Technology Plan Vs Digital Strategy- The Clash of Plans

In the section of the blog, the attention will now focus on the benefits of the Technology Plan versus those of the Digital Strategy. This will be done as a means to select the most appropriate system to use at the Combermere School. 

DEFINITIONS

It would be necessary to provide a definition as a means to give clarity to the aforementioned terms so that no misunderstandings will occur as we proceed.

DIGITAL STRATEGY

A company's overarching digitalization vision and the tactical steps taken to realize it is outlined in a digital strategy. In the context of products, services, and value creation as well as for the structure and culture of an organization, it sets specific, short-, medium-, and long-term digitalization goals and activities (Lipsmeier et al 2020).

TECHNOLOGY PLAN

A technology plan acts as a link between conventionally accepted standards and instructional methods in the classroom. It articulates, arranges, and incorporates, using the relevant technology, the procedures and content of education within a certain field. It facilitates decision-making at various levels, particularly in school districts, schools, and educational organizations that permit the distribution of supportive resources (RTEC 2002).

IDENTIFYING THE CORRECT COURSE OF ACTION

According to Westerman (2018), even though making predictions about emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), robots, and the internet of things (IoT) can be fascinating, putting too much emphasis on it can be risky. Digital is not the solution when it comes to digital transformation. It is transformation. Lipsmeier et al (2020) state that In order to create your own digital strategy, many businesses must overcome significant obstacles.

This is because there aren't enough effective ideas and techniques for creating a digital strategy. Therefore, the absence of digital strategies, which coordinate the digitalization initiatives in line with a uniform strategic direction, is a major barrier to an organization's ability to transform digitally (Lipsmeier et al 2020).

As a result, Lipsmeier et al (2020) made mention of steps that can potentially deliver the most effective digital strategy:

1. An outline of a digital strategy-A organization's overall goal for digitization, together with the tactical steps necessary to realize it, are outlined in a digital strategy.

2. Positioning a digital approach- Analyzing both real-world examples and academic papers is necessary to evaluate where a digital strategy fits within the established strategy tiers.

3. The steps involved in creating a digital strategy- The top-down approach, bottom-up approach, and down-up method, which combine these two approaches, are recognized approaches for developing strategies.

The digital strategy seeks to provide additional support to the educational system so that all students have the chance to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully navigate a digital environment that is constantly growing.

• It outlines your intended route and point of departure.
• It serves as the foundation for all that you do and is still your roadmap for implementing organizational change.
• It is a strategy that has the support of everyone involved, is in line with the corporate and individual goals of each person involved, and is governed by the same culture and values. Therefore, everyone ultimately moves in the same direction.

Technology plans seem to prioritize "new" over "old" technologies. In addition, technology plans frequently prioritize results above instructional procedures (Zhao and Conway 2001). Zhao and Conway (2001) went on to say that the interpretation of the technology plans' treatment of teachers leads us to believe that while they do recognize the significance of teachers in the adoption of technology, the plans stop short of suggesting ways in which teachers might be resourceful, knowledgeable, and intentional creators of educational technology.

However, NCES (2002) states that a technology plan can help optimize the benefits of new developments while assisting in overcoming implementation difficulties. In the end, it ought to lead to more cost-effective spending and increased student accomplishment.

SWOT ANALYSIS

A SWOT analysis enables decision-makers to get a thorough understanding of all elements that may have an impact on the result of the planned action. Organizations must also make judgments on data analytics rather than conjecture and supposition. Decision-makers can examine their firm from several angles and viewpoints with the use of a SWOT analysis.

To better determine if the digital strategy or the technology plan would be more beneficial it would be best to utilize the SWOT analysis.  Below is a SWOT analysis for the digital strategy and the technology plan.

SWOT Analysis

DIGITAL STRATEGY

STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES	OPPORTUNITIES	TREATS
·       The most recent educational technology, and well-run facilities     ·       Improved technological skills of the students	·       Too many distinct apps must be switched between students each day.	·       Cloud-based storage	·       Pricing increases by service providers     ·       New laws and regulations

 

TECHNOLOGY PLAN

STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES	OPPORTUNITIES	TREATS
·      Parents are informed about the technology their children use and why, as it enables parents to comprehend our technology plan better.	·       Technology may not be a top priority for parents or teachers.	·       The technology and vision strategy will provide precise strategies for raising student achievement.	·       Teachers who refuse to implement the plan

 

The conclusion of this comparative analysis will be seen in the next post. 

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