What is an IT Manager?

Information technology managers, or computer and information systems managers, help organizations navigate the labyrinth of modern technology. These important employees have the responsibility of delivering short- and long-term visions for a company's technology needs and goals. Even though most IT managers have the technical chops to execute the various jobs of the workers they supervise, they are more likely to be spotted in a meeting room than a server room.

Typical duties of an IT manager include coordinating with top executives, planning upgrades of existing software or hardware and negotiating with vendors for the service of current products or the purchase of new ones.

IT managers also oversee the installation and maintenance of an organization's computer information systems, protecting the office network from hackers and malware.

When the job is done well, many employees don't even notice the work involved. If you haven't had an email interruption or server meltdown in the past few months, you probably have an IT manager to thank.

While the highest-profile jobs are in computer systems design, almost all organizations need IT managers, especially financial and insurance companies, manufacturing firms and the government. The growing health care industry is also expected to increase its information technology use, resulting in newly created positions. The chief growth drivers will be organizations upgrading their information technology systems to newer, faster networks and striving to avoid emerging cyberthreats. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 15.4% employment growth for it managers between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 86,000 jobs should open up...Read full article