Integrated Professional Skills in the Digital Age

This report discusses the use of communication and collaboration tools in the digital age, including video and web conferencing, social networking sites, SMS/text messaging, and mail. It also explores the advantages, disadvantages, suitability, and applications of cloud storage and computing. Additionally, it compares the positive and negative aspects of services and products sold online and offline.

Integrated Professional Skills
in the Digital Age
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Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Communication and collaboration tools......................................................................................3
Discuss advantages, disadvantages, suitability and applications of cloud storage and
computing....................................................................................................................................5
Compare and contrast the positive and negative aspects of services and products sold online
and offline....................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12
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INTRODUCTION
Information and communication technology is one of the latest technologies which can be
used by companies during pandemic so that they can run their business smoothly and employees
will not face any problem while doing their work. It includes internet, wireless networks, cell
phones, video conferencing and other media services (Asongu and Odhiambo, 2019).
In the present report, different communication and collaboration tools are discussed which is
used by managers during pandemic. Cloud storage and computing, its advantages, disadvantages,
suitability and applications is described. Further, positive and negative aspects of services and
products being sold online and offline are discussed.
MAIN BODY
Communication and collaboration tools
In every organization it is important that there must be effective communication among
employees so that work can be done properly and there will be no confusion among worker
regarding work. It is essential that managers must divide work among employees according to
their specialization so that there will be no confusion or misunderstanding, it will reduce chances
of duplicate work. During pandemic all companies were closed and people are working form
home. So, it was difficult for managers to communicate with employees and they were not able
to give instructions (Akinsola and Munepapa, 2021). Some communication and collaboration
tools which are used by organizations so that they can interact with employees and distribute
work among employees. This will help in achieving goals and objectives of company by
completing work on time. Some most commonly used communication tools are:
Video and web conferencing
It is one of the best ways which is used by most of companies during pandemic as they
were not able to interact with each other. Everything was closed at the time of corona crisis so it
was difficult for managers to interact with employees and distribute work according to their
strengths. It helps company in doing work and all people are safe at homes. Managers conduct
meeting every week to ensure that employees are working properly or not. So, video or web
conferencing is being organized by managers in which they interact with all employees and
divide work. With the help of technology meeting can be done online and it is useful for all
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companies whose work may be done online. In this all workers are having rights to share their
views and give suggestions for betterment of company (Bahrini and Qaffas, 2019).
Social networking sites
Social networking sites includes, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and other social sites
which can be used by employees to communicate with each other. During pandemic it was not
easy to interact with employees. So, managers may use social networking sites and groups can be
made in which all the necessary information will be shared so that work can be done on time.
They can make group on WhatsApp and details should be provided to workers and instructions
must be given to employees to reduce chances of duplicate work and there will be no confusion
or misunderstanding among workers.
SMS/ text messaging
This is also one of the communication tools which can be used by managers during
pandemic. This method is useful as employees can do text message to other person in case if he
or she is not replying of message which is done on any social networking sites. Sometimes, it
happens due to problem in network, so employees can do text message if it is urgent and they are
not getting what work they have to do (Byrnes and et.al., 2021). This tool is useful for companies
as they can complete their work on time. It helps firms in interacting with each other and
organizations were able to complete work smoothly. This communication tool help companies
during pandemic as they were able to communicate with each other and if they are not able to
access internet, they can reply by text message.
Mail
Mail is one of the important tools which is used by managers within the organization. It
was useful during pandemic as employees who are new in company and not having proper
knowledge, they have to complete their work and send it to their seniors for checking. This will
be done with the help of mail and managers can also send mail to all the workers regarding
working pattern or any other information. This is a formal way of communicating and it is used
by most of the companies. In this people get proper details and they will according to
instructions given to them (Huei and et.al., 2018).
Private groups
Another tool of communication is to make private groups according to different
departments. Managers should make one common group in which details and information related
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to working hours, pattern and other details which is important for all employees is being shared.
Managers will make leaders for every team and it is the responsibility of leaders to make
individual groups so that they can do their discussion personally and there will be no confusion.
Collaboration tools can be defined as tolls which are used by organizations to make plans or
strategies for future growth. It is done with the help of direct messaging, video conferencing and
other online apps. It helps in interacting with employees and managers can make plans to
complete work and accomplish targets of organization (Kristiawan and Muhaimin, 2019).
Project management
Project management refers to a process in which managers make strategies or plans so
that goals and objectives can be achieved. It is a collaboration tool as it helps in improving
teamwork skills among employees. During pandemic task were given to workers in groups so
that work can be completed on time and correct actions must be taken by managers to improve
performance of employees who are not performing well. It is the responsibility of managers to
make teams and divide work so that all employees can do their task efficiently. In this process it
includes five processes such as, initiation, planning, execution, performance evaluation and last
is project close (Ratheeswari, 2018). These are some steps which are to be followed by managers
and other employees to achieve goals and objectives of company.
