Knowledge Update

Education has always been one of the main focus of governments and people in all countries in the past and in the present. Through education, all closed doors open and all obstacles in life can be overcome. Education lets people develop emotionally, intellectually and socially. Education is the scale that measures nations in all fields such as lifestyle, development, richness, poorness, and even happiness. That is why countries have been doing research to find better ways to enhance students in schools and to support teachers. When technology has become an integral part of various fields and industries, governments made an effort to integrate technology in education.

The idea of integrating technology in education has been a growing demand for both teachers and authorities in higher education. In the past, the major focus in classrooms was a teacher-centered approach in which teachers taught in a traditional way: using chalks, hardcopy books and notes, and lectures. Classes were dull for many students as the actual involvement and interactions of students out of classroom was lacking. The communication between teachers and students was limited.

Presently, integrating technology in education has become a need for every academic institution. It has become a vital part of the teaching-learning process. Having a computer and internet in the classrooms make it easier for teachers to give exercises and show students extra material such as pictures or videos in an easy, effective way. Moreover, teachers have access to unlimited teaching resources from the internet they can use in their work. Also, now it is much easier and faster for both teachers and students to communicate, discuss, release or submit assignments or even enter marks online. Teachers and students can also keep themselves updated about the latest trends. Assigning assignments, doing homework, performing exams are easier now than before.

Another important factor in using technology in education is virtual reality technology. This technology allows students to immerse in other cultures or environments without leaving the safety of the classroom. They can see experiments, new cultures and learn new languages in just a few clicks.

Countries that make use of the power of technology have gained better results in all fields and raised more intelligent generations with better practical skills than those with traditional learning approach. In ten years’ time, the traditional method of teaching might become obsolete. The countries must, therefore, set mandatory rules, ease the regulations, and allocate budget for institutions to encourage the use technology in education.

Strategy is the universal aspect every organization should have to achieve its set goals. A word of warning, though: some organizations may not achieve success in implementing strategy as they lack a clear understanding of the DNA of strategy and what fits to each organization. Having a strategy does not guarantee success. Therefore, the organizations should understand the DNA of strategy before devising, adopting and implementing a specific strategy. It is imperative for an organization to internalize its goals by devising a strategy and evaluating the same in achieving financial milestones. The financial milestones are crucial to any organization as they are performance indicators. Hence, organizations need to map the strategy with financial milestones.

This includes ensuring survival, achieving sustainability and focusing on growth aspects. Devising pertinent strategies to ensure survival through attaining break even (no profit-no loss) in order to keep the organization afloat, repeating of such milestone to achieve profits leading to achieve Return on Investment (ROI) i.e. sustainability. After achieving ROI, the organization needs to repeat the success by achieving continuous profits. Such recurrence of success leads to accruals of cash made through net profit, which could be used to plough back into the organization for new horizons of growth (Growth). Such cycle could be called Strategic Growth Cycle (SGC), which is very vital for an organization to internalize the strategy into its entire journey. Having looked at the ways the different organizations used such cycle, numerous organizations adopted and internalized the SGC cycle throughout their journey and attained top positions in the global business world. Wal Mart is the ideal example of using SGC throughout its journey since 1950 until now.

Arguably Wal-Mart is the number one company in the world in terms of generating sales turnover (http://fortune.com/global500/list/) with US$ 500 billion for the year 2018. Looking at the SGC journey of Wal-Mart, it is clear that it went through the entire cycle of SGC before achieving its top position. However, Wal-Mart did not get complacent by achieving top position as its turnover is stagnant for the last 4 years (https://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/wmt/financials?query=income-statement) as the sales turn over since 2015 hovered around US$ 485 billion and reached US$ 500 billion mark in 2018. Looking at the profitability of the company since 2015, which has been moving towards south (https://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/wmt/financials?query=income-statement) from US$16 billion to USS 9.8 billion in 2018. But, Wal-Mart did not faze with the dip of such profits, it has commenced its SGC for its new business initiatives i.e. Wal-Mart Online and Digital Business which has been paying off and is slowly making in-roads into online and digital business initiatives using its brick and mortar business model (https://www.forbes.com/sites/andriacheng/2018/08/16/walmarts-ecommerce-tactic-against-amazon-is-paying-off/#248e9782b74d).

Although Wal-Mart is a 69-year old company (since 1950), it maintains a top position through its mammoth sales of US$ 500 billion. It focuses on continuous evolution as an organization by adopting SGC for its new business initiatives i.e. online and digital business. Such lessons have been used by numerous UAE based organizations especially by the leading universities in the UAE that continuously evolve by launching state-of-the art programs in business and IT to suit the existing business and industry requirements.

