Knowledge Update

In the past, Strategic Business environmental changes triggered organizations to delve into the sphere of what was known as knowledge management. Today digitization of business has changed the strategic analysis content, context, and process. Previously, data science and analysis were not areas many organizations would think twice about.  A decade ago, many organizations would just be content with traditional strategic decision making only. Today, that has changed. As strategy making becomes progressively contingent on analytics, connecting data science, analytics and decision making become indispensable. Due to the colossal amount of data being spewed daily by this change, organizations operating in this era of information explosion have no other alternative, other than to adapt to strategy analytics. So what is Strategy analytics? How do analytics fit into strategic management? Who are the practitioners in an organization? At what level of operations do organizations need to adapt to the use of strategy analytics? Is it a necessary evil for organizations, whether struggling or raring to advance to the next frontier? What is the eventual outcome of the use of strategy analytics? Which organizations have already embraced this? Have they been successful?

Metaphorically speaking, Strategy Analytics is the contemporary Trojan horse for organizations. Handling and dealing with big data for strategic reasons is the “in” thing today for many businesses. Strategy Analytics for business is the study of statistical and operational data culminating into the crafting of sustainable strategic alternatives and predictive models, implementation of optimization techniques and organizational capability, dissemination of information for decision making for the right and appropriate stakeholder of the organization, be it customers, business partners, or the greater organizational value system. In a dynamic business environment, strategy analytics aids an organization formulate defensible and distinctive strategies to excel in a complex technologically driven market.

In order to overcome the curse of paralysis by analysis, several organizations have realized the need for big data, even though in varying levels. It is no longer a hidden truth, organizations today need to develop data analytical capabilities. Though the outcomes of strategy analytics maybe bought, internal analytics capability is essential. This comprehension by internal users of strategy data analytics is necessary as the organization seeks to optimize its operative decision making.

Each day makes the world smarter, every day gives fresh challenges to the C-suite and operational executives, this smartness, strategic and operational challenges seem to converge at the need for data, big data. Data has become the core to an organization’s sustainable competitive advantage. Data translation gives an organization the capability to interact with a dynamically competitive environment in the right manner. For an organization to optimize its operations, to satisfy stakeholders, and to out maneuver rivals, it will highly be depended on how well it leverages the use of data, employ data analytics and implement new technologies.

 Digital business is thriving nowadays with companies like Amazon and Alibaba leading the digital business wave. Amazon made USD 232 billion in sales in 2018, a big jump from USD 107 billion in sales in 2015 which accounted for more than 100% CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) from 2015.

Skyline University College’s Mapathon

Due to the significance of maps in responding to disasters and the delivery of healthcare, Skyline University College`s Services Committee organized a Mapathon in collaboration with MSF (Doctors without Borders) in Dubai and Missing Maps Team in Spring 2019. Mapathon is a humanitarian project aimed at putting the world`s most vulnerable people/places on the map.      

The Mapathon was intended to contribute to the fulfillment of Skyline University College`s vision to be a globally renowned university that nurtures the spirit of innovation and creativity. With the assistance of MSF, the Mapathon was an opportunity for students and other volunteers to digitally navigate and map of more than 550 building in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The data that students and other volunteers generated will be used by local and international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) to better respond to the crises affecting the world`s most vulnerable places.

Specifically, Skyline University College`s Mapathon was an outlet for BSIT and Business School`s students and other volunteers to use IT tools available at the campus to expand SUC`s community services internationally, and more importantly, take part in one of the most recurrent and timely humanitarian projects.

Students and other volunteers were given a training session on the concept of Mapathon by Jan Böhm, Missing Maps Communications and Community Engagement Manager, MSF Geneva. Mr. Jan was supported by Rasha Ahmed, Digital Communications Manager and Estelle Januel, Communication Assistant, MSF, Dubai.

Mathematical modelling is the conversion of problems from an application zone into manageable mathematical formulations with a hypothetical and arithmetical analysis that provides perception, answers, and guidance useful for the creating application. Mathematical modelling is valuable in various applications; it gives precision and strategy for problem solution and enables a systematic understanding of the system modelled. It also allows better design, control of a system, and the efficient use of modern computing capabilities.

