Critique of World University's Online Education Business Model

This report critically analyzes the online education business model implemented by World University, focusing on its customer loyalty scheme, E-book and laptop provision, and the role of information technology. It explores the effectiveness of the model and proposes alternative solutions for improvement. The report also examines the potential of social media in promoting the model and attracting students.

Assignment 4: Critique in Systems & Technology
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Executive Summary
The reported study is aimed to analyse the critique management process strategized by
the World University. In addition to this, the report also highlights the business
management of private education institutions and its online courses provided by the
staff members to the students living across borders (Lowry, 2007). In the case study,
the business model related to the online university in which the lecturers teach students
all over the world through any campus and online medium. The student belonging to
any country or possessing any degree may apply for the online course and study the
graduate course. Furthermore, in this project, the emphasis is made on analysing such
elements and aspects of a new business venture which is related to the education.
Furthermore, the reported study also examines the critical management processes as
well as planning involved in the Information System and Information Technology within
an organisation. Also, the role of the information system, as well as information
technology in developing a business organisation, is emphasised in this report study
(Lowry, 2007).
The report study is purposed to analyse and co-relate the emerging technological
issues faced by the management has also been discussed. There are various models
which are highlighted and discussed in this project study that is related to the Customer
Loyalty known as Study Together Loyalty where students have been enrolled in the
references. Moreover, there is another scheme applied by the business is to let the
students avail E-book and Laptop. The conclusion and recommendation have also been
drawn for the same.
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Introduction
The main objective of the reported study is to examine the education business model
that has been generated by the World University. Furthermore, in the project, the
customer loyalty scheme called as Study Together Loyalty has been discussed where
the students will be rewarded for referencing to another student for an online course
and graduate degree. Additionally, the report also talks about the applicability of a
business model that aimed at letting the students avail a pre-subscribed E-Book and
Laptop which comprises of all the details as well as the software required for the course
(Groen, et al., 2015). In addition to this, in the reported study, the two alternative
business models have also been discussed which is aimed at improving and enhancing
the solutions within the World University online model. Moreover, the role of social
media in promoting and marketing of the business model is also mentioned in the
project study (Azadeh, et. al., 2008).
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In this section of the business report, the decisions of senior management in regards to
the business model and its scheme has been discussed significantly.
1. A customer loyalty scheme called Study Together Loyalty will reward students
who introduce another student with fee credit depending on which course is
picked. The university also uses agents to sell its offerings to employers.
Applications are approved in less than 5 minutes. Payment for non-refundable
fees is by credit card or PayPal.
The customer loyalty scheme known as Study Together Loyalty has been aimed at
providing a large number of benefits and rewards for the students as well as managing
both. Where students will be benefited from the reward system where they earn through
recommending and referencing another student for the course. On the other hand,
management gains through the attraction of a large number of students. This scheme
provided by the World University enables students to learn various courses through an
online source at their place (Groen, et al., 2015). The students can have knowledge of
various courses and degrees from any of the lecturer of any campus at anywhere in the
world through online subscription. For creating awareness of this program and scheme
the management and university uses agents for selling of their offerings to the
employers (Hsu, et. al., 2011). The students who are approached through reference and
recommendation are approved within less than 5 minutes the payment system is non-
refundable in case of paying through PayPal or Credit card. For completing this online
program the fee has also to be submitted through online medium and is non-refundable
as well.
There are further benefits of introducing such a scheme for the students and
management which is stated below (Hsu, et. al., 2011):
 The reward system provides a motivation to the students for attracting more
students for this online course and avail benefits from it. The increasing number
of enrolment encourages students to participate more in the management
scheme and get more out of it (Siska & Tribble, 2011).
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 The students will be able to show their increasing interest in the classroom
activities and therefore, will participate more in the reward and schemes. As the
referral students are approved within 5 minutes of its application which leads to
reducing the extra time and energy of the students and attract them the most.
 Furthermore, through the use of agents, there is increasing possibility and
chances for students sign-up for the course. This is so because the students
have been provided with the direct evidence to support and enroll the other
student such as its activities and submission of several documents, regulations,
policies, and others (Siska & Tribble, 2011).
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2. E-book and laptop purchases are part of the course and will be available
online. Students cannot opt out of purchases. A pre-configured laptop loaded
with required software will be sent out to all students.
The online course provides a system such as E-book and Laptop to all the students who
have enrolled themselves for the course. It is so because this is the part of the online
course where students will be provided with the pre-configured and loaded laptop that
contains required software and details (McKenzie, 2006). Through courier, these
laptops are sent to the students all over the world. This enables the students to be
equipped with necessary resources, learning material and software requirement for the
graduate course. With the help of such resources, it becomes flexible for the students to
manifest the learning programs through online courses at anywhere and anytime.
The availability of laptop makes it easy and possible for the students to grasp the e-
learning activities in a faster and convenient way (McKenzie, 2006). Mostly, in case of
the online courses, the information system, and information technology play a very
crucial role. The emerging of new tools and techniques makes it possible for the
