Business intelligence managers oversee the methodology, metrics, processes, and technologies that help businesses manage performance. Their work enables organizations to concentrate on moving forward rather than constantly analyzing current achievements and requires a strong understanding of modern technologies as they apply to a business environment.

Responsibilities

Business intelligence managers do a substantial amount of project management, working with a wide range of organizational team members all the way up to senior leadership. They are responsible of staying current on emerging technologies, evaluating business platforms, and interfacing with the technical department, as well as regularly using analytical and reporting tools. Business intelligence managers should have well-developed interpersonal skills for dealing with many different types of colleagues, as well as the ability to multitask in a productive manner.

Educational Requirements

An undergraduate degree in business is important for those wanting to enter the field of business intelligence. Many business intelligence managers also have an advanced degree in the field, such as a Master of Business Administration. It is particularly helpful to have a related focus such as information technology.

Areas of Specialization

There are three areas of specialization for business intelligence managers:

• Business focus, which is suited to professionals with knowledge of business function or process such as supply chains or finance. It is also valuable to have industry-specific knowledge to help craft strategy. Analyst positions fall into this category.
• Technical focus, which offers a range of opportunities for the more technology-oriented business intelligence managers. This focus involves intensive work with data integration and a range of software applications. Architects and software specialists fall into this category.
• Business-Technical focus, a blended approach that melds industry-specific understanding with technical savvy. This category includes project managers and data modelers.

Career Opportunities

Below is a list of possible career options for qualified business intelligence managers. This is not a complete list and serves only as a guide to potential career paths.

IT Architect
Business Analyst
Data Modeler
IT Project Manger
Software Specialist
Technical Architect

Salary Ranges

According to Vault.com, a typical base salary for a business intelligence manager is $95,000, with annual bonuses up to 15 percent. Regular pay raises are very strongly linked to performance.

Professional Organizations

Since networking is a huge part of the competitive business world, professional organizations offer a tremendous resource. Here are a few organizations for business professionals:

IABC – International Association of Business Communications
www.iabc.com

ABWA – American Business Women’s Association
www.abwa.org

NADCO – National Association of Development Companies
www.nadco.org

The Alliance of Women’s Business and Professional Organizations
www.womensalliance.org

The growing field of technology has created an increasing need for both the most productive computer systems, and trained professionals to service and protect the information stored on office computer terminals. An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in the IT field, along with continuing education and training are required to work within this field, and have continued success during a information technology manager’s career. The employment possibilities for IT Managers are numerous due to the fact all facets of the business world utilize computers in the workforce. IT professionals often find work within the healthcare, finance, legal, and government sectors.

Responsibilities

An Information Technology Security Manager offers consultation services surrounding a myriad of computer problems and requirements for a business or governmental entity. Documentation of security procedures and guidelines, which are established by the Information Security Council for the protection of important information and trade secrets, is also a major facet in this field. An IT professional also trains staff members in computer functions and software programming. The performance of security risk evaluations, maintaining virus, security software, and system upgrades are integral aspects associated with this profession.

Educational Requirements

Nearly all colleges offer information technology manager degrees. Types of available degrees range from a two year Associate Degree, a four year Bachelor’s Degree, and a Masters Degree in IT Security for students who have already earned a Bachelor’s Degree, and have the required number of hours in the field to gain admission to the an enhanced degree program. Courses commonly required for this career path include: network technology, project management, information assurance and security, network administration, software engineering, computer programming, Disaster Recovery Act analysis, and systems engineering.

Areas of Specialization

Three specialty areas currently exist for Information Security Mangers.

• Customer Management – Designing and implementing software programs to track and summarize customer purchasing patterns, sales information, and marketing strategy response.
• Management of Information Technology – Develop and maintain computer and server functions associated with the collection of data and payroll information.
• Supply Management – Designing and securing business trade secret and financial programs. IT Managers in this specialty area also organize supply-tracking software; develop websites, purchase software development and system and terminal logistics maintenance.

