What happens when you blend business and technology?

In 2001, as I walked past an office, I noticed a senior manager racing through a book. The subject?

Objects for managers.

Unfortunately, the book couldn’t salvage his software project -- a train wreck that cost the company millions.

Two years later, at another company, an MBA presented an architecture diagram to a group of customers. The problem?

He used smiley faces to represent computer servers. After the laughter stopped, the customers opted for an early lunch.

These stories are symptoms of a larger problem. Today, business projects require a blend of business and technology, however, few employees have both skills.

Sure, there are companies where business managers and software teams connect. On the other hand, business and technology are often at swords’ points. Professionals with business and technology skills can heal the divide: They are able to bridge the gap between business and technology -- and drive your company from the peninsula of opportunity to the headlands of new products.

Picture business and technology as two separate streams. As you study both streams, you will reach a point where the ideas and concepts from each stream flow together to form a river. When you harness the power of the river, you will succeed where others have failed.

Perhaps, executives are awakening to this reality. In a Dallas Morning News article, Cheryl Hall writes about UTD’s (University of Texas at Dallas) agile business school.

Academia has never been known for being fleet of foot when it comes to change. But Hasan Pirkul, dean of the School of Management at UTD, sees himself as coach of the sprinting team.

“Speed to market is the critical issue for corporations today,” says the 48-year-old dean. “Our programs need to reflect that. Well, guess what? Typically when a university wants to change its curriculum, it takes at least a couple of years. Too long.”

Dr. Pirkul is customer-focused -- he seeks feedback from Dallas companies, then develops academic programs. What else are executives looking for?

Business leaders are searching for professionals with a better blend of business and technology.

So Dr. Pirkul and Bob Helms, dean of engineering and computer sciences, put their minds together and developed two integrated programs to do just that.

Later this summer, the two deans expect to announce a joint master’s program, through which a student can earn both a master’s of science in engineering or computer science and an MBA in about one semester less time.

“So you have an engineer who also understands and is proficient in business topics,” Dr. Pirkul says happily. “It’s a dream come true.”

Comments

[Jon Strande]

Steve,

Great post! I think companies should start a mentoring program - pair up business & tech folks and let them teach each other. The results could be amazing!

Jon

[Ankur Katiyar]

Great thought!! Technology and Business must marry and offsprings will be far more evolved......But unfortunately, both Technology and Business remain divorced from each other.

[Steve]

Ankur,

I hadnt thought about extending the marry metaphor.

You are right. Most business and technology groups are divorced, and along with divorce comes feelings of bitterness and anger.

[Anjuan Simmons]

Do you know of any organizations that have created a new business unit that combines IT and business functions?

[steve]

I can't think of any organizations that have combined IT and business groups. Creative companies like IDEO tend to have multidisciplinary groups.

It's more important to make sure you have people trained in both areas and then be flexible how you use the talent.

Steve