News & Notes

Though the semester has just started, Information Technology Management students already have their work laid out for them. The School of Business has arranged for seniors to complete hands on systems projects for Capital Region organizations this fall. Like many UAlbany School of Business courses, Dr. Jakov “Yasha” Crnkovic’s Business Application Implementation class provides an opportunity for students to learn by doing.

Based on input from an advisory board made up of Accenture, General Electric PricewaterhouseCoopers and others, graduate and undergraduate ITM programs underwent a complete redesign two years ago, resulting in a greater emphasis on information technology-enabled business processes, products, and services. To be successful at work, graduates need to know a business – even better than business area managers – and the supporting information technology.

The Business Application class provides an opportunity for students to create solutions to real world business problems. Peter Duchessi, Associate Professor and Chair, said, “A lot of students don’t have any experience at all. This class grounds them in reality. It’s a mini consultancy. They interact with clients and get a sense of the big picture and the steps they have to go through. They learn that it’s not just a matter of technology, but a people thing too.”

This year, teams of students will work on information technology projects for Capital Care Family Medicine, Public Consulting Group, Hannaford Brothers, Blash Ceramics, NYISO, Sumitomo Bank and the NYS Comptroller’s Department and other businesses, doing requirements analyses, and analyzing, designing and implementing systems. They will walk away with increased knowledge, experience, and an enhanced resume. The companies will get some IT problems solved and a close look at a potential employee.