D.T ESSAY
Elaborated by: Captine Rindau Nhangave; Grade 9E
19th March 2020
Design and Technology
Introduction
Design and Technology is the study of: design, development, application , implementation ,
support and management of computer and non-computer based technologies for the express
purpose of communicating product design internet and constructability.
Design and Technology can be applied to the problems encountered in construction , operation
and maintenance of a product , D.T. is also applicable to industrial and product design and the
manufacturing and fabrication processes therein. People sometimes ask if D.T is a important in
life or has a role in society, here is my opinion Design and Technology its actually an important ,
valuable and practical subject.
It helps children and young people to actively contribute to the creativity , culture , wealth and
well-being of themselves, their community and their nation. It teaches how to take risks and so
become more resourceful , innovative, enterprising and capable.
The aim of design is to give some form , pattern , structure , or arrangement to an intended
technological product so that it is an integrated and balanced whole which will do what is intended.
Designing often begins with an idea in a person’s mind and the designer has to be able to envisage
situations , transformations , and outcomes , and model these in the mind’s eye.
Social
Social design is design , that is mindful of the designer’s role and responsibility in society , and of
the use of the design process to bring about social change. Social design is also a critical discipline
that challenges the pure market- orienteers of conventional design practice , and attempts to see
past this into a more inclusive conception of design , in which user groups who are marginalized
are also given priority
Environmental
Environmental design is the process of addressing surrounding environmental parameters when
devising plans , programs , policies , buildings, or products. It seek to create spaces that will
enhance the natural , social , cultural and physical environment of particular areas.
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Classical prudent design may have always considered environmental factors ;however, the
environmental movement beginning in the 1940s has made the concept more explicit.
Economic
Economic design refers to sustainability from a more resilient and participatory future. An
increasing amount of people know that our current economic system is no longer sustainable , yet
awareness of viable alternatives is spreading slowly.
Social
As we have seen technology affects the way individuals communicate, learn, and think. It helps
society and determines how people interact with each other on a daily basis. Technology plays an
important and big role on society today. Technology has positive and negative impact on the world
and it impacts daily lives. We are living in an era where technological advances are common. The
internet and cell phones are some examples. However, with technological advances, there’s a
downside to it all.
1.Education
One of the examples of technology that has had a great impact on society is how it affects learning.
It’s made learning more interactive and collaborative, this helps people better engage with the
material that they are learning and have trouble with, also it gets you better access to resources.
With the creation of the internet, it gives us pupils a twenty-four hour rate and we have access to
almost anything online and it also allows students to get work done easier. Students can take
quizzes and exams more easily, and teachers being able to hold online classes which can be very
effective. It also expands the boundaries of the classroom, encouraging self-paced learning.
2. Communication
Other way of how technology has impacted society is through communication, how we talk and
communicate with one another worldwide. Technology brought many new methods of electronic
communication, Example: emails, social networking, now you can facetime a person that on the
other side of the world, and there is video conference where you can have a conference
electronically. However, mobile communication affects people not only in a positive way but a
negative way when it comes to being sociable and making face-to-face contact, mobile technology
can decrease communication and relations between people. There’s less personal time, where you
find that you don’t have enough time for yourself because you’re always in contact with someone.
Also, it can be distracting from your schoolwork. There is also loss of privacy, because anyone
can find you anywhere at any time of the day.
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How has design impact society
Design does influence people and, anything that can influence people can make an impact on
society. Design has a profound impact on our daily lives. The word design can have many
definitions but solution driven design or artistic type of design have helped the human species
transcend into modern world. Our ability to use design as an expensive system as well as a process
to develop solutions is evident all the way from our primitive stages.
Whether we are aware of it or not, design surrounds us , and can be found in the tiniest of places
and items. All of the items surrounding us have been carefully and thoughtfully executed by
designers. Design is also used to communicate, depending on who we are it can be influential by
understanding our behavior and demographics, also social design seeks to solve humanitarian
issues such as improving living conditions for its beneficiaries. Design can be about intentional
development of the built environment-public and private spaces where people live, work and
interact, or about innovations that improve the things people use every day, But design is also a
way of thinking. Design can be an approach to problem solving that integrates the identification
of true needs with the patient exploration of solutions, understanding that the best response may
not be the most obvious.
