Unit competence 04

Migrate to new technology

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Migrate to new technology. In IT work, you are expected to be involved in
ongoing review and research, in order to discover and apply new technologies to improve an
organisation’s business activities. Migrating to new technology means transferring and
applying your existing skills and knowledge to new or upgraded technology, as well as
providing technical advice or instruction on new technology that is introduced into your
organisation.
These tasks will to allow you to demonstrate your skills and knowledge in migrating to new
technology. To do these tasks you’ll need to be able to:
 Apply existing knowledge and techniques to technology and transfer.
 Apply advanced functions of technology to assist in solving organisational problems.
 Use new features of new or upgraded technology.
 Evaluate new or upgraded technology performance.
This Learning Pack shows you how to upgrade or acquire skills in response to new
technology by building on existing knowledge, analysing the impact of a new technology on
business functions, and identifying the methods and resources needed.

Objectives
Dear learner! At the end of this session you will be able to:
Identify situations where existing knowledge can be used as the basis for developing new
skills.
Acquire new or upgraded technology skills and used to enhance learning.
Identify new or upgraded equipment and use where appropriate, for the benefit of the
organization.
Conduct testing of new or upgraded equipment according to the specification manual.
Apply features of new or upgraded equipment within the organization
Use features and functions of new or upgraded equipment for solving organizational
problems
Access sources of information and use relating to new or upgraded equipment
Evaluate new or upgraded equipment for performance, usability and against HRM standards.
Determine environmental considerations from new or upgraded equipment.
See feedback from users where appropriate.

