Why is it important to have technology strategy in the context of higher education?

Statement of Research Problem

Technology strategy is an approach that plays a crucial role in the creation of a strategic position of an organization and can be used to establish physical and practical alternative actions. Renes and Strange (2011) suggested the need for a strategic approach, particularly, technology that has potentials for connecting learners to information, providing new channels for active learning, improving student access to peers, experts and learning materials, and expanding participation of students in the process of teaching and learning. Core capabilities of the higher education institutions depend on technology especially in measuring changes in performance and maximising competitive advantage. Kantrow (1980) revealed that technology strategy is an approach that helps to define the different possibilities necessary from a strategic thinking perspective of an organisation.

In December 2019, coronavirus crisis forced majority of people across the world to stay home and start adopting new ways to practice life remotely. Institutions in the education sector shifted from traditional to remote on-line setting. Bashir et al. (2021) argued that COVID-19 disrupted education because many universities, colleges and schools were closed across the world resulting to a dramatic change in teaching and learning and eventually the distinctive rise of e-learning because teaching was carried remotely and on digital platforms. Since the pandemic started, significant surge in the usage of online learning software, video conferencing tools, virtual tutoring and language apps is being experienced and this trend has motivated further research to explain the underlying reasons (Bashir et al., 2021). Furthermore, Ali (2020) there was no readiness in the adoption of these technologies due to little preparation, insufficient bandwidth and lack of training given the rapid and unplanned move to online learning. Remote learning was an emergency response during the early phase of COVID-19 and there is a need to investigate the appropriate strategy that can used to ensure sustained growth of e-learning and e-teaching in the future.

High education is expected to focus on confronting and delivering improved academic programs through the development and use of new teaching and learning strategies because of increasing demands and the growing competition of the global market place (Venkatesh, Croteau and Rabah, 2014). Traditional teacher-centered curricula and pedagogy no longer meets the student expectations and hence, institutions are considering the adoption and use of technology as the instructional resource (Daniela and Visvizi, 2021). Students in the technologically advanced world are viewed as the digital natives that use multiple technologies such as personal computers, video conferencing and on-line learning tools to complete their courses (Kirkwood and Price, 2013). The mismatch between the students need from higher education and what is received necessitates integration of modern technologies with higher education’s teaching and learning to realise positive outcomes both in the short-term and long-term.

Higher education sector in Qatar managed to utilise the different existing technological solutions to deliver remote form of education. Nuaimi, Zainal and Marmolejo (2022) higher education institutions such Qatar University guaranteed continuity of teaching and learning through online delivery whereby the existing education programs were modified to allow effective transitions to virtual learning that replaced face-to-face lessons. However, the higher education in Qatar faced significant challenges in moving to online education due to various reasons including readiness of the educators and the students, availability of the technological platforms, and the content. Heider (2021) stated that sudden shift towards online education during the pandemic was associated with several challenges because the institutions approached and invested in the online sector through a tactical strategy rather than considering the technology strategy. A missing link in the sequence of challenges was experienced given that it is the technology strategy that affects the projects and the contingencies being pursued to enhance teaching and learning. The technology strategy is considered to be the effective plan for enabling effective decision making as well as choosing the right strategic direction for the institutions (Richard, 2009). Therefore, based on this information, the study seeks to explore and investigate the technology strategy in higher education and the role it plays to enhance teaching and learning.

1.4 Research Rationale

This explorative study will establish if there is technology strategy in higher education and its link to teaching and learning. The key issues that explain the context of this research include the crucial role of a technology strategy in organisation and alignment to the institutional overall strategy; adoption of technology and the associated risks; and use of technology as an effective in changing today’s reality especially when a country or the world experiences uncertain times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcomes of the study will focus on how to effectively align the technology strategy with overall strategy of the higher education institution. The reason for conducting this research is to identify the fundamental challenges experienced by higher education in the adoption and use of technology given that researchers such as Pucciarelli and Kaplan (2016) highlighted the need for an appropriate strategy to expand interactions and value co-creation, and enhance teaching and learning. There are opportunities to advance general knowledge and network society, and evolving higher education environment through technology.

1.5 Research Aim

The primary aims of this study are:

1. To investigate the role that technology strategy plays in enhancing teaching and learning in higher education.
2. To provide the researchers, in the field of strategic management in higher education, with a framework that aligns technology strategy with the business strategy.

1.6 Research Objectives

1. To critically assess the current academic and business literature that discuss the alignment of technology strategy with the overall business strategy.
2. To analyse the role of technology strategy in organizations.
3. To evaluate how the technology strategy impact teaching and learning in higher education institutions.
4. To develop a framework that aligns technology strategy with the organisation’s business strategy in higher education.
5. To validate the proposed technology strategy alignment framework, its potential benefits and limitations.

1.7 Research Questions

The research addresses the following questions to achieve its aims and objectives:

 

 

• Why is it important to have technology strategy in the context of higher education?
• How is technology strategy aligned with the high-level organization’s strategy in higher education institutions in Qatar?
• How does high-level strategy and technology strategy in higher education institutions impact the teaching and learning?
• How technology strategy enhance teaching and learning in the higher education institutions?
• What are the critical factors on the high-level strategy and the technology strategy that should be considered and integrated in the alignment framework?

 

Aim should be only one statement combine both

 

Use the word research not study cross the document