Digital transformation is at the heart of the Master of IT in Business (MITB) program at Singapore Management University (SMU) School of Computing and Information Systems, explains Dr Kiruthika Ramanathan, director of the MITB (Digital Transformation) program.
She says the digital transformation track was introduced to the program to address a critical gap between business leaders who drive business strategic goals and decisions, and the tech professionals responsible for implementation. With two cohorts of graduates to date, the digital transformation track is designed to equip professionals with the skills to bridge these two domains.
Switching career from tech to management, management to tech
Many students in the MITB program bring several years of industry experience and come from a variety of backgrounds, with careers in, for example, insurance, teaching, and engineering.
Dr Kiruthika says these are professionals who want to incorporate digital transformation and have to collaborate effectively with vendors, developers, and tech teams”.
At the same time, the MITB program also attracts students with a technical background—such as developers—and are looking to transition into management roles.
“Our program aims to bridge business and technology,” says Dr Kiruthika, “we cater to both groups, equipping them with the skills to navigate and lead in the digital era.”
Experiential learning at Singapore Management University
Practical learning offers a great opportunity to apply your skills in a real-world setting.
“Do you find yourself spending more time navigating tools—laptops, apps, project management tools—than on the actual work itself?” asks Dr Kiruthika. She explains that that the MITB Digital Transformation program helps students understand technology in a business context, ensuring that digital tools drive meaningful impact rather than becoming distractions.
To achieve this, MITB collaborates with industry partners to help students address questions including: What value does a particular tool bring to a business? How do you use technology to help with processes? How does digital transformation support governance? And most importantly, how can businesses leverage innovation to achieve immediate and long-term goals?
At SMU School of Computing and Information Systems, students work on real-world projects and develop proposals to address business challenges.
“A company might say, we want to leverage this specific kind of technology, and I want to increase my revenue by so much, or I have a certain target revenue that I want to meet. How do I do that?
“The program places business at the core, with technology serving as the enabler,” says Dr Kiruthika.
Balancing AI with critical thinking
Apart from equipping students with expertise in technology and AI, the MITB Digital Transformation program cultivates critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills through modules such as ‘Experimental Learning & Design Thinking’.
“In our projects, we place the user at the center—we identify their challenges and leverage the data they provide to develop effective solutions,” explains Dr Kiruthika.
Technology is then used as a collaboration tool, enhancing insights and solutions rather than serving as a one-size-fits all mechanism to solve problems. Instead of simply applying technology as a template, students learn to integrate it strategically, using its capabilities to augment decision-making and innovation.
Staying ahead in a fast-changing digital landscape
With technology evolving at a rapid pace, choosing a master’s program that adapts to changes in the business landscape is essential.
“The digital landscape is always changing—yesterday there was the Metaverse, before that there was blockchain, and now there is AI, and tomorrow there’s going to be something else,” explains Dr Kiruthika.
“In every single course that we teach, we address the fundamental question of, ‘How do we learn?’”
The MITB Digital Transformation track addresses this challenge through its agile methodology module. Students learn the art of iterative prototyping and experimental development, preparing them to adapt to new emerging technologies.
“We teach them how to conduct technology scanning,” Dr Kiruthika adds, “helping them identify which innovations deserve their attention."
This experimental learning approach is central to the program’s philosophy. As Dr Kiruthika elaborates, students learn essential skills like “how to build quick prototypes, learn from failure, collect meaningful data from unsuccessful attempts and most importantly, use these failures as stepping stones to success.”
Career and networking experiences
The MITB program is supported by dedicated practicum managers who help students secure internships or source capstone projects, where they can apply what they have learned during their studies to real-world industry challenges.
“These opportunities give students firsthand experience in translating what they’ve learned into industry practice, explains Dr Kiruthika.
The master's degree in Singapore also offers regular careers talks and networking opportunities, connecting students with industry professionals and peers from diverse backgrounds.
“We always say, you never know, that person sitting next to you might be your future boss,” concludes Dr Kiruthika.
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Singapore Management University School of Computing & Information Systems
