Wk2 Blog Post Comments on Karen Williams’ Blog

You are correct that there is a huge cost consideration in implementing a LMS or CMS into your institution. Even if the institution was considering a free open-source alternative to skate around the high-priced enterprise models, there is still the need for at least one full-time administrator of the software as well as one full-time information technology expert in order to integrate and manage the complex software and databases on the server side. You need all of this before you even bring in-house support materials and content creation into the mix. Unless you have individuals willing to donate their time, and a very accommodating IT department, there really isn’t a simple low-cost solution to implementing a LMS or CMS at a school. Perhaps SCORM-compliant programs like Udutu will help to ease these costs in the future.

On Tuesday, August 10th Karen Williams wrote:

The cost factors to implement a Learning Management System (LMS) or Course Management System (CMS) is quite expensive. Several elements and factors have to be consider before implementing such an effective tool. A deciding factor of implementing a LMS or CMS depends on the cost factor of incorporating an existing and established system like Blackboard or customizing an in-house development system. To build an in-house system having moderate functionality can be very expensive ranging from $200,000 to $500,000.

Along with building the LMS/CMS, hiring full-time staff must also enter the equation. For the tool to be effective, personnel is needed to manage, support and oversee the system. The effectiveness of a tool is not that it exist but that it causes your organization to work in a more proficient and efficient environment. Therefore, allotting funds to manage the system is essential to its success.

One would think to create a virtual learning system like LMS or CMS is simply transferring or reorganizing data into a template. On the contrary, analysts say that Learning Management Systems are investments ranging from $500,000 to millions of dollars. Many organizations would love to have an innovative LMS or CMS tool, however, finding the funds to implement and support this system may be a great obstacle for many.