Smith launches new Master of Digital Product Management

Kingston, Ont. – A new graduate program aims to close a critical global leadership gap and help businesses better capitalize on digital transformation opportunities. Launched today, the Master of Digital Product Management* (MDPM) will train managers to lead digital product management and ensure organizational investments in technology reach their potential.

Organizations spend hundreds of billions of dollars on digital initiatives every year, yet 78 per cent of these investments fail to achieve expected results. The MDPM, a partnership between Smith School of Business and the School of Computing in the Faculty of Arts & Science at Queen's University, brings business and technology together to help create skilled leaders who can lead digital transformation and drive change across the organization.

“Today every business is a digital business. Organizations in all industries need leaders with the business and technological skills to manage digital products and services from ideation to implementation to optimization,” said Kathryn Brohman, associate professor and Distinguished Faculty Fellow of Digital Technology, and program director, MDPM. “Many companies struggle with their digital transformation strategies and execution. Effective digital product management is no longer an asset. It is a competitive imperative.”

Developed in consultation with leaders in academia, business, government and the technology sector, the MDPM is designed to develop cross-functional leaders who can effectively manage the life cycle of digitalization initiatives. The curriculum combines a Knowledge Stream that includes courses in digital strategy and innovation, gamification and usability, ethics and more, with an Application Stream including design and systems thinking, cybersecurity, product analytics, systems architecture, optimizing the user experience and more. An in-depth practicum will enable student teams to digitalize a business process for a real business using low-code, no code tools.

“The best product managers are able to think strategically about business and market direction while holding technical credibility on details with engineering and development teams. Investing in developing product managers into cross-functional leaders is important since it’s unusual for individuals to inherently have these broad skill sets and experience,” said Jessica Creces, senior executive, Cineplex Digital Media, and chair of the MDPM advisory board.

The 12-month program starting in September will be delivered virtually using Smith’s dedicated, interactive teaching studio and trusted virtual learning platform, with one residential session at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Courses will be taught by instructors from both Smith School of Business and Queen’s School of Computing.

“Today’s digital technologies can be extraordinarily powerful – but only when businesses deploy them effectively. We have all seen businesses with clumsy websites and arcane processes that make it difficult for customers to find out information about their products, use their services, or get help after purchase. Such companies are being swept away by businesses that have embraced digital technologies to provide delightful interaction with their customers and in their own operations,” said Nicholas Graham, academic co-director, MDPM, and professor, Queen’s School of Computing.

Learn more at smithqueens.com/mdpm.

About Smith School of Business

Smith School of Business at Queen’s University is renowned for its excellence, innovation and leadership in business education. From establishing the first undergraduate business degree a century ago to creating ground-breaking programs and courses in emerging areas including artificial intelligence, fintech, analytics, cultural diversity, entrepreneurship, team dynamics, social impact and more, Smith is at the forefront of preparing students for the business marketplace. In addition to its strong tradition of academic and teaching excellence, Smith is known for delivering an outstanding learning and development experience. Personal attention, individual and team coaching, opportunities for specialization, and a deep commitment to student success characterize the Smith experience.

*This program is subject to approval by the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance.

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For further information:

Smith School of Business
Kristen Sears
613-888-1105 / k.sears@queensu.ca