F36 MSc Technology Management
180 Credits
Overview
Technology has the capability to transform products and processes and, if managed effectively, can make a significant contribution to organisational performance, economic growth and social well-being. This MSc will provide you with the knowledge and skills critical to making the right decisions about technology strategy, innovation and management to really make a difference to your organisation and your own professional development. It is applicable to a wide range of sectors, including IT, manufacturing, healthcare, defence, financial services, local and national government services – and throughout your studies you’ll be encouraged to apply your learning to your own particular technology context. You’ll begin by focusing on the operational aspects of managing technological innovation and change, before moving to explore a range of capabilities that are key to the strategic development and management of technological innovation. Your studies will conclude with an in-depth investigation of a technology management topic or problem of your choice.
My Study Pathway
T848
Managing Technological Innovation
The history of technological innovation has been nothing short of remarkable, affecting our lives, the effectiveness of organisations, the profitability of industries, the well-being of societies and the prosperity of nations. Understanding the processes that underpin technological innovation is therefore crucial, whether you are a user or producer of technological innovation. And if you are involved in managing innovation processes, an understanding of the overall process of innovation and its variations is a core professional competence. This module examines innovation from a management perspective, enabling you to improve how you contribute to the process and management of technological innovation.
T849
Strategic capabilities for technological innovation
The need for ongoing technological innovation has become a strategic necessity for many organisations. Even in traditionally stable sectors the option of maintaining the status quo is seldom viable. This creates challenges for how organisations acquire and manage the resources and capabilities necessary for effective approaches to innovation and create and maintain contexts that support strategic action. This online module draws on material from the resource-based view of organisations and strategic and innovation management more generally to produce a multi-layered, practical, approach to the development and management of technological innovation. It is suitable for anyone interested in developing or improving their skills and expertise in this area.
Certificate awarded
TU812
Managing systemic change: inquiry, Action and interaction
This module views change as inescapable in managing everyday situations ranging from personal to workplace to society in general. Rather than passively accepting change this module will equip you with skills to shape the nature and direction of change. It will develop your abilities to manage change with others so as to avoid systemic failures and improve joined-up actions amongst stakeholders along supply chains, in projects or, even, social activism. It is about learning to use systems thinking and practice to help you engage with change and act accordingly to recognise the interconnected nature of organisations and environments.
TU811
Thinking strategically: systems tools for managing change
This module is about managing complex situations. Managing is ultimately about taking action in complex interconnected situations, where others involved may have contrasting understandings, motivations and interests, and where conflicts inevitably arise. You will develop your understanding of complex situations using robust tools from the traditions of systems practice to think strategically about change and uncertainty. The situations that you choose to work with in the module to develop your practice with systems tools can either derive from your existing, or aspiring, professional capacity or simply be of general interest to you.
Diploma awarded
T802
The Research project
This research module builds on your existing postgraduate diploma to enable you to complete your MSc. You’ll design a research proposal by identifying and developing a research problem relevant to your MSc. Your research will involve a literature review, original data collection, data analysis and the drawing of conclusions. You will then communicate the outcome of your research by writing up and submitting your dissertation. Support is available to you at every stage from the study materials, your supervisor and online forums. Early registration is recommended as you will need to complete preparatory work before the module starts.
Masters Technology Management awarded
Career relevance
There is an increasing demand across public, private and not-for-profit sectors for people with the vision and the operational and strategic capability to plan, develop and manage technology and technological innovation effectively. This qualification is designed to develop managers who can make complex decisions associated with identification and evaluation of technologies, developing new or improved products and processes and integrating technology with other business processes, and to manage change required by technological innovation and implementation. It will help you develop the analytical skills and practically relevant knowledge that will equip you to succeed in a variety of management and leadership roles. The competent technology manager is a highly valued professional, capable of ensuring that the organisation reaps all the potential rewards from its investment in technology of whatever type. You will develop a range of job-related and transferable skills such as critical thinking, creative problem solving, and the ability to cope with rapid technological change.
The capabilities in research and problem-solving developed can be exploited in all professional situations at all management levels. Employers are also impressed by the commitment and determination it takes to succeed with the OU while keeping up family and work commitments. These benefits, together with the opportunities to add value by applying your learning to the workplace as you study, make technology management programmes very attractive vehicles towards success in senior management roles. Open University (2017)
References
F36 – MSc in technology management – open university (2017) Available at: http://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f36#careers (Accessed: 15 January 2017).
ALBERT WILLIAMS Reporting 