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Q. I have recently been made the head of the IT department in a medium-sized multinational based in Hong Kong. I am an accounting graduate with 10 years of experience mostly in the ERP (enterprise resource planning) functional side of things.
I don't have technical experience in networking, servers, etc, and I have decided to study further to help me manage the IT function in this company. Since IT management has a lot in common to other management functions, I thought an MBA in Information Systems Management (ISM) could be suitable for me at this stage. I would like to do a part-time MBA in ISM at, say, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). In your view is an MBA in ISM one of the best education options available out there for someone building an IT Management career?
Career advice by Daniel Lai, CIO, MTR:
My humble response is that continuous professional development is essential for advancement in IT. But formal studies is not the only consideration. One should have an open mind and a willingness to explore, learn and adopt new things, coupled with thorough understanding of the business itself. The course mentioned certainly will provide an excellent foundation and exposure to real-life business cases. Active participation in conferences, workshops and networking with fellow CIOs and IT managers will also help you gain better insights. There are a number of courses available in Hong Kong, such as MBA in IS, MSc in Information and Technology Management at City University of Hong Kong, Masters in Technology Management.
Career advice from Michael Leung, CIO, China Construction Bank (Asia):
While learning is a life-time process and an MBA is a definitive step along the way, in my opinion though it will not guarantee a successful IT management career. A lot still has to come from one's own soft attributes and hard knowledge and skills. So I would say an MBA in ISM from HKUST is a very good idea, but perhaps not necessarily "the best option" per se. Honestly, I would not promote someone to a senior management position simply because he or she has done an MBA.
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