Distance learning is an application of inter organizational information systems. Although it may seem odd to label students as organizations, they are customers, in the same sense that consumers are customers in B2C e-commerce systems.
a. Draw a process diagram of a regular, non-distance learning class. Label the activities and the flows among the activities.
b. Draw a second process diagram of a distance-learning class. In what ways are the two diagrams similar? In what ways are they different?
c. What is the competitive strategy of your university? How do distance-learning classes contribute to that competitive strategy?
d. Assuming that no face-to-face meeting is required to successfully teach a distance-learning class, neither students nor professors need live near campus. In fact, they need not even reside on the same continent. What opportunities does that fact present to your university? What new educational products might your university develop?
e. Considering your answer to question (d), what opportunities does distance learning provide your professor? Is there any reason a professor should not teach for more than one university? Do you think there is a realistic opportunity for a group of professors from different universities to band together to form a virtual college? What competitive advantage might they accrue by doing so?