Advanc'edge MBA / August 2003
MBArk
MBA in Systems
- Shishir Nigam
History
MBA in Systems is a relatively new specialisation
in many an MBA program worldwide and is closely
related to the growth of the information technology
business. Proliferation of the IT sector led to a need
for persons who remaining generalists in the business
sense capture business processes while integrating
information systems automation.
Traditionally the industry had access to a large
pool of programmers, who had the requisite technical
skills but often had to be groomed for niche business
fields. Such programmers developed over time to
become Subject Matter Experts (SME). But with IT
becoming ubiquitous, there was an emergent need
for professionals who had the capability to
understand the business problem at the highest level,
convert it into specifications for an IT project, do some
architecting, and then hand it over to the SMEs. The
professional with an MBA in Systems filled this need.
What is MBA Systems?
MBA Systems is a specialised program, which
gives an overall idea about the business
fundamentals, processes, technologies (IT and
Computer) and applications to solve business
problems.
Role of Systems Professionals in Organisations
Programmers deal directly with the technologies.
They are capable of writing code, storing and
retrieving data, and providing it to the users. In
contrast an MBA Systems professional works on the
process involved in transforming the data into useful
information to be presented in a manner, which helps
senior managers understand the state of their
businesses and take decisions.
A systems professional’s role in an organisation
encompasses the management of the Information
Technology and systems to obtain the required
information. Of these management of information is
considered as most important. These roles necessitate
working closely with the operational team of the
organisation and managing the gathering, processing
and dissemination of the right information to the right
person at the right time.
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Senior management in organisations know what
information they require and why. But seldom if ever
do they have the time and patience to gather such
information, store and transform it into a presentable
format. They cannot be involved in the nitty-gritty
of this process. For example, a senior marketing
manager in an FMCG company needs some
information about the area-wise sales of the products.
However, he doesn’t have the time to delve into how
this information will be obtained, transmitted, stored,
retrieved and presented. He needs this information
fast so that he can take decisions on strategies to
increase sales or retain market share. It is this gap
that the Systems Professional fills with his expertise.
Skill Expectations from a Systems Professional in
an Organisation
Often called upon to perform the role of a systems
analyst or a systems architect, the very first
requirement of the systems professional is awareness
of the technologies as well as the evolving trends. In
addition to the awareness he should also have the
ability to understand the utility of these technologies
to solve specific business problems. Since business
problems span multiple domains, this professional
needs to understand business as well as the functional
specifics of an organisation viz., marketing, human
resource, finance, accounts, operations,
manufacturing etc. To successfully meet the
challenges of such a role, the cross-functional
expertise and exposure gained during an eclectic
MBA Systems program is best suited. The skills of
communication, processes, planning, presentation,
cost benefit analysis, budgeting, market research etc
gained during the MBA program help the systems
person to gel effectively with users from any
functional specialisation, helping them to clarify the
business problem. It further helps him co-ordinate
between departments, a key skill indeed for a systems

MBArk
professional.
Pre-requisites for taking up MBA Systems
As a prospective aspirant interested in pursuing
an MBA in Systems, you should be aware of the
requirements not just to enter the program but also
to do it well, such that the knowledge gained can be
applied effectively in your work situation. Some of
the skill sets that you would be examined on prior to
your entry into an MBA Systems program are:
w Interest in Information Technologies
w Interest in understanding all the functions of a
business process
w Mathematical Ability in the context of numerical
analysis and solutions
w Logical analysis
w Ability to connect technologies to business
Focus Areas While Doing the program
Having enrolled in an MBA Systems program, it
is important that you focus on the following to build
a successful career:
w Knowledge of business functions
w Mathematical modeling of business problems in
any functional domain
w Business mathematics and statistics
w Communication skills
w Ability to understand and map business processes
w Software engineering and processes
w Quality systems like ISO 9000 and CMM
Expertise in the above areas will give you a
definitive head start when you enter your job.
An Ideal Systems MBA Program
The best MBA systems programs are obviously
offered by the top institutes like the IIM’s. However
with a plethora of institutes offering MBA programs
it is not unusual for aspirants to be faced with the
dilemma of choosing the right MBA Systems
program. Using the following points as a guideline
to assess the structure/design of the MBA Systems
program offered and the institute is helpful in making
the right choice.
w Computational infrastructure of the institute
should be state of the art and sufficient to meet
the needs of all students. Thus the number of
computers and their configuration (Software and
Hardware) is important. For instance good
institutions must have not just Microsoft
Windows environment, but also Linux
operating system in line with current market
trends.
Advanc'edge MBA / August 2003
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w Learning environment must be eclectic in terms
of a well-stocked library of books, multimedia
learning aids and computer laboratories with
various software and development environments
for a wide exposure.
w Teachers are vital in any learning process,
especially in technology. Experienced faculty with
at least 3 years experience (Post relevant
qualifications) in industry. (Beware as it has been
found that many institutes use recent graduates
with little or no industry exposure as faculty). It
is preferable if the faculty possesses relevant
international certifications (MCSE, CCNA ,
etc.,) on the technologies they are likely to teach.
w Sufficient time and faculty support must be given
to lab work for practical orientation to the theories
learnt in the class.
w A significant ratio of the curriculum must cover
the business basics of various functions.
w The course structure should incorporate industry
visits, summer training as well as industry-
sponsored projects.
There are many other things, which may be added
to this list, but if an institute meets at least these
criteria for its MBA Systems program, it is worth
considering. Reputed institutes like IIMC, IIMB, IIT
Schools of Management and SITM have an array of
specialised programs. The best systems Consultancy
and IT firms like PWC, TCS, PCS, Mindtree, Infosys,
Wipro, i2, inautix, Techspan etc. recruit systems
professionals from these institutes.
Epilogue
Thus we have assessed what it takes to embark on
a career path in MBA Systems, starting from
understanding the industry requirement for this
specialisation, what it takes to get into a program,
the focus areas when doing the program, and how to
go about the right MBA Systems program for
yourself.
Doing an MBA in Systems is just the beginning.
As a professional you must constantly upgrade
yourself, in cutting-edge technologies as well as
business domains. You must always be equipped
with and aware of the latest technology trends lest
you are left groping especially in an age wherein the
rapid forces of technological change can easily render
you obsolete. This will help all you budding systems
professionals to continuously plan and align your
career in the right direction.