1. Home
  2. Careers
  3. Computer And Information Systems Managers
  4. Required Skills Responsibilities Activities

Computer and Information Systems Managers Occupation Detailed Description

Computer and Information Systems Managers career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Computer and Information Systems Managers

The main tasks and work activities of Computer and Information Systems Managers are to develop computer or information systems, coordinate operational activities with external stakeholders, direct organizational operations, projects, or services, develop organizational goals or objectives. In general, for the Computer and Information Systems Managers, critical Thinking, reading Comprehension, active Listening, monitoring and other 17 skills are required.
Computer and Information Systems Managers Job Description
EducationMost of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Related ExperienceA considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
ExampleMany of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Computer and Information Systems Managers jobs. 1.26% of Computer and Information Systems Managers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 5.77% of Computer and Information Systems Managers have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
1.26%
Post-Secondary Certificate
5.77%
Some College Courses
25.96%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
2.16%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
64.85%

Tasks and Work Activities of Computer and Information Systems Managers

  • Manage backup, security and user help systems.
  • Consult with users, management, vendors, and technicians to assess computing needs and system requirements.
  • Direct daily operations of department, analyzing workflow, establishing priorities, developing standards and setting deadlines.
  • Assign and review the work of systems analysts, programmers, and other computer-related workers.
  • Stay abreast of advances in technology.
  • Develop computer information resources, providing for data security and control, strategic computing, and disaster recovery.
  • Review and approve all systems charts and programs prior to their implementation.
  • Evaluate the organization's technology use and needs and recommend improvements, such as hardware and software upgrades.
  • Control operational budget and expenditures.
  • Meet with department heads, managers, supervisors, vendors, and others, to solicit cooperation and resolve problems.
  • Develop and interpret organizational goals, policies, and procedures.
  • Recruit, hire, train and supervise staff, or participate in staffing decisions.
  • Review project plans to plan and coordinate project activity.
  • Evaluate data processing proposals to assess project feasibility and requirements.
  • Prepare and review operational reports or project progress reports.
  • Purchase necessary equipment.
  • Provide users with technical support for computer problems.
  • Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Analyzing Data or InformationIdentifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Developing and Building TeamsEncouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
  • Developing Objectives and StrategiesEstablishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesProviding guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
  • Develop computer or information systems.
  • Coordinate operational activities with external stakeholders.
  • Direct organizational operations, projects, or services.
  • Develop organizational goals or objectives.
  • Analyze data to inform operational decisions or activities.
  • Evaluate employee performance.
  • Maintain knowledge of current developments in area of expertise.
  • Recommend organizational process or policy changes.
  • Determine resource needs.
  • Manage organizational or project budgets.
  • Resolve employee or contractor problems.
  • Confer with organizational members to accomplish work activities.
  • Develop operating strategies, plans, or procedures.
  • Develop organizational policies or programs.
  • Recruit personnel.
  • Hire personnel.
  • Conduct employee training programs.
  • Manage operations, research, or logistics projects.
  • Analyze data to determine project feasibility.
  • Prepare operational progress or status reports.

Skills and Abilities for Computer and Information Systems Managers

  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Management of Personnel ResourcesMotivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Systems EvaluationIdentifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
  • Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Learning StrategiesSelecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
  • PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
  • Operations AnalysisAnalyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
  • MathematicsUsing mathematics to solve problems.
  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • OriginalityThe ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
  • Mathematical ReasoningThe ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Access serverse.g. Access servers
  • Computer serverse.g. Computer servers
  • Computer tool kitse.g. Computer tool kits
  • Computer serverse.g. File servers
  • Peripheral controller cardse.g. Industry standard architecture/peripheral component interconnect ISA/PCI cards
  • Inkjet printerse.g. Inkjet printers
  • Computer serverse.g. Internet Information Services IIS Servers
  • Laser fax machinee.g. Laser facsimile machines
  • Laser printerse.g. Laser printers
  • Mainframe computerse.g. Mainframe computers
  • Computer serverse.g. Mid-range computers
  • Computer serverse.g. Minicomputers
  • Computer serverse.g. Netware servers
  • Network analyzerse.g. Network analyzers
  • Network interface cardse.g. Network interface cards NIC
  • Network routerse.g. Network routers
  • Network switchese.g. Network switches
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Photocopierse.g. Photocopiers
  • Print serverse.g. Print servers
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  • Engineering and TechnologyKnowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Personnel and Human ResourcesKnowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.