Last week, IE University hosted the official launching event of the new Bachelor in Information Systems Management.
The event was an open roundtable discussion with industry experts who discussed how technology and innovation management is changing the world as we know it. The panel also touched on some of the new trends shaping the digital future in the years to come.
Sarah Harmon, Head of LinkedIn Spain and Portugal, was one of the experts participating in this roundtable. During her presentation, Harmon stated that technology and innovation management is probably the most important thing happening in the world today.
“If you look at the convergence of new technologies, the speed of adoption, and the space of innovation, they are all happening much more quickly than ever before,” Harmon explained. She told her audience that by considering the ways in which major innovations, like the invention of the television or the internet, have changed the world, you are witnessing the immense reach of technological innovation.
The importance of managing iteration
Technology and innovation management, according to Harmon, is defined by the ability to manage complex environments. Innovation is all about iteration. To manage iteration, you need to have data, talent, the right resources, and plenty of motivation. Harmon explained that one of the most important elements when it comes to managing technology and innovation is learning how to iterate.
Finding the right people and building a team
Harmon went on to discuss the importance of finding the right people and how often this can prove to be a challenging task. In order to manage innovation in a business, you need team members with a highly entrepreneurial mindset. It takes a very special profile to manage innovation, and you’ll need individuals who are ready to learn, as well as identify talent, and work with a variety of approaches. Harmon admitted that in today’s market, it is difficult for companies to find these highly specialized profiles. In the years to come, young technology professionals will come to fill this space.
According to Harmon, the ideal type of person for this industry is “someone who really likes to do something different every day. It has to be someone who feels comfortable working in diverse teams and who is passionate about cutting-edge technology. You need someone who is constantly reading and studying—technologists are basically lifelong learners.”
Be curious and never stop learning
Harmon’s advice for anyone considering technology and innovation management as a field of study is to be inquisitive.
“The one piece of advice I would share is: your education doesn’t stop here, the moment you graduate you should keep learning. The CEO of AT&T told all of the company’s employees that if they don’t study at least four hours a week they will become obsolete within a year. So, I would definitely recommend that you really be a student for life and be open to learning new things every day.”