Trends and Roles in Applied Business Technology

The Applied Business Technology Program is affected by all the below concepts. Globalization is increasing the need for the “soft” skills such as communication. Education in this area has responded to this need by offering a variety of courses in Business Communication and Human Relation skills to teach how to create successful business situations with a focus on inclusivity and bridging the gap of language and culture barriers.

The Knowledge Society has caused a need for further applied business technology skills in different areas of the globe to meet a growing demand to enable the worker to have the technologies available in overseas areas that previously may not have had a need for these technologies.

Technology changes have saw an increased need for strong internet services across the globe and areas that have not increased their internet services are falling behind in the ability to interact and complete successful business negotiations with societies that have better internet and communications systems.

Demographic changes means that applied business technologies can sometimes fall behind. The biggest growth in the participation rate in formal job-related training for the adult work force from 1997 to 2008 was for workers between the ages of 55 to 64. The rate of this demographic grew by 87% where the age group 25 to 34 only grew by 6%. (Statistics Canada). If this trend continues, then applied business technologies must become more user friendly. A younger population has been born into an age of technology, whereas an older age group may be learning to use computer software for the first time. Companies like Microsoft, which has focussed on increasing their software capabilities and tools, will need to focus on being more user friendly in the future.

References

Merriam, Sharan B. (2014 ). Adult Learning: Linking Theory and Practice (1^st edition) Jossey-Bass

Stats Canada (updated June 15, 2010). Participation rate in formal job-related training for the adult work force. Table D.7.1

Stats Canada Link    https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/81-582-x/2010003/tbl/tbld7.1-eng.htm