Innovation and Technology: NMA Online Educational Environment Report

This report critically evaluates the challenges and opportunities of online educational environments for the National Marine Aquarium (NMA), a world-renowned marine aquarium. It begins with an introduction to innovation and technology, emphasizing their importance in the aquarium sector. The report then conducts a PESTLE analysis to assess the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors influencing NMA's online educational environment. It evaluates future technologies like Blockchain, 3D channels, Gamification, and Learning Management Systems, and their potential to enhance visitor engagement and educational outreach. Finally, the report identifies and explains the steps required to provide a market-oriented solution for NMA's educational offerings, including the use of marketing research tools. The report aims to provide insights for NMA to leverage innovation and technology for growth and development.

Innovation and
Technology

Contents
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1
Critical evaluation of challenges and opportunities of online educational environments with
the help of PESTLE Analysis.....................................................................................................1
Evaluation of future technologies relevant to innovation and technology in relation to
National Marine Aquarium .........................................................................................................4
Identification and explanation of the steps to provide a market-oriented solution .....................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Innovation and technology both are important aspects of every field, they together work
for the ultimate growth and development of a particular field. Innovation refers to the
introduction of something new like new ideas, methods or devices (Konovalova and Et. Al.,
2018). Every idea presents to be new at the time of its arrival, this is innovation which is required
in every field at the time of its establishment. Technology can be referred to as a branch of
knowledge dealing with machines, equipments or engineering and applied sciences. It helps the
organizations to deal with everyday dynamic things, this offers various tools to boost
development and exchange information. Innovation and technology are a leading source for the
sectors such as sight visiting, one such segment is taken into consideration that is, National
Marine Aquarium. This is world's largest marine aquarium which show cases the marine life to
the visitors using specific technologies without disturbing the habitat of sea animals. This is
situated in Plymouth, United Kingdom.
This is a report on the critical evaluation upon the challenges and opportunities of online
educational environments for visitor attraction centres along with its PESTLE analysis. This also
contains the analysis of future technologies relevant to information given providing academic
evidence to their potential.
Critical evaluation of challenges and opportunities of online educational environments with the
help of PESTLE Analysis
PESTLE Analysis is a fundamental tool that helps an organisation to frame strategies for
the purpose of examining uncontrollable factors presented in business environment. It is also
known as PEST analysis. This framework is used by management in their strategic planning
process to achieve organisational goals (Martínez-Martínez and Et. Al., 2019). Opportunities and
challenges for business in an economy can also be determine through this analysis that provides
benefits to them. Pestle analysis also requires in the business working under aquarium industry
of United Kingdom. The National Marine Aquarium is one of top aquarium businesses using this
analysis to enhance visitors attraction towards business. It is important to analyse external
uncontrollable factors to frame strategies for online educational environment for their business.
As aquarium business needs visitors to earn profit in the economy so, the organisation is
1

influencing their efforts to attract the visitors through different factors. The Pestle analysis for
National Marine Aquarium is given below: Political factor: These are the factors that includes political stability, tax policies,
political reforms and government policies. Government of United Kingdom is more
flexible to business environment. They change their policies and reforms from time to
time (Aksoy and Et. Al., 2022). The National Marine Aquarium attracts foreigners to
visit in the country so, government also provides subsidies and grants to carry out
activities involving attracting attention of people belonging to other nations. Some
opportunities for this business in relation to political factors are like rebates in taxes and
restrictions imposed by government for attracting visitors. Government also helps
business in setting up online educational platforms for their organisation that serves
information within or outside the country. Restrictions put by the government to store
large mammals and extinct species can be the challenges for National Marine Aquarium
for creating online educational environment.. Economical factor: These are the factors that affect business organisation through
exchange rate, cost of living, economic growth and decline. United Kingdom have highly
developed economy in their different countries that is ranked on sixth position across the
globe (Huang and Et. Al., 2019). After the covid 19 situation in the world tourism
industry is negatively impacted. Due to this impact the visitors also restricted to their
areas so, National Marine Aquarium face decline in their visitors. Recovery of economic
climate is considered as a best opportunity for this business as it influences more people
to come and see their aquariums of fish, mammals and other species. Economic stability
also helps business to spread their digital educational system enhancing visitors attraction
with the help of funding. Increase in price by 150% can be biggest challenge for National
Marine Aquarium to enhance digital educational system for visitors attraction. Social factor: Social factors includes some aspects that effect the business organisation
through culture, carriers, safety and attitudes of society as whole. Business have to make
sure about not to harm society from their operational activities and goals. The activity
performed by National Marine Aquarium is well accepted by the community. They are
spreading knowledge and experiences to the peoples in society about underwater species
through different modes like online programmes, events and experiences sharing. Being
2