1. Apply existing knowledge and techniques to technology and transfer

1.1 Situations are identified where existing knowledge can be used as the basis for
developing new skills.
Technology has been defined in various ways. While older definitions emphasise “technique”
of production, more recent definitions are much broader in that they include marketing and
financial management, for instance, in defining technology. We believe the reason for the
broadening of the concept over the years has to do with the evolution of the capitalist system.
We will come back to this point at the end of this section.
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica „Technology may be defined as the systematic
study of techniques for making and doing things. The term itself, a combination of the Greek
techné, “art and craft”, with logos, “word, speech”, meant in Greece a discourse on the arts,
both fine and applied. When it first appeared in English in the 17th Century, it was used to
mean a discussion of the applied art only, and gradually these “arts” themselves came to be
the object of the designation‟. (Technology can be transferred in a variety of ways. Today the
market for technology is highly imperfect due to protection mechanisms for intellectual
property rights in the form of patents and trademarks as well as often the high initial capital
costs which create formidable obstacles to market entry. The only channel approaching free
market is licensing, which was used extensively by former Soviet Union and to a lesser extent
by Japan (Stewart, 1978). However, as we shall see below, this route often is not available for
certain types of technology transfer.
Technology transfer is the process by which basic science research and fundamental
discoveries are developed into practical and commercially relevant applications and products.
Technology Transfer personnel evaluate and manage invention portfoliosoversees patent
prosecution, negotiate licensing agreements and periodically review cooperative research
agreements already in place. Part of the technology transfer process involves the prosecution
of patents which is overseen by the national Patent and Trademark Office. Individuals with
advanced degrees in the biomedical sciences are needed to review and process patents in the
biotechnology field.
Technology Transfer Methods
The choice of a technology transfer method should be based on technology analysis, future
strategy of cooperation with a company’s supplier, investment resources and technical
capacities of the company to implement the technology.
When choosing a transfer method, it is necessary to understand that the more complex is the
technology, the closer should the connections be between the buyer and the supplier. As
noted earlier, technology transfer doesn’t end with equipment delivery. In itself, equipment
doesn’t generate new competences. The real changes in the company’s work can be
introduced by transfer of knowledge, skills, and intellectual property rights.
1.2 New or upgraded technology skills are acquired and used to enhance learning.
Technology by itself doesn't solve problems or produce productivity gains. It's how
technology is applied and managed that makes the big difference.
The importance of training is consistently underestimated.
Most computer users are self-taught and are typically beginner/intermediate users of the
software that they use every day.
They're also now using their computers in more demanding and complex ways than ever
before. Folks acknowledge their limitations saying, "I'm so busy that I don't have the time to
go to training." In fact, they're so busy because they haven't made the time to go to training.
Most organizations don't budget and spend nearly enough time or money to upgrade their
technology skills. This approach is very costly, because the payback on this investment can
be realized many times over within days or weeks.
When you know how to use the right tools you can be far more productive and make better-
informed decisions. Consider the following range of options:
2. Apply functions of technology to assist in solving organizational problems
2.1 Testing of new or upgraded equipment is conducted according to the specification
manual.
Test Equipment Connection provides test and measurement equipment for Sale, Lease or
Rent. Buying used test equipment 30 years ago was a fairly new concept. As solid state
technology improved and the industry grew and matured, the long useful life of test
equipment unfolded in front of every test engineer on a daily basis. Today, used test
equipment is preferred by the majority of customers because of cost savings, warranty, and
the reliability of popular equipment such as an oscilloscope or a spectrum analyser. In most
cases the lead time for refurbished test equipment is much shorter than new test equipment.
Sometimes new test equipment will only suffice, driven by faster data rates, higher speed
bandwidth needs, and new emerging communications standards. While a new network
analyser, DSO or calibrator may be preferred, the general nature of most testing can allow the
user to take advantage of used equipment discounts up to 85% off list price, depending on the
product. Digital oscilloscopes and spectrum analysers fit nicely into this cost savings
category because of long useful life and the underlying nature of basic test functions such as
observing signal wave shapes of voltage, waveform distortion, amplitude or signal frequency
range. A used network analyzer or VNA can save thousands compared to the price for a new
VNA, expanding your budget, lowering your cost of ownership and eliminating costly delays.
Keysight Agilent RF and Microwave products comprise a large segment of our inventory. If
you require a power meter, frequency counter, function generator or signal generator we have
many configurations and models suited for budgets and companies of all sizes. We carry
every non Agilent Key sight brand as well. When buying used or new test equipment you
should only do business with a respected and reputable vendor that can support the product
and back up the warranty. We also buy back test equipment and offer asset management
services to help you get what you need and monetize what you do not require.
2.2 Features of new or upgraded equipment are applied within the organization
Business equipment and business supplies are often confused when a business owner is
completing a business tax form. We'll look at the two types of purchases and how they are
considered for both accounting and tax purposes. 
Equipment and Supplies - Business Use, Not Personal
First, note that these purchases are for business purposes only, not for personal use. If you
buy business equipment, like a computer, it must be used entirely for your business in order
for you to deduct the full cost as a business expense.
The same is true for supplies. Supplies, like printer paper, cannot be used for personal
printing. While this doesn't seem like an important distinction, an IRS audit might find these
purchases non-deductible if you can't prove their use as a business expense.
Business equipment that can be used for both personal and business purposes is called listed
property. You may be able to deduct a portion of the cost of business equipment, if you can
prove the amount of business use..
Business and equipment and business supplies should be purchased with your business credit
card or bank account. But the purchase alone doesn't prove their use as a business expense.
