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The purpose of this research is to identify the effectiveness drivers contribute to managerial effectiveness in Indian information technology (IT) professionals through empirical study. Effectiveness assessments were administered to 2,080 IT professionals working as technical managers, their respective reporting officers, peers and subordinates. Intended as a comprehensive inquiry into the competencies of technical managers, three factors determined the design: repository of critical competencies through literature, 360 degree feedback on effectiveness attributes and empirical analysis to unearth underlying factor structure for effectiveness. Nineteen variables were found to be contributing to the effectiveness of the IT managers. They belong to competency areas such as technology management, business management, project management, domain know how, emotional intelligence (EI) and the value system. Inferences include emotional intelligence is key to effective management of technical managers; technical ability alone is not enough to be an effective manager; domain and business skills are critical and robust individual value system contributes in achieving effectiveness. Given the growth, uncertainty and rapid change of technology associated with IT industry, findings provide organisations with specific competency development areas for their technology talents. It is expected to provide a guiding force for technology leadership development in times to come.

With the advent of technology, the role of technical managers has been keenly researched. Technology industries, such as information technology (IT) industry, award special significance to the role of technical managers. By analysing a sample size of 520 technical managers in 19 IT organisations in India, this empirical study offers six key competencies directly or indirectly affecting effectiveness. The extent of effect is measured along with inter-relationships using structural equation modelling (SEM) method. This study possibly offers for the first time, a focused take on effectiveness of technical mangers in IT industry. The objective of this study is to measure the effect of constituent competencies and provide theoretical and managerial implications. The findings from this study will help organisations in selection and development of techno-managerial talent. It will also help individuals towards self-realisation and self-development in achieving effectiveness.