good consumers and spreading awareness about business can be the great opportunities
for National Marine Aquarium. Society can helps organisation by using and promoting
their online educational platforms. Storing extinction species may leads to
disappointment of society which can be key challenge for spreading educational structure
through online modes. Technological factor: These are factors that includes resources, logistics and technology
to make them available. The economy of United Kingdom is concerning on their
technological advancement for their faster growth and development. Aquarium industry
needs technology to set up marine aquarium business like acid formulas, reef alert
system, protein skimmer and aquarium cleaners. Using of modern technologies helps
business to become more efficient in the industry. The theoretical documentation for
development of aquarium sectors seems great opportunity for National Marine Aquarium.
The organisation also needs some digital technologies to provide online informations
about species presents in their aquarium that helps to attract the visitors. The business is
using innovative and exciting technologies but lack of energy efficiency is a key
challenge for National Marine Aquarium. Legal factors: It includes the factors that explains the procedure of laws affecting
business operations and activities directly or indirectly. These factors consist some rules,
regulations, bills and acts made by authorised body (Wang, 2022). In context of
protecting marine creatures government made laws like The Wildlife and Countryside
Act, 1981 and Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plant Act, 1975. The National
Marine Aquarium is required to implement these acts into their business organisation and
follow strictly. Reliefs under The Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 is a great
opportunities for this organisation as more species can be stored in their aquariums. In
United Kingdom there are many laws supporting education system of different areas.
Some laws are also made to influence online educational platforms in their countries. So,
legal factors also helps to enhance visitors attraction through online modes of education.
Restrictions imposed by Conservation of Wild Creatures and Wild Plant Act, 1975 to
conserve different species are the challenges for National Marine Aquarium. Environmental factors: These are the factors which affects the business organisation
through environmental laws, climate changes, natural disasters and change in seasons.
3

Aquarium industry is fully based on environmental aspects so it is the key factor that
affects the business most. The National Marine Aquarium stores species from underwater
like fishes, mammals and other types of sea-life. There is need for education in the
environment, as most of the people is not aware about life under sea. For providing
educational information about sea-life, this organisation is using online and offline
platforms. It also enhance environmental protection and visitors attraction for the marine
industries. Decrease in water pollution is a great opportunity for National Marine
Aquarium as it can save lives of underwater species. Likewise increase of pollution and
global warming can cause rise in sea level which results in depletion of oxygen. It can
kill the marine species which is the main challenges for National Marine Aquarium.
Evaluation of future technologies relevant to innovation and technology in relation to National
Marine Aquarium
Innovation and technology together critically examine the possibility of latest and
frontline technologies such as AI, Robotics, gene-editing,etc, widening the scope for existing
inequalities and creating the new one (Anning-Dorson and Nyamekye, 2020). Lower and
middle-income developing countries and the least developing countries cannot afford to miss the
opportunity of new wave of rapid technological change. Innovation in technologies for future
consumption are in the midst of development, by predicting the future hassles on comparison
with the current situations. The worlds largest aquarium in ocean city of Britain that is, National
Marine Aquarium is advance in terms of technology. They are planning to consider some of the
futuristic technologies in terms of innovation that might increase the number of visitors in the
aquarium :
 Blockchain Technology : Blockchain can be described as a type of Digital Ledger
technology that includes creation of list of records, called blocks. It has the potential to
fix the damaged supply chain by quick verification and processing of transactions.
National Marine Aquarium should develop a network through several blocks so as to
reach out to the more and more strength of students. They should make their blocks
chains resilient in nature by improving transparency and integrity across domain through
blockchain technologies. It will develop the direct connection with the students across the
globe.
4

 Development of 3D channels: Inclusion of several 3D channels in the field of learning
will enhance the experience of students. What would be more fun than learning new
things while enjoying it at the same time (Cabral and Jabbour, 2020). Various 3D
channels that National Marine Aquarium may use could be artificial intelligence and
augmented reality. With the use of these two the organization can enhance its reputation
by increasing its reach towards the students globally. Artificial intelligence provides the
students with the solutions to their queries on several matters with the help of chat bots.
Augmented reality is a 3D tool that will help the students to get an experiential approach
through learning by visual representation of lessons provided in 3D.
 Gamification : Gamification can be referred to as learning and understanding different
concepts with help of several games or game like quizzes, etc. This is a new quirk in
technology where several educational games are being included in the coursework to
engage the visuals of various study related concepts with the help of coding (Reilly,
2018). The strategy might prove to be severely beneficial for National Marine Aquarium
as this will bring interests of more students. They might learn new concepts in them relax
time through several educational gaming apps, learning and entertainment altogether.
 Learning Management System: Learning management systems is a podium that is
being develop to construct and track online learning activities and initiatives (Benhadda
and Chibili, 2019). This develops and delivers content, lectures, pedagogical aids,
alleviating and nurturing communication systems. This will help National Marine
Aquarium to check the availability of their content and modules at right place and right
time.
Identification and explanation of the steps to provide a market-oriented solution
Market-oriented solution refers to the environmental factors that offer price in the
production and consumption process which represents flexibility and distinction at the same time
(Gürlek and Koseoglu, 2021). These methods of economy checks for reducing monetary burden
of individuals in relation to environmental pollution. Market based initiatives covers a huge
range of activities that incorporates a market component. It can range from market creation,
through market devices, to drawing on market principles in order to, stake a claim for enhanced
competition. Through market research intelligence many professionals conduct surveys that
provides them with the actionable insights on product trends in a market, demand for specific
5