The most important thing to remember about the difference between business supplies and
business equipment is that the cost of supplies is expensed (taken as a deduction the year they
are purchased) and the cost of business equipment is depreciated (taken as a deduction over
the useful life of the equipment). In each case, the cost of the purpose is a deducible business
expense (as long as the item purchased is used for business purposes), it's just that the
expense may be taken over a shorter or longer period of time.
Business Supplies
Business supplies are those items purchased which are typically used up during the year. The
most common types of business supplies are office supplies, including supplies used to run
copiers, printers, and other office machines. If you are buying supplies for use in products
you manufacture or sell, including packaging and shipping supplies, these supplies are
handled differently for accounting and tax purposes.
For accounting purposes, business supplies are considered as current assets. Business
supplies purchases are deducted on your business tax return in the "Expenses" or
"Deductions" section. 
Supplies for making, shipping, and packaging products are considered part of the cost of the
goods sold and are part of the Cost of Goods Sold calculation. At the end of a year, an
inventory is taken of these supplies, as part of this calculation.
Business Equipment
Business equipment is tangible property used in a business. Equipment is considered as more
permanent, longer lasting than supplies, which are used up quickly. The term equipment
includes machinery, furniture and fixtures, vehicles, computers, electronic devices, office
machines, Equipment does not include land or buildings owned by a business.
From an accounting standpoint, equipment is considered capital assets or fixed assets, used
by the business to make a profit. Purchase of equipment is not accounted for as an expense in
one year, but the expense is spread out over the life of the equipment; that is, it is depreciated.
Gains or losses on the sales of capital assets, including equipment, are handled differently,
from both tax and accounting perspectives, from regular income of a business from sales.
Capital gains are taxed differently from sales income.
2.3 Features and functions of new or upgraded equipment is used for solving organizational
problems
Information technology, commonly abbreviated to IT, is vital in our new technical world. IT
engineers try to ensure that brand-new software and hardware can be programmed and built
to meet the demands of businesses and individuals, while IT technicians are important in
fixing the equipment that is being used. The function of IT is to allow us to be productive in a
new digital environment, where emails can be sent to colleagues around the world at the
speed of light. The innovation of IT also means that it has never been easier to use cloud-
based systems that allow us to upload our work to the Internet accessing it with ease and
efficiency from anywhere that has connectivity.
As a department, IT workers are also the lifeblood of any business in ensuring a system
which is used for work is constantly available and free of any technical problems. After all,
what is the point in shifting to digital to become more productive if you are always having
trouble with using the new technology? Most importantly, they will also hold the function of
backing up vital data guaranteeing that a business isn’t at risk of losing vital information such
as customer databases, product prototypes and financial records.
Of course, not all of the new employees within a company will be talented in the key skill of
applying IT. This is why IT workers need to be patient and able to train up new colleagues in
using specialist systems which have been created exclusively for a company.
Finally, the function of IT is to ensure that an environment can remain safe and free of
viruses or, in the case of an email network, free of spam that can slow down progress and
affect a person’s access to their own account. It can seem like an intense battle to work in IT,
but it’s a rewarding job for many
The Role of Information Technology in Business
The role of information technology systems in a business environment can be classified into
four broad categories. These categories include function performance, communication
through networking, management and enterprise roles. Information technology provides
commercial and industrial systems for businesses. These systems enable businesses
tofunction effectively and efficiently.
Function IT System
Function IT systems are applications that allow individuals to function effectively in the
workplace. Examples of common IT systems that enhance workplace functions are word
processor applications, spread sheet applications, statistical analysis software and computer
aided design (CAD) programs. Employees can work and perform their task individually or
collectively using these specialized software technologies.
Network IT Systems
Network IT systems allow effective communication within and outside an organisation.
Examples range from simple e-mail (electronic mail) to blogs, wiki sites, IM (instant
messaging) and electronic conferencing systems. These types of technologies promote
interaction and collaboration among working groups and also facilitate quick information
flow at all levels
Management IT systems
Management IT systems (MITS) can be defined as planned applications that are designed to
process data and transform the processed data into useful information for management
decision making.
It should be noted that Management Information systems (MIS) are subsets of Enterprise IT
systems (this is explained later on in this article). However, because of the vital role MIS play
in a business environment, it is considered here as a major information technology for
businesses.
In a typical scenario, management operates at different levels and so it is possible to apply
management information systems at these varied levels.
Basic examples of management information systems are human resources management
systems, financial management information systems and marketing management information
systems.
Enterprise IT Systems
Enterprise IT systems are technologies designed to integrate and manage entire business
processes for large organisations. Typically, enterprise application software is hosted on large
servers over a computer network. Transmission of information can either be internal or
external.
Examples of enterprise information systems may be accounting software, health care specific
software or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Another good example of software
application within this category is Customer relationship management software (CRM).
The role of Information technology in business is wide and varied. It can be said that IT
provides a huge range of capabilities that enhance management performance at all levels. It is
therefore important to understand the four major categories of IT systems and their functions
and roles in a business environment.
2.4 Sources of information is accessed and used relating to new or upgraded equipment
An information source is a source of information for somebody, i.e. anything that might
inform a person about something or provide knowledge about it. Different types of questions
require different sources of information. Information sources may be observations, people,
speeches, documents, pictures, organizations, websites, etc. They may be primary sources,
secondary sources, and tertiary sources and so on.

