Computer Mediated Conferencing for Management Learning at the Open University

Computers and telecommunications are having a huge impact on businesses. They are also beginning to have some impact on the education and training of managers. The Open University's Business School recognizes that management learning has to keep up with changes in businesses, and is now using this technology for teaching. In particular, computer mediated conferencing is an important new way of sharing, constructing and transmitting knowledge among students taking the University s management courses. The Business School has undertaken large-scale online training for its management tutors as part of an action research study. This article presents some of the findings from the tutors' and students' points of view, and discusses the problems of online conferencing, as well as the potential benefits.