ADDRESSING WHAT has long been considered an Achilles heel of the local technology sector, the Irish Software Association is has introduced two new postgraduate qualifications in software product management.
It is understood the postgraduate diploma and master’s in science qualifications are the first of their kind globally.
Product managers provide the “bridge” between the technical, sales and marketing roles in a technology company, according to Edel Creely, managing director of Trilogy Technologies and head of the ISA’s Software Skillnet initiative. “Any of the indigenous technology companies that have grown rapidly, product management has been a core feature of their business,” Ms Creely said.
Smaller companies were aware that they needed to have a product management function but were unsure how to implement it.
“People don’t say ‘when I grow up, I want to be a product manager’,” Ms Creely added. “They are a certain type of person with specific skillsets, many of which are personal.”
The courses are being delivered by the Dublin Institute of Technology and were formally launched recently at an event attended by Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte.
