Impact of Digital Tech

Overview

This 40-minute lesson explores the benefits that digital technologies bring to various functions within an organisation, specifically focusing on recruiting and managing staff, market research and marketing, production, finance, and administration. It aligns with the Irish Business Studies curriculum framework, fostering understanding of how digital innovation transforms business efficiency and effectiveness.

Curriculum Alignment

Curriculum Framework for Business Studies (Junior Cycle, First Year approx. age 12-13)

Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the role of technology in business operations and management.
- Recognise the impact of digital technologies on different business functions.
- Evaluate benefits and costs associated with digital adoption in organisations.
Key Competencies:
- Digital Literacy: Use of technology and digital resources to support learning and problem solving.
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Assessing impact and implications of technology in business contexts.
- Managing Myself: Organising and managing learning tasks involving technology.
Standards:
- Describes digital technologies used in business functions (Recruitment, Marketing, Finance, Production, Admin).
- Explains benefits and challenges of digital technology in business settings.
- Demonstrates basic analysis of cost-benefit considerations of digital investment.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Identify key digital technologies used in recruiting and managing staff, market research and marketing, production, finance, and administration.
Explain the benefits digital technologies bring to each business area.
Understand and discuss the cost implications and savings organisations experience through digitalisation.
Engage in collaborative discussion and evaluation, nurturing deeper critical thinking.

Resources Required

Whiteboard or interactive display
Projector (for visual aids/slides)
Handouts with brief case study examples (fictional companies)
Sticky notes and markers
Timer or stopwatch
Digital or printed mind map templates

Lesson Structure

1. Starter (5 mins)

Activity: Think-Pair-Share

Prompt: "Name some digital technologies you or your family use every day."
Students think individually for 30 seconds, then discuss with a partner for 2 minutes.
Volunteers share examples (e.g., smartphones, social media, online banking).
Teacher links their personal tech experiences to business digital technologies (e.g., apps for recruitment, online marketing).

Curriculum link: Activates prior knowledge and builds digital literacy.

2. Introduction & Presentation (10 mins)

Teacher Input – Brief overview covering:

Definition of digital technologies in business contexts.
Five key areas in organisations affected:
- Recruiting and managing staff (e.g., Applicant Tracking Systems, digital onboarding, video interviews)
- Market research & marketing (e.g., social media analytics, online surveys, digital advertising)
- Production (e.g., automation, CAD software, IoT sensors)
- Finance (e.g., online invoicing, budgeting software, digital payment systems)
- Administration (e.g., cloud storage, email management, digital scheduling tools)

Use simple slides with key points and vivid examples.

Curriculum link: Students meet curriculum “understand technology impact” learning outcomes.

3. Group Activity (15 mins)

Task: Jigsaw Learning – students work in 5 groups (4-5 students each). Each group is assigned 1 organisational area from the list.

Step 1 (7 mins): Groups identify 3 to 4 benefits digital technology brings to their assigned area, writing short points on sticky notes.
Step 2 (5 mins): Groups circulate, stick their notes on the board under their category, and read others’ notes.
Step 3 (3 mins): Whole class briefly discusses highlights and surprising benefits found.

Optional: If time permits, teacher prompts groups to quickly think about costs and savings related to their area (e.g., cost of software vs. reduced admin time).

Curriculum link: Fosters collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and reinforces subject knowledge.

4. Consolidation Discussion (7 mins)

Class Discussion:

Teacher guides a discussion on the overall impact of costs and savings when digital technology is adopted.
Questions posed:
- How do these technologies save organisations money or time?
- Are there upfront costs to consider?
- Why might some businesses hesitate in adopting digital technology?
Encourage students to relate answers to examples from their group work.

Curriculum link: Meets competencies in evaluating cost-benefit and critical thinking about digital adoption.

5. Plenary & Formative Assessment (3 mins)

Exit Ticket:
Each student writes down:

One digital technology benefit they learned today.
One question or idea they still wonder about digitally transforming businesses.

Teacher quickly reviews responses post-lesson to gauge understanding and inform next steps.

Extension Opportunity (if time allows)

Watch a very short (2-3 minute) video or slide animation illustrating digital transformation in a retail company, highlighting integration across departments. Follow-up with a quick discussion to connect theory to a real-world example.

Differentiation

Provide printed notes or summary sheets for students who may need support.
Challenge higher-achieving students to think about emerging technologies (e.g., AI, blockchain) impacting the areas studied.

Reflection for Teacher

Did students engage actively in group work and share diverse examples?
Were students able to link digital benefits clearly to business functions?
Is there a need to revisit cost-benefit analysis with more detail in upcoming lessons?
Consider incorporating a digital tool (e.g., quiz app) in future lessons to enhance engagement further.

This highly targeted and interactive lesson plan harnesses collaborative learning and critical thinking, fully aligning with Irish Business Studies curriculum requirements while offering an engaging approach to the topic of digital technologies in business.

Teaching Instructions