Taking The Lead: Strategic Management for e-Learning

This project developed a report called "Taking the Lead: Strategic management for e-Learning" for Chief Executives and senior executive officers of New Zealand’s tertiary education institutions and organisations. It is designed to help them consider the contribution they can make to the strategic development and management of e-learning in their institutions.

The researchers were Andrew Higgins and Tom Prebble.

• 2 page summary (pdf)
• Executive Summary | Executive Summary (pdf version)
• Full Report (pdf)
• Bibliography | Bibliography (pdf version)

Strategic Management for e-Learning

e-Learning is transforming the way New Zealand tertiary education institutions teach and support their students. To make the most of these exciting opportunities, chief executives and senior managers need to work in partnership with specialist staff and provide strong strategic leadership.

A study into e-learning practices in New Zealand tertiary education institutions has revealed a variety of ways that senior managers are meeting this challenge. The Executive Summary version and Full Report are both available here.

The study highlighted a number of key strategic areas which are relevant to all tertiary institutions:

• Strategy - Ensuring e-learning solutions meet the strategic goals of your institution
• Structure - How to organise and manage for e-learning
• Resourcing - Different approaches to funding e-learning
• Decision-making - Who decides which courses and programmes will make use of e-learning
• Collaborating and Outsourcing - Working with others to develop e-learning activities
• Selecting Technologies - Investing wisely in new technology

Case studies

For a full appreciation of these issues, please read the following case studies. They contain many useful insights and ideas for discussion within your organisation.

• AUT University: Providing leadership for teaching and learning (and e-learning)
• Bay of Plenty Polytechnic: Staff development in a smaller institution
• Manukau Institute of Technology: The contribution of strong leadership
• Massey University: Developing an online infrastructure
• Massey University: Devolution of control
• New Zealand Tertiary College: eLearning in the Private Sector
• NorthTec: Leadership of core strategies
• The Open Polytechnic: Planning and development of e-learning courses
• Otago Polytechnic: Strong strategic leadership
• TANZ: Collaboration across the sector
• Te Whare Wānanga O Awanuiārangi: Putting the e in wānanga
• UCOL: The importance of locus as well as focus
• University of Auckland: Organisational restructuring to support e-learning
• University of Canterbury: Developing e-learning without an explicit e-learning strategy
• University of Otago: Engaging academic staff in the enhancement of teaching and learning
• Whitireia Community Polytechnic: Planning e-learning at a programme level
• Wintec: Contracting services from outside the institution