Summer Edition

Columbia Answers Need in Education of Information Technology Managers

BY ABIGAIL BESHKIN

There is tremendous need right now to train first-line managers in the information technology industry, said Arthur Langer, associate director of instruction and curricular development in information technology at Columbia University's Continuing Education and Special Programs (CE/SP), and this fall CE/SP will launch a certification program to train entry- and mid- level managers to deal with issues specific to management in the information technology world.

"It's been documented that there is a high failure rate of developing software on time and on budget, and part of the reason is that there is a lack of education that teaches first-line technology management," Langer said. An expert on mentoring adult students and designing technology curricula for corporations, Langer is the chair of CE/SP's new Advanced Information Technology Management program.

"The AITM program is geared specifically for first-line managers who are responsible for day-to-day operations and human resource issues," Langer explained. "Not only do they have to be masters of technology, but they have to understand how to manage the people who are working directly with the technology."

The two-year program offers a certificate in three areas: database operations management, product development management and information systems management. Students take six core courses, then take the rest of their classes in their areas of concentration.

Langer said he expects to enroll around 20 students -- new or aspiring managers -- this coming fall. "It is rare to find a program of this level at an Ivy League institution," he said, "and we're very excited about it. There are relatively few programs out there specifically designed for first-line managers."

Communication -- the old-fashioned person-to-person kind -- is key in this program. One course, "Behavioral Challenge in the Management of the IT Organization," will look at issues specific to managing an IT group within a larger organization. "We'll talk about the cultural and relational aspects of working in IT -- how to get an IT group involved in the community of the organization."

For instance, Langer said, a company will often house its IT group in the basement, isolating it from the rest of the company. One issue the class will cover will be how to "improve the perception of what their contribution is to the rest of the organization."

Another class, "IT Project Management," will examine how to manage software projects from a perspective that gives equal weight to technology and people, customer value and provider profitability. "You can design the greatest product technically, but if your users have no idea how to use it, it's worthless to you," explained Langer.

Langer said AITM is the more advanced level of the popular Computer Technology & Applications (CTA) program run through CE/SP which teaches computer programming, database design and network operation.

"Traditionally, entry- and mid- level managers have been in the sink-or- swim dilemma," said Langer. "You may be a very good database designer, so the next logical step is that your company would make you a manager. Many of them are former technical experts , and they don't necessarily have any management experience."