Distance education leadership in higher education institutions explored within the theoretical frameworks of organizational change and diffusion of innovations theory

Rapid technological growth and advances in computer technologies have contributed to the increasing use of the Internet in higher education. In order to remain competitive, educational institutions are being pressured to embrace distance education. Consequently, programs may be instituted without adequate consideration of stakeholder participation. To effectively accommodate new technologies, leaders must evaluate and address possible challenges. Faculty support has been identified as influencing distance education effectiveness. Therefore, for programs to be successful, their buy-in is required. The existing body of literature, is limited in its coverage of faculty distance education issues and presents no comprehensive theoretical base. Rather it adapts several existing theoretical frameworks. Two such perspectives, diffusion of innovation theory and organizational change, will be adopted for this study. Additionally, network theory is proposed as a model for unifying these two frameworks. The study discusses distance education leadership in higher education as it relates to faculty development and participation.