Drucker School, Center for Information Systems & Technology partner to launch IT-MBA program

Claremont Graduate University (CGU’s) Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management has partnered with the university’s Center for Information Systems and Technology (CISAT) to establish a new MBA program designed to prepare future executives and entrepreneurs to succeed in the digital age.

Beginning in fall of 2013, the Drucker School will offer an Information Technology (IT) concentration in its MBA program. The IT-MBA curriculum will combine the Drucker School’s business and management acumen with CISAT’s expertise in information systems and technology innovation to prepare well-rounded managers who excel at running businesses that depend on fast moving technology.

“We are excited about accelerating this partnership with CISAT for many reasons, one of the key ones being that at the heart of creative and successful industries is a solid grounding in what technologies can do for a company,” Drucker School Dean Bernie Jaworski said. “With this partnership, we can now fully deliver on this key business need and do so in a way that is very consistent with the Drucker School’s philosophy and approach.”

CISAT Director Tom Horan concurs, adding “The most successful technological companies rely on managers who have a keen grasp on how rapidly changing systems can be leveraged for competitive and sustainable advantage.”

The new IT-MBA builds on an already strong partnership between the Drucker School and CISAT. The school and center have previously collaborated on a joint MBA-Master of Science in Information Systems Technology (MSIST) degree, which grooms entrepreneurs to launch and manage businesses in the technology sector. Many Drucker MBA students have also gone on to pursue a PhD in Information Systems and Technology.

In the age of internet services, social media, mobile commerce, and  online marketing, a fundamental knowledge of technology is critical for future business leaders. Likewise, those who understand the technologies driving business must also master the delicate art of managing the modern knowledge worker.

The Drucker School has long been one of California’s top business programs. It is built upon the principle of management as a liberal art, and it produces graduates who have a strong sense of social responsibility and a deep desire to make a difference by doing well while also doing good. This program builds on Peter Drucker’s prescient views on the rise of the knowledge worker and the increasing role of information in guiding corporate and organizational success.

CISAT is a rapidly emerging leader in advanced technology training and research. The center houses five research labs, and recently has launched successful initiatives in health informatics, social technologies, and geographic information systems. It has collaborated with the White House on new data platforms to support technological entrepreneurship.  In addition to its joint programs with the Drucker School, it offers several masters and doctoral degree options.