Do Today’s Executives Lack Strategic Management Skills?

Strategic planning and management are an essential aspect of any organisation as it helps to shape the objectives, principles, goals, focus, purpose and the identity of the business. Effective strategic management practices enable you to determine which actions are most needed for future development. 

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But a recent study shows that executives in most companies lack the skill to develop strategic and risk contingency plans. Hence, currently there is a strong need for well trained strategic planners and managers and your best option is perhaps to pursue an online diploma in strategic management.

 

What was the study about?

 

The recent study conducted by UT’s Global Supply Chain Institute revealed that almost 90 per cent of the companies that were surveyed failed to gauge risks related to supply chain when they outsourced production. Moreover none of the firms took support of external expertise to measure the supply chain risks. This just goes to show how unprepared today’s managers are to deal with supply chain risks. This undoubtedly necessitates a comprehensive training for strategic planning for all executives who are in charge of day-to-day business operations. An ATHE diploma in strategic management is certainly the most suitable option for anyone who wants to learn and apply their knowledge at the workplace simultaneously. 

The report, entitled Managing Risk in the Global Supply Chain, has been prepared by UT’s supply chain faculty as the 3^rd instalment of their Game-Changing Trends in Supply Chain series. It was funded by UPS Capital Corporation. The research includes a survey of over 150 supply chain managers and encompasses executives’ interviews from 6 firms. The surveyed companies varied from retailers, manufacturers to service providers and ranged from $80 billion to $300 million in size.

What did the study find?

 

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Paul Dittmann, ‎author of the study and Executive Director of the Global Supply Chain Institute, says, “The supply chain is the area of a company where executives must balance operational efficiencies with customer and company needs, all without actually having direct control over many of the moving parts.” He believes that “The visibility of material movement and control of the supply chain becomes even murkier in the global environment, which puts firms’ global supply chains at greater risk.” 

One of the most significant findings of the study showed that executives often get engulfed by regular and daily challenges related to business operations, such as cyber-security, warehouse scarcity, supplier delays, unanticipated delays etc. Thus the executives get little or no time to develop plans for other disruptions including geopolitical disturbances and natural disasters. 

Vice President of UPS Capital, Dave Zamsky, says, “A disruption or issue in any supply chain, large or small, can significantly impact a company’s revenue stream, and in some cases even jeopardize the continuity of the business.” He further adds, “The threats are very real, but there are many ways to mitigate this risk, such as insuring losses from a third-party logistics provider.” 

So how can you manage such risks?

 

Managing daily business challenges prove to be a serious test of capability for supply chain and strategic management professionals. But an ATHE diploma in strategic management can help executive across the globe to acquire skills which would help them to deal with daily business challenges and develop strategic management skills. These programmes also enable you to learn different aspects of strategic planning and empower you to implement these efficiently into your work. 

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Apart from this, the surveyed executives and companies also emphasised on some tools which they use to alleviate risks in their supply chains. Some of the main strategies include relying on competent and reputed suppliers, leveraging logistics visibility tools and reducing cycle times. 

Do you think the findings of the study reveal the true picture? Do today’s managers lack the skills to manage supply chain risks? Will an ATHE diploma in strategic management be able to help you? Let us know what you feel. We would love to hear your views.

Can Interactive Games Help Our Students Learn Better?

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Teaching your students can prove to be very tricky as on one hand you need to stick with traditionally proven methods; while on the other hand you need to modify your techniques to incorporate latest technology to reach your students better. 

There is no doubt that many students, like me, feel bored by lectures. To be honest, I preferred classes that had some activities in them as I could realise my potential instead of just listening to boring lectures. 

Gamification of Education

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If you are a teacher and if you want to make learning engaging for your students, most of whom undoubtedly hate lectures, then your best solution is “Gamification”. It incorporates elements of games into learning, making the process more effective and simpler. Contrary to popular belief, Gamification is not a new concept and has been around for more than a century. Till now Gamification has proved successful in numerous classrooms worldwide with positive results. 

But still if you are not convinced, I have listed some of the benefits that you and your students can get from Gamification in education- 

Games and Maths

 

Let’s face it....Maths is a rather dry subject for most students. I can assure you that most of your students, barring the nerds, do not even enjoy the class. But you can change all that with Gamification. The best way to teach young learners the value of maths and enable them to calculate and solve problems is by using games in the maths class. Your students will be more involved and engaged in the sessions and would enjoy the learning process. You can find various game-based learning software that help to teach maths better. 

Games and Students Engagement

 

I know this for a fact that several educators complain that the level of class participation in their classroom is extremely low. As result of this, your students fail to remember the lessons during the tests which hamper their grades. 