ENVIRONMENTAL
As we all know micro refers to small things and macro refers to big things. The macro environment
affects every business. It consists of many factors that, if left unchecked, can destroy a business.
To reduce the effects of negative factors, you must first understand what macro environment
analysis is and how to do it yourself.
THE MACRO ENVIRONMENT IS EVERYWHERE
A macro environment involves influences which affect the entire economy of business. How
much influence the macro environment has on a company depends on how interlaced they are.
Some factors such as the economy , will slowly affect every and all business. But companies facing
economic downfall, and potentially bankruptcy, are hurt more significantly than businesses in
booming (rapid economic growth) industries.
The economy also affects consumers. What they are willing to spend, on what, and how frequently
hinges on the macro environment, if consumers aren’t buying, or feel they are not in a position to
buy specific products, sales suffer.
Additionally, inflation, unemployment rates, and taxes are macro environment factors that affect
businesses and consumers on a day-to-day basis. The economy and consumers are influences in
the macro environment that affect all businesses, and they are critical when conducting a macro
environment analysis.
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FACTORS
These factors are not within the control of management of business but still affects the business up
to large extends. These factors are almost uncontrollable. The organization has to fit into this
environment to survive in competitive scenario, these factors of macro environment also affects
the factors within the organization.
There are many factors in the macro environment that will affect the decisions of the managers of
any organization in this whole world. Tax changes, new laws, trade barriers, demographic change
and government policy, political changes are all examples of macro change. To analyze these
factors managers can categorize them using the PESTEL (POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL,
TECHNOLOGICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL and LEGAL FACTORS) MODEL.
POLITICAL FACTORS
This refers to government policy, for example: the degree of intervention in the economy, What
goods and services a government wants to provide? Up to what extent does it believe in
subsidizing firms? What are its major priorities in terms of business support? Political decisions
can impact on many vital areas of business such as the education of the workforce, the health of
the nation and the quality of the infrastructure of the economy such as the road and rail system.
ECONOMIC FACTORS
This includes interest rates, taxation changes, economic growth, inflation and exchange rates.
For example: High interest rate may deter the investment because it costs more to borrow. Inflation
may provoke the higher wage demands from employees and raise costs. Higher national income
growth may boost the demand for a firm’s products.
SOCIAL FACTORS
Changes in social trends can impact on the demand for a firm’s products and the availability and
willingness of employees to work, for example: in UK the population has been ageing, this has
increased the costs for firms who are committed to pension payments for their employees because
their staffs are living longer, it also means some firms like ASDA (Associated Dairies) have
started to recruit older employees to tap into this growing labor pool, the ageing population also
has impact on demand. E.g.- demand for sheltered accommodation and medicines have increased
whereas demand for toys is falling.
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TECHNOLOGICAL FACTORS
New technology creates new products and new processes. MP3 players, computer games, online
gambling, i-pods and high definition TVs are all new markets created by technological advances.
Online shopping, bar coding and computer aided design are all improvements to the way the
businessmen do business as a result of better technology, technology can reduce costs; improve
quality and leads to innovation. These developments can benefit consumers as well as the
organizations which providing the products.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Environmental factor includes the weather and climate change. Changes in temperature can impact
on many industries which include farming, tourism and insurance. With major climate changes
occurring due to global warming and with greater environmental awareness these external factors
are becoming a significant issue for firms to consider. The growing desire to protect the
environment is having an impact on many industries like the travel and transportation industries
like the travel and transportation industries, for example: more taxes being placed on air travel and
the success of hybrid cars, and the general move towards more environmental friendly products
and processes is affecting demand patterns and creating business opportunities.
LEGAL FACTORS
These are related to the legal environment in which firm operates. In recent years in the UK there
have been many beneficial legal changes that have affected firm’s behavior, the introduction of
age discrimination legislation, an increase in the minimum wage and greater requirements for firms
to recycle are examples of the recent laws that affect an organization’s actions. Legal changes can
affect a firm’s costs and demand.
MICRO ENVIRONMENT
Micro environment is defined as the nearby environment, under which the firm operates.
