Question by access617: What is Business Technology?
I am currently working on getting my Master’s degree in Business Technology. At the time I figured Business Technology was or meant that I would be basically working on the technology part of Business. My passion is computers I Absolutely love computers so Im hoping that my definition of Business Technology is correct. My question is what exactly is Business Technology, what can I do with that type of degree, what type of jobs can I get with that degree and is Business Technology a degree that has promising salary benefits?

Best answer:

Answer by bEaR_MoUh
Business technology management (BTM) is a term for a group of services intended to help businesses that might not have their own information technology (IT) department. BTM can include technology planning, project management, support, database services, disaster recovery, network management, security, and document services such as e-billing, document formatting, and mass printing and mailing. A company that offers BTM services may offer consulting or the actual service itself.

Business Technology Management (BTM) is a management science which aims to unify business and technology business strategies with the aim of extracting the full potential value of business technology solutions.

Process: This dimension refers to the institution of a set of robust, flexible processes, broadly defined as:

Quality of Business Practice: Doing the right things

Efficiency: Doing the right things efficiently

Effectiveness: Doing the right things well

Organisation: This refers to the establishment of appropriate organisational structures – essentially, establishing a structure in which every member understands the scope and responsibilities of his or her role, and understands the structure of which they are a part.

Information: This emphasises the value that the effective, timely provision of information has in enabling effective decision making, and puts into place a structure of data and metrics to allow their best use.

Technology: Tying the other three dimensions together is the idea that technology plays a vital role in all processes. The appropriate use of technology can enable timely information sharing, improve co-ordination between members of an organisation and makes processes easier to execute.

BTM Capabilities

A capability is defined as a competency achieved as a result of combining each of the above dimensions and creating repeatable management processes. Business Technology Management defines 17 such capabilities, grouped into four functional areas.

Governance and Organisation: These capabilities ensure that business technology decisions are effectively identified and executed – essentially, developing an organisational structure that meets the needs of the business, gives consideration to regulation and manages risk appropriately.

Managing Technology Investments : These capabilities ensure that the enterprise understands its current IT capabilities, what is currently available and what it is working on for the future. They also ensure that executives select the best technology initiatives to advance the objectives of the business.

Strategy & Planning: These capabilities ensure that Information Officers make the most appropriate moves to synchronise technology and business, both reducing complexity and planning for future developments.

Strategic Enterprise Architecture: These capabilities ensure that appropriate information exists that can describe current and future business environments, and enable executives to make plans and implement strategies that will simplify the business technology environment within the enterprise.

BTM Maturity Model

All of these measures and capabilities are useless without a method by which to measure their effectiveness. With that in mind, the BTM maturity model defines five levels of maturity across each of the dimensions outlined above (process, organisation, information and technology).

Essentially, the model grades an enterprise on the level of BTM maturity it has reached, resulting in an objective measure of the success or failure of the implementation of best practices.

Level 1 enterprises exhibit limited evidence of business technology alignment. These enterprises typically manage processes in a simple task-based manner.

Level 2 enterprises begin to show evidence of an attempt to assemble information to make major decisions, but are likely hampered in that effort by poor alignment between executive and technology management.

Level 3 enterprises are ‘functional’ in BTM. Their practices neither greatly harm nor greatly benefit the enterprise as a whole.

Level 4 enterprises have achieved full BTM implementation. Their capabilities ensure that there is strong alignment between business and technology decision making, giving them a distinct edge over less aligned competition.

Level 5 enterprises have achieved the ‘Holy Grail’ of BTM. They have reached the stage at which business and technology is not only aligned but can actually identify future opportunities and adapt in advance so that they are positioned to take advantage of them when they arise. These enterprises are vastly more agile and adaptable than most of their competition, and as a result are much more likely to lead the market in their industry.

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