Master in Strategic Management in Information Technology

Program Presentation

The Innovation in business modern enterprise management and the immanent existence of the internet and the overall society, demands companies, organizations, institutions and everyday activities which are connected to the area of ICTs to provide technological, commercial, financial, and organizational innovations, among many others.

This has led us to nowadays speaking of information companies that have had to go through complex processes of change that have included scanning and virtualizing business processes leading to new forms and ways of working. This trend continues today.

The Master's program in Strategic Management in Information Technology (MSMIT) focuses on developing the concepts and skills to educate people to provide answers and solutions to these companies and their evolution.

Importance of graduate training in Strategic Management and IT

Uniting the broad field of management with the theoretical body and applied knowledge of Business Strategy with an overall vision of society, and a strong component analysis of the role of ICT in the strategic processes of business projects in the new economy, demands proper graduate training to:

  • Give a wide view of the relationship between ICT and society.
  • Give a complete overview of strategic thinking from business planning to the deployment of ICT strategies.
  • Understand the intimate relationship between business processes, organizational systems and ways of working with the world of ICT and the Internet.
  • Provide theoretical knowledge related to ICT tools and the methods of their use, and international experiences with strategic management.
  • Skills to overcome the specific and singular problems of all the activity related to the processes of organizational change resulting from the implementation of the new ICTs.
  • Capacity to address scenarios involving remote teams, disperse knowledge and construction of individual solutions.
  • Position ICT in organizations as agents of added value, triggers for changes, supporters of reform and performers of the new economy.

Central concepts of the program: Strategic Management and IT

Studies in the area of Information Technology are located in the space between Business Administration and Technology Management, with emphasis on creating a vision that unites businesses and technology. On one hand, this allows us to understand when Strategic Management becomes aligned with the new ICTs and, on the other hand, apply Strategic Management to the functions of ICT. In the first case, one can better understand the new forms of corporate management held in the new ICTs.

In the second case, the entrepreneurial vision of ICT is provided when they are considered a strategic resource.

Who is the programme for?

The training methodology proposed summed up to the clarity, amplitude and didactic of the content design, allows the Master's Degree in Strategic Management in Information Technology be addressed to all types of professionals (engineers, doctors, lawyers, graduates, among others) that wish to acquire the knowledge, skills and capabilities needed to manage an administrative System and ICT position, manage an organizational change Project using ICT, or that wish to advise companies that need to respond to the competiveness of new businesses.

The MSMIT program looks for people that associate business strategies with technological developments, that bring technology closer to the needs of several business areas to achieve the strategic objectives, and that they push and pull strategies from ICT.

Because of its executive guidance, the Master's Degree in Strategic Management in Information Technology aims to train dynamic, creative and motivated professionals, improve and/or lead business projects brought on by IT.

The candidate will be evaluated on:

  • Professional experience of more than 5 years.
  • Experience in the use of IT in business sectors and functions.
  • Interest in analyzing and evaluating organizational change when affected by ICT.

Diploma

By passing all the subjects and satisfying all the academic, administrative and economic demands required by the Ibero-American University Foundation, and the university or entity regulating the program, the respective degree or title will be issued. The name of the degree or title may vary depending on the laws of each country and of the policy of each university that issues the diploma.

Program Structure

MSMIT is composed of 15 subjects, a Case Study and Resolution, and a Thesis. Each subject allows you to learn and understand the foundations of business strategy, people management, and the necessary technologies and their related uses. The objective is to achieve an overall vision of businesses when IT is involved and are considered a strategic resource.

The estimated duration of the MSMIT is of 80 credits distributed in the following manner: 60 subjects and 20 credits for scientific research methodology training and the development of the Final Master’s Project.

Regarding the distribution of time, it is established that:

  • This being a distance learning program, not subject to face-to-face classes, there is no specific date of initiation, which is why the student can finalize the enrolment process at any time, as long as there are available spaces in the program.
  • For academic and learning purposes it has a minimum duration of 18 months, starting from the delivery of the first volume to the date of the last subject’s evaluation test.
  • The maximum duration to complete the program is 24 months. During this period, the student must have successfully passed all of the program’s evaluated activities and must have their Thesis approved.

The credit structure for the Master's Degree in Strategic Management in Information Technology is summarized in the following table:

PARTS CREDITSa LENGTHb HOURS
1st Part: Business Strategy 15 6 150
2nd Part: People Management 10 4 100
3rd Part: Business and Technology 35 8 350
4th Part: Scientific Research Methodology and Final Master’s Project 20 6 200
TOTAL 80 24 800

a. The equivalent of credits may vary according to the university granting the degree
b. Length in months

Objectives

General objective

  • Understand and master the strategic process of IT as part of strategic business development.

