IT development encompasses many technology areas.
Information technology (IT) development managers organize, develop and manage computer systems development within an organization. They usually work in a team environment and lead and direct the operations and achievements of an application development team. An IT development manager’s role can span from team member to technical team leader. The development manager ensures achievement of strategic information technology goals in a cost-efficient and timely manner.
Scope of Work
Because IT development spans everything from software engineering to eCommerce, to new media advertising and social networking, the responsibilities of IT managers vary by project, technology, industry and organization. In general, IT development managers coordinate the resources and processes to deliver technology-enabled products, programs and services. They work closely with organizational thought leaders, and help define the vision, definition and strategy for IT developments.
Technology Leadership
The responsibilities of IT development managers require strong interpersonal, communication and leadership skills. They coordinate the efforts of technical teams to create technical specifications. IT managers also provide realistic estimates for the completion of development work to management stakeholders. They may partner with IT project managers to manage the project timeline and ensure that development efforts remain on target. As development progresses, IT managers coordinate schedule releases, such as fixlets, enhancements and version upgrades, with system administrators, IT developers and IT support staff.
Technical Consulting
IT development managers are technologists with advanced knowledge of IT development planning. They guide their colleagues on software development life-cycle methodologies and help create development plans to address technical aspects and industry demands. Because development managers are often responsible for leading technology teams, they possess the necessary skills to resolve both technical and human resources issues. IT managers provide technical leadership and enable the delivery of technologically enabled solutions.
Education
The educational requirements of IT development managers vary widely by industry, employer and technology type. For software development jobs, most employers prefer applicants with at least a bachelor's degree and extensive knowledge of different computer systems and technologies. Common majors for IT development managers include software engineering, computer science, computer information systems and mathematics. Some employers prefer applicants with graduate degrees, particularly for senior-level management positions and jobs dealing with complex technology applications.
Earnings Potential
PayScale.com reported that the annual wages of software development managers ranged from $93,417 to $134,586 in July 2010. IBM Corp., Cisco Systems Inc. and Oracle Corp. are popular employers of IT development managers. Although these employers are all computer systems design companies, IT managers can also enjoy successful careers in other sectors of the economy, such as hospitality, retail and insurance. In general, development managers working in the computer hardware and software industry enjoy the highest earnings; their annual wages ranged from $101,649 to $120,296 in July 2010.
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