Benefits of Distance learning MBA Online Programs

Advantages to the organization from telecommuting normally center around productivity, better use of an employee’s time, a wider pool of recruits on which to draw, saving on conventional office space and an extension of working hours. Similar advantages could accrue to universities offering distance learning MBA. Increasing staff workloads and the ability to offer courses outside conventional hours may appeal to university administrations; the wider pool of students, with the associated revenue is already seen as a major driving force; there could also be savings in lecture halls, tutorial rooms, laboratories and other on-campus facilities. Indeed there is evidence that this is already happening. In addition, there is at least circumstantial evidence that computer-based learning is less costly than classroom instruction. Disadvantages of telecommuting from an organizational perspective are largely to do with changing the way organizations work and function, duplicating equipment costs, absence of key personnel from the conventional workplace, morale problems and security. Re-skilling faculty (not just those who are keen to experiment with technology) and changes to more traditional ways of teaching may present significant problems. There will be additional costs in supporting students’ online access, and the absence of students from the conventional classroom may diminish the teaching standing of the university, due to the potential education in the student-professor interaction. Research may suffer too, due to the high demands of correspondence MBA in course preparation, rewriting and overhead associated with student contact.


Again distance leaning MBA literature suggests that university administrations are already trying to cope with these issues. The Standing of the course is a matter for serious concern. A not uncommon perception of distance education is that it is a lesser experience and of lesser academic standing, partly as a result of it largely being offered by low-quality correspondence schools in the past.

Benefits of Online MBA programs:

If we interpret “management" to mean faculty, there could well be a feeling among distance students that those with physical access to the faculty and university resources get enhanced help and assistance.

~ Exploitation by management—missing out on overtime or having to work extra time to cover peak periods. “Management” in this sense could be interpreted as the university administration that supplies resources and occasional casual work to supplement student incomes.

~ Travel time can be used productively, to run errands, or provide a break between home and the office. Travel is seen as a time for completing assignments, reading, study, etc.

~ The office is nicer/better equipped than a home office would be. A significant issue for potential distance students may be the need to equip a home study area with a PC and appropriate software, telephone line and communications software, although there is a recent move among University administrations to require students to purchase laptops and the appropriate software.

- The social interaction found at the conventional workplace and missing out on the extra curricular activities that take place on campus could be viewed by many as serious disadvantages to online MBA course.