Brainstorming
Brainstorming refers to method which helps in designing teams so that roles and
responsibilities can be defined easily. This is useful for company as it helps in solving problems
and employees will know their duties and they have to work according to that. There are four
rules of brainstorming such as, it focuses on quantity, no criticism, encourage wild ideas and
improve ideas so that better strategies can be made and it will help in making good quality
products and services to attract customers (Wu, Yuan and Pan, 2018).
Discuss advantages, disadvantages, suitability and applications of cloud storage and computing
Cloud storage is the cloud computing model which stores data on the internet through a
cloud computing provider by managing and operating data storage as a service.
The advantages of cloud storage and computing is described as follows –
Cost – Purchasing of physical storage is expensive. There is need of hardware cloud storage
which becomes helpful for collecting, storing data and information on large scale. Therefore, this
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cost of cloud storage refers to zero cost (Gharat and et.al., 2019). This is biggest advantage that
cloud storage is not expensive.
Accessibility – The accessibility for the cloud storage is the main advantage because the data and
the information can be accessed from anywhere with the providence of internet connection. This
makes the whole process easier for the functioning and viewing the data anywhere with the
proper internet connection.
Recovery – The access of files on the cloud is more convenient when there is hardware
malfunction or disabled software functioning. The cloud storage acts as a backup solution for the
local and essential data storage which is primarily needed and therefore this is its major
advantage (Liu and et.al., 2018).
Syncing and Updating – While working with the cloud storage, any changes which are made in
the files are updated and synced to all of the devices when there connection is made through
them. This helps in knowing the updated and new information which was saved earlier
effectively.
Security – Cloud storage provides full security to the services which it provides. This helps in
making the files stored in the storage safely with an effective manner. This is best advantage
which the cloud storage provides its users so that they are able to access their data.
The disadvantages of cloud storage and computing is described as below -
Internet connection – Cloud based storage is dependent on imbibing an internet connection.
Therefore, whenever there is no internet connection of the user, issues will be seen while
accessing the files through storage (Pavithra and et.al., 2019). Therefore, this is the biggest
disadvantage of cloud storage which the user goes through.
Costs – There is additional costs which the cloud storage asks for downloading and uploading
the files from the cloud. This adds up to extra cost which user has to provide for incurring more
storage space for the files to be kept safely and in an appropriate manner.
Hard drives - Some of the businesses require hard drives therefore, cloud storage provides these
business some hard drives which is the main physical disadvantage for the cloud storage (Amron
and et.al., 2017). Therefore, this creates the disadvantage for the cloud storage which requires
hard drives in some businesses.
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Support – The free version of the cloud storage is not safe for the users. Thus this creates the
problem for the users to buy the services which are there for cloud storage. Therefore, this is the
biggest disadvantage which makes the cloud storage services weak.
The suitability and applications of cloud storage and computing is explained as below –
 Cloud storage technology is suitable for the organizations having created large businesses
and wishes to save data. With zero capital cost and low operation cost, cloud helps the
organizations and the business which are of any size, type and development.
 For cloud computing social media and its applications are the best medium which will
help in grow with the cloud computing patters and services and assist in developing the
most adequate forms of how the cloud storage and computing is applicable in the usiness
to the users (Chidambaram and et.al., 2019).
 It professionals are now considering their data and information as important as they are
daily tracking up their systems through secured cloud environments and storage systems.
This has helped in making the services of the business and the company is providing
what has been provided best by the cloud storage.
 Mobile applications can utilize cloud environments which can lift heavy data in the
backend of the mobile device. This helps the cloud computing in making the data and the
information available to the users. This also increases the scalability and elasticity of
cloud.
 Cloud makes the process and the procedure of functioning with virtual images effective
and efficient. This also helps in making the provisions to perform the activities and tasks
effective and significant at the same time.
 Multimedia applications are finding home in cloud environment which will make the
process of the company and the services which they provide effective and this will enable
multimedia services and user experience in a significant manner (Rahman and et.al.,
2018).
 During the transitions in the IT industries like the mergers and acquisitions it will help in
the changes of the cloud systems. This helps in the effective application of the programs
and the services which are being served to the users and the business is able to function
by the applications and suitability of cloud services.
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Therefore, these are the suitability and applications of the cloud storage and the computing
services which are applicable in the business and this therefore helps in making the most of the
processes effective and efficient. This is the main thing which the cloud services provide in
different terms and streams of the business. Also, along with this, the cloud is effective in
maintaining and storing the information and data which is being served by the system to the
users in an effective manner. Also, through the cloud storage and computing techniques the
businesses will be able to recover their important information which is being stored as the cloud
works as the backend of the device which incurs the information.
