The Business Case For E-Learning

Prologue

Hindsight is 20/20

In 1997, much of the industry thought that e-learning was the latest training fad that would prove to be just as lackluster as some of the other fads of the past 20 years.

“Nothing can really replace the effectiveness of classroom learning” was a common statement, and an even more common belief. And there was some sound precedent for that position:

• Video-taped courses had proven to be a good bargain for purchasing agents but ineffective in actually training or even educating the large numbers of employees that were expected to flock to this medium. The libraries in corporate training facilities gathered dust quickly from lack of use.

• Laser Disc as a deployment medium was a short-lived, expensive technology alternative to ...