The libraries are equipped with several books on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Modern books cover the latest theories, techniques and varied levels of innovative works. This helps us to figure out the worth of innovation and entrepreneurship for the corporate world and higher education in particular. Now universities are focusing on enabling students to be innovative in every field and not just be job seekers. Rather, they should move to be job providers by becoming entrepreneurs and being critical thinkers. Amongst the many types of innovations, something that really intrigues me is social innovation.

Social innovation in the changing world is possible but not easy. It has several challenges at its operational level. Social innovation is all about devising new ideas for existing social problems and finding solutions through creativity and novelty. This is directly linked to the establishment of Social Entrepreneurship. Muhammad Yunus’s Grameen Bank and Anil Gupta’s Honey Bee Network are renowned examples of operationalizing social innovation and providing society with the benefits of social entrepreneurship. Most social innovations include kindergarten, the cooperative movement, first aid, and the Fair Trade Movement, all of which began with social entrepreneurs and then spread internationally.

Social innovation involves the same core entrepreneurial process of finding opportunities, choosing amongst them, implementing and capturing value. However, it may differ as it is individually-driven where passion for change leads to remarkable and sustainable results. Another important area where individuals have been a powerful source of social innovation can come from the world of user-innovators. These are individuals who experience problems at first hand and often provide the trigger for change in the society.

Social innovation and entrepreneurship do not exist without challenges. No innovation and start-up come easy, and setting such a venture that is social in nature faces business, economic, political and especially financial obstacles. Resources are not easily available and may require broad networking in order to secure funding. Mostly social innovation and startups seek grants and donations that are largely unpredictable.

Social entrepreneurs face difficulties in scaling up their startup. As these initiatives are focused to a large section of the society, scaling up is essential but also a great challenge. It is vital to note that it requires continuous funding along with people who share a similar passion and consensus in achieving goals.

Adding to this there is a human resource challenge as well. As social entrepreneurship is voluntary in nature and people dedicate their time and energy due to their core values and beliefs, the traditional management approach and motivational yardsticks may not work effectively thereby posing a difficulty in availability of expertise and helping hands.

Nonetheless, in spite of all challenges, there is a huge movement towards social innovation and social entrepreneurs in the contemporary world. Millennials and post-millennials are engaging with these thoughts with a clear intention to make the world a better place to live and do business. Social innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives can be a driving force for a country’s intellectual output too.

The accessibility and consolidation of retail sectors into offline and online platforms are triggering exceptional growth. On one hand, it’s an advantage for consumers who can use Omni channels for exploring and shopping. On the other hand, it’s a disadvantage for vendors to classify and implement strategies to satisfy the desires of consumers. The UAE scenario is no different story, and with digitization leap, the gap between online and offline shopping is plummeting. With internet infiltration rate as high as 99% and with 62% population rate of online shoppers (increase of 25% from 2017) in the UAE, the challenge of giving updated information is a daunting task. According to PwC Middle East 2017 report, 52% of consumers use social media to get an updated information about products. Another important aspect to consider is that companies are focusing on contents that need to be posted on these social media channels. Content creation for social media w.r.t. omni-channels, though pretty straightforward, gives updated information which leads to purchase.

Figure 1 is a proposed model for integration of omni-channels and content creation using social media:

As mentioned in the figure, for omni-channel presence, the first challenge is the selection of social media channels. Facebook, Instagram and YouTube are three effective channels used by companies.

• Facebook and Instagram– Companies use Facebook and Instagram for visual content in the form of images, infographics and videos as magnets for engagement. Facebook and Instagram are great sources of content consumers can really enjoy.
• YouTube– Consumers are going to YouTube to search for answers for queries and reviews of the products they’re interested in. Creating explainer videos and how-to's is one Omni channel tactic for searchers, and help boost search engine results page (SERP) rankings as well.

Secondly, once effective on social media, companies are drawing consumers to land on website and post reviews (after buying the product).

• Website Reviews - These reviews serve as first-hand experience of consumers who are ready to buy the product. Souq.com (now Amazon) and Namshi, and even stores like Carrefour are using website reviews to boost the sales.

Thirdly and most importantly is the generation of blog contents. Blog contents are used for both pre and post sales reviews and used by consumers as a key source of information. Social media sites also fall in this category, however, some companies are also websites (like Sitejabber, Medium or Tumblr) for review generation.