Compare and contrast the positive and negative aspects of services and products sold online and
offline
Positive aspects of products and services being sold online –
 The set up of online business is lower than the offline business. And this costs less.
 Online business can be operated from anywhere. This is the best positive aspect which
makes the business even more effective and efficient within no time.
 There are no opening time restrictions in the online buying of products and services
which are provided by the company to the customers (Rahman and et.al., 2018).
 There are variety of products and services which are available through which the
customers can filter and buy the products of what they wish.
 Online buying of products and services invests less time than in the offline buying of
products and services.
Negative aspects of products and services being sold online –
 The sites through the online buying of products and services which is done can be fake in
its functioning and process.
 There can be product malfunctioning while buying products and services through online
channels (Shen and et.al., 2020).
 While purchasing the products online or through the online website, there can be fraud in
the payment procedure which happens very often with the customers.
 Customers may find difficulty in grabbing the desired quality products and services of
what they are seeking on the online websites.
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 There are usually security issues which hamper the customers while purchasing the
products and services online as they fear that their important information and data will be
leaked.
Positive aspects of products and services being sold offline –
 The products which are sold offline serve the quality aspect effectively as the customers
are able to see and feel the product which they are purchasing.
 Offline selling of products and services denotes safe payment methods and the customers
are able to easily make the payments.
 The return and exchange process of the products and services is very comfortable as the
customers can exchange or return hand to hand (Li and et.al., 2020).
 There are varieties of products which are made available to the customers and they can
look at them while they purchase any.
 Offline selling of products and services is cost efficient which makes the customers incur
the effective services through offline process.
Negative aspects of products and services being sold offline –
 Offline selling and buying the products and services is time consuming and a very tedious
process.
 Consumers prefer online shopping more than buying the products offline.
 The selling process of products and services to the customers’ takes initiative of what
special offers is to be provided to the consumers so that they buy the product. This makes
the selling process even tougher for the sellers (Saintives, 2020).
 The sales and discounts which are offered in the online selling of products and services is
less in the offline process of selling.
 Selling of the products and making them interesting for the customers takes lot of time
and money.
Therefore, these are the positive aspects of selling the products and services online and offline
along with negative aspects of selling the products and services offline and online.
There are two way of buying a product i.e., online and offline. It depends on customers’
convenience that whether they buy products from online apps or they are going to market to
purchase products from shops. With the change in technology, taste and preference of consumers
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is changing because they are getting more variety of products and discount is also given to them
when purchasing goods from online apps (Fisher, 2019).
Online products and services
Online purchasing is easy and convenient for customers, they are getting good quality
products and discount when they are buying products from online apps. Competition is
increasing day by day so all companies are providing good quality products so that they can
generate more revenue by attracting many people and this covers a wide area. In this fast moving
world, people are not having time to go market and purchase products which they need. So, they
place an order by online apps and home delivery services is being provided by organisations, so
consumers get products without going anywhere. It is very popular method which is used by
most of the people nowadays because it is simple and easy way. Benefits of online products or
services is that it is convenient for customers as they can place order from anywhere and
products will be delivered to their homes (Huei and et.al., 2018).
It saves time and efforts of consumers as they know what they want. There are many
varieties of products available so consumers can choose products according to their need. To
attract more customers’ discounts are given to customers or sometimes they get offers. This is a
strategy which is used by seller to attract more people and it covers wide area. People get
detailed information about product so they do not have to return product. Various brands or
models are available, comparison can be done by customers and it is easy to buy goods online
(Xu and et.al., 2017).
Negative impact of online buying products or services is fraud can be done by seller; delay
in delivery of products, bargaining cannot be done by customers because there is no direct
interaction of buyer and seller. Sometimes, hidden cost and shipping charges are taken; there is
no option of returning product. In buying products online customer cannot touch products or
check quality. These are some disadvantages of purchasing products online (Rahman and et.al.,
2018).
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CONCLUSION
Thus, it is concluded from the above report that different communication and collaboration
tools have helped many businesses to survive the current pandemic situation. Along with this,
advantages, disadvantages, suitability and applications of cloud storage and computing helped in
growing the business more. Furthermore, positive and negative aspects of products and services
being sold online and offline helped in analyzing the basic information provided through each
one of the processes.
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REFERENCES
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technology has affected inequality in Africa for sustainable development: An empirical
investigation. Sustainable Development. 27(4). pp.647-656.
Bahrini, R. and Qaffas, A.A., 2019. Impact of information and communication technology on
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Fisher, G., 2019. Online communities and firm advantages. Academy of Management
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