Career Opportunities

A host of job titles and career paths are open to trained technology and information security managers. Listed below is a sampling of the employment opportunities available to IT Managers. Many specific job titles fall within the three overall divisions in the technology field.
Project Manager
Intrusion Prevention Systems Manager
IT Manager
Security Manager
Network Manager
Health Information Manager
Computer Programmer
Interactive Multimedia Specialist
Computer Electronics Administrator
Video Gaming Designer
Interactive Computer Programmer

Salary Ranges

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Information Security Managers median income is $76,187 per year. The 2008 posted salary ranges show common salaries ranging from $87,000 to $125,000 with some corporate employers offering performance bonuses.

Professional Organizations

Information Systems Security Association
www.issa.org

Information Security Organization
www.iso.org

International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium
www.isc2.org

Information Technology Association of America
www.itaa.org

IT project management is in demand, fueled by organizations struggling to keep their technology infrastructures current in order to compete in an expanding global marketplace. Generally IT project managers are responsible for managing large projects involving things such as software development, network issues, product and/or software installations, and Internet/web development and interface. The most unique characteristic of this career, and the aspect that draws many people to it, is its need to blend business and technology within a framework that meets budget, time frame, staff and materials while producing quality deliverables.

Responsibilities

Simply put, if you select IT project management as your career choice, you will be busy. The responsibilities can be daunting, bridging almost every area of an organization. You will be challenged with handling both business and technology issues, separately as well as where they overlap.

Here are some of the specific responsibilities of an IT project manager:

• Understand the organization’s business needs: costs and budget, personnel requirements, and internal workings
• Keep up with the available technology products and trends in the industry
• Develop structured processes to achieve the goals or end-products of the project
• Prepare project plans and schedules using project management software
• Manage teams of people that are often geographically scattered and may not work directly for you
• Manage cross-functional teams
• Ensure communication among team members by conducting virtual or face-to-face meetings
• Establish technology tools for collecting information and reporting on status
• Prepare and deliver presentations for upper management
• Perform other duties as necessary

Educational Requirements

Most often, an IT project manager is a proven entity selected from the existing ranks of the organization. In addition, an IT project management candidate can come from either a technology or business background, depending on the individual’s skills and performance. But on top of their organizational experience, project managers usually have a four-year college degree, most often technology related. Some possibilities include:

• Bachelor of science in computer networking
• Bachelor of science in computer engineering
• Bachelor of science in computer science
• Bachelor of science in information technology
• Bachelor of science in software engineering

Also, a masters degree in business administration in conjunction with a technology-based undergraduate degree is an even stronger preparation for this career.

Additionally, project management certification is also a very strong credential. You can get certification through the Project Management Institute (www.pmi.org).

Areas of Specialization

When talking about specializing, there are two considerations. First is what kind of business or industry you want to work in, and second is what sort of projects you prefer to manage.

Business or industry:

• Aerospace
• Automation
• Construction
• Education and training
• Financial services
• Manufacturing
• Information technology
• Risk management

Types of projects:

• Software development
• Infrastructure design and implementation
• Computer-based training programs
• New product development
• E-commerce and website development

Career Opportunities

IT project managers often make this their career goal, moving onto to bigger and more responsible projects as they prove themselves. However, there are some additional options which include:

Manager or Director of Project Managers
Chief Information Officer
Technical Sales Representative
Business Manager
Trainer/Educator

Salary Ranges

The complexity of skills and job requirements for IT project managers is reflected in the median pay rates for the job. An IT project manager averages $81,707 per year and a software development project manager averages $82,564 per year (http://www.payscale.com).

Professional Organizations

You can find more information about a career in IT project management by contacting any of the following professional organizations:

American Management Association
www.amanet.org

Project Management Association
www.pmi.org

Association of Information Technology Professionals
www.aitp.org

International Association of Career Management Professionals
www.iacmp.org

A database administrator is responsible for the functionality, security and overall performance of a database. The database administrator makes sure that data included is presented in a usable and manageable form that users can readily access without violating the integrity of the data. Other aspects of database administration include but are not limited to troubleshooting, planning to meet future needs and development of resources. The exact work performed by a database administrator varies depending on the type of industry. Database administrators are increasingly becoming known by the type of database they are working with. For instance, the day-to-day work of a database administrator working in a hospital setting managing patient records is very different compared to the type of software and systems a database administrator employed in a auto factory is using.

Database administrators frequently offer and will conduct computer security training within their workplace. This training is aimed at teaching users how to appropriately utilize the specific database and how to avoid any security pitfalls.

