Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Educational Alternatives, cilt.15, ss.379-390, 2017 (Hakemli Dergi)
This study aims to develop a mobile EPSS application for
overcoming the problems of a newly established distance education
center. It has been conducted with 12 employees, including the
instructional designers and staff members of Marmara University Distance
Education Center (DEC) as participants. Two different qualitative
methods have been used to collect data: pre-interviews and focus-group
interviews. The pre-interview has been conducted with the team leader of
DEC, which has been followed by the establishment of a focus group in
order to determine DEC's impediments on Performance Improvement (PI).
Data collected in the form of inscribed notes and audio recording have
been transferred to computer system. Afterwards, data observed by
researchers indicated that the problems fell into several categories in
accordance with PESTLE analysis such as: managerial problems,
academician-related problems, problems related to student demands,
problems due to inadequate promotion, strategic problems, and lastly,
supportive problems. On the final stage, a mobile application has been
developed to address problems regarding communication, motivation,
transparency and organizational development. The features of the
application include: a shared calendar, a communication interface, a
link to the DEC homepage, links to important social media accounts and a
section announcing the lecturer of the month. The downloaded ratio of
the developed EPSS indicate the necessity of this system and reviews
reflect the new features that should be added to increase performance of
DEC.