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Discussion Thread: The 3 Greatest Achievements in the last 5 Decades
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School of Business, Liberty University
Author Note
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I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to XXX
Email: XXX@liberty.edu
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Discussion Thread: The 3 Greatest Achievements in the last 5 Decades
The ever-changing technological advancements during the last five decades have
significantly influenced every walk of our lives. God created and blessed us with our gifts,
talents, and abilities (Psalm 139:13-15). We, humans, have exponentially accomplished many
achievements with God's blessings, and it is not easy to choose only three as the most significant
achievements. However, the paper considers the inventions of the internet, cellular phones
technology, and satellite technology as the three greatest achievements in the last 50 years.
Each of these three inventions significantly influenced all of us across the globe.
PMBOK® Guide (2021) defines a project as a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique
product, service, or result. From the context of project management, these three life-changing
achievements experienced the four stages of the project life cycle: defining, planning, executing,
and delivering to become successful outcomes (Larson & Gray, 2021).
The Internet
The internet holds one of the most influential and essential roles in connecting and sharing
information in today's world. From the static network of the U.S. Defense Department's
Advanced Research Projects Agency Networks (ARPANET) in 1969, the internet has evolved
and grown into a sophisticated multidisciplinary tool becoming an indispensable part of our
lives; for individual consumers and large economies for how we connect with others, arrange the
flow of commodities and share information (Dentzel, 2017). The study indicated that worldwide
internet users grew to 4.9 billion in 2021 (Johnson, 2021). The findings reflected that the
internet's reach and usage have grown to almost two-thirds of the global population.
Johnson (2021) underlined the role of the internet as an indispensable tool for information,
communication, and entertainment across the globe. The internet has profoundly reshaped human
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interaction's nature, quality, and accessibility to conduct daily lives; health, education, social
development, information, online streaming entertainment, digital inventions and platforms,
globalization, e-business trends and practices, and social networking.
The recent pandemic of COVID-19 impacted all of us, and we had to adopt the new norms.
The internet proved to be the most critical tool and invention for conducting our lives without
endangering our health and safety. For example, the internet facilitated online education and
connectivity through virtual communication platforms such as ZOOM. Health facilities and
businesses across the globe use the internet to cater to the needs of patients and consumers.
Project management requires the efficient alignment of teams' efforts and outcomes through
using the most appropriate resources and technologies. The online accessibility for coordination,
collaboration, and efficient execution of the project life cycle is essential to execute and deliver a
project successfully. Burke (2018) underlined the role of the internet as the instrumental tool for
efficient and successful global project management.
Cellular Phones Technology
While the internet is the essential tool and technology for information, communication, and
entertainment across the globe, cellular phones technology and devices have equally influenced
us worldwide in all aspects of daily life; communication, education, health, work, entertainment,
and socialization. The ever-changing technological advancements have evolved simple cell
phones into "smart" phones as information and communication hubs. The evolutionary journey
of the mobile phone started in 1973, which profoundly initiated the transformation of digital
communication. Motorola engineer Martin Cooper and his project team made the first-ever
portable cell phone call on the DynaTAC 8000X (Križanović, 2020).
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Schäffner and Goldmark (2011) identified three key elements which have transformed the
historical development and contemporary design of the invention of the cell phone. Firstly, the
cell phone is an exceedingly hybrid device offering a wide range of different media technologies.
Secondly, its departure from a fixed physical site has resulted in a significant change in popular
telecommunication. Thirdly, the mobility of cell phones has encouraged profound interface
minimization. In terms of cellular technologies, the evolution from 1st Generation to 5G took
about 40 years.
With the tremendously increased availability and accessibility of fast-speed internet, the rate
of adoption of smartphones has been remarkably growing across the globe. The study by Key
Ideas (2021) underlined that smartphones profoundly influence our daily lives, with over one
billion users worldwide and 2.5 million apps available from Apple and Google. Key Ideas (2021)
refer to a survey by Compete that a significantly large number of people, almost up to 65%, are
using their smartphones for news feeds, post status updates, read & reply to messages, and post
photos. The adoption and usage trends indicate that consumers are leaving P.C.s and moving
towards smartphones. Johnson (2021) emphasized the adoption trend for switching to mobile
devices to browse the web on the go; mobile internet now accounts for almost 57 percent of total
web traffic worldwide.
Smartphones offer consumers a significant range of efficacy to conduct their daily lives. For
example, students from different education levels use their smartphones to access their learning
portals, contents, and resources. Similarly, during Covid-19, smartphones played a crucial role in
enabling consumers for cost-effective and convenient accessibility to virtual learning portals,
health facilities, and communication. Furthermore, Ravindran (2021) underlined the wide range
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of apps across Apple and Google for disease tracking diagnostics and enabled smartphone users
to monitor COVID-19 symptoms.