3. Evaluate new or upgraded technology performance

3.1 New or upgraded equipment is evaluated for performance, usability and against OHS
standards.
Evaluation Process (Step 1)
First, the manufacturer’s specifications for the equipment will be compared with the
requirements for network use. Wet deposition networks for rain gages, wet deposition
collectors, and sensors, respectively. Failure to meet one or more of these requirements may
eliminate the equipment from furtherconsideration.
Field Testing (Step 2)
The third step in the evaluation process is performed in the field, with the equipment installed
at one or more existing monitoring sites. This allows the candidate equipment to be evaluated
side by side against currently approved equipment. Field testing should include a range of
meteorological conditions: snow, freezing rain, rain, and wind. Collection efficiency,
durability,mean-time between equipment failure, ease of operation, and ease of support may
be used to evaluate the performance of the candidate equipment.
Equipment Scoring (Step 3)
In step four of the evaluation process the candidate equipment is scored. Equipment is scored
with regard to the criteria A score of 0 is given if the equipment fails to meet the criterion, or
if there is concern relating to the ability to meet the criterion. A score of 1 is given if the
equipment meets the criterion unconditionally. Fractional scores should not be used.
Final Approval and Required Documentation (Step 4)
The final step of the evaluation process is the presentation of the results from the equipment
evaluation to the Network Operations Subcommittee (NOS) of the NADP. NOS will vote
whether to recommend acceptance of the candidate equipment in the wet deposition network.
This recommendation is presented to the Joint Subcommittees, and to the NADP Executive
Committee (EC). Final approval for network acceptance is given by the EC.
NOS and the EC meet twice a year, once in the spring and then again in the fall. Testing of
candidate equipment should be scheduled to allow sufficient time for completion of the
multistep process prior to those meetings. The testing process and the results of the testing,
regardless of approval for use in the network, should be documented in a written report. That
report
3.2 Environmental considerations are determined from new or upgraded equipment.
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is the formal process used to predict the
environmental consequences (positive or negative) of a plan, policy, program, or project prior
to the decision to move forward with the proposed action. Formal impact assessments may be
governed by rules of administrative procedure regarding public participation and
documentation of decision making, and may be subject to judicial review. An impact
assessment may propose measures to adjust impacts to acceptable levels or to investigate new
technological solutions.
The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision makers consider the environmental
impacts when deciding whether or not to proceed with a project. The International
Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines an environmental impact assessment as
"the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and
other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and
commitments made." EIAs are unique in that they do not require adherence to a
predetermined environmentaloutcome, but rather they require decision makers to account for
environmental values in their decisions and to justifythose decisions in light of detailed
environmental studies and public comments on the potential environmental impacts.
Engineering and consulting companies work hand in hand as contractors for mining, energy,
oil gas companies executing EIAs.
Environmental Issues in Design and Technology
Environmental Issues in Design and Technology is part of Key Stage 3 Design and
Technology. It is one of a series of topics looking at how moral, cultural, environmental and
spiritual issues may influence our work in design and technology.
Environment
Environment means our surroundings.
Our surroundings consist of naturally occurring things like the air, rivers and trees and it
consists of things that are built by Humans. We call these two environments:
• "the natural environment" and the
• "built environment".
Natural Environment
The natural environment is the naturally occurring surroundings that we live in.
That includes the air, water, hills and mountains, plant life and other naturally occurring
things.
The natural environment also includes our climate, i.e. temperature, rainfall, moisture levels,
etc.
We need the natural environment for our survival and for our wellbeing.
Left undisturbed, the natural environment sustains plant and animal life. With a small amount
of damage, the natural environment has shown that it can repair itself and return to its former
state. Environmental damage on a large scale however, has global consequences and can
reach a point where damage is difficult, if not impossible to repair. Air pollution in one
country affects others as air currents carry pollutants around the globe. A polluted river
contaminates the river bed and life in the river, then as it flows into the sea, it contaminate the
