What is Business Information Technology?
Business information technology helps organizations solve problems and enhance processes to improve efficiency, serve customers and achieve business goals. Sometimes referred to as business IT or BIT, business information technology specialists need to know how to manage existing systems while also recommending and implementing innovative technologies to help businesses stay competitive. They also need to understand the human and capital needs of businesses to ensure that employees are effectively managed, budgets are met and projects are completed to ensure return on investment.
Whether you’re a current or aspiring IT professional or on the management track, the interdisciplinary nature of Drexel's MS in Business Information Technology program combines both problem-solving and analytical skills. These skills are crucial in successfully applying technology to business problem-solving.
Areas of Business Information Technology
Because every business has different challenges, there are many different applications of business information technology. Adding one or more of these skills can help you to drive innovation at your business and advance your career:
- Information Technology and Management – As businesses develop a technology platform, skilled management is needed to maintain and protect existing infrastructure while ensuring that the right technology drives both short-term and long-term growth. Explore Drexel's Certificate in Information Technology Management
- Organizational Security – While encompassing cybersecurity aspects, organizational security uses information technology and business management to keep business systems and networks safe from internal and external threats and ensure that data is used responsibly. Explore Drexel's Certificate in Organizational Security
- Information Technology Strategy and Execution – When a business grows it often needs to grow its technological capabilities. Information technology strategy and execution helps businesses create the plans needed to develop an information technology infrastructure that is sustainable and scalable to meet future needs while providing maximum return on investment. Explore Drexel's Certificate in Information Technology Strategy and Execution
- Information System Development – A business may need a new information system such as a customer engagement platform or a logistics management system. Expertise and experience are needed to manage the development and implementation process for these systems to ensure they achieve desired goals, work with existing infrastructure, and come in on time and on budget. Explore Drexel's Certificate in Information System Development
- Digital Transformation – When a business needs to expand, it may need to transform how it uses technology. For example, a legacy business may find it advantageous to move data from physical servers to the cloud or automate aspects of their business, such as customer service. Understanding digital transformation specialists manage these changes to ensure a seamless transition. Explore Drexel's Certificate in Digital Transformation
What Do You Learn in Business Information Technology?
When you study business information technology at Drexel, you can expect to learn about how to develop and manage information systems as well as software engineering and development, data science, and human-computer interaction. You may also want to specialize depending on your career path. For example, a student interested in working in health care may want to study topics like health informatics.
Beyond computer science, a degree in business information technology should also include learning how to be an effective manager. You may take business courses on management principles, project management, budgeting and accounting, human resource management and communications.
Business Information Technology Industry Trends and Career Opportunities
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that information systems managers can expect to earn almost $150,000 per year with a job growth outlook that is much faster than average.
As businesses turn to new technologies like data science and artificial intelligence and machine learning to stay competitive, they will need experienced business information technology experts who can help them create and manage the digital infrastructure to implement these solutions. Also, as cybersecurity challenges grow more widespread, businesses will need to know that their systems, data and customer information are protected.
Additional Information
For more information on the MS in Business Information Technology program, please contact the College of Computing & Informatics’ graduate recruitment team at cciinfo@drexel.edu, or Noor Jemy, LeBow College of Business’ assistant director of graduate student services – advising, naj42@drexel.edu.