Internet technology is set to play a central role in the development of the Hong Kong University's approach to teaching business studies, according to Dr Ali Farhoomand. He said the conventional teaching of business, using written case studies, limited its flexibility by the medium in which it was presented. 'When you read a case study it is like reading a story in a newspaper, sequential and limited by space,' Dr Farhoomand said. With the use of interactive Web technology, students would be freed from the 'tyranny of space limits' and gain access to a 'more personalised' learning environment. Students would find a richer environment and one they could tailor to their own needs. By linking the structure of a business case study, lecturers would enable students to chart their own course, moving through the topic in a more lateral and inductive manner. Dr Farhoomand said this was a new concept and presented some interesting challenges. One of the drawbacks of the Internet was the sheer abundance of readily available information. He said the most important challenge was to limit the real danger of 'information overload' and to control the oversupply of information which could lack some of the focus of written case material.
