The constructivist learning model applies well to the current emphasis in business schools to have more experiential learning. Students construct their own knowledge, guided by their instructors, and learn how to create and extend mental processes for solutions to problems. Another aspect of current college students is that they want to consume everything from education to music to social interaction via information technology on an "any time/any place" basis. Online course pedagogy meets the structural needs for students to consume academic coursework any time and place while also developing their analytical skills and extending their communication skills.

Why should faculty members develop online courses if the effort may be detrimental to their promotion or tenure?

Information systems (ISs) are used by high-level management to support the decision-making process. The decision to proceed from an initial IS evaluation to a costly, in-depth analysis must be based upon the value of using the IS. Management tends to avoid objective evaluation of an IS because many of the benefits (and costs) are intangible and difficult to quantify with precision. However, imprecise data can be used to provide an objective evaluation of the benefits of an IS. Such an evaluation may serve as a “gate keeper” to screen out unjustifiable ISs before a costly analysis is performed.

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