While there are abundant benefits of smartphones and how they influence the social dynamics
of today's world, one cannot overlook the negative impacts. Consequently, there are active social
discussions all over the world assessing the impacts on society and social behaviors. For
example, how the excessive usage of smartphones is negatively affecting children, young
students, and adult users in education, social interaction, sleep patterns, entertainment, and
driving behaviors. The study by Jeong (2020) involved 595 elementary school students identified
as being smartphone-dependent, indicating that the frequency of smartphone use was the factor
strongly associated with more severe smartphone dependence in participants and their lower
educational performance.
According to Abi-Jaoude et al. (2020), youth's heavy smartphone use and media
multitasking cause chronic sleep deprivation and adverse effects on cognitive control, academic
performance, and socioemotional functioning. In addition, Rudisill et al. (2018) highlighted the
lethal impact of the drivers using cell phones while driving. The study also referred to the survey
conducted in the United States, and findings indicated a 77% of respondents admitted to using
their cell phones while driving, a potential threat to road safety.
Satellite Technology
We may not always realize and acknowledge the presence of satellite systems in space and
how significantly they contribute to our modern daily lives and activities. However, considering
their wide-ranging benefits for our world, satellite systems are one of the most outstanding
achievements of humankind. Psalm 143:5 (NIV, 1973/2011) reads, "I remember the days of long
ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done." Satellite technology
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systems in space are another example of how God blessed us with unbound curiosity, the thirst to
expand our knowledge and reach, and resources to explore so we can make our world a better
place for generations to come.
While earth and the moon are called "natural" satellites, the paper refers to machines or
artificial satellites (NASA, 2017). The USSR and the USA launched their first satellite into orbit
in 1957 and 1958. With the passage of time and the exponential advancement in space
technology, the number of satellites orbiting the earth has grown by over 3000 (McGrath, 2021).
Today's world has transformed into a global village, and satellites have played an instrumental
role in developing global culture, expanding worldwide digital access to news, entertainment,
technology, and public services.
The broad-ranging benefits of satellite technology and systems are part of our daily lives. For
example, satellite systems in orbits about 20,000km above the earth's surface continually
communicate with our smartphones and computers to provide GPS navigation to conveniently
reach our destinations (NASA, 2017). In addition, these satellite systems take pictures of the
earth from orbit to assist us with the weather forecast to prepare for changing weather conditions
as a public service to save lives and other causalities. Similarly, the images of the earth taken by
these satellite systems contribute to search engines such as Google Earth to help us monitor the
rate of deforestation and the melting ice caps (The Stemettes Zine, 2021).
What about paying for a coffee in the morning or paying for a monthly subscription to an
online streaming service using an app on our smartphone? Satellite systems make all these
worldwide financial transactions possible, and our lives go on. Satellite systems have profoundly
extended our communication across the globe. International trades through air, land, and sea rely
on satellite telecommunication. Traditional phone and cable carrier systems do not have the
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functional capacity to help ships in deep waters and distant lands while traveling. Satellite
system-based communication connects people from distant lands and waters to the world, saving
lives and ensuring human development. During the current pandemic of COVID-19, satellite
communication proved a vital tool for the United Nations agencies in reaching and connecting
with people across the globe. Online learning in education and health has significantly relied on
satellite communication systems. From the concept to the actual launching of the first satellite in
1958 and onward, several project teams executed all four stages of the project life cycle:
defining, planning, executing, and delivering to become successful outcomes (Larson & Gray,
2021).
Conclusion
Daniel 12:3 (NIV, 1973/2011) reads, "Those who are wise[a] will shine like the brightness of
the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." These
three human achievements, with blessings of God, the internet, cell phone technology, and
satellite technology, have provided life-changing benefits for humankind across the globe.
Thanks, Jared, for your meaningful feedback. I concur with your perspective that "each of these
efforts would be considered programs, driven by many projects over the years" (Jared, 2022).
These products or projects evolved over the years with changing consumers' trends and
preferences. The journey of cellular phones from Motorola "Brick" phone, DynaTAC 8000X, to
the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy reflects two fundamental elements; changing consumer
trends and corresponding technical advancements to cater to consumers' needs (Križanović,
2020).
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The product development directly corresponds to the evolving consumers' trends. In case the
product and or service fails to meet the changing trends, it faces the threat of losing its market
share and, in some cases, extinction. BlackBerry and Nokia are examples of not evolving or
developing according to changing market trends and eventually losing their market position and
share. I agree that the "sustainability of a product or effort is often the most difficult piece"
(Jared, 2022). Proverbs 14:23 (NIV, 1973/2011) reads, "all hard work brings a profit, but mere
talk leads only to poverty."