sea, the sea bed and sea life. Pollutants may be transmitted through the food chain, poisoning
plants and animals in the process.
Environmental pollution can occur:
 during mining processes when fossil fuels and minerals are dug out of the ground
 while raw materials are transported to processing plants
 during processing operations and the conversion of materials into products
 during transportation and storage of fuels and products
 during the use of fuels and products
 when obsolete products and waste materials are transported to recycling plants and
 waste dumps
 during recycling processes
 when dumped waste materials pollute the air, the soil and the water table.
The polluting effects of industry has resulted in air and water pollution, raised acidity levels
in rivers, seas and the air, loss of plant and animal habitats, loss of plant and animal species,
climate change and a host of other serious effects.
Our unrestrained use of finite resources has resulted in some resources, such as coal and oil,
running out in certain areas. Consequently coal, oil and other materials are transported from
areas of the world that have them and are prepared to export them.
Protection of our natural environment and our natural resources is so important that the
survival of life on Earth depends on it.
Design challenge for the natural environment
The challenge for all involved with design and technology is to design and build products
that:
 people need
 are safe to use
 do not pollute the earth or harm the environment in any way
 do not destroy wildlife habitats
Built Environment
The "built environment" are the buildings and other structures designed and built by Humans.
Inside Buildings and Structures
Internal environments include the environments of personal housing, public buildings, public
and personal transport and places of work. These environments are designed to give us the
conditions we need to live and work comfortably, i.e. security, warmth, light, clean fresh air
and access to food, drink and places for rest and relaxation. The size, shape and colour of
these internal environments, together with the materials used in them, their light source, their
equipment and facilities, all have effects on our comfort, safety and well being.
Individual tastes, cultural influences, fashion and the affluence of the accommodation
owner/occupier helps to create diversity in the design of internal environments.
External Environments
External environments include the size, shape and layout of buildings, parks, and transport
etc. External environments should be visually pleasing and should enable the community
tofunction properly. That means that people should be able to move easily and safely from
place to place, there should be places where people can do work to earn money, there should
be places where they can buy food and household goods and there should be places for
relaxation, recreation, sport and education.
Transport
The environmental impact of the various transport systems is significant. Road systems are
rarely adequate in most European cities. In cities such as London, there are traffic jams that
bring traffic to a standstill. The air pollution from internal combustion engines is endangering
people's health and is increasing the levels of green house gases that create global warming
and climate change. Trains today are powered mostly by diesel engines and by electric
engines. Whether the engine pollutes the atmosphere directly or it is the greenhouse gases
and other pollutants that are given off from the power stations that produce electricity, one
way or another, man’s use of energy pollutes the environment.
The increase in air travel has had many beneficial effects for travellers but the increase in
pollution from aircraft has had a detrimental effect on the environment. Since shipping has
stopped using wind as a power source, it too has contributed to air pollution from its engines.
Spillages from oil tanker disasters have had devastating effects on the environment.
One of the greatest challenges for scientists and designers is to develop clean sources of
energy that can be used for transport and for industry.
Industry
Industrial practices have also had detrimental effects on the environment, although there have
been some attempts at repairing the damage caused by industrial activity.
Industrial activity has changed our landscape. Quarrying operations have removed hillsides,
open cast mining has created massive craters, oil refineries, steel works, power stations and
other industrial sites have destroyed the natural beauty of our environment. From the scarring
of the earth during mining excavations, the pollutants released during various processing
operations and the dumping of waste products, industrial activity has polluted and scarred our
environment. That is, pollution of the land, sea and air.
Disposable food packaging
Fish and Chips: wrapped in wax paper then with used newspaper, packets of condiments
Disposable food packaging comprises disposable items often found in fast food restaurants,
takeout restaurants and kiosks, and catering establishments. Food serving items for picnics
and parties is very similar. Typical disposable foodservice products are plates, bowls, cups,
