An object-based total quality reference model for realising system and education quality in distance learning systems

This paper aims to develop an object-based total quality reference model for various perspectives of heterogeneous stakeholders, which is able to completely define the quality of a distance learning system. The proposed model is a multilayer framework that is stratified by an abstract model, quality categories, super quality classes, sub-super quality classes, and attributes. Through back-forwarding quality attributes of stakeholders to quality categories, the quality of distance learning system can be evaluated. The advantage of using this model is that the quality dimensions from heterogeneous stakeholders are conclusive and a system can be completely analysed. To practically verify the proposed model, a distance learning system from Taiwan is constructed. The reliability analysis using an expert questionnaire is implemented and the constructed system is discussed to validate the proposed model.