There is a truth about all new majors – “they have to start as a minor to another well known disciplines that is in highest demand,” until they are well-established on their own. And this takes time.
The same is true of the very “hot” disciplines of data scientists and analytics experts — hiring managers do not know what they are getting, until these brands become established. Even though the press is full of articles about the importance and shortage of data scientists and analytics experts…
When starting new degree programs like SSME, service science, service systems engineering, data scientists, business analytics, it is very important when new degree programs are set up that university, industry, and government work together to ensure the program success.
I always tell the people setting up SSME programs (though you would be surprised how many times people do not listen) the following…
start new degree programs as a value-add minor to a well-established major that is in the highest demand
(1) SSME is so very new, that you need to make sure the graduates are T-shaped
(2) the area of depth does not matter to SSME, but…
(3) the area of depth matters tremendously to future employers, including IBM and other industry
(4) if IBM and other industry hiring managers do not yet understand the value of SSME, the area of depth is what the student must market about themselves in order to be hired
(5) Being deep in only SSME is still not well understood in the marketplace – someday maybe through efforts of ISSIP.org, etc. – but for now T-shaped is key
To state it more clearly…
<Operations Research/SSME, Sector, Nation> is a good triple, if the employers/hiring managers need Operations Research in highest demand
<Marketing/SSME, Sector, Nation> is a good triple, if the employers/hiring managers need Marketing in highest demand
<SSME, Sector, Nations> is a bad triple, because most hiring managers do not know what SSME is – even people inside IBM, as much as we have promoted it
There is a truth about all new majors – “they have to start as a minor to another well known disciplines that is in highest demand,” until they are well-established on their own. And this takes time.
The same is true of the very “hot” disciplines of data scientists and analytics experts — hiring managers do not know what they are getting, until these brands become established. Even though the press is full of articles about the importance and shortage of data scientists and analytics experts…
Hopefully the next generation can be wiser about planning new disciplines – wiser than my generation – remember for your new degree program, start as a minor to a well-established major that is in highest demand.
that is so important I will say it three times…
start new degree programs as a value-add minor to a well-established major that is in the highest demand.
start new degree programs as a value-add minor to a well-established major that is in the highest demand.
start new degree programs as a value-add minor to a well-established major that is in the highest demand.
good luck!