"Management in Technology"

Management in Technology – MIT (ii)

Kinda funny how my second article is in close rhyming with my first article– Mothers in Technology MIT(i). This time it is - Management in Technology ??. Pun and Fun intended!

Management in Technology is different in its own way from conventional Management outside of Technology like in Construction, Healthcare, Aviation, Finance or other Industries. While the core remains the same which dictates how Management is about effective Planning, Execution, Delegation, Communication and the list goes on, the biggest differentiator here is ‘Technology Quotient’.

‘Technology Quotient’ as described online – “TQ is human ability to incorporate or adjust to technology changes which includes right attitude, capabilities and decision- making strategies to fully understand and use technology”

The first time I got a close realization of this is when I attended PMP Bootcamp where I met folks from various industries/sectors and how their perspective on the same management topic varied based on their experiences.

Although every sector that you can think of in today’s time relies heavily on Technology but the ‘Technology Quotient’ required for a Management role in Technology is significantly high. Rather I should say, Effective Management in Technology is directly proportional to the Technology Quotient of a Management Professional. If a Management leader in Technology fails to learn, adopt, leverage and embrace Technology, he is set for failure.

Wearing a Technical Hat is not an option, it is a requirement. Having strong technical acumen helps when solving critical problems which have deep technical roots. A person with strong technical background would not only delegate and manage the team, tasks and projects, but also bring much more to the table by being able to understand and meaningfully contribute to critical decisions because he/she understands the underlying technical complexities and challenges. Even from my very own personal experience working in IT (Information Technology) for last 10 years, If I had not kept Subject Matter Expertise on the Technologies that I supported by my side , I would have become irrelevant too soon or have just not grown in IT at the pace I did.

No wonder why premier management institutes have set aside a separate Management stream and call it –MBA in Technology Management or Management Program in Technology; which is developed and designed for professionals aiming for or currently playing management roles specifically in Technology Industry. Like Sales, Marketing or Finance, Technology has managed to keep a place for it, even in Management !

Heard in one of the tech talks – 2-3 years in technology is almost like a generation. That’s the pace at which Technology Industry moves and grows... !! So if you are one of the individuals who are aspiring a Management role in Technology Industry, make sure to keep your technical sword sharp !