About the IM Concentration
Evolution of the IM Concentration
In the mid-1980s, Professor Darwin Klingman recognized the need to produce managers for the Information System function in business and spearheaded the creation of a technology-oriented curriculum. The name given to the program was Information Systems Management (ISM). A separate admission process was initiated and approximately 25 students were admitted.
In 1989, leadership of the program was provided by Professor Andrew Whinston, who was followed in 1990 by Associate Dean Robert Sullivan. In 1991, with Professor Timothy Ruefli as Director, emphasis shifted from producing managers of the IS function to one of producing technology-knowledgeable managers. Admissions increased to approximately 33 per year with about half having strong technical backgrounds, and half having liberal arts backgrounds. The result of this strategy of mixed experience was a group of students who could talk to both technical and non-technical managers. Executive oversight was provided by an ISM Steering Committee, which included executives from such firms as Lotus, FedEx, and Bell Atlantic.
Professor James Dyer served as Acting Director of the program during 1994 and 1995, with Professor Tom Davenport serving as Director until 1998 when Professor Ruefli again assumed leadership.
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IM Program Philosophy
We teach e-commerce and e-business in the broader context of IT
management (and that within the broader context of general management).
While we have added specific e-commerce courses to our curriculum, the various
aspects of the concept are also covered in many of our other courses.
An equal proportions of students with science and engineering, liberal arts, and business
backgrounds concentrate in IM. This is one of our strengths, our technical and non-technical students learn from each other. By the end of the program, the non-technical students have learned the technology and the technical students have learned to communicate effectively. ComputerWorld tells us that we have the highest percentage of women students (24% historically and currently) and women faculty (30%) of any technoMBA
program.
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Program Direction
Strategic direction of the IM program is provided by the IM administrators, the Chair of the IROM department, the MIS faculty, and the IM steering committee. Implementation is undertaken with the assistance of the Information Management Association and IM alumni.