Knowing the ins and outs of mathematical modelling is a crucial step from theoretical mathematical training to application-oriented mathematical expertise; it also helps the students master the challenges of our modern technological culture.

Looking at the core application of Mathematical Modelling:

I can list some of the modelling applications I understand, at least in some details, with areas involving numerous mathematical experiments. Various areas have interesting mathematical problems and these include Artificial intelligence, Computer science, Economics, Finance, and the Internet. Mathematical modelling is applicable in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, speech recognition, optical character recognition, reasoning under computer vision, and image interpretation, among others. Aside from computer sciences and economics, it’s important in image processing, realistic computer graphics (ray tracing), and labour data analysis.

Key areas of mathematics useful in Mathematical Modelling:

To formulate the basic algorithms for your mathematical formulation, the following are the key mathematical categories: Numerical linear algebra (linear systems of equations, Eigenvalue problems, linear programming, linear optimization, techniques for large, sparse problems), numerical analysis (function evaluation, automatic and numerical differentiation, Interpolation, Approximation Padé, least squares, radial basis functions, special functions, Integration univariate, multivariate, Fourier transform nonlinear systems of equations, optimization and nonlinear programming), numerical data analysis (Visualization 2D and 3D computational geometry), parameter estimation least squares, maximum likelihood, filtering, time correlations, spectral analysis prediction, Classification Time series analysis, signal processing) Categorical Time series, hidden Markov models, random numbers and Monte Carlo methods), and numerical functional analysis (ordinary differential equations, initial value problems, boundary value problems, eigenvalue problems, stability techniques for large problems, partial differential equations finite differences, finite elements, boundary elements, mesh generation, adaptive meshes Stochastic differential equations Integral equations and regularization) and non-numerical algorithms (symbolic methods, computer algebra, sorting, and Compression Cryptography).

The aim of any 21st-century education system should be to prepare students on how to deal with life challenges in a very fast moving world.  Therefore, it has to adapt to the constantly changing conditions as it cannot function in isolation from reality and ultimately, without modern technology.

Information and Communications Technology, also known as ICT, has changed the way people communicate with each other, acquire information, spend their free time, and obtain knowledge. Computers, mp3 players, DVDs, radio stations, television channels and, of course, the Internet are used to send or convey various types of information that contains written texts, graphics, sound or video images which can greatly help students learning at every level of education. The use of such devices and technologies in schools is, indeed, influencing the changes happening in teaching methodologies.  When skillfully utilized, ICT allows us to change the current concepts of conducting school activities, and thus, to greatly enhance their quality. In today’s world, it is an inevitable process.

This article will present the possibilities and advantages of using the Internet as a technology supporting traditional learning. The main purpose is to present the tools and advantages of using ICT in schools such as blended learning, e-learning, etc., which are a mix of modern tools and some traditional teaching methodologies. The dynamic spread and progress of ICT have undoubtedly contributed to the development of a knowledge-based society, known as Lifelong Learning.

Ever since the computer was first introduced in education, teaching and learning have become noticeably more effective. The first use of computers in education took place in the USA in the 1960s. Computer dissemination in American schools started in the 1970s. In the 1980s, approximately 96% of teaching was supported by computers (Computer-Assisted Instruction). In contrast, the rest of the world remained far behind the United States. The Open University in the United Kingdom (est. in 1969), is the first educational institution whose activity was devoted entirely to distance learning. To date, it is still based on the active use of materials from the Internet, radio, and television.

