A Case Study of Institutional Efforts to Address Barriers to the Successful Delivery of Online Learning: A Business Faculty Perspective
Open Access
Author:
Welch, Steven M
Graduate Program:
Workforce Education and Development
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
September 22, 2014
Committee Members:
Edgar I Farmer Sr., Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor Edgar I Farmer Sr., Committee Chair/Co-Chair Wesley Edward Donahue, Committee Member Mark D Threeton, Committee Member Edgar Paul Yoder, Special Member
Keywords:
Online Learning Online Education Business School Business Faculty Case Study Barriers
Abstract:
This single site, case study explores the barriers to implementing a successful online learning program from a business faculty’s perspective. The online learning community has grown exponentially over the past decade and there is no end in sight to the growth. Identifying the barriers to a successful online learning program in higher education is the first step in developing a roadmap to successful implementation and growth.
Both faculty and administration in the college of business at a large mid-Atlantic university participated in this study, which aimed to answer the following research questions: 1) What is the business faculty perception of their institution’s efforts to overcome barriers of technical knowledge, infrastructure, & support in implementing Online Education (OE)? 2) What is the business faculty perception of the institution’s efforts to overcome barriers of compensation and time spent by faculty on OE? and 3) What is the business faculty perception of the institution’s efforts to overcome barriers to organizational change in relation to OE? This study will be of interest to any university administrators, business school administrators, department heads, faculty, and heads of online programs that wish to gain a better understanding of the factors that assist and inhibit faculty members preparing to teach online.