15th International Conference on Distance Learning and Education, Porto, Portekiz, 18 - 21 Eylül 2024
Higher education has undergone a significant transformation, transitioning from traditional face-to-face classroom
instruction to online modalities due to the exigencies of the global pandemic. This shift has not been confined to academia alone;
business organizations have similarly embraced remote working systems in response to public health mandates. Prior to the
pandemic, both educational institutions and corporate entities harbored reservations regarding the efficacy of remote education
and work. However, these perceptions have been dramatically altered as social distancing became imperative, thereby elevating the
importance of technological platforms. A pertinent study by Erden and Tekarslan (2014), presented at ICDLE 2014, underscored
that business education graduates from online programs were perceived as less competent by hiring managers and company
owners than their counterparts from traditional programs. This perception stemmed from a belief that online education
compromises quality due to the lack of direct student-instructor and peer interactions, which are pivotal for effective
communication skill development. In distance education, the interaction between technology and humans is intensified, while
interpersonal connections diminish, creating a less conducive environment for personal growth. Nevertheless, based on personal
observations, it is evident that business schools and organizations have derived benefits from remote methodologies. Some firms
seek outsourced distant training for specialized content, although certain training still necessitates a face-to-face setting. This study
is predicated on the hypothesis that while some training content is more effectively delivered through remote methods, other
content requires traditional approaches. It aims to identify these distinctions by collecting data from company representatives and
establishing a framework to address two primary research questions: Firstly, which training content is more amenable to distance
delivery methods? Secondly, which content is better suited to traditional delivery methods? Ultimately, the study will examine the
decision-making criteria of company representatives regarding the outsourcing of training from universities, focusing on the choice
between distance and traditional methods. Future research implications will be discussed, drawing from the insights generated by
this study.
Keywords: business organizations, company training, distant methods, traditional methods