Specific objectives

  • Understand the phenomenon of the Information and Change Society as the foundation of new business strategies based on business innovations.
  • Learn about business technologies that enable and facilitate the business innovations generation.
  • Learn and master the elements that sustain the organizational change management that IT involves their effects and aptitude in a business and technological project.
  • Learn and master the tools and strategic business techniques that allow you to design, generate and display a business strategy based on IT.
  • Learn and master techniques and tools on people management for strategic business and ICT management.

Career Opportunities

Some of the career opportunities of the Master’s Degree in Strategic Management in Information Technology are:

  • Manager of a department, area, function, etc., of systems or new technologies
  • Director of technological business projects
  • Director of business projects based on technologies.
  • External advisor or business consultant in strategies for change based on new ICT.

Study Plan

The Master's degree in Strategic Management in Information Technology is made up of 4 parts:

  • 1st PART: BUSINESS STARTEGY (150 hours)

The first part allows us to understand how an organization prepares a strategy for change and how it plans its organizational deployment.

The corresponding subjects and hours that make up this part are shown in the following table:

1st Part: BUSINESS STARTEGY
# SUBJECTS HOURS
1 Strategic Planning and Management 40
2 Reengineering, Strategy and Management of Systems and Information Technologies 40
3 Strategic Management of Human Resources 30
4 Information and Change Society 40
TOTAL 150
  • 2nd PART: PEOPLE MANAGEMENT (100 hours)

The second part allows us to understand and generate strategies of organizational change by means of people and work groups.

The corresponding subjects and hours that make up this part are shown in the following table:

2nd Part: PEOPLE MANAGEMENT
# SUBJECTS HOURS
1 Organizational Management and Leadership Techniques 30
2 Work Team Management Techniques 30
3 Virtual Collaborative Working Environments 20
4 Distance management 20
TOTAL 100
  • 3rd PART: BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY (350 hours)

The third part introduces the tools that turn a traditional organization into an organization on the internet based on the new technologies (ICT). This achieves an overall vision of businesses when IT is involved and is considered a strategic resource.

The corresponding subjects and hours that make up this part are shown in the following table:

3rd Part: BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY
# SUBJECTS HOURS
1 Electronic Trade and Marketing 60
2 Electronic Security and Legislation 60
3 Business Intelligence and Document Management 60
4 Integration of Business Management Systems 50
5 Innovation, Culture and Work Management in the Communication Society 30
6 Organizational Learning and Knowledge Management 30
7 ICT Project Management 60
TOTAL 350
  • 4th PART: SCIENTIFIC REASEARCH METHODOLOGY AND FINAL MASTER’S PROJECT (200 hours)

The fourth part allows the training of a postgraduate researcher in theoretical or applied fields solving academic and/or professional problems.

4th Part: SCIENTIFIC REASEARCH METHODOLOGY AND FINAL MASTER’S PROJECT
# SUBJECTS HOURS
1 SCIENTIFIC REASEARCH METHODOLOGY AND FINAL MASTER’S PROJECT 200

Note: The contents of the academic program may be subject to slight modifications, depending on the updates or the improvements made.

Management

Academic Administration

  • Dr. Arturo Ortega-Mansilla. Doctor of Electrical Engineering, by the University of Barcelona. Telecommunications Engineer by the Ramon Llull University, Spain. Coordinator of the IDi Area - Area Projects, FUNIBER.
  • Dr. Jon Arambarri Basañez. Doctor in Engineering and Technology from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia UPC - University of Cordoba. MBA from the Institute of Applied Economics of UPV-EHU. Senior Telecommunications Engineer from the School of Engineering of Bilbao. Professor accredited by the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA). Is currently a project manager at https://www.estia.fr/ aimed at creating new products to meet the strategic needs of Aquitaine (France) - Euskadi in eHealth, Industry4.0 and Energy Technologies. Combines his professional work with tasks as an independent consultant and teacher. Has more than 20 years of experience in technology business development and innovation management in the international public-private sector.  His research interests combine telecommunication infrastructures (Telecommunication Networks, Multimedia and Internet of Things - IoT) together with the digital transformation (Artificial Intelligence and predictive systems, Cyber-Security) of the business fabric, mainly in the areas of eHealth, Industry4.0 and Energy. Author of numerous scientific publications and an active lecturer on innovative business management.
  • Ms. Angélica Agudelo Reina. Master and Postgraduate degrees in SAP SD and MM (Materials Management - Sales and Distribution). Extensive experience in ERP functional consulting in different sectors of the industry, and analysis of industrial operations. Academic Coordinator of the Master Program in the Strategic Management of Software Engineering and their specializations.

