When to do Master's, MBA, MiM etc?

OctalDump

So I have been thinking about taking a Master of Management or MBA, but not sure if the timing is right. At the moment I am looking at smaller management roles (like low to middle management in medium sized, or more senior in smaller sized) or potentially offering some consultancy.

I have 10+ years in IT, and an IT degree along with the various certifications and worked as IT manager in a small company. I have a big interest in IT service management, service quality management, IT governance, IT strategy and planning, and Info Sec. I do see Info Sec (administration/management) having overlap with those other areas.

I am looking at some programs (cost isn't a problem) in Info Sec, IT Management and MBAs with an IT focus or specialisation. It would probably take about 1-1.5 years for the Info Sec master's, but closer to 3 years for the Management/MBA programs, on the basis of what credit I could get and the timings for the subjects etc. This is part time, obviously.

The Management programs tend to be more junior/middle management and skew towards earlier in the career. The MBA is more senior/C-level (or at least C-level aspiration). The Management has a bit more IT in it. The MBA has a bit more business in it. The MBA looks much more interesting but at this point probably is a bit out of step with where I am careerwise.

So the question I have is when is the best time in your career to look at doing these degrees? When you are already working at these levels (senior specialist, manager, senior management)? When you want to start working in these areas?

I should mention that, for me, WGU is not an option since they are not offering it to people resident outside of US. And I know that people love to bring up WGU whenever degrees are mentioned.

EnderWiggin

The whole point of education is to learn new things. No real point in getting a degree in something you've already mastered, unless you simply need the piece of paper for some sort of requirement.

the_Grinch

Four reasons to get a Masters:

1. Work is paying - education for education sake
2. Career change - you have a degree is something not related to the field you want to be in
3. You want to teach - will need an advanced degree to do so
4. Moving into management - I know a lot of people with MBAs and honestly a lot of it you can't learn through just experience

Now as to when, well, that depends on you. I know that I had gotten into an MSIS program and then didn't start. Then I got into a Comp Sci program and decided to go with Legal Studies. The important part was that I knew it was time to get moving onto a different path. I had originally thought I would always be a keyboard jockey, but honestly I am growing wary of some aspects of always doing all the work (setup the systems, maintain the systems, etc). I enjoy learning new technologies, but found a love for policy, regulation and investigation is where my passion is. Thus I want to focus on one area and then deal only in the technology related to that area. With that I realized that I would need to get more legal training since from the technology end I can easily obtain knowledge via any number of sources (training, certifications, self-study).

Honestly I think you answered your own question. You want to move to a manager position, but your experience is limited in that realm. Seems to me education can assist you in that area.