utensils, doilies and tray papers. These products can be made from a number of materials
including plastics, paper, bio-resins and bamboo.
Packaging of fast food and take-out food is necessary for the customer but involves a
significant amount of material that ends up in landfill, recycling, composting, or litter.
Single-use cone cups were followed the by commercialization of single-use plates and bowls,
wooden cutlery, and paper food wraps. By the 1930s these products were widely used to feed
the men and women who worked on the remote dams, bridges and roads of the Works
Progress Administration. In the 1940s they were used to feed defense factory workers.[5]
After World War II, foodservice packaging materials like plastic and polystyrene foam were
developed. The unique properties of these materials (insulation and weight reduction) and
their ability to be made into a variety of shapes and sizes, provided foodservice operators, and
consumers, with a wider variety of packaging choices.[5]
A major development in disposable foodservice packaging happened in 1948 when the newly
founded McDonald's Restaurant closed its doors to revamp its menu. Along with changing
their menu items, the restaurant wanted to change the way it handled dishwashing and
dishwashers, car hops and wait staff, and storage, breakage and (customer) theft of table
ware. When the McDonald's re-opened their restaurant six months later, their meals were no
longer served with the use of glasses, plates or cutlery, and would be taken away from the
restaurant by the customers.[5]
Product and Packaging Disposition
At Medtronic, product stewardship is a key element of our EHS program – the proper
handling of products and their packaging disposition is a shared effort between our company
and our customers. The separate collection and recycling of electronic, battery or packaging
waste will support natural resource conservation and help to protect human health and the
environment.
For geography specific information on batteries, packaging or electronic recycling, go to the
Recycling tab.
The Contact tab contains business unit contact information for specific questions such as how
to safely disassemble our products for recycling.
The Sharps tab has information specific to disposal of medical sharps.
Any other questions can be addressed to rs.epic2@medtronic.com.
 Recycling
 Sharps Disposal
 Contact Information
Pack types involved
Of the after-use accidents occurring, twice as many accidents occur during disposal (i.e.
through carelessness) as after disposal (i.e. by someone injuring themselves on packaging
discarded by someone else).
Two main packaging types are dominant in the incidences of after-use accidents. These are
glass bottles and food cans. To a lesser extent, accidents involving glass jars, pots and
canisters also contribute to incidences of accidents during after-use.
There are approximately 18,000 accidents per annum involving glass bottles. 84% of these
accidents happen in the after-use phase. These include cuts occurring during the disposal of
broken glass, cuts from broken glass whilst placing further items into the rubbish bag, and
incidences of treading on broken glass (usually discarded by someone else). 69% of the
victims of these accidents are under the age of 35 years and indeed some are very small
children.
In the majority of cases, the content of the bottle had not been specified, but where it had it is
reported that milk bottles are a high proportion, including incidences of people tripping over
them on the doorstep. Glass milk bottles were involved in over 3,000 cases. Perfume bottles
were involved in around 1,500 cases. 29% of food cans accidents (excluding corned beef
cans) occur in the after-use phase.
Almost all these injuries relate to cuts to the hand. In total, there are approximately
28,000accidents involving tins per annum.
Packaging designers should consider issues of breakages and disposal as an integral part of
packaging design. Where feasible, glass packaging should incorporate design aspects that
assist the consumer in holding the bottle, such as waists, panels and appropriate embossing.
Labelling should also be carefully considered. The position and material used for labelling
may aid the consumer when holding a slippery bottle.
Providing ‘grasp’ should be considered as an integral function of the label.
Manufacturers of easy open end cans should search for solutions to the problem of sharp
edges left when the easy open end is removed. It is evident that the use of traditional
distribution systems for milk (i.e. doorstep delivery of reusable glass bottles) has declined
and may continue to do so. Plastic and composite carton ‘single trip’ milk packaging from
retail outlets will continue to expand. With this, it is likely that after-use accidents involving
milk packaging will decline. However, if paper or plastic labels to assist grip could be added
to milk bottles, there is likely to be an even greater decline in accidents.
Industry should encourage consumers to use appropriate opening tools for cans, i.e. tools
which will not leave sharp or jagged edges. Special offers and promotions may be used as an
incentive by retailers such as free tools
Environmental Considerations May include but is not


