About the Program
Program Highlights
New for the Class of 2008 is a 360° Leadership Profile, which solicits input from you, your peers, your supervisors, and your direct reports. This information is combined to determine your Leadership Profile, and assist you in identifying areas in which you wish to grow. Included with the Profile is individual coaching sessions to assist you in meeting your leadership growth goals.
The Quest for IT-Business Alignment
CIO Habitat (CIO Decisions, July 2006)Alignment (generally speaking) is the process of adjusting all the moving parts so they are properly positioned and in harmonious synchronization.
Alignment means that IT is trusted to provide guidance when changes to the business are anticipated.
The next stage in the evolution of IT is stepping up as an equal and saying, "This is what we need to do."
This intersection of business and IT is exactly where VCU's Executive MS in IS program is designed to fit.
The FTEMS - IT Management program is a specialization within VCU's Master of Science in Information Systems degree. Enrollment in this program has increased by 50% in just the first three year. The inaugural class graduated on May 19, 2007; the Class of 2008 graduated on May 17, 2008; and the Class of 2009 is well underway!
The rationale for this program is simple: A shortage of qualified Chief Information Officers is predicted in the next few years. Some estimates are the supply is less than half of the number needed. Growing demand is not being offset by an increasing supply of talented, well-prepared executives.
Many of the forces driving IT today – outsourcing, automation, cross-department teams, globalization – have dispersed decision making and created opportunities because the CIO can’t manage all of this alone. In a world where IT is central to strategy, today's – and tomorrow's – CIO needs substantial business acumen, relationship abilities, and leadership skills. And because IT touches every aspect of an organization, "a top-notch CIO needs to know more details about how each part of the company operates than his counterparts have to know about I.T.", says John Stevenson, CIO of Sharp Electronics and former president of the Society for Information Management.
The Executive format offers students an unparalleled opportunity to network with their peers as well as with area professionals involved in the delivery of the program. Students go through the entire program together and share their experiences as a group.
A unique feature and highlight to VCU's program is the extensive industry involvement. This program has been developed in direct collaboration with local industry leaders, and incorporates practical as well as theoretical aspects of managing the IS function. The Class of 2007 featured guest presentations from more than 50 CIOs and industry leaders as well as guest faculty from outside VCU’s Department of Information Systems. According to Wayne Puglisi, Director of Information Technology at C F Sauer Co., “Students get a comprehensive perspective for the alternative approaches to managing the complex IT challenges that face them in today’s changing business environment.”
The program includes a 360° Leadership Assessment as well as individual and group coaching to help students identify and meet personal leadership goals. Additionally, students are assigned a corporate mentor, with whom they meet regularly to discuss the program and their leadership goals.
The program culminates with an international trip, also included with your tuition. The Class of 2007 visited Ireland, where they met with universities and businesses to learn more about the role ICT (internet-based Information Communications and Technology) played in the transformation of the Irish economy. The Class of 2008 will be visiting Denmark in April 2008. See more about the Class of 2007's trip to Ireland.