features and product specification currently in demand. National Marine Aquarium is now
focusing on providing distance learning for the students regarding the marine or aquatic life
prevailing in the Britain's ocean city in Plymouth. The organisation of National Marine
Aquarium uses number of steps to provide a market -oriented solution using various marketing
research tools for intelligence in relation to innovation and technology are given below: Understanding segmented market: Segment market is described as a target market of
potential customers and suppliers. It helps the business organisation to provides services
faster as already knowing about the place of distribution. Understanding of target market
leads to getting information about consumer preferences and tastes (Rahman, Hassan and
Fattah, 2021). Management of National Marine Aquarium also use this strategy in their
decision making process to attract more and more visitors towards them. This strategy
also helps in spreading online educational system across the world to make people aware
and knowledgable about sea-life. The given business organisation takes different
measures to understand the market segment in the economy like researching on
geographical area and getting information about potential of customers. Gathering market research: This is the process to analyse the information from the
market that is critical to the company's success (Carvalho and de Sousa Paiva, 2020). It
describes the procedure to company for meeting customer's expectations in target market.
Generally, market research is of two types one is primary research and another is
secondary research. Business can gather the research of market through different surveys
and strategies. It includes identification of data sources, gathering competition details and
information about customers or suppliers. The managers of National Marine Aquarium
also gather market research to obtain the information about the customer’s knowledge for
underwater lives. This strategy helps them to increase efficiency in online educational
channels to provide information about sea-life. This organisation also attracts the visitors
through gathering market research strategy.
 Forecasting market projects: Forecasting market projection means analysing market
trends by combining the description of consumers and evaluate the future position of the
business organisation (Chibili, 2019). It helps an organisation to focus on key areas that
can affect the business in future. The National Marine Aquarium also use this analytical
tool to increase the number of persons coming to visit the aquarium premises. The results
6

from online education system can be analysed through this strategy. Management team
have to gather information regarding consumers and compare them with present scenario
to perform the forecasting market projects. This strategy helps the business to become
future oriented and for deciding corrective measures in advance. It also attracts the
visitors towards National Marine Aquarium.
CONCLUSION
Above report is the representation of a study plan required by the university to enhance
the learning experience of its students and students across the globe with help of several
innovations and technologies. This involves the critical evaluation and analysis of various
challenges and opportunities of online educational environments for visitor attraction centre. So
that students could be a part of the aquatic life by just sitting on their couch through various e-
learning platforms. It also contains the Pestle analysis of one such firm including real life
examples. The technologies related to the futuristic aspects have been used for the critical
evaluation of a firm's operations. This checks the relevance of its operations and provides the
academic evidence to their potential.
7

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Aksoy, L., and Et. Al., 2022. Global trends in hospitality. Journal of Business Research. 142.
pp.957-973.
Anning-Dorson, T. and Nyamekye, M. B., 2020. Be flexible: turning innovativeness into
competitive advantage in hospitality firms. International Journal of Contemporary
Hospitality Management.
Benhadda, L. and Chibili, M. N., 2019. Managing Change in the Hospitality Industry. In Modern
Hotel Operations Management (pp. 508-565). Routledge.
Cabral, C. and Jabbour, C. J. C., 2020. Understanding the human side of green hospitality
management. International Journal of Hospitality Management. 88. p.102389.
Carvalho, L. M. C. and de Sousa Paiva, I. C., 2020. Sustainability Reporting in Hospitality
Sector. In Strategic Business Models to Support Demand, Supply, and Destination
Management in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry (pp. 150-163). IGI Global.
Chibili, M. N., 2019. Conceiving Hospitality Processes. In Modern Hotel Operations
Management (pp. 426-459). Routledge.
Gürlek, M. and Koseoglu, M. A., 2021. Green innovation research in the field of hospitality and
tourism: The construct, antecedents, consequences, and future outlook. The Service
Industries Journal. 41(11-12). pp.734-766.
Huang, Q., and Et. Al., 2019. Global hospitality growth and institutional quality. Journal of
Hospitality and Tourism Management. 41. pp.117-128.
Konovalova, E. E. and Et. Al., 2018. Forming approaches to strategic management and
development of tourism and hospitality industry in the regions. Journal of
Environmental Management & Tourism. 9(2 (26). pp.241-247.
Martínez-Martínez, A., and Et. Al., 2019. Environmental knowledge strategy: Driving success of
the hospitality industry. Management Research Review.
Rahman, M. S., Hassan, H. and Fattah, F. A. M. A., 2021. Optimisation of restaurants’
hospitality performance: the roles of innovation, internal and external power
understanding capability. International Journal of Innovation Science.
Reilly, P., 2018. Building customer centricity in the hospitality sector: the role of talent
management. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes.
Wang, J., 2022. Building competitive advantage for hospitality companies: The roles of green
innovation strategic orientation and green intellectual capital. International Journal of
Hospitality Management. 102. p.103161.
8