How has digital technology changed work, business and the way money is made?
Describe how digital technology has changed the way people work and how organisations trade and make money, including new business and monetisation models.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Digital Technology content on the digital shift, covering how technology has changed work patterns, how businesses trade online, and new monetisation models such as subscriptions and advertising.
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What this dot point is asking
WJEC asks you to describe how digital technology has changed working life and how organisations do business and make money, including newer "monetisation" models such as subscriptions and advertising. The exam form is "describe how technology has changed work/business" or "explain a way a business makes money online", so you need clear changes and the ability to evaluate them.
How work has changed
Digital tools have transformed where and how people work.
Benefits and drawbacks for workers
The changes cut both ways.
How business and trade have changed
Selling has moved online, reaching far more customers.
New monetisation models
Digital businesses make money in new ways.
Reasoning about a business
The exam rewards applying these ideas to a case.
Why this matters
The digital shift explains how technology reshapes the economy and everyday working life, which is exactly the kind of evaluation the impact topic rewards. It connects to communications (remote work relies on email and video conferencing), to security and the law (online trade must protect customer data), and to the emerging technologies in the next dot point, which are driving the next wave of change such as automation through AI. Understanding both the benefits and the drawbacks, rather than only the positives, is essential for full marks.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of WJEC exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
WJEC-style4 marksDescribe how digital technology has changed the way many people work, giving both a benefit and a drawback.Show worked answer →
Digital technology allows remote and flexible working: using laptops, the internet and video conferencing, many people can work from home or anywhere rather than always being in an office.
A benefit is greater flexibility and no commuting, which can improve work-life balance and let employers recruit from a wider area.
A drawback is that the line between work and home life can blur, people may feel they must always be available, and some roles have been automated, reducing the number of certain jobs.
Markers award marks for a clear change (remote/flexible working, automation, collaboration tools), a benefit, and a drawback, up to four marks. Strong answers link each point to a consequence for workers or employers.
WJEC-style3 marksExplain two ways a business can make money online, other than simply selling physical products.Show worked answer →
Subscription model: the business charges customers a regular fee (for example monthly) for ongoing access to a service or content, such as a streaming or software service, giving it a steady income.
Advertising model: the business offers a free service and earns money by showing adverts to its users, or by selling advertising space, with income depending on the number of users.
(Other valid answers include freemium, where the basic service is free but extra features are paid for, and selling user data or in-app purchases.)
Markers award one mark for each model correctly named and one mark for explaining how it makes money, up to three marks. The models must be genuine online monetisation methods.
Related dot points
- Describe emerging and evolving digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, virtual and augmented reality, and explain their uses and impacts.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Digital Technology content on emerging technologies, covering artificial intelligence and machine learning, the Internet of Things, virtual and augmented reality, and their uses and impacts.
- Describe the ethical, social and environmental impacts of digital technology, including privacy, the digital divide, e-waste and energy use.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Digital Technology content on the ethical, social and environmental impacts of digital technology, covering privacy, the digital divide, health and society, electronic waste and energy consumption.
- Describe the main methods of digital communication (email, messaging, VoIP, video conferencing, social media) and select an appropriate method for a given situation.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Digital Technology content on digital communication methods, covering email, instant messaging, VoIP, video conferencing and social media, with how to choose the right method and their benefits and drawbacks.
- Describe social networking and online collaboration, and evaluate their benefits and risks for individuals and organisations.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Digital Technology content on social networking, covering what it is, online collaboration, and the benefits and risks for individuals and organisations, including privacy and a digital footprint.
- Describe the main laws affecting digital technology (data protection, the Computer Misuse Act and copyright law) and explain the duties and offences each defines.
A focused answer to the WJEC GCSE Digital Technology content on legislation, covering data protection law, the Computer Misuse Act and copyright law, with the rights, duties and offences each one defines.
Sources & how we know this
- WJEC GCSE Digital Technology specification — WJEC (2021)
- WJEC GCSE Digital Technology Unit 1 guide — WJEC (2020)