Postgraduate Diploma in Technology Management

This postgraduate diploma course represents the second qualification level in the technology management programme. The diploma builds on the operational focus of the postgraduate certificate by providing you with concepts and tools to support the effective strategic management of technology and technological innovation. The compulsory modules in the diploma link the fields of strategic management and technological innovation. There is also the opportunity to extend your technology management studies by choosing optional modules relevant to your particular interests. The qualification provides an analytical view of strategic issues in technology management, and will equip you for senior technology management roles.

The effective management of technology and technological innovation is essential if all the potential benefits for individuals and organisations are to be realised. Technology has the capability to transform products and processes and can make a significant contribution to organisational performance, economic growth and social well-being. Technology managers need to make complex decisions associated with identification and evaluation of technologies, developing new or improved products and processes and integrating technology with other business processes, and to manage change required by technological innovation and implementation. There is an increasing demand across public, private and not-for-profit sectors for people with the vision and the operational and strategic capability to plan, develop and manage technology and technological innovation effectively.

The suite of qualifications offered, postgraduate certificate and diploma, and the MSc are designed to progressively develop your knowledge and skills. Certificate study focuses on the operational aspects of managing technological innovation and change; the diploma’s emphasis is the strategic management of technology and technological innovation. The MSc modules involve in depth investigation of a technology management topic or problem of your choice. The qualifications will provide you with the knowledge and skills critical to making the right decisions about technology acquisition, exploitation and implementation, and to really make a difference to your organisation, and your own professional development. The optional modules in this qualification allow you to choose topics of personal or professional interest that can extend or form a wider context for your technology management studies. Fields such as computing and ICT, business and management, development management and environmental management as well as technology management are typically represented.

Throughout your studies you have opportunities to apply your learning to your own particular technology context and so you can add value to your career and your workplace while you are studying. The modules are designed to be relevant whatever your personal background and experience – the knowledge and skills taught can be applied to all types of technology and all economic sectors. If technology is a significant success factor in your organisation or role then technology management is relevant to you. Our students are drawn from a very wide range of backgrounds including IT, manufacturing, healthcare, defence, financial services, local and national government services.

Time limit:

1. There is no time limit for completing this diploma but we cannot guarantee that the same selection of modules will continue to be available.
2. Modules can count towards this diploma for a maximum of eight years after we have stopped presenting them.

You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 40 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

Career relevance and employability

The technology management programme develops analytical skills and provides practically relevant knowledge that will equip you well for a variety of management and leadership roles. The competent technology manager is a highly valued professional, capable of ensuring that the organisation reaps all the potential rewards from its investment in technology of whatever type. You will develop a range of job-related and transferable skills such as critical thinking, creative problem solving, and the ability to cope with rapid technological change. The capabilities in research and problem-solving developed can be exploited in all professional situations at all management levels. Employers are also impressed by the commitment and determination it takes to succeed with the OU while keeping up family and work commitments. These benefits, together with the opportunities to add value by applying your learning to the workplace as you study, make technology management programmes very attractive vehicles towards success in senior management roles.

You should normally hold a UK bachelors degree, or equivalent. If you do not hold a bachelors degree then you may be permitted to link modules to this qualification once you have demonstrated the ability to study at postgraduate level by successfully completing one of the modules. Because of the demands that study of the programme will make on you we recommend that you take no more than 60 credits at a time.