Technology Management or similar degree is such an example. This program for IT professionals and tech enthusiasts isn't designed to give you technical skills . Students learn foundational skills in emerging or rapidly changing fields such as AI and cyber security. As well, the emphasis is on developing management and communication skills that are often in short supply in the IT sector.
Reasons to pursue an IT master's degree include to: upgrade knowledge in critical areas, build leadership and management skills, develop cross-functional collaboration skills, and increase job and salary prospects at executive levels.
If your primary goal is to develop management skills, you should consider a Master of Technology Management degree. Another option is a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Technology Management.
A Master of Information Technology (MIT) program typically focuses on providing students with advanced technical skills and knowledge in areas such as computer science, info systems, and software engineering. These programs may not explicitly focus on developing management skills to any large extent.
However, the technical skills and knowledge gained through an MIT program can be useful for managing technology-related projects and teams. In addition to technical skills, many MIT programs also include coursework in areas such as project management, business analytics, and leadership, which can help students develop some management skills.
