Reflective Essay - 2018
Reflecting over my experience in the last two years at Dominican University has been an enjoyable experience and a pleasant surprise. Particularly because as an adult learner coming back to school for a second master’s degree, I came with the preconception that the classroom environment at Dominican would be more conducive to that of a full-time student and I would have to try to fit in. When I first learned about the new Master of Science in Information Management (MSIM) program, I became very interested as I wanted to expand my knowledge within the field of information technology. In particular, I was specifically interested in the management of information systems. Having already completed a master’s degree in Computer Science as at Northeastern University, perusing MSIM degree was the logical next step in my educational career.
I have over eighteen years of professional experience in the technology field, and I have always understood that the benefits of a program like the MSIM would allow me to further my knowledge and advance in my career goals. Certainly, programs like this have not until recently been offered. Times have changed, and I found myself two years later finishing the program. I’m very glad I jumped at the opportunity, and if I had to, I would do it all over again.
This is the first time I have taken classes as part of as a cohort setting. I didn’t know what to expect, and at the beginning I pictured myself always running around from one class to another, always trying to get my classwork competed in time. As it turned out, I couldn’t have been more wrong. The hybrid model was perfect for me. The experience in the classroom was absolutely one where I felt a sense of camaraderie among fellow students, faculty were very supportive, respectful, and were always ready to help.
I have benefited from the MSIM program in many ways. I have seen personal growth in the way I perceive my abilities, and I feel much more prepared and confident to peruse new goals. Professionally, from day one, I have been able to utilize what I learned in class. This knowledge has given me a new perspective when I’m working on a new or current project. My interaction with my peers and others in my organization has changed as I’m able to better collaborate with and support them. My communication style has also evolved in many ways, as my understanding of information management concepts has allowed me to translate difficult topics into simple, practical examples for others.
I have always understood that the benefits of a program like the MSIM would allow me to further my knowledge and advance in my career goals. Reflecting on this program, the decision of the School of Information Studies to expand in this direction was right on point. Over the years I have seen a change in the computer science discipline along with a change in the careers that are part of the information technology field. With the rapid growth of cloud computing, informatics, data analytics, and more businesses moving into digital markets computer systems have changed. Long gone are the days where the biggest obstacle for companies or organizations were related to hardware and storage.
This is reflective in the type of employee that is needed to manage such systems. My career path started in a very traditional way as a member of the Information Technology department. In today’s technology field, you need a different type of skill set. Data management, data analytics, and information security related jobs are growing faster than any of the other Information Technology professions.
During my studies in the MSIM program, something that was particularly new to me and has proven to be extremely useful in my professional life is the unique perspective of the program in teaching us the relationship(s) between information, people, social justice, technology, and policy. While in my previous grad studies I learned how to code in different programming languages, learned about algorithm theory, and studied computing concepts, the learning goals were never related to the bigger picture of ethics, policy, and people. I feel that with the MSIM program I’m better prepared to tackle new complex data environments that the information revolution has made so easily available.
The reality of how quickly technology is changing affects all aspects of society, and especially impacts the information management professional like myself. We (information management professionals) have to be able to adapt at the same rate if we want to keep relevant in this field. The MSIM program not only focused on the technical aspects of the field, it went beyond and allowed me to learn a great deal about social implications of and the social side of information management. The number of emerging careers that are coming into the market compared to that of a few years ago is surprising. I had no idea these types of jobs would dominate those required in today’s information technology field. Data governance, data risk management, and data compliance are now part of data management landscape and are here to stay.
With regards to the learning outcomes from the MSIM program, there are an array of examples that I can draw from that were key components to my learning experience. I have developed a new professional identity that allows me to feel much more prepared and confident. For instance, I feel the program gave me a solid understanding of information technologies foundations, and I can apply this knowledge to anticipate and plan for future development within my organization. The coursework provided me with the opportunity to address many technology trends such as a presentation on the Internet of Things where I addressed how technology affects our society. During my research and analysis for this presentation, I became more aware of and gained a better understanding of the drastic changes technology will have in our society, particularly when it comes to private privacy, national security, and legal protection.
