The efficiency of the “Learning Management System (LMS)” in AOU, Kuwait, as a communication tool in an E‐learning system

Abstract

PurposeThe integration of a Learning Management System (LMS) at the Arab Open University (AOU), Kuwait, opens new possibilities for online interaction between teachers and students. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of the LMS at AOU, Kuwait as a communication tool in the E‐learning system and to find the best automated solution possible.Design/methodology/approachThe study participants were 500 students (270 female and 230 male) from AOU, Kuwait. The participants began to use the LMS in January 2009 and, up to the date of the analysis, used the system continuously during three academic years. The researcher used a quantitative research design because the descriptive statistics were demonstrated in frequency counts and percentages and the responses were analyzed numerically.FindingsThis study found that the majority of the AOU, Kuwait students welcome the LMS system at their university. However, there are many reasons why LMSs have failed, including high cost of technology, poor decisions, competition, and the absence of appropriate (or any) business strategies, especially market assessment of consumer demand.Originality/valueThis project identifies different milestones in delivering the LMS process and recommends the best solution to automate the E‐learning procedure at the Open University, Kuwait. The goal is to reduce time, effort and cost when implementing this new solution. The study suggests that students are important stakeholders whose active involvement increases exchange of pedagogical information and promotes interaction among teachers.