DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF EMS (EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM) AN E-LEARNING FRAMEWORK

Abstract

This thesis seeks to offer an answer to the problem of how to design, implement and support information systems that effectively and efficiently support e-learning within universities. This problem is increasingly common and important to the operation of elearning within universities. This thesis formulates an E-learning platform known as Educational Management system (EMS) based on the specification of Information Systems Design Theory (ISDT) for emergent university e-learning systems. In particular the ISDT proposes that emergent e-learning information systems that will encourage and enable greater levels of e-learning adoption in terms of quantity, quality and diversity; as well as providing a level of differentiation and competitive advantage for the institution. The design, support and evolution of EMS is an iterative action research cycle based on the formulation of IDST. As a result, EMS has followed the specifications of both process and product models of IDST that aim to enable the e-learning information systems for emergent universities. This thesis has also used Ps’ framework to analyze the current, dominant practice of providing e-learning information systems within universities. The resulting analysis reveals a significant mismatch between the requirements of e-learning within universities and the characteristics of the product and process models used by the dominant approach to supporting e-learning within universities. EMS is also compared and evaluated with other systems being currently used by other institutions and found successful among others on various criteria.