Micro- Environmental Factors in Business
The micro-environment of a business includes the factors in the immediate area of operation
affecting its performance and decision making freedom. They include competitors, customers,
distribution channels, suppliers, and the public. These factors affect the performance of the
business in several ways and understanding them is important for strategy formulation, it also helps
in organizational planning for operational efficiency and financial success, these factors are
important for any business, here are some micro-economic factors that affect almost every
business:
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CUSTOMERS
Customers are considered the most important factor in the microenvironment because of the impact
they have on business. Their importance has grown higher in the 21 first century, moreover, the
better a business knows its costumer, the healthier is its bottom line. A company can create
promotional strategies and campaigns to attract and retain its costumers effectively by
understanding the better. Being more customer-oriented helps in this hypercompetitive era because
customized longer. Sometimes, it also helps at generating new revenue streams as you can sell
more to your existing customer base if you understand its preferences better. There are several
more things that show the central importance of customers in the context of business. Businesses
are using every means to strengthen their customer connection. It is not just about earning from
them but knowing them, including and retaining them for longer. Customer engagement has
become a key focus for businesses and it is also because of the growing competition.
EMPLOYEES
Employees are one of the very important micro-economic factors affecting the performance of any
business. The performance of the employees is one of the primary drivers of organizational
performance and productivity, research has also highlighted the key role HR plays in the success
of a business. A large number of successful companies have excellent HR policies in place, they
offer the best training and salaries to their employees, like google, Facebook, Microsoft, apple,
and amazon. Apple is also focusing on inclusion and diversity as wells as employee engagement.
Motivated and skilled employees are essential for the success of a business, this also why
companies focus on attracting and retaining the best talent, leading companies offer a mix of
financial and non-financial benefits to maximize employee satisfaction.
COMPETITORS
Competition is everywhere and in every industry. The level of competition in any industry has a
major effect on profits. The higher the number of your competitors, the lower is your market share,
when several businesses are battling for winning market share in a limited space, the chances of
market growing saturated quicker are higher. Not just this, competition affects businesses in other
ways too. To stand out in a highly competitive market is not easy and businesses must differentiate
to attract costumers. Moreover, the pressure of competition also compels businesses to regularly
update their business and marketing strategies, However, sometimes competition can be a positive
factor and can help churn demand.
ECONOMIC
Thus, if every firm within all industries makes use of advanced technology they can work
efficiently by reducing costs, lead time and maximizing their profits by achieving economies of
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scale, thus contributing positively to the GDP of the nation, hence each firm contributes to creating
wealth of nations.
TECHNOLOGY IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIC
Technological advancement is unambiguously correlated with globalization. The information age
has increased the rate of globalization like never before, as the rapid expansion of the internet
creates an irreversibly networked world. This analysis examines the positive and negative
consequences of technological change in developing countries, specifically investigation changes
with regard to economy, culture, and education.
The adoption of technology by developing countries has had profound effects on their economies,
such as reducing the national costs of production, establishing standards for quality , and allowing
individuals to communication from a distance. Unfortunately, the current process remains one of
adaption, rather than innovation, in addition, the need for technologies appropriate to the
capabilities of a developing country’s poor has only recently been recognized. One major
challenge to the diffusion of technology in low-income nations that persists is its uneven
distribution and penetration within the country. The rapid spread of technology fueled by the
internet has led to positive cultural changes in developing countries. Easier, faster communication
has contributed to the rise of democracy, as well as the alleviation of poverty. Globalization can
also increase cultural awareness and promote diversity. However, the diffusion of technology must
be carefully controlled to prevent negative cultural consequences. Developing countries risk losing
their cultural identities and assimilating themselves into an increasingly westernized world.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, from all the definitions, explanations and examples of the topics given, I’ve seen
that design and technology have a great impact and role on the world. Just imagine how the world
could’ve been without design we wouldn’t have our national currency, we couldn’t have our
school, we couldn’t have our fantastic buildings. In my opinion all the topics given are important,
like how design and technology had a big impact on society, like how it played the role of both
micro and macro environment and how it improved the wealthy of many countries. Technology
plays a vital role in design, design and technology its part of our day-to-day basis, each day we’re
developing and becoming a technological society.
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