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What does a day in the life of an information systems management role look like and what are the best and hardest parts of your job?

Looking for any information and advice for someone entering the information systems management field.

career spring26 tech information-systems management-information-systems
Thank you comment icon Hello Rachel! Your inquiry has gone through my weekly mail. It is a great question, and you are like mentor for me and connections matter as much as skills. Reach out to career village as frequently as possible for your career path if you’re curious about. A short message asking for advice can open doors. Unfortunately, my expertise is in Finance, but tech is very trend career path. I would love to have some knowledge in-depth regarding information systems management. Every small step you take—like researching a role, shadowing someone, or trying a project—builds clarity over time. Remember, most people enjoy sharing their journey—it’s how they give back. Hope it helps! Isida Mici
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brian’s Answer

A day in the life of someone in an information systems management role, would vary based on the actual business of the company employing the person. The thing to remember, is that in most cases roles, such as information systems management are support functions for the business. What this means is that time generally spent would fit into either build, maintain or operate roles. In the same day, you might be involved in tasks that range all three, and or other. Generally speaking, the hardest parts of any job are prioritizing the work to do & obtaining the resources to do the work, in alignment with that of the organization. When and if you are able to be recognized for the good work you, or your team does, that is typically the best part of any role.

brian recommends the following next steps:

find a business you are passionate about. Apply yourself in the role of IS Management to support that business to the best of your ability.
Focus on the mission of the company, then learn what they need to be successful and the dependency on IT / IS Systems.
Understand the economy, which industries are growing, which are shrinking. Which are going through long term Vs short term change.
Talk to people in the industries you are interested in & you will learn more about their needs, than speaking to someone performing in a role.
Thank you comment icon I aapreciate your advice, thank you! Rachel
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Basak’s Answer

Exploring your options in information technology can be exciting. If you're interested in the technical side, learning AI skills can be really beneficial. If you prefer the business side, focusing on project management and improving your people skills is important. You can do it!
Thank you comment icon Thank you! Rachel
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Terry’s Answer

In information systems management, your day is not just about coding; it's about juggling people, systems, and priorities. You start by checking on production issues, security alerts, and team tasks, then attend meetings with business leaders and IT staff to solve problems and plan upgrades. Decision-making is a big part of your day, whether it's approving purchases, setting priorities, or ensuring systems are secure and compliant. You'll also spend time leading your team, helping them overcome challenges, and explaining technical issues to non-technical folks.

The best parts of the job include:

- Solving important problems that help the business run smoothly and improve work processes.
- Leading and mentoring your team, especially if you enjoy helping others grow.
- Working on both strategy and operations, where you can influence technology's direction.
- Experiencing variety, as no two days are the same, especially if you manage different areas like infrastructure or security.

The challenges often involve:

- Dealing with constant interruptions and having to switch focus quickly due to unexpected issues.
- Being responsible for things like uptime and budgets, even when you rely on others to get things done.
- Managing people, which can be more challenging than the technology itself.
- Working longer hours during emergencies or deadlines because systems don't fail at convenient times.

This job is a great fit if you enjoy technology, leadership, and problem-solving, and if you like being the link between business and IT. If you prefer long stretches of solo technical work, this might not be the best fit, as the role is very collaborative and often interrupted. To see if this role suits you, compare it with roles like systems admin, cybersecurity, business analyst, or IT project manager to decide if you want to stay hands-on or move towards leadership.
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Nic’s Answer

Hey Rachel -

I started my career in this space. Starting out, you decide if you want to be technical (e.g., developer, engineer, systems architect) or functional (i.e., working with the business). Roles on the functional side include Project and Program Management, Business Analyst, Product Management, etc.

Depending on which side you go to will drastically change how your day looks. But at a high level, technical roles are very detailed, in the systems, heads down type work. Often they are individual contributors - responding to business needs or emerging risk areas/issues. Functional roles tend to include more people management, that is Stakeholder communication, documenting processes, understanding business need and translating into technical solutions that will then be shared with the technical teams. These roles spend a lot more time dealing with the people side of the house.

I am on the functional side of things, I now work in Management Consulting doing the same.

Hopefully this helps you guide your decision.
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