Identifying the Critical Success Factors in the academic E-Learning Centers (Qualitative Study)
Subject Areas : Educational managementAbasalt Khorasani 1 , Farnoush A'lami 2 , Shirzad Razavizadeh 3
1 - Associate Professor, Department of Higher Education Development Planning, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Management, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
3 - M.A. Student of Management and Planning in Higher Education, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Higher Education, e-learning, qualitative study, critical success factor,
Abstract :
Understanding of the components and factors affecting success on e-learning helps the decision-makers adopt a suitable policy for investment in effective factors and re-design or omit non effective ones. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to identify the critical success factors in the academic e-learning centers. The present study is developmental regarding to the objective, and qualitative concerning data collection. The sample includes 10 main experts having management, research and teaching experiences in the domain of E-learning. The participants were selected through purposive sampling. To identify the factors, semi-structured interview was used as the data collection instrument. Then, the collected data was analyzed through open codifying and axial codifying based on content-analysis. The critical success factors of academic e-learning centers, based on the ideas of the participants, were found to be 7 factors: learner, instructor, technology, management, pedagogy, evaluation, and outdoor beneficiary, which should have 47 features to reach success.
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Baghersad, V., Alizadeh, M., & Saeidbanadaki, S. (2013). Identifying the key success factors of e-learning entrepreneurship in the state-run universities of Tehran. Enterepreneurship Development, 5(3), 85-104. (in Persian).
Bahari, A., Moody, B., Yaghoobi, N., & Alamolhodaei, S. H. (2012). Identification and prioritization of critical success factors of Khorasan Razavi science and technology park. Roshd-e-Fanavari, (8)20, 13-21. (in Persian).
Baylor, A. L., & Ritchie, D. (2002). What factors facilitate teacher skill, teacher morale and perceived student learning in technology-using classrooms? Computers & Education, 39, 395-414.
Bekele, T. A. (2008). Impact of technology-supported learning environments in higher education: Issues in and for research. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Oslo, Norway.
Berger, Th. (2004). Quality in eLearning products. In Ehlers & Pawlowski (Eds.) Handbook on quality and standardization in e-learning (143-155). Berlin/ Heidelberg, Germany: Springer 49.
Bhuasiri, W., Xaymoungkhoun, O., Zo, H., Rho, J. J., & Ciganek, A. P. (2012). Critical success factors for e-learning in developing countries: A comparative analysis between ICT experts and faculty. Computers & Education, 58(2), 843-855.
Blanchard, E. G., & Frasson. (2005). Making Intelligent Tutoring Systems culturally aware: the use of Hofstede's cultural dimensions. International Conference in Artificial Intelligence (ICAI2005), Las Vegas, USA
Caralli. R. (2004). The critical success factor method: Establishing a foundation for enterprise security management. Retrieved from http://www.sei.cmu.edu/reports/ 04tr010.pdf
Chantanarungpak, K., & Songkla, J. N. (2011). Development of success indicators of e-learning system for higher education institutions in Thailand. Retrieved from http://oer.thaicyberu.go.th/handle/6626105234/729
Cheawjindakarn, B., Suwannatthachote, P., & Theeraroungchaisri, A. (2013). Critical success factors for online distance learning in higher education: A review of the literature. Creative Education, 3(8), 61.
Choi, D. H., Kim, J., & Kim, S. H. (2007). ERP training with a web-based electronic learning system: The flow theory perspective. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 65(3), 223-243.
Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2008). E-learning and the science of instruction (2nd ED. 2008). San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Cliffliao, Y. K. (1999). Effects of hypermedia on students achievement: A meta-analysis. Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 8(3), 255-277.
Doyle, J., & Hogan, M. (2004). Theory application for online learning success. Academic Exchange Quarterly, 8(4), 231-239.
Edmundson, A. (2007). The Cultural Adaptation Process (CAP) model: Designing
e-learning for another culture. In Globalized E-Learning Cultural Challenges, Information Science Publishing.
