Within the last few decades information technology has had an enormous impact on organisations and their ability to gain and maintain a competitive advantage.
So much so that in New Zealand, ICT has become an important change lever for reinventing the structure, operation and management of organisations and managers must be able to integrate IT into their management plan.
Andrew Main Wilson, CEO of the Association of MBAs (AMBA) recently visited New Zealand for the 2014 Asia Pacific AMBA Conference.
During his visit he noted that Master of Business Administration (MBA) courses across the country are helping provide a solid foundation for IT in New Zealand business by providing graduates with a specialist skill-set in this area that complements the all round general management skills learnt.
“MBAs are important to New Zealand business because, like the rest of the world, what is needed now are people with highly developed problem solving skills and good all round business experience," Main Wilson adds.
"MBA graduates are highly prized for their strategic and financial acumen in particular.
"Now employers are looking for the graduates who are comfortable and proficient in understanding how to leverage IT systems for optimum short-term and longer-term competitive advantage.
"While visiting New Zealand I was impressed to see that a number of MBA courses are providing specialist Information Systems modules to help ensure managers can to contribute in a knowledgeable and informed manner to information systems decisions affecting their area.
“The questions that must be answered to leverage systems cannot be left solely to IT staff. While IT staff will contribute to the decision process, managers need to be responsible for IT strategic decisions.”