Everytime a homework like this is assigned, I feel like my world spins endlessly like a never-ending clock revolution. I then tried asking myself how could I make an essay with three thousand words? Could I really write one effectively? I really doubt it. But what can I do? I really got no choice or else I‘ll have this course failed. The first time I was asked about how do I look at myself ten years from now as an Information Technology professional made me a little anxious for what comes into my mind first and foremost is my age – how old would I be then? If I am nineteen by now then I would be twenty nine by then. Ahhh..what an age for an IT Professional. This is so funny for along with the thought is my situation, would I still be single or already married by then or a mother at that. Crazy thoughts. But all these keep me going for a while. My mind really lingers on what would I really be by then? Only destiny or fate could ever tell. However, the chance of thinking of living a very good life is not really out of the picture for this is the very reason why I take up this course because of a future vision that I have had before I get into this. My frailty which I know I am should not hinder me from the future that I’ve been hoping for. A successful Information System Professional. But in what Field? Could I be a manager, a director, a supervisor or what? Only fate could tell or could I be a simple employee or a failure? But negativity should not overpower me for I am put into this world for a great purpose that I one day should live life though heaven is on earth. Technology and sciences do navigate the world lately so whatever advancement this world brings should let me go and live my life through it. Honestly, the realization of my dreams really depends on how I make my life to be. If destiny is very good and is on my side then I will be working in a prestigious IT company or institution that oversees the national economy strata. This would be so amazingly impressive. Living in a modern designed, high class office with the most updated computers and sensitive computer-hardware and software around me would really make me feel I have succeeded and meeting with the head of offices of the country , brainstorming and discussing how to always cope with the pace and cadence of time especially on global competitiveness. I always envisioned myself to be dressed up in corporate attire wearing my stiletto heels. Ohh..forget the latest accident I had in this university…whew! Driving my own car and owning a house or a condo in a decent place would complete my dream. But the big question is, how could I do these? How could I make all these come true? Now , I remember a friend’s advice…dream and work on your dreams…More so, to make this dream comes true is for me to take actions on how to become one as I dreamt about. I have to be guided and knowledgeable enough by the following information as I quote, stated below…
Technical professionals must constantly improve their skills in a fast-moving field in order to be successful. Today's best programmers will find themselves obsolete if they rigidly stick to a single language, or if they don't augment their business-management skills. These three steps will provide a plan to ensure that any professional can constantly stay ahead of the curve.
Focus on Your Current Core Skills
No matter how much experience you have in your career trajectory, there are areas in which you can improve. Start with your job description, either the one that was officially given to you, or the one that actually describes the work you're doing on a day-to-day basis. Pick two or three skills in which you're currently proficient, but that could stand improvement. The honest programmer will rarely believe that improvement is impossible, even in his best field.
Find a way in which you can stretch your current skills. The ideal choice is to work on a side project which, at the start, you have no idea how you'll complete. Alternately, become active in online discussions about your platform and volunteer your time helping out people with less or equal experience. If possible (and with a suitably enlightened employer), you can make this self-improvement part of your on-the-job training, provided it doesn't eat into meeting your deliverables.
The same idea applies to non-technical skills, especially if you're in a position that may lead to a management spot. Many technical professionals are good with computers, but less so with people. If your job doesn't give you the opportunity to branch out on side projects in which you can build your communication and leadership skills, look to professional organizations and community non-profits, where a technical volunteer is frequently welcome.
Branch Out Into Upcoming Technologies
Unless you're nearing the end of your career arc, the lifetime of your career is almost certainly going to be longer than the durability of the languages you're working with today; the former is usually measured in decades, the latter in years.
The best way to evergreen your skill set is to spend time focusing on the fundamentals: techniques that can be applied to any kind of programming. Stack Overflow is an excellent online forum for both generic and specific programming skills, or read expert references such as Steve McConnell's Code Complete.
Technical associations are the best way to be exposed to the next year's changes to the technology you're working with today: Windows and Macintosh programmers and managers should join the developer networks run by Microsoft and Apple, respectively, and most other platforms have their own groups. The expense of professional dues and attending annual conferences is a small price for being in the lead of your field.
Work on Something You Love
Finally, all technical professionals should have some aspect of their work that they do out of sheer enthusiasm. The lucky ones get paid to do this, but there are ample opportunities in open-source and entrepreneurial programming to find something that keeps you professionally sharp. At worst, you'll have something to look forward to working on; at best, it may be the technology that becomes your career in coming years.
