Education Technology Impact on Department of Defense Financial Manager Continuing Education Programs

Abstract

This dissertation uses action research to examine, within the Department of Defense financial manager (DOD FM) community, how the rapid pace of information technology innovations may affect continuing professional education (CPE). Possible impacts include changes to knowledge area relevance, factors affecting learner understanding, and professional networking paradigms. Based on an analysis of real world data, the results of this research include the identification and discussion of relevant DOD FM knowledge areas; a model for analyzing factors affecting learner understanding; and a model for assessing the benefits and cost of traditional professional networking versus new information technology enabled opportunities. Organizations providing CPE programs and financial managers may use this research to improve CPE program effectiveness.