Abstract:

This explanatory multiple case study was conducted to determine what factors were important to decision making that led individuals in a national nongovernmental organization (NGO), to select a technology-enhanced distance education solution for staff and volunteer training. The Bates ACTIONS technology choice model (2000) and the curriculum-centred strategic planning model (Dolence, 2004) formed the conceptual framework for the data collected from the case study interviews.

The factors that influenced the decision makers to choose a technology-enhanced distance education system included factors external as well as internal to the organization. External factors were the market and economic situation, competitive and partnership considerations, and the cost of technology for training. Internal factors were learner centred or organization centred. Learner-centred factors were the ability of learners to access the learning, the necessity to understand the learners’ needs including their geographic distribution, a need for interactivity in the learning design, and an understanding of the impact of the technological choice on teachers and learners. Internal organizational factors included the understanding of organizational impacts, plus a need to incorporate technology decisions into the strategic planning and operational analysis processes. A measure of organizational effectiveness (i.e., key performance indicators) and the importance of individual skills completed the organizational factor influences.