limited to recycling, safe disposal of packaging (e.g.
cardboard, polystyrene, paper, plastic) and correct
disposal of waste materials by an authorized body

3.3 Feedback is sought from

users where appropriate.
Feedback is extremely valuable in the evaluation of hardware and software as it provides an
effective balance for your own observations and walkthroughs on the system. This is an
ongoing process of keeping IT professionals informed of the performance and usability of the
system and should not be treated as merely an event.
While positive feedback reinforces the implementation of the system, negative feedback
provides very valuable information about how to improve the usability and the performance
of the system. The performance improvements made due to the feedback will ultimately
benefit the organisation.
Feedback May include


 surveys,
 questionnaires,
 Interviews and meetings.

Gathering feedback
The goal of collecting feedback from users and gathering information from other sources is to
enable the technology committee to assess how well the software and hardware
implementation is satisfying the key usability and performance indicators.
Sources of information
You can gather data from people, documents, performance data, observation of events or any
other empirical method such as experiments and benchmarking.
Basic feedback gathering methods
The ideal form of feedback gathering is to use a combination of the following methods
depending on time and organisational factors.
Observations, walkthroughs and site visits
These are conducted to get first-hand information on performance and usability features of
the system. The internal or external evaluators will observe all stakeholders using the
technology and observe usability and performance indicators of the system.
Walkthroughs are conducted where an evaluator walks through a certain feature to assess
how the system performs that feature with respect to usability and performance indicators.
 Interviews
Here are some tips for conducting interviews:
 Choose stakeholders who would have greater or unique involvement with the new
system.
 Communicate the purpose of the interview to the interviewee.
 Ask brief questions relevant to performance and usability of the system.
 Don’t interrupt.
 Be a good listener.
 Take notes.
Focus groups
These are group interview situations where discussions can take place about the usability and
the performance of the hardware and software. Here are some tips for conducting focus
groups:
 Reward the attendees by providing refreshments as this could be a good motivator.
 Start and finish on time.
 Be prepared to hear positive and negative comments.
 Be prepared with prompting questions to start the discussions about usability and
performance of the system.
 Let the participants communicate and listen carefully.
 Avoid being defensive.
 Listen to all comments.
 Engage a note-taker.
Surveys and questionnaires
These are used to gather quantifiable data about the system from a large number of people.
You should make allowances for the low response rate and the slow response time. Here are
some tips for conducting surveys:
 State the objective of the survey as evaluating the performance and usability of the
new technology.
 Keep the survey to a manageable length.
 Use both open-ended and closed questions.
Analysing and processing feedback
All data regardless of how and from where it was collected must be summarised against the
performance and usability indicators so they are more manageable. In almost all case, both
quantitative and qualitative data will be collected and used.
 The performance measurements such as error rates will be quantitative and will be
easy to interpret.
 Performance measurements such as reliability could be a combination of qualitative
and quantitative data.
 Usability indicators could be qualitative or quantitative.
Summary
 These tasks will to allow you to demonstrate your skills and knowledge in migrating to new
technology.
 Acquire new or upgraded technology skills and used to enhance learning.
 Technology transfer is the process by which basic science research and fundamental
discoveries are developed into practical and commercially relevant applications and products.
 The choice of a technology transfer method should be based on technology analysis, future
strategy of cooperation with a company’s supplier, investment resources and technical
capacities of the company to implement the technology.
 Technology by itself doesn't solve problems or produce productivity gains.
 Business equipment and business supplies are often confused when a business owner is
completing a business tax form.
 Business and equipment and business supplies should be purchased with your business credit
card or bank account.
 An information source is a source of information for somebody, i.e. anything that might
inform a person about something or provide knowledge about it. Different types of questions
require different sources of information.
 Information sources may be observations, people, speeches, documents, pictures,
organizations, websites, etc. They may be primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary
sources and so on.
 Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is the formal process used to predict the
environmental consequences (positive or negative) of a plan, policy, program, or project prior
to the decision to move forward with the proposed action.
 Formal impact assessments may be governed by rules of administrative procedure regarding
public participation and documentation of decision making, and may be subject to judicial
review.
 An impact assessment may propose measures to adjust impacts to acceptable levels or to
investigate new technological solutions.
 The polluting effects of industry has resulted in air and water pollution, raised acidity levels
in rivers, seas and the air, loss of plant and animal habitats, loss of plant and animal species,
climate change and a host of other serious effects.