The sustainability of a product and service is associated with how the businesses can retain
and grow their customers base and market share for sustainable success. The products
development and evolution reflect the specific strategies of the organizations to achieve
sustainable market growth. Larson and Gray (2021) emphasize the need for project managers to
understand and integrate their organization's strategy for successful project delivery.
References
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica,
Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Križanović, I. (2020). Cell phone history: From the first phone to today's smartphone wonders.
VERSUS. https://versus.com/en/news/cell-phone-history
Larson, E.W., & Gray, C.F. (2021). Project Management: The Managerial Process (Eighth ed.).
McGraw-Hill Education.
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Hi Sandie, thank you for your insightful contribution to the discussion. I concur with your point
about the emergence and significance of globalization. In today's world - both personal and
business- we live in environments led by globalization trends. Roldán et al. (2018) emphasized
that through globalization, we have witnessed free trade and cross-border communication for the
development of humankind across the globe turning into a global village.
I particularly enjoyed reading about the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project. Due to my
background, I can relate to the significance and impact of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
project and how it has changed people's lives, including my family members, in those areas. The
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project BRI is an ambitious plan to develop two new trade routes
connecting China with the rest of the world. The study by European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD, 2020) referred to the BRI as an increasingly important umbrella
mechanism for China's bilateral trade with BRI partners. As of March 2020, 138 countries have
joined the Belt and Road Initiative with China (EBRD, 2020).
According to Jie and Wallace (2021), Pakistan is perhaps the most crucial partner country in
this project through the China Pakistan Economic Corridor project (CPEC). The Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI) project has significantly transformed the northern areas of Pakistan. The positive
impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) across the regions of northern Pakistan are wide-
ranging; roads, jobs, communication, human development, social and cultural transformation.
Nehemiah 2:11-18 (NIV, 1973/2011) professes us for the need of planning to ensure
successful completion of a project. Larson and Gray (2021) emphasize the role and the
significance of integrating strategy into projects, the BRI project significantly exhibits the
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strategy of China to improve regional integration, increase trade, and stimulate economic growth
for sustainable progress.
References
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica,
Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Concha Roldán, Daniel Brauer, & Johannes Rohbeck. (2018). Philosophy of Globalization. De
Gruyter.
EBRD. (2020). Belt and Road initiative (BRI). European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD). https://www.ebrd.com/what-we-do/belt-and-road/overview.html
Jie, Y., & Wallace, J. (2021). What is China’s Belt and Road initiative (BRI)? Chatham House –
International Affairs Think Tank. https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/09/what-chinas-
belt-and-road-initiative-bri
References
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica,
Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Abi-Jaoude, E., Naylor, K. T., & Pignatiello, A. (2020). Smartphones, social media use and youth
mental health. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal = Journal de l’Association
Medicale Canadienne, 192(6), E136–E141. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.190434
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Burke, R. (2018). The Internet enabling global project management. PMI.
https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/internet-enabling-global-project-management-3264
Dentzel, Z. (2017). How the internet has changed everyday life. OpenMind.
https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/articles/internet-changed-everyday-life/
Jeong, H Park. (2020). Smartphone Use Patterns of Smartphone-dependent Children. Child
Health Nursing Research, 26(1), 47–54. https://doi.org/10.4094/chnr.2020.26.1.47
Johnson, J. (2021). Topic: Internet usage worldwide. Statista.
https://www.statista.com/topics/1145/internet-usage-worldwide/#dossierKeyfigures
Key Ideas. (2021). Impact of smartphones on society - Use of mobile phones- keyideas.
https://www.keyideasinfotech.com/blog/impact-of-smartphone-on-society/
Križanović, I. (2020). Cell phone history: From the first phone to today's smartphone wonders.
VERSUS. https://versus.com/en/news/cell-phone-history
Larson, E.W., & Gray, C.F. (2021). Project Management: The Managerial Process (Eighth ed.).
McGraw-Hill Education.
McGrath, C. (2021). Six ways satellites make the world a better place. The Conversation.
https://theconversation.com/six-ways-satellites-make-the-world-a-better-place-154760
NASA. (2017). What is a satellite? https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-
knows/what-is-a-satellite-k4.html
Project Management Institute. (2021). A guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge
(PMBOK guide) (7th ed.). Project Management Institute.
Ravindran, S. (2021). Smartphone science: apps test and track infectious diseases.
www.nature.com. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01253-y
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Rudisill, T., Zhu, M., & Chu, H. (2018). Association between cellphone use while driving
legislation and self-reported behaviour among adult drivers in USA: a cross-sectional
study. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30782881/
Schäffner, W., & Goldmark, M. (2011). The Telephonic Revolution of the Digital Image. Grey
Room, 43, 145–155.
The Stemettes Zine. (2021). How satellites changed the world.
https://stemettes.org/zine/articles/how-satellites-changed-the-world/
