InformationWeek
Defining The Business Value Of Technology
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No
vember
17, 1997
I am a software consultant and I wish to have a career in telecommunications and IS
management. While working on Cobol and year 2000 compliance, I intend pursuing a program
which will help me enh
ance my technical skills, especially in the area of telecommunications (I
have an bachelor's degree in telecommunications engineering from India). In this regard, would it
be more sensible to go in for a master's degree in CS/Telecom or a certificate program which
emphasizes Internet/intranet design & management. Will I need to take up a techno-MBA in the
long run (3-4 years from now)?
There is no wrong choice here! One just may get you where you want to go quicker than the other.
Certainly, the masters degree in telecommunications would enhance your skill set, but the
techno-MBA complemented with the certificate program would be my recommendation. The
reason I prefer this approach is that intranet/Internet communication issues are not being
resolved easily, which means that the complexities will keep this area thriving for years. The
certificate program will provide you with the foundation telecom/telephony issues. It may also
provide you with opportunities in the field directly. You may find that neither is required to
platform you to where you want to go. A MBA will provide the business foundation that
companies may migrate more to in the up coming millennium.
I recently installed a 13-branch network running voice and data for my company (Cisco routers,
IntranetWare NDS, modem sharing, and multiple protocols IP/IPX). I developed their Web site,
perform some programming using PowerBuilder, and manage the day-to-day network functions.
Performance reviews are coming up and I would like to have some salary survey information to
take to my review. I anticipate asking for greater compensation, but would like the numbers to
back me up. Where can I find that kind of data?
An hour on the Net will provide plenty of survey information. The best resource in my opinion is
here at I
nformationWeek, which publishes salary survey information yearly. A search will
provide this information for your review.
But here's where you may have some problems: First salary surveys are cut and dry. They put
you in clearly defined brackets (programmer, systems analyst, project manager, director, etc.)
which your background is not. You have touched a variety of different areas--network
integration, application development, voice and data communications--which, in my opinion and
the opinion of most of my clients means that your value is even greater than those of surveys
that don't accurately depict your value. Surveys, by the way, are having a tough time competing
with the pace of technological change, so be cautious how much stock you put in them: you may
sell yourself short.
I have an accounting degree and have just started an MBA program. I was a mainframe computer
operator for four years, an accountant for three
years, an OS/2 client-server support rep for
three years, and have been an AS/400 system administrator for the last 1 1/2 years. I know a
little CL and RPG, but the only PC languages I have used are Basic, REXX, and dBXL. If I invest
some time on a PC language, should it be Visual Basic, Java, or something else?
Your career progression clearly is moving more heavily into technology. Application development
would be the next logical progression for you. VB vs. Java? You could debate that all day long. In
a perfect world, Java would yield you the most money today and provide some really
contemporary skills. VB or PowerBuilder would also be good decisions. Regardless of the GUI
languages you may pursue, your real advantage is your accounting foundation. You would be
extremely marketable as a developer of financial systems or supporting the financial functions.
The many Fortune 50 companies I represent today would love to find a devel
opment background
with the credibility to talk to the financial organization with a clear understanding of the
requirements definition.
I am 52 years old and will be completing a master's degree in software engineering soon. I have
more than 22 years in the IT profession and have been looking for a position in industry for
several months. There seems to be an increasing requirement among employers to require a
certificate of one kind or another in spite of education and experience. Can you tell me if this
going to continue? Is this a just local issue? What do you think of this trend, if it is a trend, and
would you recommend that I pursue certificates?
Unfortunately, the answer to your first question is yes! The "certification craze" is upon us. This
job market is being driven by hype and competitive advantage. companies today view these
certifi
cations as real advantages to their organization. I have represented lesser candidates
with certifications that my clients have hired over actual hands on experience. I have been
successful in educating my client group on the value of real "battleground " experience; however,
the majority rules!! Get the certification in conjunction with you master's if you can.
The lab that I recently worked at as a chemist was closed recently and I found myself
reevaluating my marketability in the job market. I have seen in amazement the huge demand for
jobs in the IT field and would like to retrain to enter the field. However, I am torn as to how
best to do it so that I can eventually advance to a information management position and not sit
in front of a computer all day as a programmer punching code. Should I just take a few
programming classes at the local community college, or should I enroll in an accredited MBA
program with an MIS
emphasis? I am willing to go the distance if I know it will pay off in the
long run, but I'd hate to go to school for a graduate degree and find out that I didn't need to. What
are your thoughts?
The MBA is the track you want to travel on. If you to take a long-term approach to this, you will
win in the long run. The programming classes will do nothing more than educate you about
software development and serve as a quick fix to entering you into a field sooner--but doing
exactly what you don't want. The MBA shows a prospective employer you understand
technology--but more importantly, that you understand the implications it has on business
decisions. Your objectives are to be in a "Information Management" position right? That's why
people go for their MBAs! Keep in mind I think you should and will have to do your degree of
"coding" at the onset. It will ground you and give you the credibility of understanding the entire
development
life cycle and give you the appreciation when your managing coders someday
yourself. Lastly, most MBAs I have worked with don't spend to much time in the coding trenches,
unless they want to.
I have been the system administrator/IS manager at a law firm for six years and now want to
make a change. As IS manager, I am a "generalist." I would like to move away from being
responsible for the whole thing and from the business-management aspects of my job and I
would like to move into Internet, Web-related projects. Also, I would like to work on a team. I am
also not ready to make a commitment to a
full-time, permanent position. Do you have any suggestions, or insights?
Career changes of any sort generally are not easy roads. Unless you're committed to doing this on
a full-time basis, itýs unlikely you will achieve your goals. It may be time to evalu
ate how
important this is to you--not only for your personal and professions growth today, but what it
may mean for the future. A part-time approach is going to allow you to scratch the surface of
these technologies, if you can even find you way into them. My recommendation, based on your
question, is to make an all-out commitment to achieving this experience. I agree with your
interest: I think that experience would afford you the opportunity to work part-time in the
future.
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