• Blog- Even though companies know that blog isn’t where most of your traffic comes, it is important to have informative and interesting content there. Blogs serve as an essential source to redirect consumers back to the website.
• Third-party blog sites– Companies use third-party blogs to extend its reach. Getting into third party blog sites such as Medium, Tumblr or Sitejabber is easy and a great idea to start with.

The paper investigates the influence of gender (male and female) over technology acceptance model (TAM) towards using smart phones. The study conducted in the Sultanate of Oman among 296 smart phones users (male and female). The study used SEM approach to identify the influence. The results are: 1) gender (male and female) elicit a negative influence over perceived usefulness towards using smart phones; 2) male respondents elicit a positive influence over perceived ease of use; 3) female respondents elicit a negative influence over perceived ease of use. The model revealed the male influence over perceived ease of use towards using smart phones.

http://www.inderscience.com/info/inarticle.php?artid=94570

The paper investigates the influence of gender (male and female) over technology acceptance model (TAM) towards using smart phones. The study conducted in the Sultanate of Oman among 296 smart phones users (male and female). The study used SEM approach to identify the influence. The results are: 1) gender (male and female) elicit a negative influence over perceived usefulness towards using smart phones; 2) male respondents elicit a positive influence over perceived ease of use; 3) female respondents elicit a negative influence over perceived ease of use. The model revealed the male influence over perceived ease of use towards using smart phones.

Changing patterns in the international business, trade and currency, ever increasing and highly volatile customer demand, strategic alliances at all levels of business, increasing globalization, unstable investments by world

Decisions shape our lives. Mathematics rationalizes the shifting of information and the balancing of alternatives inherent in any decision. Mathematical models underlie computer programs that support decision making, while bringing order and understanding to the overwhelming flow of data computers produce. Mathematics serves to evaluate and improve the quality of information in the face of uncertainty, to present and clarify options, to model available alternatives and their consequences, and even to control the smaller decisions necessary to reach a larger goal.

Public-private partnership (PPP) is a legal agreement between public and private sectors by sharing its assets and skills in delivering quality facilities and services to the people. PPP is becoming like a fad, however, it is a long-term process. It entails a broader capacity of understanding between the public and private entities that requires experience and knowledge advisers in facilitating the partnership between public and private sectors.

In the healthcare industry, most of the services are being delivered by the private sectors. Somehow the public sector provides the facilities but the management is usually being commissioned to the private sectors.

The healthcare industry in UAE is becoming fast improving and competitive to cater the needs of its citizens and the expatriates. The continuing move of the government in integrating policy to for a quality healthcare is also being challenged on how it can provide the most affordable services to offer to the public.

Improving the healthcare system, while considering the high cost in every health care provider is the main challenge for the policymakers. The UAE healthcare system both the private and public sectors provide funding leading to various payments, insurance coverage, and services offered. Thus, the system becomes so complex and very costly to manage and sustain because of the varying expenditures.

In 2014, during the World Government Summit, the UAE government has commissioned a report from Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, indicated that healthcare and education ranked the lowest in terms of quality based on the public perception in the lower middle-income countries. One of the six pillars of the Vision 2021 National Agency is to provide world-class healthcare. The government is now working in having all the public and private hospitals accredited according to the joined national and international quality standards of medical services and medical practitioners.

As stated in the Vision 2021, the UAE government set forth the following objectives: (1) enhancement of quality healthcare services; (2) attraction, retention, career development of healthcare professionals; (3) ensuring patient safety and wellbeing; (4) emergency preparedness; (5) health-hazards precautionary awareness to improve public health; (6) ensuring value of money and sustainability of healthcare spending; (7) inclusion of private sector health providers and endorsing their investment initiatives in the sector; and (8) launching electronic health program as a primary facilitator for the other priorities as stated above. The objectives are not only to set to be achieved but it will be a mechanism for innovation, reform, and development of the healthcare sector in UAE.

The UAE government enacted a law on public-private partnerships (PPPs) in 2015. The law encourages more partnerships between the public and private sectors in the development of projects in the country in order to improve the delivery of goods and services to the people.

Public-private partnership policy is a tool which requires a proper mindset on how to set its agenda, its policy objectives and how it will be implemented.  Commitment to the partnership needs a solid foundation in order to have a successful UAE healthcare reform.

Dr. Sharon Mendoza-Dreisbach is an Assistant Professor at Skyline University College, a university in Sharjah that offers the best MBA programs in UAE and one of the top universities in UAE.