assignment
Do you think you already have the knowledge covered in this topic? Answer the following
questions to check your understanding.
Answer true or false.
True False  
Technology is changing so rapidly that experience gained in previous projects
is no longer useful when planning for new technologies.

True False  
If our major competitors have used a new technology, then we must
immediately implement this technology to maintain our competitive edge.

True False  
Introducing new technology does not always guarantee increase in
productivity.

True False  
The word ‘technology’ refers only and specifically to tangible, working
machinery, stuff you can touch.

True False  
Users who are uncomfortable with technology may have a fear when a new
technology is introduced to them and this fear may hinder their learning
progress and ability to use technology effectively to enhance business
performance.

In a competitive business environment, all businesses aim to: (select two)

 Increase profit and improve service
Increase credit and reduce inventory
Increase inventory and reduce bad debts
Increase market share and reduce cost
Increase sales and reduce credit

True False  
Technology is so intangible that it is impossible to put a dollar value on the
benefits of technology to an organisation.
.
True False  
Selection of new technology should be driven by a solution not a need.
Technology should be a transparent tool that is used to:
Define the goals of your business
Broaden the scope of your business
Grow and improve your business
Test and evaluate your business

True False  
New technology solutions should match the organisation’s strategic direction.

True False  
Current technology infrastructure does not have any relevance to any new
technologies that we are planning to implement in the future.
What possible actions can you take with IT equipment that is deemed redundant after the
introduction of new equipment?
What elements should you include when you are designing a test plan when implementing
new equipment?

Task 4: Implement new technology

Deliverables
1. Produce an implementation plan for the Help Desk Management Solution. Your plan
should:
a. take into account the timing, tasks, sub-tasks, resources, schedules and any
other organisational issues
b. cover processes to monitor the progress of implementation.
2. List four benefits GWHS will gain from this implementation. Explain how you would
ensure that the organisation would get maximum benefit.
3. Make a list of the occupational health and safety (OH&S) implications for this
implementation.

True False  
Generally, you’ll find that people in an organisation think that technology has
always brought about positive influences and they will be eager to embrace
any new technology that is implemented.
What measures can you take to ensure that users become more competent in using advanced
features of new technology

True False  
One-to-one instruction is most useful when teaching theoretical concepts.
Planning
In the context of providing one-to-one or small group training, what is a training plan?
What information should inform the design of a training plan?
Getting feedback on training
What feedback techniques can an instructor use to evaluate the effectiveness of the training?
Which of the following is not a direct method of gathering information to evaluate new
equipment against performance and usability?
Questionnaires to stakeholders
Help desk call log
Surveys of stakeholders
Interviews with stakeholders
Why would you evaluate a hardware or software system that has already been
implemented?
How would you find the data required for evaluation?
What are some of the favourable environmental outcomes new technology could bring to an
organisation?