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What does an Applications Manager do?
The role of an applications manager generally involves the supervision of software applications within a business. This position is typically responsible for planning the process of integrating applications that are important to business operations and employee productivity. Most duties consist of the installation, upgrading, and daily maintenance of software applications. Part of his or her job may also include monitoring the applications network to prevent virus attacks and security breaches.
The responsibility of an applications manager may include overseeing the installation process of new applications. This person may select new software applications that aid in employee productivity for the company. Part of the installation process may also include ensuring the new software complies with the company’s software policy.
When a company requires upgrades to software applications, the applications manager may investigate the use of potential systems and the compatibility with the current network environment. Typically, the investigation determines the financial costs and effect upgrades might have on computer systems. Depending on the size of the business, people in this position might also work with network administrators or other IT personnel to complete upgrades. This typically involves coordinating activities to ensure the upgrades will integrate with the current network system.
Daily maintenance of software applications may also fall under an applications manager’s job description. Generally, maintenance may include monitoring application functionality to guarantee the availability of software on the computer network. Creating a backup system for applications and files associated with business operations is another maintenance function for an applications manager.
Maintaining business applications may also include duties such as assigning access and permission levels to employees. Based on job function, an employee might need access to payroll software or a purchasing system. For new hires, this also involves setup of email accounts and user profiles that give new employees access to applications.
Supervising IT personnel usually involves directing the daily activities of workers within the software applications department. Typical supervising duties may include advising personnel on the correct way to fulfill a task related to software installation or upgrades. Sometimes, the applications manager may also help personnel with troubleshooting problems and overseeing prompt resolutions.
Specific duties and requirements might vary based on the company size and location. General requirements to be successful in this role may include having technical knowledge of computer applications and systems. Typically, requirements may also include diagnostic and problem solving skills to achieve optimal performance.
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![An applications manager must have technical knowledge of computer applications and systems.]()
By: Eugenio MarongiuAn applications manager must have technical knowledge of computer applications and systems.
Discussion Comments
I wonder how much the person in this kind of job actually gets to choose which applications the company is going to use. I'm sure they would have some input, of course, but it would be really annoying to know that, say, a new operating system isn't very good but management is insisting that everyone install it right away.
Particularly since it would be somewhat of a balancing act all the time, making sure that everything knits together in the right way.
@iluviaporos - I guess if it's a big enough problem he can solve it with some kind of software, like a prompt that shows up at the end of the day if they need to turn off their computers or something like that.
I would have thought malware would be the biggest problem for any IT staff, particularly since it seems like every other day another application turns out to have massive vulnerabilities and needs to be patched.
It's the kind of job that I imagine can be very interesting some of the time, but a majority of it is just spent in maintenance.
I don't really work in a job that requires IT applications management but my friend does and he told me the most common complaint seems to be that a lot of people never turn off their computers and give them time to install updates.
He'll have a bunch of staff members (particularly older ones) start complaining about how slow their computers are, or how their software isn't working properly and he'll discover they have a backup of about 50 updates needing to be installed.
The one good thing about this is that it doesn't take much to fix the problem, although it does take a while, but he can never seem to train them to turn off their computers periodically so that they can update themselves.
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