By including Gamification in your teaching techniques, you will be able to increase their level of engagement as all your students will need to participate in the games. As the classes will include several types of activities, your students will not be absent-minded or be bored. This helps to improve their understanding and motivation. 

Games Help Children with ADHD

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You may think that video games would be a bad idea for children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). But a scientific journal written by Andrew Campbell and Krestina L. Amon of the Discipline of Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health, reveals that instructional video games can teach kids with ADHD to control their behaviour. Learning-based games are actually beneficial as they can impact your student in a positive way. 

Games Improve Physical Activity

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Apart from computer-based games, there are several other types of interactive games that promote physical activity among learners. It helps students to gain strength and flexibility. I am sure your students will perform better in the classroom as they will feel much energised after doing some pleasurable activity or playing in an open area or outside. 

Here I have mentioned only a handful of benefits of introducing Gamification in your classroom. When you start using engaging and interactive games in teaching your students, you will surely find out various other benefits of using this method. 

What do you think about Gamification? Will you use it in your classroom? I would love to hear your views...so feel free to share your comments.

Is Technology Negatively Affecting Your Student’s Writing Skills?

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As more and more students are spending increasing number of time on their laptops and tablets, they are being less engaged in traditional writing activities. This is making many parents and teachers concerned about the use of technology in learning. Do you think that educational technology is leading to poorer hand writing in today’s students? Let’s Find Out... 

Is Technology Affecting Students’ Writing Skills?

 

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Many education experts believe that modern technological tools in education may be severely affecting the writing skills of students worldwide. But the recent National Writing Project study by the Pew Research Center suggests there is no need to worry about your students writing skills. 

The findings of the report are contrary to the popular belief that technology is creating weaker students who are unable to express their feelings through writing. The researchers have concluded that technology based learning activities offer several benefits to students over the traditional methods. 

The National Writing Project Survey 

 

The Pew Research Center conducted the Advanced Placement and National Writing Project by surveying over 2,400 middle school and high school teachers. The respondents included teachers from all the 50 states and also included the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia as well. Almost 1,750 respondents in the survey were Advanced Placement teachers; whereas 700 respondents were from the National Writing Project. 

The researchers of the study also considered the information gathered from focus groups of high school students as well as high-school and middle-school teachers from November 2011 to February 2012. 

What the Survey Found....

 

Around 78 per cent of the teachers surveyed in the Advanced Placement and National Writing Project believed that the increasing use of the computers, internet and social networks helped in improving personal expression and creativity in students. Almost all of the teachers believe that the internet enables students to share their work faster and wider. Moreover almost 80 per cent of respondents said they think that the social media and the internet have made team work a simpler process for students. By sharing on a platform which provides wider reach; students can get more feedbacks and suggestions which would lead to better writing quality in the long term. 

Technology in the Classroom- Good or Bad?

 

But many other teachers did not agree with this perception. Those opposing the use of technology in the classroom believe that the grades of students are getting affected as a result of all this. 

When teachers were asked to evaluate the performance of their students on particular writing skills, most teachers rated the learners as “fair” or “good”, instead of “very good” or “excellent.” However, most students received excellent grades on their capability to “effectively organise and structure writing assignments.” They also received outstanding ratings on their aptitude to “understand and consider multiple viewpoints on a particular topic or issue.” These students received the poorest ratings in “reading and digesting long or complicated texts” and “navigating issues of fair use and copyright in composition.” 

Is the Study Skewed?

 

Some educators also claim that the National Writing Project research is biased towards instructors to who teach the best students in the nation. Hence the findings of the report reflect their view of education in the US. Some of these education leaders claim that the report does not necessarily represent the reality of all American teachers and schools. 

However, the results of the survey will undoubtedly help us to improve education as these reflect the judgements and observations of teachers from some of the most effective schools that use technology in their classrooms. 

What do you think? Is technology in the classroom good or bad? Do you think tablets, internet and social media is actually affecting the writing quality of our students? Let us know what you feel.... 

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Is There a Need for Entrepreneurship in Today’s Education?

 

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Most graduates are now deciding to become entrepreneurs and start their own business as a result of the recent global recession and the current economic conditions. It’s important that they acquire relevant skills and knowledge by pursuing higher education courses like postgraduate diploma in business which will help them to face the challenges of the corporate world. Hence, it is about time that entrepreneurship is incorporated into modern education so that our aspiring entrepreneurs can have an edge in the intensely competitive marketplace.

When it comes to graduation, 2 basic questions come to our minds:

• Can a college degree help you in your career?
• After your graduation, will you earn more than a person without a degree?

You can find numerous articles and news online based on these two questions even though the answer to these questions is yes. However, the real question we need to ask is “Will a college degree teach you value creation?” Unfortunately, the answer is no.