Teaching staff and Authors

  • Dra. Isabel De La Torre Díez. Doctorate in Telecommunication from the Valladolid University. Professor in the Valladolid University on topics linked to telematics services, databases and business intelligence. Postdoctoral Research in Biomedical Informatics.
  • Dr. Fernando Izquierdo Álvarez. . Masters in Telecommunication Engineering and HR and Business Management - MBA IESE. Master in Advanced Networking and Internet Services from the Madrid Polytechnic University. Vast experience in new ICT technologies companies. International consultant.
  • Dra. Marina Aguado. Doctorate in Telecommunication from the Basque State University. MSc. in Management of Manufacturing Systems from the Cranfield University, England. Experience in I D i Projects. Professor in the Basque State University.Experiencia en Proyectos I D i. Profesora de la Universidad del País Vasco.
  • Dr. David Barrera Gómez. Doctorate in Engineering from the Catalonia Polytechnic University and an MBA from the Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering, UPC. Business, technology and business solutions consultant. Professor in the Iberoamerican International University.
  • DraIzel Marez. Doctorate in Project Engineering: Environment, Safety, Quality and Communication from the Catalonia Polytechnic University. Professor in the Iberoamerican International Universidad.
  •  Dr. Santos Gracia Villar. Doctorate in Industrial Engineering from the Catalonia Polytechnic University. Expert in Cooperation and management Projects.
  • Dra. Beatriz Sainz De Abajo. Doctorate from the Cordoba University. Professor in the Department of Signal and Communications Theory and Telematics Engineering, in the Valladolid University.
  • Dr. Roberto M. Álvarez. Doctorate in Project Engineering, from the Catalonia Polytechnic University, Spain. Master in Project and Design Management from the Milan Polytechnic, Italy, Professor in the Buenos Aires University, Argentina. Professor in the Iberoamerican International University.
  • Dr. Eduardo García Villena. Doctorate in Project Engineering: Environment, Safety, Quality and Communication from the Catalonia Polytechnic University. Academic Director of the Environmental Area in the Iberoamerican University Foundation.
  • Dr. Jon Arambarri Basañez. Doctor in Engineering and Technology from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia UPC - University of Cordoba. MBA from the Institute of Applied Economics of UPV-EHU. Senior Telecommunications Engineer from the School of Engineering of Bilbao. Professor accredited by the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA). Is currently a project manager at https://www.estia.fr/ aimed at creating new products to meet the strategic needs of Aquitaine (France) - Euskadi in eHealth, Industry4.0 and Energy Technologies. Combines his professional work with tasks as an independent consultant and teacher. Has more than 20 years of experience in technology business development and innovation management in the international public-private sector.  His research interests combine telecommunication infrastructures (Telecommunication Networks, Multimedia and Internet of Things - IoT) together with the digital transformation (Artificial Intelligence and predictive systems, Cyber-Security) of the business fabric, mainly in the areas of eHealth, Industry4.0 and Energy. Author of numerous scientific publications and an active lecturer on innovative business management.
  • Dr. (c) Diego J. Kurtz. Doctorate in Engineering and Knowledge Management from the PPGEGC – UFSC (in process). Master in International Business - Wiesbaden Business School, Germany. Researcher in the Core Management for Sustainability (www.ngs.ufsc.br) and Junior Researcher of the Dynamic SME Project (www.dynamic-sme.org). Program Coordinator and Professor in the Iberoamerican University Foundation.
  •  Dr. (c) Saúl Domingo Soriano. Doctoral candidate at the University of Leon. Master in Business Management from the Barcelona Catalonia Institute of Technology. Master in e-Business Consulting and Information Technology from the Las Palmas University in Grand Canaria, Spain. Director of Master and Specializations Final Project, Iberoamerican University Foundation.
  • Dra. (c) Gabriela Larrea Madinyá. Doctorate in Projects, from the Iberoamerican International University (in process). Masters in Strategic Management from the Catalonia Polytechnic University. Expert in communication and marketing strategies applying new technologies.
  •  Ms. Pedro Chávez Chiclayo. Computer Systems Engineer from the Trujillo Antenor Orrego University (Peru). Master in Computer Science from the Campinas State University in Sao Paulo (Brazil).
  •  Ms. Virginia Saman. Engineer in Computer Management from the St. Mary University Campus Guayaquil Chile. Master in Logistics (France).

FUNIBER Training Scholarships

The Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) allocates periodically an extraordinary economic item for FUNIBER Training Scholarships.

To apply, please fill out the information request form that appears in the web of FUNIBER or contact directly the Foundation’s headquarters in your country that will inform you if you need to provide some additional information.

Once the documentation is received, the Evaluation Committee will determine your application's eligibility for the FUNIBER Training Scholarship.