Additionally, I have seen personal growth in the way I perceive my abilities and my understanding of core-values and ethics of the information profession. As part of this program, we addressed intercultural communication and the side effects that are created by the influence of technology. Communication across generational differences has always been a challenge, however, with new communication technology methods, these differences have been magnified. Depending on how we (information professionals) perceive and use technology, the meaning of core value and ethics might be misunderstood, particularly when this communication is intercultural. In this scenario it becomes important to understand the differences in what the stakeholders feel are considered private and/or ethical.
Professionally, from day one, I have been able to utilize what I learned in class. While taking IM 703, I had the opportunity to work with my current organization to review and present a recommendation for a strategic plan for their distance education division. During my consultation with the different areas that take part in distance education, I was able to apply the concepts learned in the MSIM program. As part of the experience with this project, I had direct conversations with the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs which became part of my research, and ultimately part of my Information Architecture Plan for the organization.
This knowledge has given me a new perspective when I’m working on a new or current project. I feel that I have a better understanding of the essential nature of information management and its relevance within the organization. As part of the coursework, I learned the importance of how information is represented could impact its relevance. Understanding whether data is structured or unstructured, controlled by vocabularies or free from, can determine how information is accessed and disseminated. These important concepts and definitions, became transparent as I created, as part of an assignment in IM 704 Data Modeling and Representation, a model for an Invoice Management system for my organization. The MSIM program allowed me to grasp the concept of Information Management and the relationship between collecting and organizing data in terms of a database as a data structure.
The MSIM program was an excellent conduit in the way I now envision, develop, and curate information and its systems across the spectrum of user needs from a local to a global context. I have been able to integrate a variety of theoretical and practical basic concepts of information technology solutions to my professional life. For example, through my work, I have been able to apply all the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) concepts that I learned from the IM 760 course into the development of an AV Inventory Ticketing Management system for my organization. As part of this project I applied the concepts from the coursework to gain an understanding of how the AV department utilizes tools and other systems to provide services to the organization.
My analysis of these processes allowed me to revise how the organization interacts with these systems and the AV department. The main goal of this project was to determine appropriate interface elements, methodologies, and information architecture and to ultimately improve the AV inventory process with a system-design that is user-friendly and user-centered. Furthermore, I am more able to articulate the importance of project management from different perspectives. I have used project management in my professional life. However, the MSIM program has allowed me to further understand the importance of project management with regards to the information architecture processes and to information management as a whole. In my final report for an Information Management System in IM 760 Human Computer Interaction, not only did I articulate the process but also I learned to apply project management mythologies that I learned throughout my studies in the MSIM program.
The importance of mastering professional communications skills are without a doubt at the top of the list in the information management profession. My studies in the MSIM program have allowed me to expand on these skills. Among several courses I have taken, LIS 791 Organizational and Multicultural Communication was extremely valuable for my attainment of new communication skills for the information profession. As an example, I was tasked to convey information about Dominican University’s Master’s in Conflict and Resolution program via an infographic rendering. Planning, understanding the subject matter, color pallets, cultural and social communication, cognitive style, identities and many other necessary topics went into my research in order for me to appreciate and understand best practices of effective and professional communication for the twenty-first-century information management profession.
Lastly, at the start of this academic journey, I had the preconception that the classroom environment at Dominican would be more conducive to that of a full-time student and that I would have to try to fit in with that student type. As it turned out, I couldn’t have been more wrong. My experience over the last two years at Dominican University has been very enjoyable and a pleasant surprise. Being part of a cohort was extremely valuable to my learning experience. The diversity of my classmates has allowed for true collaboration. Their incredible ideas, and background experiences energized me to continue, and I found myself always was looking forward to our next class session. We all learned from each other, were able to add to the dynamics of the classes, and are still supporting each other as we come to the end of our coursework in the program.
I applied to the Master of Science in Information Management program with the idea of perusing a position such as that of a chief information officer (CIO). This is a goal that, at the time, in my professional career I considered to be the very top of my field. Today, I no longer believe this to be the case. Thanks to the MSIM program my goals are different and broader. My ePortfolio demonstrates a record of my academic experiences and provides proof of my development throughout the Master of Science in Information Management program at Dominican University. Thanks to this program, I have gained new knowledge, and broadened my perspectives. I am extremely excited about the new opportunities which await me in the near future, and which are possible because of having earned this degree.