The last years of the 20th century were the beginning of a new trend.  E-learning and blended learning were introduced and quickly gained popularity. They enabled the dissemination of distance education, learning foreign languages, participating in courses, or even on-campus learning. Generally speaking, all of these methods added a new dimension to learning and as a result, many barriers have been overcome. In most European countries, ICT is gaining more and more popularity. In fact, ICT now is an independent subject in school in many countries.
Teaching methods – the use of ICT tools in teaching

In the 21st century, a digital generation is growing up, for which new technologies are a natural thing as they have been in contact with them from a very early age. They are referred to as digital natives. It is a generation that is difficult to reach without using digital tools, which are completely natural to them. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to adopt the forms and methods of teaching to the tools that the students use in everyday life (e.g. computer, Internet), and the teacher’s role should be one of a facilitator, inspirer, adviser, and guide.  
ICT is based on the use of blended learning. The use of ICT tools in the classroom is associated with the active inclusion of familiar information and communication technologies in the teaching process. Language classes are a perfect example.

Foreign language teaching with traditional methods supplemented with distance learning (e.g. e-learning, m-learning, blended learning), encompasses different teaching methods, allowing the learner to practice all language skills owing it to a wide range of exercises and tasks available. One of the many possibilities to diversify language classes is the use of interactive computer games in learning a foreign language, i.e. introducing elements of learning through fun.

Today’s business world witnesses’ paradox in creating value to target consumers. Some companies travel the extra mile to create value to their target consumers, and some do nothing to create value to their target consumers. However, today’s consumers are smart and well informed, thanks to the abundance of real-time information available online, choose the companies they want to associate, buy, and continue to patronize.  So, taking consumers for granted will not be possible in today’s scenario. The companies that are doing such a thing and be successful may be lucky, but the luck will not work forever. Instead of taking the lucky route, smart companies take technology route, i.e. using technology to create value to its target consumers. In the new age of technology, smart companies use technology extensively in all the areas of operational aspects right from procurement until the consumer service. Looking at the value chain model created by Michael E Porter from Harvard Business School, USA, he developed an extensive value chain model based on the activities from the manufacturing industry. Thus, the value chain model comprises two major sections such as primary/core activities and secondary/trivial activities.

The model depicts the core activities which a business should follow to create value through its business to consumers. However, such model has been developed for manufacturing companies, whilst looking to implement such model to service companies, it needs to be recreated/redesigned suit to the required core activities and secondary activities pertinent to service businesses. Even among service businesses, different services require different value chain model such as academic services, health services, hospitality services, banking services, etc. to name a few. Therefore, the companies need to identify the DNA of each service businesses and redesign the value chain model accordingly. The basic model of value chain places technology as a part of the secondary activities of the manufacturing business. However, today dynamic business environment emphasis a major thrust on utilizing technology across any business. So, the emphasis and role of technology in any business are growing rapidly, and the companies are now acknowledging the necessity the same to create value to their target consumers. Looking at the availability of technology which could be used for businesses today, there are many leading cutting edge technologies available, however, the ones which the companies could use to value and touch points to consumers are Analytics, Internet of Things (IOT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics to name a few. Though the same technologies could be used for backend operations of the companies, using such technologies for creating customer value would likely to score more points as it is visible and measurable. Looking at the practical use of such technologies, the retail industry would be on the high end of utilizing such technologies to create value to consumers. Albeit, many industries the same technologies could be applied, the visibility is very high through the retail industry.

Retail industry could make full use of the aforesaid technologies in terms of identifying the existence of consumers inside the store through scanning of loyalty card or through facial recognition technology, upon identifying the existence of such consumers, Artificial Intelligence system can generate the purchase history of the respective consumers from its big data through analytics, and create a customized offers to such consumers and communicate the same through personalized messages to their mobiles or using public Address System (PAS) inside the store. Even, the same technologies could be used to create customized pricing (CP) for individual consumers based on their contribution to the specific store or business from a specific period i.e. year or month. So, using such technologies would create a personalized value to consumers, in turn, enhance loyalty, footfalls, and contribution to the businesses. Thus, increasing sales and profits. Even, leading universities from UAE offering BBA, MBA, BSIT use such technologies primarily online through using search engine optimization to reach out target audience i.e. students.

The heading of this piece is a question that students often ask me in a rather incredulous tone. Why must we practice thinking? We think all the time, according to my students. What’s the relevance of having a course about thinking? There is no skill involved. Yes, lower order thinking is instinctive and does not require any conscious effort but critical thinking, on the other hand, needs work. Critical thinking needs brain work and lots of it.

