A comprehensive framework to rank cloud-based e-learning providers using best-worst method (BWM). A multidimensional perspective

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-08-2018-0249
Published date18 December 2019
Date18 December 2019
Pages114-138
AuthorMona Jami Pour,Javad Mesrabadi,Mahnaz Hosseinzadeh
Subject MatterLibrary & information science,Information behaviour & retrieval,Collection building & management,Bibliometrics,Databases,Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet,Records management & preservation,Document management
A comprehensive framework to
rank cloud-based e-learning
providers using best-worst
method (BWM)
A multidimensional perspective
Mona Jami Pour
Department of Business, Hazrat-e Masoumeh University (HMU), Qom, Iran
Javad Mesrabadi
Department of Education,
Azarbajjan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran, and
Mahnaz Hosseinzadeh
Department of Industrial Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Purpose Today, the high cost of e-learning systemsimplementation and the difficulty of managing the
infrastructures motivate educational institutions toward application of cloud-based e-learning systems. This
new system should be aligned with the academicsaims and pedagogical principles to be beneficial for
learners and instructors. Therefore, the vendor selection of learning systems is one of the most important
processes to migrate toward cloud-based e-learning. The purpose of this paper is to develop a new framework
to facilitate the vendor selection of cloud-based e-learning systems in the cloud market.
Design/methodology/approach To identify the initial criteria as to the vendor selection of cloud-based
e-learning services, a literature review is done. To enrich the initial criteria, a focus group of experts is
investigated, and the framework developed; then, a survey analysis is conducted to validate the
proposed framework. The extracted criteria and sub-criteria are weighted and prioritized using best-worst
method (BWM).
Findings The results indicate that the main dimensions of vendor selection framework as regards
cloud-based e-learning systems are managerial, technological and pedagogical factors. The rank orders and
weights of the mentioned aspects and their sub-criteria are calculated using the BWM.
Practical implications The proposed framework helps managers to get a big picture of requirements as
to cloud-based e-learning and more effectively to select appropriate vendors in this initiative. In the vendor
selection process, managers must pay attention to technological issues as well as managerial and pedagogical
considerations.
Originality/value Cloud-based e-learning systems are getting increasingly essential to offer training
courses more efficiently in educational institutions. Although the intersection between cloud computing and
e-learning has increasingly grown in both practical and academic contexts, there are little studies on how
educational institutions and organizations could be able to select appropriate cloud-based e-learning systems.
This paper explores the ignored but critically important subject of cloud-based e-learning. The main
contribution of this paper is to propose a novel and integrated framework containing the important aspects of
vendor selection in cloud-based e-learning services. The proposed framework comprises managerial,
technological and pedagogical aspects simultaneously as well as sub-criteria denoting each aspect.
Keywords E-learning, Cloud computing, Vendor selection, Best-worst method (BWM),
Cloud-based e-learning, Pedagogical principle
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
The traditional learning paradigm is experiencing radical changes, and teaching programs
and courses are no longer limited to the traditional classrooms (Ozkan and Koseler, 2009;
Al-Samarraie et al., 2018). Recently, e-learning, as an effective and popular learning
Online Information Review
Vol. 44 No. 1, 2020
pp. 114-138
© Emerald PublishingLimited
1468-4527
DOI 10.1108/OIR-08-2018-0249
Received 23 August 2018
Revised 26 February 2019
7 November 2019
Accepted 19 November 2019
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/1468-4527.htm
114
OIR
44,1
approach, is utilized by many educational institutions/organizations, and the e-learning
market is growing rapidly (Asoodar et al., 2016; Mosakhani and Jamporazmey, 2010).
Integration of information and communication technology into learning programs has been
considered as an important enabler in learning processes and facilitator of educational
strategy achievements (Chou and Chen, 2016; Jafari Navimipour and Zareie, 2015;
Al-Samarraie et al., 2018). By adopting information technology (IT)-based approaches via
most organizations, learning and training courses can be conducted at anywhere, anytime
and anyplace without geographical distance limitations (Mehregan et al., 2011; Chang, 2016;
Baylari and Montazer, 2009). Moreover, e-learning provides many advantages to learners,
instructors and institutions, and has a profound effect on performance, academic
achievements and studentssatisfaction (Maldonado et al., 2011). However, by increasing the
number of users, the growing amount of information and educational resources generated,
e-learning systems have become more and more complicated and expansive in terms of IT
resources (including hardware, software and technical experts); therefore, many educational
institutions cannot afford such e-learning investments (Chang, 2016; El Mhouti et al., 2018).
Because of this and issues related to the cost of implementation as well as the difficulties
related to managing and maintaining the e-learning infrastructures, organizations and
educational institutions are looking into cost-effective approaches to implement e-learning
initiatives. Cloud-based e-learning, as a new innovative paradigm in the learning context,
has been considered as an attractive outsourcing proposition for educational organizations
due to the minimization of in-house e-learning infrastructures, significant cost savings, and
reduced administrative and maintenance obstacles (El Mhouti et al., 2018). The application
of cloud computing in the learning context is relatively new. It is considered as a scalable
computing resource from external providers on a pay-per-use basis (Doherty et al., 2015).
Cloud computing is a new paradigm in which IT demands are provided to the businesses
over the internet as services with pay-as-you-go like pricing mechanisms (Rehman et al.,
2011). This new IT sourcing strategy enables the organizations to focus more on innovation
and creating business value for their services (Garg et al., 2013). The worldwide public cloud
services market is projected to grow 331.2bn dollars in 2022, up from $182.4bn in 2018
(Gartner, 2019).
According toNaveed and Ahmad (2019), differentvendors offer various features and there
are some keyfeatures that serviceproviders must have in a cloud-based learningenvironment;
for example,the service provider shouldbe able to provide a customizable and flexibleservice
level agreement (Naveed andAhmad, 2019). Selectingthe vendor is a sub-activityof migration
to cloud-based e-learning platform. In the vendor selection phase, managers evaluate the
vendorsability to provide service in the e-learning environment. Special attention has to be
paid to ensure that there will be no threats to destroy e-learning service delivery (Pardeshi,
2014). In the field of e-learning, there a re big differences among cloud service p roviders
models, and once educational institutes select a particular vendor, they may be locked-in
(Kasi Viswanath et al., 2012), thus, bring potential risks and challenges (El Mhouti et al., 2018;
Kasi Viswanathet al., 2012). Therefore,one of the key activities to adopt cloud-based e-learning
system is choosingthe most appropriatevendors by considering the multi-dimensionsof these
services. As many researchers claim, e-learning systems are multi-disciplinary by nature
(Jami Pour et al., 2017; Ozkan and Koseler, 2009; Momeni et al., 2013), in cloud computing
service delivery, organizations must consider various related challenges (Chang et al., 2016);
therefore, it is necessary to develop a comprehensive framework containing the most
important criteria of vendor selection in adopting cloud-based e-learning systems. Although
the e-learning market is growing and academic research works on e-learning have increased
extensively over the past few years (Zare et al., 2016), there has not been a systematic
framework for choosing the best cloud-based e-learning vendor yet. The main goal of this
paper is to propose a novel comprehensive framework for the vendorselection of cloud-based
115
Cloud-based
e-learning
providers
using BWM

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