In addition to the strategies above, to be a Computer and Information Systems Manager in the future, as what I dreamt of to become, the following should be considered:
Significant Points
• Employment is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations.
• A bachelor's degree in a computer-related field usually is required for management positions.
• Many managers possess advanced technical knowledge gained from working in a computer occupation.
• Job prospects should be excellent.
Nature of the Work
In the modern workplace, it is imperative that Information Technology (IT) works both effectively and reliably. Computer and information systems managers play a vital role in the implementation and administration of technology within their organizations. They plan, coordinate, and direct research on the computer-related activities of firms. In consultation with other managers, they help determine the goals of an organization and then implement technology to meet those goals. They oversee all technical aspect of an organization, such as software development, network security, and Internet operations.
Computer and information systems managers direct the work of other IT professionals, such as computer software engineers and computer programmers, computer systems analysts, and computer support specialists (information on these occupations can be found elsewhere in the Handbook). They plan and coordinate activities such as installing and upgrading hardware and software, programming and systems design, the implementation of computer networks, and the development of Internet and intranet sites. They are increasingly involved with the upkeep, maintenance, and security of networks. They analyze the computer and information needs of their organizations from an operational and strategic perspective and determine immediate and long-range personnel and equipment requirements. They assign and review the work of their subordinates and stay abreast of the latest technology to ensure that the organization remains competitive.
Computer and information systems managers can have additional duties, depending on their role within an organization. Chief technology officers (CTOs),for example, evaluate the newest and most innovative technologies and determine how these can help their organizations. They develop technical standards, deploy technology, and supervise workers who deal with the daily information technology issues of the firm. When a useful new tool has been identified, the CTO determines one or more possible implementation strategies, including cost-benefit and return on investment analyses, and presents those strategies to top management, such as the chief information officer (CIO). Management information systems (MIS) directors or information technology (IT) directors manage computing resources for their organizations. They often work under the chief information officer and plan and direct the work of subordinate information technology employees. These managers ensure the availability, continuity, and security of data and information technology services in their organizations. In this capacity, they oversee a variety of technical departments, develop and monitor performance standards, and implement new projects.
IT project managers develop requirements, budgets, and schedules for their firm’s information technology projects. They coordinate such projects from development through implementation, working with their organization’s IT workers, as well as clients, vendors, and consultants. These managers are increasingly involved in projects that upgrade the information security of an organization.
Work environment.
Computer and information systems managers generally work in clean, comfortable offices. Long hours are common, and some may have to work evenings and weekends to meet deadlines or solve unexpected problems; in 2008, about 25 percent worked more than 50 hours per week. Some computer and information systems managers may experience considerable pressure in meeting technical goals with short deadlines or tight budgets. As networks continue to expand and more work is done remotely, computer and information systems managers have to communicate with and oversee offsite employees using laptops, e-mail, and the Internet.
Injuries in this occupation are uncommon, but like other workers who spend considerable time using computers, computer and information systems managers are susceptible to eyestrain, back discomfort, and hand and wrist problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Computer and information systems managers generally have technical expertise from working in a computer occupation, as well as an understanding of business and management principles. A strong educational background and experience in a variety of technical fields is needed.
Education and training.
A bachelor's degree in a computer-related field usually is required for management positions, although employers often prefer a graduate degree, especially an MBA with technology as a core component. Common majors for undergraduate degrees are computer science, information science, or management information systems (MIS).
A bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field generally takes 4 years to complete, and includes courses in computer science, computer programming, computer engineering, mathematics, and statistics. Most also include general education courses such as English and communications. MIS programs usually are part of the business school or college, and contain courses such as finance, marketing, accounting, and management, as well as systems design, networking, database management, and systems security.
MBA programs usually require 2 years of study beyond the undergraduate degree, and, like undergraduate business programs, include courses on finance, marketing, accounting, and management, as well as database management, electronic business, and systems management and design.
A few computer and information systems managers attain their positions with only an associate or trade school degree, but they must have sufficient experience and must have acquired additional skills on the job. To aid their professional advancement, many managers with an associate degree eventually earn a bachelor's or master's degree while working.
Certification and other qualifications.
