Critical success factors for successful globalised e-learning

As we move from an information-based to a knowledge-based society, the need for reengineering, retraining and restructuring is emerging. Online programme development/enhancement requires experience and planning. Since e-learning entry requires little investments, it can be tempting to start programmes without appropriate infrastructure or planning, resulting in huge losses and in many cases closure. The new entrants can learn from the early adopters of online learning and from their experiences, both good and bad without reinventing the wheel. This paper discusses factors that must be considered and planned before venturing into e-learning. These factors are derived from discussions with faculty teaching online classes, business advisory board members, administrators involved in e-learning and literature. Major contributions of this paper are twofold: first, new entrants can learn from early entrants' experiences, and the second contribution is a list of factors that new entrant should consider for 'future' diffusion.