Problem Solving Approach at Organizational Development Activities: A Research at Karabuk University

Abstract

Hence rapid change and extensive competition, organizations have to ensure the persistence of their organizational development (OD) activities. The goal of this study is to inquire OD activities devoted to solving problems at organizational e-learning processes. The study consists of two sections. While the first section includes the literature about OD and Problem Solving Approach, the second includes the field research on students’ subjective perceptions about the Karabuk University's relatively new online distance education (DE) program. To overcome the difficulties based on affordability, number of instructors, infrastructure etc., Karabuk University management has strategically decided limited number of classes which have already been part of formal education so far, to be offered by distance education method. This study especially focuses on determining the students’ perceptions on efficiency, infrastructure, problems, practicality and acceptance level of this new process. Direct survey has been implemented at this study and the datas obtained have been analyzed by using frequency and one-sample t tests. The results show that there is no overall negative perception against DE, students perceive DE as a practical, economic and innovative method, students are inclined to computer use, related departments interfere in problem solving in time, it is still believed that the in-class education is the best learning method and students’ capability of computer access causes problems in the DE system. Increasing interactivity in DE programs, noticing the importance of face-to-face communication, promoting activities out of virtual classroom and raising the number of computers offered to students’ use may be beneficial for DE system efficacy and consistent improvement. It is aimed to find out present and possible problems in distance education system from the students’ point of view and use this information in problem solving and process improvement efforts.