Fardanesh, H. (2014). Instructional design: Foundations approaches, and applications. The organization for researching and composing university textbooks in the humanities (SAMT). (in Persian).
Fresen, J. (2007). A taxonomy of factors to promote quality web-supported learning. International Journal on E-Learning, 6(3), 351-362.
Gibbs, P., & Iacovidou, M. (2004). Quality as pedagogy of confinement: Is there an alternative? Quality Assurance in Education, 12(3), 113-119.
Goi, C. L., & Ng, P. Y. (2009). E-learning in Malaysia: Success factors in implementing e-learning program. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 20(2), 237-246.
Govindasamy, T. (2001). Successful implementation of e-Learning: Pedagogical considerations. The Internet and Higher Education, 4, 287-299.
Haughey, M., & Muirhead, W. (2004). Managing virtual school: The Canadian experience. Development and Management of Virtual school: Issuse and Trends. Idea Group publishing. USA.
Hilgarth, B. (2011). The systemic cognition of e-learning success in internationally operating organizations. Academic Dissertation, the Faculty of Information Technology of the University of Jyväskylä.
Islam, N., Beer, M., & Slack, F. (2015). E-learning challenges faced by academics in higher Education: A literature review. Education and Training Studies, 3(5), 102-112.
Kamentz, E., & Mandl, Th. (2003). Culture and e-learning: Automatic detection of a users’ culture from survey data. In Evers, Röse, Honold, Coronado & Day (Eds), Designing for Global Markets 5: Proceedings of the Fifth International Workshop on Internationalization of Products and Systems (IWIPS 2003). 227-239.
Khan, B. H. (2005). Managing e-learning strategies-design, delivery, implementation and evaluation. London, UK: IGI Publishing.
Kuo, Y. C., Walker, A., Belland, B. R., & Schroder, K. E. E. (2013). A predictive study of student satisfaction in online education programs. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 14(1), 16-39.
Kuzel, A. J. (1999). Sampling in qualitative inquiry, doing qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Lee, S. S., & Osteryoung, J. S. (2004). A comparison of critical success factors for effective operations of university business incubators in the United States and Korea. Small Business Management, 42(4), 418-426.
Levy, Y. (2006). Assessing the value of e-learning systems. IGI Global.
Lim, H., & Lee, S.-G. L. (2007). Validating e-Learning factors affecting training effectiveness. International Journal of Information Management, 27, 22-35.
Malik, M. W., & Mubeen, G. (2009). Student satisfaction towards e-learning: Influential role of key factors. In 2nd Comsats International Business Research Conference (CBRC).
Marengo, A., & Marengo, V. (2005). Measuring the economic benefits of
e-learning: A proposal for a new index for academic environments. Information Technology Education, 4, 330-346.
Menchaca, M. P., & Bekele, T. A. (2008). Learner and instructor identified success factors in distance education. Distance Education, 29(3), 231-252.
Michalska, J. (2005). The usage of the balanced scorecard for the estimation of the enterprise's effectiveness. Materials Processing Technology, 162, 751-758.
Musa, M. A., & Othman, M. S. (2012). Critical success factor in e-learning: An examination of technology and student factors. International Journal of Advances in Engineering & Technology, 3(2), 140-148.
Norouzi, D., & Razavi, S. A. (2014). Instructional design foundations. The organization for researching and composing university textbooks in the humanities (SAMT). (in Persian).
Phillips, J., & Phillips, P. P. (2004). Controlling für e-learning. In Ehlers (Ed) Bildungscontrolling in ELearning (1-14). Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany: Springer.
Puri, G. (2012). Critical success factors in e-learning–An empirical study. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2(1), 149-161.
Rezaeian, A. (2011). Systems analysis and design. The organization for researching and composing university textbooks in the humanities(SAMT). (in Persian).
Romiszowski, A. J. (2004). How’s the e-learning baby? Factors leading to success or failure of an educational technology innovation. Educational Technology, 44, 5-27.
