E-learning and mass customization

  • Within the e-leaming industry, demand and supply factors jointly determine a need for mass customization of e-leaming products. This paper asks whether e-leaming products can be mass-customized, and if so, how this can be done. Firstly, the paper characterizes e-leaming and e-leaming technologies. Secondly, a learning model is developed in order to enhance the understanding of how learning processes differ across individuals. Based on this, the paper argues that e-leaming products in general can be mass-customized. However, mass customization is only possible for some e-leaming technologies and some types of communication, namely instruction and supplementary interaction, while it cannot support collaboration. In this context, solutions for the most common problems of mass customization are discussed. The results are then applied to the market for higher management education. It is shown that mass customization has a limited relevance for degree programs that are demanded by individuals, while it is crucial for programs that are either demanded by organizations or offered in specialized modules.

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Metadaten
Author:Thomas Hutzschenreuter
URN:urn:nbn:de:hbz:992-opus4-6116
Series (Serial Number):WHU-Forschungspapier (092)
Publisher:Wissenschaftliche Hochschule für Unternehmensführung (WHU) Otto-Beisheim-Hochschule
Place of publication:Vallendar
Document Type:Working Paper
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2018/04/01
Date of first Publication:2002/09/01
Release Date:2018/04/01
Tag:Computerunterstütztes Lernen; Informationstechnologie; Massenfertigung
E-Learning; Information technology; Mass customization
Page Number:13
Institutes:WHU Management Group / Chair of Corporate Strategy and Governance
Licence (German):Copyright for this publication