What Do You Mean By Value Creation?

Value creation refers to providing the required skills and abilities to our graduates so that they can innovate, develop and create employment. It means empowering you to contribute significantly to the global economic development. And how can we do that? The best way is to develop postgraduate diploma programmes that will train our grads to become entrepreneurs and enable them to create value for overall growth.

Can College Education Teach Entrepreneurship?

As I mentioned earlier, most of our young populace are now more interested in taking an entrepreneurial approach to build their careers. But sadly, our education system is not sufficient to provide them the training they need.

The data from the Annual 2014 Youth Entrepreneurship Study by Buzz Marketing Group and YEC shows that around 81 per cent of youths, who do not own a business currently, are determined to become self-employed in the near future due to the recent changes in the economy. Moreover, 87 per cent of youths want to become entrepreneurs. The study also found that 62 per cent of our graduates did not receive any entrepreneurship classes during their college; and among them, a further 62 per cent believed such classes were insufficient.

This clearly shows the urgent need for improving our education system so that we can empower our youths with relevant knowledge related to entrepreneurship, and not just business management.

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So What Should Be Done?
  
I believe these following strategic suggestions will make sure that your college degree is worthwhile and helps you to become business leaders in future –

Recognising Entrepreneurship

The first and most important thing is that the present education system must recognise Entrepreneurship as a key area and must incorporate it into the curriculum. We need to start training our future leaders from K-12 level, instead of waiting for college. It is not necessary to teach our youths about value creation only when they start attending college. Our schools must focus on offering high quality experiential learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy. This will enable you to apply the skills and knowledge you learned in K-12 in real life scenarios and help you to understand the threats and opportunities.

Communication Between Business Leaders and Colleges

Colleges and Universities should take the support of reputed entrepreneurs and business leaders to develop opportunities for internship and apprenticeship, mentoring graduate students, and support our graduates to find their desired jobs and help their communities. These will particularly help students pursuing undergraduate business degrees, MBAs and online postgraduate diploma in business. They will receive the necessary training to solve current and practical challenges faced by their own companies.

Incorporating Entrepreneurship in Curriculum

According to the Annual 2014 Youth Entrepreneurship Study, almost 37 of the students said they would either work freelance or become entrepreneurs, if they remained unemployed. In contrast, only 21 per cent of respondents said they would make the most of any job opportunity they get; while 19 per cent claimed they might pursue further education.

Here come the importance and necessity of factoring entrepreneurship in education. If our students are not trained in starting their own ventures or making a successful freelance career, then our education system will failed. Irrelevant of your specialisation, your degree or diploma programme must incorporate experiential learning. This will make sure that you are able to successfully apply your knowledge in today’s fast-paced, high-tech and rapidly transforming world.

So What Can You Do? Go Online.

You can find various online and blended learning programmes offered by numerous reputed colleges that focus on experiential learning. An online postgraduate diploma in business programme will help you to learn the necessary skills and enable you to by apply them in your workplace at the same time. Online institutes offer various programmes that will cater to your business and entrepreneurial needs. You will acquire comprehensive knowledge as online postgraduate diploma in business courses will teach you both the core and advanced concepts of entrepreneurship. You will have the flexibility to study and work on your start up company by applying what you have learnt immediately.

In this present scenario, it has become imperative that education leaders consult with business leaders when developing the core curriculum for different programmes, be it on-campus or online. Our education system needs to create educated and competent graduates who can not only create value but help to build a sustainable and growing economy.

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Is Technology in Today’s Classroom Good for Students?

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Technology is increasingly becoming more important for the growth and expansion of education on a global scale. You simply cannot deny the role modern technology plays in our daily lives. It has dramatically modified every aspect of our lives. Then why should education be an exception?

There are many who are still apprehensive about the use of advanced technology in education. But the benefits that technology offers to our students and teachers are far too great than we could previously imagine.

EdTech- Revolutionising Education

Educational Technology or EdTech, as some like to call, is revolutionising our classrooms and enhancing the learning experience for our students, especially for those with special needs. Nowadays children and young adults are highly comfortable with the use of various technological tools. Does your child get glued to his video games right after school? Does your teen spend a lot of time on Facebook? If yes, then you know what I mean.

With the introduction of advanced smartphones and tablets, students can now easily access unlimited information just by swiping their fingertips. It not only helps them to learn better, but makes them more proactive. Increasing numbers of schools across the globe are now investing in the latest educational technology to make learning more engaging and effective. These high-tech academic tools can make the path of acquiring valuable knowledge much easier and more efficient, which will eventually result in developing essential professional skills.

