William Tei
MBA (Technology Management), 2001–2009

The best thing about having completed this MBA is that it gives you the confidence that your management techniques are sound and that you can speak with authority on general management topics.

I had been looking into the different MBA’s on offer at that time to enhance my management skills as my role as an engineer was moving away from the technical side and more into a managing role.

The MBA (Technology Management) struck me as having the type of subjects and flexibility that would suit my requirements.

What did you value most about the program?

In completing the program I have gained a greater body of knowledge in all areas of management including specific tools to roll out in my day to day activities as a Project Manager. The MBA (Technology Management) provides the theory in a comprehensive and user friendly study guide that links your learnings through the topics to activities which relate to your own organisation and “real life” situations. This facilitates the learning process and as a Project Manager the tools are at your finger tips for immediate use and implementation on your projects.

The distance learning feature was a key selection criterion as it allowed me to juggle the changes in work location that go along with the construction industry. Being a truly distance learning MBA I was able to complete subjects in Australia (Brisbane), Indonesia (Jakarta) and Singapore when my work locations changed as the Study Guide, text book and an internet connection was all I needed. The other major benefit was the flexibility of having ten years to complete the course. When my second child was born after the completion of my sixth unit and I was relocating to Indonesia for work it all got a bit hectic and I was able to defer without having any time pressure to finish.

The MBA (Technology Management) has certainly enhanced my career opportunities and development both during the time of the study and now that the study has been completed. When senior management found out that I was undertaking the MBA they involved me in more of the strategic operational aspects of the business. Such activities as business and strategic plan preparation, review of companies for potential acquisitions, selection of staff for recruitment, business systems reviews and preparation of marketing material even though my role was as a Project Manager. This additional involvement in key business activities provides a platform for movement into Operations or General Management positions in the future.

As a graduate engineer you generally mirror the management techniques of your first mentors. The MBA (Technology Management) provides the knowledge and skills in a structured format giving you the assurance that your management approach is based on solid foundations which further complements your engineering or other technical qualification leading to a more effective and efficient manager.

Brendan Guiney
MBA (Technology Management), 2006–2008

Manager, Planning and Development

The MBA (Technology Management) will stand anyone in good stead to pursue positions in engineering organisations with higher responsibility, by complementing their core engineering competence with essential business management skills and resources.

I had been planning for a few years to add to my civil engineering degree with a management qualification, but it took some time to find an 'engineered' MBA that suited my chosen career path in the water industry. The water industry was undergoing significant change. In order to meet these challenges much work was going on in strategic review, as well as business systems implementation and improvement to achieve better business efficiency and effectiveness. More often than not, a mix of business systems competence and engineering competence is required to achieve the necessary improvements.

I found the flexibility of the program appealing. The comprehensive course notes backed up with copious references for further reading mean that although I was in a bit of a rush to get the MBA completed (2 ½ years), I know I can track through my notes and references if an issue arises later on that requires more detailed attention. I particularly liked the assignments that were generic to permit me to study my own organisation—MidCoast Water. This allowed me to contribute something back to my employer in return for their generous sponsorship of my study expenses.

Mercy Pringle
MBA (Technology Management), 2003–2009

Specialist – Business Improvement, Information Systems and Technology

This program has material that is relevant and directly applicable to my work. The program is not only of a very high standard but offers concrete skills that one can utilise daily.

Professional development and career advancement were my primary objectives for undertaking this program. However, after completing a couple of units, the personal development I gained as well was so vast, that given my time again, I would do the program for its own sake. My career advanced along the way.

My recent appointment as a Specialist in Business Improvement for the Rio Tinto Information and Systems group is a testament to the successful completion of this program. One of the prerequisites of joining the Business Improvement team is the completion of an MBA program. Business Improvement develop and implement lean six sigma processes that follow a standardised approach to delivering business improvement programs and tangible cost savings across Rio Tinto Information Systems and Technology.

I commenced the program when my twins were three years of age and my cat was four. In addition, my partner frequently travels overseas with work. The flexibility of distance learning enabled me to balance the demanding and sometimes competing priorities of being a full time mother, holding down a full time job and study requirements. This valuable flexibility would not have been possible in a traditional study arrangement. I must also add that professional sleep training played a crucial role in the children’s sleeping patterns. This program has material that is relevant and directly applicable to my work. I constantly refer to the study materials for guidance. The program enabled me to understand end-to-end business processes, their relationships and intersecting points—thereby extending my professional capabilities.

Reece Lumsden
MBA (Technology Management), 2002-2006

Project Manager

I’d recommend the MBA (Technology Management) to anyone seeking a solid MBA from a reputable institution.

The MBA (Technology Management) was immediately applicable to my work as a Project Manager on Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner aircraft. This program depended heavily on people who have a holistic perspective because there are so many different interests involved. In my dealings with the aerospace community in the US, I had observed that the biggest need is for engineers who transcend their technical base and seek to optimise the technical and non-technical (financial, political, human, ethical) dimensions. This is particularly the case in the space arena where drivers are usually non-technical.

The one thing that I discovered about distance learning is that it requires a great deal of self-discipline to stay on top of the course material and not get too far behind. In distance learning, no one is there to push you so you need to rely heavily on your ability to learn independently and if you don’t understand something, use the resources of fellow students, the lecturer, message boards, notes and extra readings to fill in the gaps. I absorbed quite a lot from reading comments of fellow students and their questions on the bulletin board. This is not something you would have access to in attending normal scheduled classes unless you were right next to the student asking the question.