Computer and information systems managers need a broad range of skills. Employers look for individuals who can demonstrate an understanding of the specific software or technology used on the job. Generally, this knowledge is gained through years of experience working with that particular product. Another way to demonstrate this trait is with professional certification. Although not required for most computer and information system management positions, certification demonstrates an area of expertise, and can increase an applicant’s chances of employment. These high-level certifications are often product-specific, and are generally administered by software or hardware companies rather than independent organizations.
Computer and information systems managers also need a thorough understanding of business practices. Because information technology is a central component of many organizations, these workers often must make important business decisions. Consequently, many firms seek managers with a background in business management, consulting, or sales. These workers also must possess good leadership and communication skills, as one of their main duties is to assign work and monitor employee performance. They also must be able to explain technical subjects to people without technical expertise, such as clients or managers of other departments.
Advancement.
Computer and information systems managers may advance to progressively higher leadership positions in an information technology department. A project manager, for instance, might be promoted to the chief technology officer position and then to chief information officer. On occasion, some may become managers in non-technical areas such as marketing, human resources, or sales because in high technology firms an understanding of technical issues is helpful in those areas.
Employment
Computer and information systems managers held about 293,000 jobs in 2008. About 16 percent worked in the computer systems design and related services industry. This industry provides IT services on a contract basis, including custom computer programming services; computer systems design and integration services; and computer facilities management services. Other large employers include insurance and financial firms, government agencies, business management organizations, and manufacturers.
Job Outlook
Faster than average employment growth is expected, and job prospects should be excellent.
Employment change. Employment of computer and information systems managers is expected to grow 17 percent over the 2008-18 decade, which is faster than the average for all occupations. New applications of technology in the workplace will continue to drive demand for workers, fueling the need for more managers. To remain competitive, firms will continue to install sophisticated computer networks and set up more complex intranets and websites. They will need to adopt the most efficient software and systems and troubleshoot problems when they occur. Computer and information systems managers will be needed to oversee these functions.
Because so much business is carried out over computer networks, security will continue to be an important issue for businesses and other organizations, and will lead to strong growth for computer managers. Firms will increasingly hire security experts to fill key leadership roles in their information technology departments because the integrity of their computing environments is of utmost importance.
The growth of computer and information systems managers should be closely related to the growth of the occupations they supervise. Among computer and information systems managers, job growth is expected to be the fastest in computer systems design establishments; software publishing firms; data processing and hosting companies; management, scientific, and technical consulting services; and healthcare organizations. Increased consolidation of IT services may reduce growth to some extent in other industries.
Job prospects.
Prospects for qualified computer and information systems managers should be excellent. Workers with specialized technical knowledge and strong communications and business skills, as well as those with an MBA with a concentration in information systems, will have the best prospects. Job openings will be the result of employment growth and the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
I know that being a computer and information systems manager is never that easy same with other occupations because there is no easy job without hard work. Being acquainted with the information above will help me achieve my dream to become a successful IT professional someday and attain my goals in life. Though we may have the option to choose our job, have and change as many jobs as we like, still, to have a better and permanent job will surely let us become successful. One of the mistakes people make is diversifying too quickly. This is true whether you are trying to build multiple streams of income or are just working on several different ideas at one time. The key is getting the first stream or idea up and running, producing good revenue, and having systems in place so it will keep running without you before going on to the next unrelated stream. It is important to focus on what you are passionate about first and then find a way to make money at it. Get in touch with your heart first, otherwise, the left side of your brain will rule out perfectly good ideas without having explored them. I believe that success comes easier and more quickly when you enhance your strengths and delegate in areas where you are weak. Your natural talents are those things you do so easily and naturally that you think they are no big deal. I noticed that many were overlooking their natural talents and thought if it is this easy for them, it must be this easy for everyone. This is rarely the case. The key here is to take your natural talents and abilities and strengthen them through education and experience. You are not born an expert at anything. It is something you develop.
Many people try to fit their dreams into their life and complain there are not enough hours in the day to make it happen. If you want your dream to become a reality, make it a priority. Otherwise, it will never be more than a pipedream.
References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Computer and Information Systems Managers, on the Internet athttp://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos258.htm (visited January 28, 2010).
http://www.ehow.com/way_5245901_strategies-technical-professional-21st-century.html
Mood's In ControlTuesday, March 16, 2010
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