If you are still unconvinced about the need for technology in education, then let us talk about the advantages it offers. Let’s have a look-

Easy Access to Information and Knowledge

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The internet allows our students to access unlimited and relevant information easily. As text books offer limited knowledge, your child can learn a lot more about specific topic and subjects through the internet. Apart from this, there are numerous online communicating programmes that can enable your children to improve their reading, writing, language and research skills. Students can also use various online academic exercises and games that will enhance their learning experience and increase student participation.

Web-based and other technological tools can help students to understand their own strengths and weaknesses as well as their learning progress. These can also improve hand/eye coordination and memory as well. Moreover, advanced tools can further help higher education students in conducting research, experiments and other assignments.

Creating a Globally Connected Classroom 

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Technology has enabled our students and teachers to connect with each other irrespective of where they are located. With online communicating tools like video chats, students can now learn from other students and teachers who are situated in different parts the world. This has resulted in developing a global classroom which is highly beneficial as knowledge sharing has become much easier and accessible. Moreover, with the popularity of online education, now your child can learn from renowned and respected teachers without even leaving your home.

Improving Employability and Future Career

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As the corporate world has become highly competitive, high school and college graduates must have adequate knowledge about technology related domains. As students get equipped with various high-tech skills from an early age due to the use of technology in classrooms, it helps them to improve their chances of getting employed and build a rewarding career in future.

Countering Challenges and Attaining Success

According to various studies, technologically inclined learning environments enable students to avert risks and overcome obstacles in their academic as well as professional lives. Hi-tech educational tools also help to improve their success rate.

To Make a Long Story Short

Technology has now become vital for most parts of our lives, homes and communities. Schools, teachers and students alike will undoubtedly benefit by using advanced technological tools in the classrooms. Technology is rapidly changing the way we teach and learn. As education has become more accessible with the help of online education, students from even remote parts of the world can now gain essential skills and knowledge which will increase their employability.

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Can Tablets Help to Create a Better Learning Environment?

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Nowadays, modern technology has become an integral part of every aspect of our lives. So why should education be an exception? With the advent of online learning, laptops, tablets and smartphones have made their way into our classrooms. Although there may be some sceptics, but the fact is using devices like tablets are making the learning experience better for our students.

Should Tablets Be Allowed In Classrooms?

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Why not? Technology has now become a major part of our classrooms. With the help of tablets students can easily access and share educational content which will help them to learn better. Tablets can make education more interesting and enhance engagement between teachers and students. Devices like these can increase student participation and enable them to become more proactive. Using various interactive features, offered by tablets, our students can check their learning and share their progress with fellow classmates.

According to studies, 81 per cent of teachers believe that tablets can help to improve the learning experience. Moreover, 86 per cent of students have said that tablets can undoubtedly enable them learn more effectively. It was also found that 87 per cent of teachers think that digital devices like tablets can improve motivation, independent thinking, creativity, digital literacy and understanding of study material.

It is true that tablets, along with a reliable internet connection, can enable students to conduct research without even leaving their classrooms (or homes) as they can access virtual libraries simply by swiping their fingers. Moreover teachers can demonstrate topics by projecting and manipulating 3-D illustrations and objects on screen. It is only with the use of tablets that students now carry lighter backpacks and dogs are unable to eat their homework.

How Can Tablets Improve The Classroom?

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Several studies show that using technology in classrooms can help in creating an enhanced learning environment. It cannot be denied that there is a chance students might get distracted by all the features offered by tablets, but when used properly under close supervision of teachers, tablets can actually help students to learn in an interactive way.

Here I have mentioned how tablets can help students in the classroom. Tablets can-

• Improve their motivation to learn


• Help them to search, share and publish information


• Encourage collaboration


• Tablets will develop IT skills in students from an early age


• Help to develop a more personalised learning approach


• Provide more flexibility and convenience regarding place and time


• Inspire creativity


• Improve communication among students (via online forums etc)

On the other hand, there are many benefits of using tablets for teachers as well. Tablets in classrooms can-

• Help in classroom organisation and management


• Transform/Modify the role of the class teachers


• Help in student evaluation and assessment


• Develop IT skills in teachers


• Improve quality of study material


• Make teaching more effective by using audio and visual aid


• Help to create a unique teaching approach

You can argue that there are several ill-effects of using tablets in the classroom, but you cannot deny that the advantages outweigh the negative aspects by a large margin. This simple digital tool offers numerous academic-based functions like -

• Word Processing


• Camera


• Image, Video and Document Viewing


• Interactive Educational Games


• Online Library


• Presentation


• Printing wirelessly


• E-books


• Internet Connection, and


• Others

Tablets are certainly a great and much less expensive option for students and schools to utilise technology to enhance education. In the recent future, devices like these will enable motivated students and trained teachers to engage in much deeper and more efficient learning experiences.