Summary
The application development manager’s job is to map out, coordinate, and oversee the activities for the design, development, and execution of a company’s database and information systems and software applications. The application development manager’s job is also responsible for the maintenance, support, and upgrading of existing hardware and applications. He needs to apply communication and analytical skills and knowledge of best practices to navigate his team on problems related to the applications development.
Duties
Application development managers supervise the development and use of new applications, systems software, and upgrades to existing applications throughout their task. They ensure that development projects match business needs and requirements, furnish end-user requirements, identify and resolve systems issues, conduct pre-testing of systems and make proper modifications. Application development managers team up with analysts, designers, and executives in the installation and testing of new software programs and applications. They manage and direct procedures for the application development team towards their utilization for business operations; confer with network administrators and software engineers to ensure quality assurance, algorithmic consistency and data processing. Other tasks of application development managers include identifying and resolving program errors, providing technical assistance to project managers and programmers, analyze existing applications and recommend improvements for these systems; design, create and install enhancements and upgrades, applications software or other programs. The Application development managers also research and make recommendations on software products and services for procurement; do feasibility studies for software and system products planned for purchase and give suggestions based on findings.
Education and Training Requirements
A bachelor’s degree is the minimum academic requirement. No certification is required. Most companies prefer a college degree coupled with training for Corporate Project Management (CPM) skills and/or Project Management Professional (PMP) or any job related experience.
Knowledge and Skills Requirements
To become a successful application development manager, one must possess exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, multi-tasking and organizational skills, problem-solving skills, leadership skills, and advanced computer skills.
Working Conditions
Work is in a standard office setting. Travel is required to attend meetings with other professionals in different locations. Work is 40 hours a week but on-call work may be done for emergency situations including night, weekend and holiday work. Some work may be done in computer lab rooms.
Salary
An application development manager makes $67,000 annually on average. Factors such as size of company, location, nature of the industry, benefits and experience may cause salaries to vary considerably among application development managers.
