(Note: This is a reply to Mr. G.'s thread in USeP-IC Web Forum - Assignment 9: The pace of change seems to increase relentlessly, especially changes involving information technology. Using your crystal ball, identify and discuss three changes likely to have substantial impact on your school services in the next three years.)
Change, as inevitable as it is, has been the foremost factor of the rise and fall of organizations. Technology is one of those which is innovated and fostered because of such transformations. Nonetheless, change is actually the motivator why technology surfaces at its height, and, though still advancing, organizations use it to deal with business competence in the industry.
For how many years did we knew that the changes brought by technology greatly affect the entire universe, we could think of the probabilities and experiences that what we do not have or do in the past are the things that occupy our attention now. Likewise, the way we are living today might not be similar in the future in some ways. And because technology is the catalyst of these fast variations, things that we anticipate in the forthcoming years might be the effects of the changes in the trends of information technology (IT).
These things affect us in one way or the other. We in the Philippines might say that we are far from the current advancement of information technology. But even though how far or near we are, still we could not deny the fact that it still has affected us. Moreover, although we belong to those third world countries, agents such as those in the highly industrialized countries are coming in and out of the Philippines bringing with them new trends of technology that are introduced to the massive people.
Most of the organizations like those that are involved in information and communication technologies, or ICT companies, introduced new techniques and offer help for firms which need information technology in running their business. They develop systems that are being used as tools and techniques in managing the information systems (IS) in the company. Firms and corporations who rely on information and communication technology in running their business are what we call ICT-enabled companies. These comprise of such corporations, schools, government agencies, private firms, and many others who use technology applications to excel in their fields of industry.
Colleges and universities are institutions of higher education that offer programs beyond the high school level. Colleges and universities provide necessary training for individuals wishing to enter professional careers. They also strive to develop students’ creativity, insight, and analytical skills. By acquainting students with complex ideas in an intellectually stimulating environment, colleges and universities can provide unique opportunities for personal enrichment while also preparing students for future careers.
Colleges and universities strive to inform students of established principles of knowledge as well as of the most recent developments in academic research. Methods of instruction may be a lecture, lecture-discussion, discussion, laboratory, seminar, internship, clinical experience, community service, distance education, or a combination of these and other formats. (Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.)
In my years spent as a student, I have observed the inclination of learning with regards to technological applications in education. And as I study in the university where I am taking up a course very relevant to what I am discussing now (I am a BS Information Technology student), I took notice of the effects of information technology in the learning and instructions in the university, including its everyday business.
As aforementioned, colleges and universities (or schools, in general) provide trainings for students to prepare them for future careers. As an institution of higher education, they should strive in giving the best teachings to produce highly competitive students. A lot of colleges and universities now engage in using computers and other audio-visual aids as means in delivering instructions in the classroom. There are also several schools which offer distant education programs. Apart from instruction, universities and colleges need to have the essential tools to deliver their business to satisfy their customers and clients. Schools rely on information technology for a more efficient process in its business transactions.
To further improve the service to the customers and clients as well as their partners, the university develops strategic information systems planning (we have discussed a lot about it in the previous forum topics) so to also address on how to deal with changes brought about by the effects of technology in the organizational management. And in the continuing years, new sets of strategies will be implemented to cope up with these changes.
I have found and read a research article made by Anita Chi-kwan Lee which conveys the IT trends in four years of incoming students at the University of Hongkong. I find it quite applicable for this topic so I made it a basis and reference of study. The paper actually talks about the survey results made in the university’s initiative efforts of adopting technology in education. (Well I thought those key points they have tackled are the same as what we are concerned right now but when I checked the date, theirs was actually many years ago. I could just imagine that we are moving quite late regarding these IT application concerns.)
Well, seriously speaking, if there are changes most likely to happen within the university I may say it would be more on the expansion of the information systems. Probably there would be great emphasis on the upgrades of hardware and software components, supplementary trainings and empowerment of more IS/IT personnel, the use of technology as a method of instruction, and students’ access to computers and internet in learning.
With the fast evolution of new products and services in information and communications technology, hardware components are now increasing in specifications with high speed and efficiency. I believe there is no need to get the latest trends in hardware units just to make out the success in the organization because it does not solely depends on it and having the newest and most advanced computer units does not guarantee utmost productivity. However, a firm may maximize its hardware components to give out the necessary job outputs in a fast and efficient manner. With this, I imagine our institution considering in upgrading the hardware elements in the information system. This is important especially that the institute houses the servers which are essential in processing the data and information in the campus. Not only that, new computer units with better (higher) specifications appropriate for the course learning methods would replace those old units and other audio-visual materials. This will further improve the transactions of the university in view of the fact that better facilities will increase efficiency and productivity of the services. Of course, this will yield better results if there are supplementary trainings and empowerment of more IS/IT personnel that will be done. Since the framework of IT will now expand due to the expansion of the university’s information systems, more staff that will cater these responsibilities is required.
The expansion of the information systems in the university might also mean the integration of the subsystems of the school, especially those of which roles greatly affect the major functions of the institutions. Since right now, our co-students are developing subsystems in the university as projects in software engineering, and system analysis and design subjects; these might give way to more and more system developments in the school in the forthcoming years. If these systems that are being developed will be highly regarded and implemented and maintained, such features and functions will draw attention from other students and university personnel and might give way to all-out support for the enhancement of the university’s information system.
In the event that more subsystems are proposed to be designed and developed that will function in replace of the old manual ways of processing data this calls for the advancement of IT skills of students, faculty, and staff in the university that will be regarded as the users of these systems. This also calls for a demand in student access to computer and internet. As the applications of IT in education are being greatly emphasized, course syllabus will require using computer applications in the learning process. Therefore, there might be an understanding that students who own computers especially those with internet connection will be more competitive than those who do not. Students who acquire more advanced computer skills will highly have more confidence in using computers.
As the conventional methods of instruction being conducted in the classroom and/or campus are also revolutionizing, I would not be surprise that in the next three years, the university will be initiating distance education programs that use technology to carry instructions to students in off-campus locations. In this case, there would be relatively less demand for faculty members who will handle large number of students thus also reducing cost. In addition, students that cannot attend classes on campus for a variety of reasons will now have the opportunity to learn without having to be onsite. That would mean more students enrolling courses off-site while lesser students in the campus.
These changes however, will have considerable impact on the university, the school services, and the personnel. The expansion of information system will surely boost the processing time of the transactions of the school services. Instead of extra time that will be used in the old manual systems of processing data and information, the development and enhancement of the systems will take less time thus increasing time for other concerns. The advancement of skills, student access to computer and internet access, particularly the method of instruction could affect the attitude of students and faculty alike towards information technology and education. Probably students will have diverse reactions regarding the computer use in education. The effectiveness of computer use in studies is now at issue. Truly, distance learning for example, gives opportunity for those who cannot manage to be on the campus and study onsite. However, this does not guarantee effective learning at all. Many would still believe that computers do not replace the need for lectures and class discussions. This I think will draw out attention especially to those colleges which have courses that are not so reliant on technological advancements or those who have minimal IT applications. Although many would say that computers make learning easier and more efficient, some faculty and staff may choose to have the conventional way of teaching as the need for it arises.
Nevertheless, changes brought about by IT trends affect the business in general as it affects the subsystems and its other components. Things may be very small to notice but each piece will greatly be involved.
I would like to acknowledge the following references in my essay:
Lee, A. C. 2002, IT Trends in Four Years of Incoming Students in University of Hongkong, Educause Quarterly
Microsoft Encarta Dictionaries 2007
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