Saghafi, F., Mir Saeed Ghazi, T., & Kharat, M. (2009). Successful key factors for establishing electronic learning in educational institutions. The 4th National and the 1st International Conference on Electronic Education. (in Persian).
Sanders, J. R. (2006). Joint committee on standards for educational evaluation; In Sanders (Ed.) Handbook on Standards for Evaluation.
Seibt, D. (2004). Controlling von Kosten und Nutzen betrieblicher Bildungsmaßnahmen. In Ehlers (Ed) Bildungscontrolling in E-Learning, 35-52. Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany: Springer.
Selim, H. M. (2007). Critical success factors for e-Learning acceptance: Confirmatory factor models. Computers & Education, 49, 396-413.
Shahsavani, K., Faraj Elahi, M., & Zarif Sanaiey, N. (2014). Characteristics of a good lecturer from the viewpoints of the students of universities offering virtual education in Shiraz. Interdisciplinary Journal of Virtual Learning in Medical Sciences (IJVLMS), 5(2), 52-60.
Shee, D. Y., & Wang, Y. S. (2008). Multi-criteria evaluation of the web-based e-learning system: A methodology based on learner satisfaction and its applications. Computers & Education, 50(3), 894-905.
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Soong, M. H. B., Chan, H. C., Chua, B. C., & Loh, K. F. (2001). Critical success factors for online course resources. Computers & Education, 36(2), 101-120.
Sun, P. C. )2007(. What drives successful e-Learning? An empirical investigation of the critical factors influencing learner satisfaction. Computers & Education, 50, 1183-1202.
Volery, T., & Lord, D. (2000). Critical success factors in online education. International Journal of Educational Management, 14(5), 216-223.
Wang, Yi-Shun. (2003). Assessment of learner satisfaction with asynchronous electronic learning systems. Information & Management, 41(1), 75-86.
Wu, J-H., Tennyson, R. D., & Hsia, T-L. (2010). A study of student satisfaction in a blended e-learning system environment. Computers & Education, 55(1), 155-16.
_||_Abel, R. (2005). Achieving success in internet-supported learning in higher education: Case studies il-luminate success factors, challenges, and future directions. February, 2005. Lake Mary, FL: The Al-liance for Higher Education Competitiveness, Inc.
Anderson, T. (2004). Theory and practice in online learning. Retrieved from http:// cde.athbascau,ca/online_book/tpol_book.pdf
Andone, A., & Sireteanu. L, N-A. (2009). Strategies for technology-based learning in higher education. The FedUni Journal of Higher Education, 4(1), 31-42.
Andreu, R., & Jáuregui, K. (2005). Key factors of e-learning: A case study at a Spanish bank. Information Technology Education: Research, 4(1), 1-31.
Aury, M. C. (2005). Agricultural education students’ perception of WebCT in Puerto Rico. Retrieved from webct.confex.com/webct/2005/Preliminaryprogram/ abstract
Austin, D. (2006). Undrestanding critical success factors analysis. Retrieved from www.grainger.com
Baghersad, V., Alizadeh, M., & Saeidbanadaki, S. (2013). Identifying the key success factors of e-learning entrepreneurship in the state-run universities of Tehran. Enterepreneurship Development, 5(3), 85-104. (in Persian).
Bahari, A., Moody, B., Yaghoobi, N., & Alamolhodaei, S. H. (2012). Identification and prioritization of critical success factors of Khorasan Razavi science and technology park. Roshd-e-Fanavari, (8)20, 13-21. (in Persian).
Baylor, A. L., & Ritchie, D. (2002). What factors facilitate teacher skill, teacher morale and perceived student learning in technology-using classrooms? Computers & Education, 39, 395-414.
Bekele, T. A. (2008). Impact of technology-supported learning environments in higher education: Issues in and for research. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Oslo, Norway.
