Are top managers likely to be more effective if they have IT experience? Why or why not?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Some possible arguments for a “Yes” answer:
1) Information technology (IT) management has a broad understanding of the information processing of the company instead of the narrower view held by managers from other areas of the company.
2) IT management deals with all functional company areas so members of IT management know and interrelate with the people who lead and who work in these areas. Because they provide needed services to these areas, IT management personnel have the support of the key personnel from these areas.
3) Information systems development and maintenance is complex and requires extraordinary management skills to operate successfully. These same skills are necessary in top-level management positions.
4) Computer technology dominates many companies today. Today's technology leaders should be tomorrow's business leaders.

Some possible arguments for a “No” answer:
1) IT management is more comfortable dealing with computers and with procedures, and less comfortable dealing with people. Top-level management positions require a strong interest in people and strong skills in dealing with people.
2) Whether a firm is product-oriented or service-oriented, it must make a profit to survive. Future company leaders should, therefore, come from the production, service, or financial areas, because these areas are the most important to a company. Possibly, in Internet-dependent firms, the best choice would be an IT manager — but only if he or she had extraordinary business skills apart from technical ability.
3) It is unwise to restrict prospects for top-level management positions to one specific area of the company. Competent leaders are apt to rise from many different departments.
4) People who have worked in several different functional areas are better rounded than those restricted to just one area. So, unless the IT manager has worked outside the IT department, he or she essentially is a specialist and is at a disadvantage compared to someone with more general knowledge and skills.