Business and technology used to be very separate realms, with MBA
students far from the Computer Science majors on campus. These days,
they often sit next to each other. Helping to bring the two arenas
closer together is University of Washington's Business School, and spokesperson Chris LaPlante
chatted about what makes the program unique.
Why did the UW Business School decide to offer a Technology Management
MBA Program?
The Technology Management MBA Program has proved one of the most
successful of these initiatives. In recent years, business schools
around the world have developed new variations on the classic MBA,
tailoring curricula, formats, and other features to the learning needs
of different groups of business professionals.
The Technology Management MBA (TMMBA) Program is an example. Designed
for working professionals who plan to make the leap from technology
specialist to business executive, it combines elements of an executive
MBA program with a focus on technology.
What does the program include?
The TMMBA program delivers a core business management curriculum with a
technology focus. The curriculum builds on students' knowledge of
technology products and systems, but emphasizes the broad range of
business functions that affect the enterprise as a whole.
The 18-month program kicks off in January each year, so students can
graduate by June of the following year. Classes meet every Monday at the
UW Business School's Eastside Executive Center in Kirkland, convenient
to many of the high-tech businesses located on the east side of Lake
Washington, including Microsoft. Classes also meet every other Saturday,
either in Kirkland or the UW's Seattle campus.
What makes the program unique?
Much of the appeal of the program comes from the high-powered students
it attracts. Since a class, or cohort, of students is relatively
small--just over 50--and the group stays together throughout the
program, students tend to form close bonds that last long after
graduation.
The opportunity to share experiences with colleagues from many of the
area's leading companies and develop an instant network of contacts
draws many prospective students. Top-notch faculty and the reputation of
the UW MBA--the only nationally ranked graduate management program in
the Northwest--add to the appeal.
What are some of the challenges you think your technology students are
facing right now?
It's more important now than ever for students to understand technology
in the context of business, to be able to speak the language of finance,
marketing, operations and the other major functional areas of business.
Turning an idea into a real business opportunity, using information
technology to solve business problems, making good business decisions
about investments in technology--all these require technological
expertise and business savvy.
Certainly some students will continue to focus just on the technology
side, but the number of workers with skill sets in many tech fields is
growing--just look at the outsourcing trend--and therefore competition
for jobs is greater If you have the tech expertise and understand
business too, your chances for job security and career advancement are
better in the long run.
That's the premise on which the UW Business School has based its
tech-related programs.
Do you know a Seattle company we should cover? Let us know about it.
Send your local profile candidates to Elizabeth Millard at emillard@ computeruser.com.
