Evaluating and Prioritizing Barriers for Sustainable E-Learning Using Analytic Hierarchy Process-Group Decision Making

Abstract

E-Learning is a popular computer-based teaching–learning system that has been rapidly gaining global attention during and post COVID-19. The leaping changes in digital technology have enabled E-Learning to become more effective in recent years. It offers freedom from restrictions caused by geographical boundaries and provides time flexibility in the teaching–learning process. Apart from its numerous advantages, the success of E-Learning depends upon many critical success factors (CSFs) and barriers. If the barriers that lie in the way of successful E-Learning implementation are not addressed diligently, it will limit E-Learning success. It has been revealed through past research that these barriers are serious threats that need immediate attention in their redressal. This paper attempts to reveal sixteen barriers under four different dimensions by going through a comprehensive review of the literature and engaging decision makers. Furthermore, it uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process-Group Decision Making (AHP-GDM) methodology to evaluate and prioritize them. The results obtained show that barriers related to the Institutional Management Dimension (BIMD), Infrastructure and Technological Dimension (BITD), Student Dimension (BSD), and Instructor Dimension (BID) pose the greatest challenges in the successful implementation of E-Learning. The AHP-GDM methodologies reveal the comparative relationship among these barriers as BIMD > BITD > BSD > BID and further quantify their negative effects as 46.35%, 29.88%, 12.30%, and 11.4%, respectively, on successful E-Learning systems (‘>’ indicates comparative challenges).