Application of Value Chain Analysis in the Sustainable Management of Tertiary Distance Education Programmes in Nigeria

Abstract

In a highly competitive environment, Distance Education Institutions are expected to develop business strategies and frameworks for sustainability. One of such viable strategies is the value chain analysis. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which distance education institutions in Nigeria apply the process of value chain analysis in the sustainable management of their programmes. Three research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. Distance Education Value Chain Process Instrument (DEVACPI) which was face validated by experts in distance education, measurement and evaluation and management studies was used for the study. A reliability coefficient of 0.87 was estimated for the instrument using the Cronbach alpha method. The instrument was used to elicit information from 168 management staff proportionately sampled from the two major distance education institutions in Nigeria. Weighted mean and the t-test inferential statistic were used to analyze the research questions and null hypotheses respectively. The results from the study show that distance education institutions apply the activity analysis to a little extent. However, they claim that value analysis and expected changes were applied to a great extent. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the mean ratings of the management staff in the two distance education institutions on the extent to which they apply the activity analysis and the value analysis in the sustainable management of distance education institutions in Nigeria. The management staff reported that they are not sufficiently knowledgeable in the value chain analysis. The researcher therefore recommended that formal training on value chain analysis be organized for distance education managers in Nigeria by the Ministry of Education.