I’ve still not answered the question though. Why study critical thinking and problem solving? Well, the World Health Organization consistently ranks critical thinking as one of the top ten life skills that everyone should possess. Given the ever-changing nature of society, the job market and job descriptions themselves, employers more and more want employees who can think on their feet and adapt to diverse situations. For this, we need to be able to think critically.  Therefore, studying the practice of critical thinking will stand everyone in good stead for our entire lives, not just during higher education and not just for the duration of one course. Critical thinking is a skill that can be applied to everything in life. Critical thinkers are better able to contribute to the society in which we live. We are able to share ideas with our colleagues, friends and bosses. Critical thinkers are people who other people turn to for advice and guidance, as to think critically means that you can look at all angles of an issue and most likely find solutions to problems. Critical thinking, at its most basic definition, is thinking outside of the box and this is what employers both want and need from their employees.

Let’s unpack the words that are vital to the concept of critical thinking. Why? Well because in order to understand the importance of the concept, we need to understand all the terms involved. The most important terms, in my opinion, are skill and reasoning. These words are central to understanding the concept of critical thinking.

What is a skill? If you search for that answer you will most likely find something along the lines of ‘the ability to do something well’ or ‘expertise’. How do you become an expert in something? How do footballers score goals from seemingly impossible angles? They practice! That is what we need to do with our thinking; practice. Right now you are most likely thinking that I am a little bit crazy but, hopefully by the end of this brief article, you will understand what I mean and hopefully even agree with me. Now what do you think of the statement where I tell you that thinking is a skill? Thinking, you might ask? I’m not talking about the thoughts that flit through your mind at night as you drift off to sleep or the very first thoughts that you wake up with. The skill part comes in to play when we have to put a conscious effort into our thoughts. Most of our thoughts are unconscious, in that they just happen. The thinking that is part of critical thinking is of a higher order. For example, if someone asks me what my favourite colour is, then I can instinctively, without thinking, tell them: Yellow! If someone, however, asks me on my opinion on an issue in education, such as how to improve an advisory system, I need to stop and consciously think. It takes work. Brain work! The difference between conscious and unconscious thought contributions is almost always the quality of the thought. Your thoughts in this course, and in life, need to be conscious, skillful and quality.

This lead to the notion of reasoning. Arguably, this can be said to be one of the most important aspects that sets humans apart from other species; our ability to figure things out, learn from the process and then remember and apply what we have learned. Reasoning talks about our ability to draw conclusions in a meaningful way and put those conclusions (and the process we used to reach them) to good use. The main part of reasoning is that we are rational. Rational implies being calm. Rational is based on logic. The best way to win arguments and solve problems is by being rational. This, once again, reiterates the importance of practicing this skill.

Therefore, it is clear to see how employers and in fact anyone in life would like to be surrounded by critical thinkers. Yes, knowledge about a certain area is always important but given the speed at which the world changes daily, critical thinkers will always be needed and valued.

International Relations and Foreign Policy are both subfields of political science. There is a very thin line that can only differentiate the two disciplines, otherwise, both are interrelated in many aspects. 

Reason for Consolidations in the UAE Banking Sector

Fintech is radically changing the finance industry. Innovations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain technology, biometric identification, cloud computing, and the use of big data are revolutionizing the industry. During the past five years, more than US$100 billion has been invested in the Fintech sector, and 73% of this investment was focused on retail banking. Thus, the impact of the current and increasing FinTech disruption is on the banking sector, and this is forcing banks to invest heavily in latest technologies for their existence or they will perish in the near future.

The retail banking experience:

Even individuals who have access to a bank account and who are able to go into a nearby branch, often don’t want to because the experience is so unpleasant. Investors and Fintech entrepreneurs have recognized that traditional retail banks have failed the consumer in this respect, and are developing new technologies that allow for a more enjoyable financial experience.