students and individuals to learn things and programs from anywhere across worldwide.
Information systems such as E-books and laptops provided to the students help in
equipping of various concepts and learning about the subject matter. With such
informative tools, it becomes a handful for the students to load with various learning
(Wijaya & Manongga, 2012). Information technology used in this business model such
as internet promoted the business activities to such a great extent and lead to creating
the innovative and creative idea for generating the business opportunity.
As per the benefits of providing the pre-subscription for E-book and Laptop there are
certain points have been highlighted.
 Enabling of Laptops and E-book makes it easy to learn and study the
materials of the course. For example – Using of Video call for attending the
sessions of lecturers is made possible through laptop only.
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 In case of E-books, there are easily accessible and readable across
worldwide and the student can learn from it from any part of the world (Wijaya &
Manongga, 2012).
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3. You are required to provide any two suitable business process or solution that
could be employed to enhance this model. Substantiate this process or solution
with relevant references to literature.
For the critique management process, there are certain business models have been
suggested which will lead to enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the
information technology and information system used in the business process. According
to the views of Rouhani & Zare Ravasan (2017), the Aardvark model seems to be the
most effective once. The Aardvark model is a search engine on which the students can
search for different courses and different lecturers. The question and answer related to
the online course are asked through this search engine and thereby, its queries also
and the students and lecturers can submit their responses to each other through this
search engine only. In the respective business management process, this model is very
helpful and the World Universities will be benefitted from the deployment of this
business model into their process (Rouhani & Zare Ravasan, 2017).
As per the viewpoints and ideas of Bider & Perjons (2015) there is a requirement for
developing a modeling technique which is helpful for the business process
management. One of the other best suitable models is Penguin model. This model
helps in improving the issues and challenges faced in the information technology and
information system encountered by the World Universities. In the field of IT and IS this
model is very supportive and suitable for effectively and efficiently working without any
issues and problems. This model helps in developing information technology software
for its customers. The respective business model is related to the online providing of
courses to various students which requires a strong information technology and system.
Through such model, the universities can be able to integrate with meaningful study
materials, schedules of courses, date sheet, and other necessary information so that
students living at any place are well aware of all the information related to their course
subscribed (Bider & Perjons, 2015).
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4. Suggest how social media can play a role in promoting this model – giving
suitable approaches from literature. Avoid writing about the teaching aspect of
education or item related to enrolled student activities such as clubs, societies,
etc.
In the current era, the social media has great impact and influence on the individuals
and also impacts on their purchase decision as well. Those products and services which
are highly marketed in the economy are demanded more resulted as per the research
study. The application of social media in the educational field has a great significance
(Lovink, 2011). This is so because many of the private universities are offering of the
online and distance education courses to the students living across nations for the
purpose of learning and making money out of that. This has turned into the business
opportunities for the emerging companies to digitalise the business operations and gain
competitive advantage through using social media and network.
It is researched from the various literature as well that the social media helps in
increasing the sales of the company significantly. The most common and widely used
social media tool is Online Advertisements, Word-of-Mouth publicity and Public
Relations in case of the respective business scenario. In the educational business, all of
these three social networks helps in gaining large market share and attracts the
individual most (Lovink, 2011). There are various benefits of social media and network
such as:
 Social Media is a cost-effective promotional tool which lowers down the
additional marketing cost of the business (Reece, 2010).
 It helps in targeting a large segment of customers across worldwide.
 A common platform which is widely and commonly used by each and every
individual who are the potential customers for the respective business
opportunity.
 Increases the sales and volume of the company (Reece, 2010).
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Conclusion
On the basis of the overall report study, it has been analysed and observed that the
information technology and system play an essential role in any of the business
organisation as well as management decisions. In the current era, most of the business
is operated with the help of such tools and in case of the proposed business model also,
these two are the important element to be considered. Furthermore, it is also evident
that the students and management both are benefited from the schemes and online
program established by the private universities in order to form the World University.
The laptop and E-book provided to the students against the subscription to the online
courses help various students to easily interact and learn from their place. Also, the
social media or network has a great role in attracting the students for the course and is
able to target a large number of audiences at a rapid pace.
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Recommendation
The recommendations and suggestion help in improving the lack area and limitation of
the project study. In the context of the proposed business management, there are
certain things have been recommended which are as follows (Azadeh, et. al., 2008):
 The university should provide an option to the student for pot-out of Laptop
subscription before.
 The universities should emphasis on using the social media sites and
platform in order to create blogs and others which is accessible by a large
number of students each and every day.
 The target people of business are the students who are young and easily
convinced by the word-of-mouth publicity. The university apart from the reference
reward system should provide some other benefits to the students so that they
welcome a number of enrolments for the business.
 Using the user-friendly interface for communicating and interacting with the
students by the lecturers so that there is the fast and rapid delivery of learning
materials among them.

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