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

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 < 0.001; Cohen’s h = 1.89). Time audits revealed an average reduction in weekly task time of 12.4 per cent across farms (Cohen’s d = 1.24). Financial benefits included a 9.2 per cent mean reduction in operational costs and an 18.4 per cent reduction in inventory holding. These outcomes reflect the high efficacy of digital CPD in improving real-world outcomes in traditional agricultural settings. The research also identified positive correlations between forum participation and learning gains (r = 0.67, p = 0.001), as well as between interactive content engagement and implementation success (ρ = 0.72, p < 0.001). Participants particularly valued the flexibility and contextual relevance of the online format, with 85 per cent sustaining lean practices six months after course completion. This study contributes to the fields of digital pedagogy and agricultural education by demonstrating that well-designed online CPD can be a powerful tool for promoting management innovation in resistant or under-digitised professional contexts. The findings provide actionable insights for course designers, policymakers and educators seeking scalable, effective learning solutions for traditional sectors. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.