Monday, February 2, 2009

Technology Impacts

Organizational environment refers to those forces outside its boundaries that can impact it. Forces can change over time and are made up of opportunities and threats. Opportunities are openings for managers to enhance revenues or open markets, e.g. new technologies, new markets and ideas. Threats are the issues that can harm an organization like economic recessions and oil shortages. The managers must seek opportunities and avoid threats.

Internal EnvironmentOrganizations internal environment refers to the elements within the organization. Like Current employees, Management, Trade unions, Share holders

External Environmentit consists of all the outside institutions and forces that have an actual or potential interest or impact on the organization's ability to achieve its objectives. E.g. Competitive, Technological, Political, Legal.

Hardware Trends will be about smaller, lighter and -- most importantly -- more convenience. For the first time in history, we're not so into power unless we're using for something specific, like computer games, CAD, photo and video editing, etc. Since, the vast majority of people use their computer for email, browsing the Internet, and some occasional word processing, mainstream technology will focus becoming smaller, lighter and more convenient. More Convenience Means Form Over Function, Mass appeal is no longer about power, it's about convenience. Hardware has become powerful enough to run everything the majority of us need: docs, email, web, pics and songs. We've now reached the point at the hardware will be as small as it can get, we -- the humans -- are the limiting factor. Our fingers stay the same size no matter how small the internal nuts and bolts become. For now, the size of our devices is limited by the size of our fingers. For instance, large fingered individuals already have problems with many cell phones. [1]

Information becomes the important part in today’s business. The new technology make data and information management easily and safe. Not only the staffs but also the administrator can access the information easily and data management organizes internal facts into data record format, because of the technology environment, information management and digitized media become the main trend in business.


The current technology influence the way of doing work in many sides. It improves the work efficiency and brings a lot of benefits, In my opinion, the fuel cells technology will have a big influence in the future, Today, fuel cells are being developed to power passenger vehicles, commercial buildings, homes, and even small devices such as laptop computers. Fuel cell systems can be extremely efficient over a large range of sizes (from 1 kW to hundreds of megawatts). Some systems can achieve overall efficiencies of 80% or more when heat production is combined with power generation. Fuel cell systems integrated with hydrogen production and storage can provide fuel for vehicles, energy for heating and cooling, and electricity to power our communities. These clean systems offer a unique opportunity for energy independence, highly reliable energy services, and economic benefits. [2]

reference:
[1]http://www.widowpc.com/2008/01/computer_trends.php
[2]http://www1.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/fuelcells/current_technology.html

1 comment:

Ms-Sha said...

Looks like you summarised the points first. Good attempt. But I don't quite understand this part - "More Convenience Means Form Over Function," - it looks 'hanging'.

Interesting example of new technology on fuel. The relationship with the environments and trends is still a blur. It sounds like you were still influenced by the first lecture note when you explained this example.

Overall, good job.