MIT Sloan Fellows Program in Innovation and Global Leadership

Management of Technology Program History

Invented by innovators for innovators
Established in 1981 as a joint program of the schools of management and engineering, the MIT Management of Technology (MOT) Program was the quintessential MIT invention — an elegant solution to a critical global challenge. For a quarter of a century, this specialized one-year master's program provided technologists with the management expertise to drive successful ventures in a hypercompetitive marketplace.

The inspiration for nearly 250 similar programs around the globe, the MOT Program provided technical professionals with the core essentials of management, the opportunity to strategize with technologists from around the world, and access to the unparalleled resources of MIT.

Eventually, the program evolved into a product of the school of management only. Geared for mid-career professionals in technology-based organizations, the MOT Program taught hundreds of engineers to assess, mine, and market technological enterprises.

MOT students developed the ability to weigh risks and make decisions under volatile conditions. They discovered how technology interacts with other key business areas. And they had the opportunity to update their technical expertise in the research facilities of one of the most influential technology think tanks in the world.

At the turn of the 21st century, MIT Sloan faculty and program architects realized that the needs of technologists and entrepreneurs were fast merging with the needs of CEOs and general managers. They resolved to launch another revolution — the integration of the MOT Program with the MIT Sloan Fellows Program.

Fueled by the vibrant culture and heritage of both programs, the MIT Sloan Fellows Program in Innovation and Global Leadership has brought these two groups of experts together, giving them an exciting, illuminating opportunity to build productive linkages, cross-functional understanding, and a highly versatile set of knowledge and skills.