Balanced Scorecard in Distributed Learning

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Balanced Scorecard in Distributed Learning

• Rosemary Du Mont
• WCET Conference
• November 4, 2003

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Use of Balanced Scorecard

• Serves as a tool for reviewing the present and
  avoiding standing still in the future.
• Catalyst for linking todays DL actions with
  tomorrows goals.

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Challenges in the Distributed Learning Environment

• The need to provide greater access to diverse
  populations.
• The need to improve outcomes assessment and
  communication of impact.
• Mandate for containing costs.
• A call for greater relevance and impact on
  faculty and students.

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Opportunities and Challenges

• Unprecedented opportunity to use DL technologies
  to disseminate content.
• The urgent imperative to have DL meet the needs
  of lifelong learners.
• A need to emphasize a client-centric approach to
  DL.
• Capacity building to address new DL imperatives.

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Current DL environment

• Lack of clear goals
• Lack of long term planning
• Lack of feedback systems

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Balanced Scorecard for Distributed Learning

• Way to demonstrate value and defend action.
• Can link programmatic and operational objectives
  with University mission and unit vision.
• Desired outcomes can be specified.
• Results can be tracked.

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Those who use the Balanced Scorecard Approach

• Identify, understand and commit to
• The most critical variables
• Measures for each variable
• Objectives and targets that consider each
  question/variable in relation to vision
• Objectives and variables that link and align with
  strategies.

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An Effective Scorecard

• Identifies a set of strategic questions and
  measures that address the issue of adding value.
• Provides the basis for strategy, tactics, and
  operational decisions.
• Limits assessment to a few measures, minimizing
  information overload.
• Facilitates the change and growth needed to
  achieve strategic goals.

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A Balanced Scorecard for Distributed Learning

• Premise if distributed learning programs are to
  support their dramatic growth and outlive the
  hype, they must demonstrate performance results.
• Must be able to deliver results
• Fruitful educational experiences for students
• True access across socio-economic classes and
  regions and for those with limited physical
  access.
• Bottom line returns.

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Balanced Scorecard can shed light on best
practices

• Measures actual performance
• Compares results against pre-set goals
• Implements systems, process and practices that
  are vertically aligned with those goals.

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Balanced Scorecard for Distributed Learning

• Student satisfaction goals
• Operating Efficiency and Effectiveness Goals
• Learning Goals
• Financial Goals