Technology Management M.S.

Contact Information
Dr. Stuart D. Kellogg
Industrial Engineering
Civil/Mechanical Building, Room 126
(605) 394-1271
stuart.kellogg@sdsmt.edu

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Program Summary 

The M.S. degree in Technology Management (TM) is designed to provide a program of advanced study in technically oriented disciplines for candidates anticipating a managerial career. It is a multi-disciplinary applications-oriented degree, which draws from the fields of engineering, management, business, operations research and management science. 

The intent of the program is to provide an interface between training received in engineering and scientific disciplines with the management of resources and personnel in a technical environment.  Flexibility is built into the program in order to provide an optimum educational experience to students.  Graduates of the TM program are likely to find an initial position as a mid level supervisor within a broad range of applications requiring the use of quantitative models to integrate human and material resources necessary to perform an integrated function.  Program specific information and resources may be found at the department of industrial engineering website.

Program Description

Technology Management programs became popular several years ago as a response to an industrial need.   The technical nature of a business enterprise often requires managers to have a solid grounding in business, management, and technology.  In today's global economy companies require managers who can communicate effectively, who have a solid understanding of current management and business theory, who can effectively organize personnel and resources, and who have a thorough understanding of the technology with which they are working as well as the quantitative decision tools necessary to effectively manage that technology.   A rather simplified conceptual framework for the program is shown in the graphic below.  

An individual with a background in business administration is likely to be very good at managing resources, developing budgets, and implementing decisions based on sound economics.  However, many do not have the necessary background in the appropriate technology or the quantitative decision tools necessary to effectively manage that technology.  

An individual specializing in operations research will almost certainly have the background necessary to model systems and develop quantitative decision tools needed to manage that system.  However, they may not have the management or business background necessary to effectively implement a solution to a problem.  Management science attempts to apply the quantitative decision tools developed in operations research in an industrial or business environment.  As such, it is more applications and modeling oriented.  However, managers with a strong background in management science may lack of the business tools and supervisory skills necessary for today's business climate.  

Technology Management is an attempt to effectively integrate decision theory with business, management, and organizational skills necessary to effectively manage in today's business environment.  Because of this integration, technology management programs remain popular with corporations operating in a technical or global environment.  Program specific information and resources may be found at the department of industrial engineering website.