Challenger banks:

These are banks, such as the United Kingdom’s Monzo and Starling Bank, that are purely digital. These banks conduct most of their operations via mobile phone, providing fast, painless and pleasant user experience. From the investor’s perspective, it costs up to 50% less to set up the digital infrastructure for a challenger bank than for a traditional bank, and challenger banks require up to 90% less staff to run them. Moreover, their use of automation and sophisticated data technology means they are highly efficient financial service platforms, forcing established retail banks to reinvent their business models in an effort to keep up.

Recent events:

Some banks in the GCC have already merged, few are in the process of merging, some have announced their intentions for the merger, and many are in the preliminary discussions on merging. In my opinion, this increasing trend among the GCC banks forming alliances or merging is basically to survive the Fintech disruption and the challenges from new entrants from the non-banking sector and I doubt what kind of synergies they are going to achieve – it is a survival strategy.


Disclaimer: The above is personal opinion expressed as part of academic exercise.

Dr. Manuel Fernandez, mfernandez@skylineuniversity.ac.ae, Skyline University College, Sharjah, UAE

Most of the organizations in the world have implemented project management successfully and achieved better and sustainable outcomes. But, in today’s dynamic, global, highly competitive and complex business environment, the project management approach is turning out to be a little difficult one to implement due to its rigidity and highly process-oriented methodology. Out of the several techniques to resolve this rigidity, agile project management is found to be one of the most successful approaches. It is considered to be the most flexible and capable approach, which can execute several varieties of tasks simultaneously.

The traditional project management approach adopts a linear sequence of completion of events one after the other known as "waterfall" methodology. All the events and tasks of the project are planned well in advance, and are completed one after the other passing through different phases of a project known as "Project Life Cycle." In general, these phases are known as define, plan, execute, and close. All these four phases are commonly followed in each and every project. The project scope statement is prepared well in advance and the possibility of making changes to the scope is very rare. Due to this, the projects that are generally of longer duration face severe deviations in planned versus actual budgets and timelines.

Contrary to this traditional approach, the agile approach adopts an iterative approach (projects are implemented in small packets of works) which enables it to incorporate an element of flexibility in the scope and dynamic modification of project based on client’s requirements. It focuses on working along with the needs of the customer throughout the project, instead of freezing them at the beginning itself. The agile approach uses flexibility-enabled software for completing the tasks of the project through adaptive planning. According to the Project Management Institute (www.pmi.org), adoption of the agile approach is rapidly increasing in many industries and it is not limited only to Software and IT projects. Whereas the traditional project management is useful for tangible deliverables, the agile is found to be more useful for intangible and knowledge-oriented deliverables.

In traditional projects, the deliverables are not visible to the client until the completion of a very long duration of the project, whereas, in agile, the client can visualize the deliverables in small chunks within a very short duration. At the same time, the changing needs of the client can be incorporated at every chunk of the agile project. This increases the client’s satisfaction and at the same time enables flexibility and adaptability in the project.

Most commonly used agile processes are Scrum, Scrum/XP hybrid, Custom Hybrid, Scrumban, Kanban, and Iterative development. Out of all these, Scrum is the most popular agile methodology designed to guide the members of project teams in the step by step iterative methodology and the delivery of the product to the customer in a phased and incremental manner. Popularly, the Scrum is also called as "A Framework of Agile Project Management." It enables the project teams to quickly respond to changes in an efficient and effective manner and dynamically modifies the time and cost of the project to suit the client’s requirements. This is achieved through the usage of tiny slabs of time, known as "time boxes," and a collaborative approach with the client. In agile projects, the traditional project manager functions as a "ScrumMaster." Some of the examples of usage of scrum include social justice, venture capital projects, sales, marketing, finance projects, and portfolio management. Scrum works in a "lean way" and executes the projects through the continuous involvement of customer and project team to develop the right outcome as per the requirement of customer.

Today, the popularity of agile project management approaches has already spread to almost all industries. Some of the industries where agile approaches are widely used are, software, information technology, construction, pharmaceuticals, medical devices manufacturing, mobile and telecommunications, and electronic products manufacturing, etc.

It is expected that very soon project management will be totally replaced by the agile approach in many sectors.