Berger, Th. (2004). Quality in eLearning products. In Ehlers & Pawlowski (Eds.) Handbook on quality and standardization in e-learning (143-155). Berlin/ Heidelberg, Germany: Springer 49.
Bhuasiri, W., Xaymoungkhoun, O., Zo, H., Rho, J. J., & Ciganek, A. P. (2012). Critical success factors for e-learning in developing countries: A comparative analysis between ICT experts and faculty. Computers & Education, 58(2), 843-855.
Blanchard, E. G., & Frasson. (2005). Making Intelligent Tutoring Systems culturally aware: the use of Hofstede's cultural dimensions. International Conference in Artificial Intelligence (ICAI2005), Las Vegas, USA
Caralli. R. (2004). The critical success factor method: Establishing a foundation for enterprise security management. Retrieved from http://www.sei.cmu.edu/reports/ 04tr010.pdf
Chantanarungpak, K., & Songkla, J. N. (2011). Development of success indicators of e-learning system for higher education institutions in Thailand. Retrieved from http://oer.thaicyberu.go.th/handle/6626105234/729
Cheawjindakarn, B., Suwannatthachote, P., & Theeraroungchaisri, A. (2013). Critical success factors for online distance learning in higher education: A review of the literature. Creative Education, 3(8), 61.
Choi, D. H., Kim, J., & Kim, S. H. (2007). ERP training with a web-based electronic learning system: The flow theory perspective. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 65(3), 223-243.
Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2008). E-learning and the science of instruction (2nd ED. 2008). San Francisco: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Cliffliao, Y. K. (1999). Effects of hypermedia on students achievement: A meta-analysis. Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 8(3), 255-277.
Doyle, J., & Hogan, M. (2004). Theory application for online learning success. Academic Exchange Quarterly, 8(4), 231-239.
Edmundson, A. (2007). The Cultural Adaptation Process (CAP) model: Designing
e-learning for another culture. In Globalized E-Learning Cultural Challenges, Information Science Publishing.
Fardanesh, H. (2014). Instructional design: Foundations approaches, and applications. The organization for researching and composing university textbooks in the humanities (SAMT). (in Persian).
Fresen, J. (2007). A taxonomy of factors to promote quality web-supported learning. International Journal on E-Learning, 6(3), 351-362.
Gibbs, P., & Iacovidou, M. (2004). Quality as pedagogy of confinement: Is there an alternative? Quality Assurance in Education, 12(3), 113-119.
Goi, C. L., & Ng, P. Y. (2009). E-learning in Malaysia: Success factors in implementing e-learning program. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 20(2), 237-246.
Govindasamy, T. (2001). Successful implementation of e-Learning: Pedagogical considerations. The Internet and Higher Education, 4, 287-299.
Haughey, M., & Muirhead, W. (2004). Managing virtual school: The Canadian experience. Development and Management of Virtual school: Issuse and Trends. Idea Group publishing. USA.
Hilgarth, B. (2011). The systemic cognition of e-learning success in internationally operating organizations. Academic Dissertation, the Faculty of Information Technology of the University of Jyväskylä.
Islam, N., Beer, M., & Slack, F. (2015). E-learning challenges faced by academics in higher Education: A literature review. Education and Training Studies, 3(5), 102-112.
Kamentz, E., & Mandl, Th. (2003). Culture and e-learning: Automatic detection of a users’ culture from survey data. In Evers, Röse, Honold, Coronado & Day (Eds), Designing for Global Markets 5: Proceedings of the Fifth International Workshop on Internationalization of Products and Systems (IWIPS 2003). 227-239.
Khan, B. H. (2005). Managing e-learning strategies-design, delivery, implementation and evaluation. London, UK: IGI Publishing.
Kuo, Y. C., Walker, A., Belland, B. R., & Schroder, K. E. E. (2013). A predictive study of student satisfaction in online education programs. The International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 14(1), 16-39.
