So I have decided to go back for a third Masters degree. Since my company pays for it, I am thinking why not? The degree is 100% online and is called “Master of Science in Interactive Communications and Media” (ICM for short). I am currently progressing steadily in my career as a business intelligence manager, however adding to one’s repertoire can never hurt. What’s interesting about this new degree are some of the courses that have to be taken including:
- Intro to the Study of Interactive Communications
- Visual Aesthetics
- Media Imaging and Sound Design
- Game Development and Game Theory
- Writing for Interactive Media
- Interactive Development
- Information Animation
- Media Law
I guess what I am getting at is questioning whether or not I am supplementing a business intelligence career with this type of academics, or taking a new fork in the road. I realize that with these skills, that my career could potentially take a left turn someday. But can you think of any ways that these types of courses can be applied to current and specific business intelligence ideas and theories?
To view more about this program, please view the link below:
http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x4016.xml
Posts
Hi Matt,
ReplyDeleteCame here through LinkedIn. Personally speaking, there is nothing wrong in getting a new skill set.
However, I do see some linkages with the content of the course to business intelligence. Areas such as Visual Aesthetics, interactive development and communications come in very handy in terms of developing and designing aesthetically pleasing dashboards and reports (perhaps you'll learn MX flash as part of your course and I've seen some amazingly successful flash based BI dashboards in action!).
cheers
Ridhish
http://www.linkedin.com/in/ridhish
Your degree appears to be geared toward creating content. Your BI career is related to the analysis of data. While two things can always be connected somehow, in this case one has to search for what the connection could be. Who needs a whole Master's degree to come up creative dashboards?
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I went thru' your ICM courses module , It's good that you believe to make an attempt to rise consensus for any applied professional education's conventional view .
As you are aware of Business Intelligence has to do with Predicting Trends , Forecasting & integrating data from a multitude of arenas including industry trends, customer preferences, supply chain issues, currency fluctuations, and market demand.
Viewing your most of the ICM papers as mentioned below , I do not see a divesting & disinvestment business in near future for these industries other than change in it's innovative application process & above all I agree with your fusion proposition .
# Visual Aesthetics
# Media Imaging and Sound Design
# Game Development and Game Theory
# Writing for Interactive Media
# Interactive Development
# Information Animation
So you can be sure that your career potentially will not take any turns until you can ensure the right diversified or non diversified career , the right starting profile , after successful completion of this course .
Cheers
Joy
Posted by Joy Chak
LinkedIn Groups
ReplyDelete* Group: CIO Forum
Matthew, diversity is a benefit to you and I think you have done the correct thing. I received a BSc in IT Management and I am have almost completed my MBA in International Business. The job market has become very competitive and you may have heard of people doing silly things to stand out from the crowd, but today employers seek a quality of personnel.
Think of your career-path as being a disc-jockey trying to segway into another song. That is exactly what you are doing with this Masters degree, The contrast of the fields aren't as important as the transition used to make them merge.
I have used the cultural and business operations aspects of my MBA to bridge the BSc so that emplouers see that I have the skills in IT and those skillsets can be applied in a diverse business environment without limitations on culture or country. Also, you may also consider the benefit to the organization that you will not have to be retrained for other positions if required. Your flexibility in this sense is a definite asset. Good Luck!
Posted by James Adams
LinkedIn Groups
ReplyDelete* Group: Business Architecture Community
Matthew,
It does look like another path you could take. I would do it if only I want to get to this field. Otherwise, it is a bit distracting to the main path.
However, if your company is paying for it, there must be a reason for it.
Gail
Posted by Gail Zhou, MBA, PhD
LinkedIn Groups
ReplyDelete* Group: Recruiting Professionals Network
I believe that your new path can be merged with Business Intelligence. Every area incorporates use of communications and media. As our world changes it is more important than ever that we know how to utilize communications in making our point, teaching others, and demonstrating strengths and flaws of a product. Information is so important and how best to disseminate it. I think you will go far by fusing your new knowledge.
In the future, you may come to a fork in the road but all fields have forks. You are simply obtaining the tools necessary to explore that new fork.
Good luck to you.
Posted by Celia Dorr
Hello Matt,
ReplyDeleteMy career has rather been the reverse - I started with the communications, diversified into Business Analysis in 2001 and only arrived at Business Intelligence within the last year. And I've enjoyed it so much I'm now looking for opportunities to pursue it in detail.
I would suggest that everything is joined up. BI has little value unless what it reveals can be communicated in ways that fully engage the intended audience. Analysis helps, but as I get older I see new communications paradigms emerging that constantly challenge my thinking.
So, if you are comfortable with setting aside the BI element for a while and immersing yourself in the course, you may well find exciting new ways to communicate your BI insights to new, young audiences whose primary communications metaphors are based on 3D interactive gaming. So, how might you use that to present a 3D virtual reality browse through a data mart ..?
Best regards,
Geoff Palmer
LinkedIn Groups
ReplyDelete* Group: Business Process Development
Matt, this sounds like great fun and potential for fascinating opportunities. I have mixed an operations career in heavy industry and technology companies with an MS in applied psychology and an MBA. I now offer a process improvement approach for high performance team building, and am having the time of my life! I believe you will find a way to combine your interests in ways that may not yet be obvious.
Posted by Cate Lawrence
LinkedIn Groups
ReplyDelete* Group: CIO Forum
Thanks Matthew. As another BI guy doing MBA, I'm finding this thread very interesting!
It's only a bit different here, I always find myself trying to apply a BI approach to most things I see!
Perhaps that's why I think that ICM master course can only do good to yourself. Whether or not you're taking a new fork because of it, only you can tell :)
Good luck!
Tam
Posted by Tam Ta
"life is like a box of chocolates." -Forest gumpp's mom.
ReplyDeletegood luck in this new endeavor Matty...
M. Carasone