Responsibilities

Database administrators are responsible for determining the conceptual design of a database to meet the needs of the users inputting the data. Once data is entered, it is the job of the database administrator to monitor the storage of that data and maintaining its standards according to requirements specified by employers and in the federal Data Protection Act. It is the job of the database administrator to establish what level of access various users need and then to configure the system and its accompanying passwords to accommodate those specific needs. The database administrator is also responsible for performing routine system backup and planning for the protection of data should the system fail. Database administrators regularly update databases with a variety of security software programs to combat the latest in computer viruses, worms and Trojans that can render a computer system useless. Each database administration position has its own specific responsibilities and requirements. There can be a great deal of variance between jobs and job seekers are wise to clarify any job description before accepting employment.

Educational Requirements

In general, a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology is the basic requirement for employment as a database administrator. Beyond that, most employers require one to three years of technical experience in entry level information technology positions such as a computer technician. Training to become a database administrator can occur at a traditional university or college, a technical school, or via online coursework.

Database administrators are trained in several specific computer-based programs and must pass various industry-specific professional examinations to show certification in these programs. Some of these include but are not limited to Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco, Unix, Informix, and SQL. Microsoft alone offers hundreds of exams that once passed offer a database administrator certification in a specialized computer-based program. The others listed above also offer a track of professional certifications. Most offer a self-study or instructor-led preparation class. Many employers will reimburse employees for the testing fees upon passing the exam. Because different types of industry utilize a variety of computer-based programs, database administrators must be flexible and willing to train in a myriad of programs.

Areas of Specialization

Database administrators can specialize in different industries. Many industries have specific software programs with certification training and testing programs that database administrators can opt into to increase their knowledge and employment possibilities. These areas of specialization are only limited by the different types of industries actively working in the economy. For instance, one of the newest and most promising areas for database administrator to specialize in is that of social networking. Managing Facebook, MySpace and Twitter accounts is a growing opportunity for those with database administration skills.

Below are the specific day-to-day roles that many database administrators fulfill:

• Software installation: install new versions of software, application software, and other software related to database administration. A database administrator tests new software before installation.
• Hardware and software configuration: works closely with the system administrator to ensure that all software installations and hardware and software configurations function efficiently together as a whole in the entire database.
• Security administration: One of the most important tasks performed is that of monitoring the security of the computer network. This includes adding and removing users, auditing system activities, monitoring the online activities of users, maintaining firewall boundaries to control traffic in and out of the database, and routine security troubleshooting.
• Analysis of data: frequently analyzes the data that is stored and used in the system to make recommendations for improved performance.
• Modeling and optimization of data: The database administrator uses different data models in an effort to discover which models make best use of the system layout. This also gives the database administrator the ability to customize the database to his or her preference for professional purposes.
• Design of database: In most cases, serves on a team of designers when new databases are established. This is because the database administrator can easily forecast potential problems during the design phase.

Career Opportunities

There are many career opportunities for qualified database administrators. Wherever there are computers, it is a safe bet to assume a database administrator is needed. The list below is just a partial sampling of the types of industries where database administrators find readily available employment.

Hospital records administration
Banking
Engineering firms
Public schools record management
Television stations
Newspapers or other print media
Casinos
Oil and natural gas exploration companies
Construction and project management firms
Military support companies
Automation control
Utilities

Salary Ranges

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), median annual earnings of database administrators were $72,900 in May 2008, with the middle 50 percent earning between $52,340 and $91,805. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,900 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $111,950. There were approximately 115,770 people employed in the United States as database administrators. This represents an increase of 1.2 percent over the previous reporting period. According to the BLS statistics, database administrators in the rail industry earned the highest salary with those working in the educational sector earning the lowest salary.

Professional Organizations

There are many professional organizations related to the field of database management. These organizations can be a powerful resource and provide a wide range of useful information for those just beginning their careers or for professionals with many years of experience and industry knowledge.

AITP – Association of Information Technology Professionals
www.aitp.org

SOCITM – Society of Information Technology Management
www.socitm.gov.uk

USINEX – Usinex Assocation
www.usinex.org

DAMA – Data Management International
www.dama.org

OMG – Object Management Group
www.omg.org