Technology is a vital ingredient in the delivery of distance learning but the vast majority of business schools would rather not be early adopters of some revolutionary new software package or web-based application. They prefer, in general, to introduce innovations that their customers – the course participants – are familiar with already and that faculty will not find too difficult to use.

In the 21st century information technology environment, the consumer is in the driving seat: individuals are adopting new technologies and practices in their daily lives that business schools can incorporate subsequently in their distance-learning programmes – and often in other courses too.