Online educational pathways for lean management implementation in agricultural enterprises: Advancing digital professional development in farming

Vincent English and Luna Mccaffrey
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Vincent English: Longford International College, Ireland
Luna Mccaffrey: Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland

Advances in Online Education: A Peer-Reviewed Journal, 2025, vol. 4, issue 1, 24-47

Abstract: This study investigates the effectiveness of online continuous professional development (CPD) for promoting lean management in agriculture, thereby advancing digital learning in traditional industries. Despite the global rise of online education, its application in rural and agri-business settings remains underexplored. This research addresses the gap by evaluating how online learning can effectively support complex management innovation among agricultural practitioners, a demographic traditionally underserved by digital transformation initiatives. Utilising a sequential mixed-methods design, the study combined quantitative data from participants in a four-week online lean farm management course with qualitative data from five in-depth case studies. The online course was developed with principles of adult learning and project-based pedagogy, incorporating interactive media, peer collaboration forums and practical implementation tasks. Findings demonstrate statistically significant improvements in lean management knowledge, with post-course correct response rates increasing from 15 per cent to 87 per cent (McNemar’s χ² = 12.25, p

Keywords: online education; digital professional development; lean management; agricultural enterprises; adult learning; continuous professional development (CPD); project-based learning; e-learning effectiveness; farm business management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A2 I2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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