Kuzel, A. J. (1999). Sampling in qualitative inquiry, doing qualitative research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Lee, S. S., & Osteryoung, J. S. (2004). A comparison of critical success factors for effective operations of university business incubators in the United States and Korea. Small Business Management, 42(4), 418-426.
Levy, Y. (2006). Assessing the value of e-learning systems. IGI Global.
Lim, H., & Lee, S.-G. L. (2007). Validating e-Learning factors affecting training effectiveness. International Journal of Information Management, 27, 22-35.
Malik, M. W., & Mubeen, G. (2009). Student satisfaction towards e-learning: Influential role of key factors. In 2nd Comsats International Business Research Conference (CBRC).
Marengo, A., & Marengo, V. (2005). Measuring the economic benefits of
e-learning: A proposal for a new index for academic environments. Information Technology Education, 4, 330-346.
Menchaca, M. P., & Bekele, T. A. (2008). Learner and instructor identified success factors in distance education. Distance Education, 29(3), 231-252.
Michalska, J. (2005). The usage of the balanced scorecard for the estimation of the enterprise's effectiveness. Materials Processing Technology, 162, 751-758.
Musa, M. A., & Othman, M. S. (2012). Critical success factor in e-learning: An examination of technology and student factors. International Journal of Advances in Engineering & Technology, 3(2), 140-148.
Norouzi, D., & Razavi, S. A. (2014). Instructional design foundations. The organization for researching and composing university textbooks in the humanities (SAMT). (in Persian).
Phillips, J., & Phillips, P. P. (2004). Controlling für e-learning. In Ehlers (Ed) Bildungscontrolling in ELearning (1-14). Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany: Springer.
Puri, G. (2012). Critical success factors in e-learning–An empirical study. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2(1), 149-161.
Rezaeian, A. (2011). Systems analysis and design. The organization for researching and composing university textbooks in the humanities(SAMT). (in Persian).
Romiszowski, A. J. (2004). How’s the e-learning baby? Factors leading to success or failure of an educational technology innovation. Educational Technology, 44, 5-27.
Saghafi, F., Mir Saeed Ghazi, T., & Kharat, M. (2009). Successful key factors for establishing electronic learning in educational institutions. The 4th National and the 1st International Conference on Electronic Education. (in Persian).
Sanders, J. R. (2006). Joint committee on standards for educational evaluation; In Sanders (Ed.) Handbook on Standards for Evaluation.
Seibt, D. (2004). Controlling von Kosten und Nutzen betrieblicher Bildungsmaßnahmen. In Ehlers (Ed) Bildungscontrolling in E-Learning, 35-52. Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany: Springer.
Selim, H. M. (2007). Critical success factors for e-Learning acceptance: Confirmatory factor models. Computers & Education, 49, 396-413.
Shahsavani, K., Faraj Elahi, M., & Zarif Sanaiey, N. (2014). Characteristics of a good lecturer from the viewpoints of the students of universities offering virtual education in Shiraz. Interdisciplinary Journal of Virtual Learning in Medical Sciences (IJVLMS), 5(2), 52-60.
Shee, D. Y., & Wang, Y. S. (2008). Multi-criteria evaluation of the web-based e-learning system: A methodology based on learner satisfaction and its applications. Computers & Education, 50(3), 894-905.
Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Soong, M. H. B., Chan, H. C., Chua, B. C., & Loh, K. F. (2001). Critical success factors for online course resources. Computers & Education, 36(2), 101-120.
Sun, P. C. )2007(. What drives successful e-Learning? An empirical investigation of the critical factors influencing learner satisfaction. Computers & Education, 50, 1183-1202.
Volery, T., & Lord, D. (2000). Critical success factors in online education. International Journal of Educational Management, 14(5), 216-223.
Wang, Yi-Shun. (2003). Assessment of learner satisfaction with asynchronous electronic learning systems. Information & Management, 41(1), 75-86.
Wu, J-H., Tennyson, R. D., & Hsia, T-L. (2010). A study of student satisfaction in a blended e-learning system environment. Computers & Education, 55(1), 155-16.